Why not bring back the sabre

[ibanez2005]

Hi guys. I know its a nice feature to have the option of 2 pickups on a Stingray, but why not just bring the Sabre. I remember my dads old bass player owning a black maple neck Pre EB Sabre that sounded great, he later sold it for £400.

So am i the only one who would like to see the Sabre back?

 

[Chris C]

Hmmm,
I just kind of see the new HH basses as an updated Sabre. I don't really see any advantaged to the original Sabre over the HH's. Yea, the Sabre looked kind of cool, but...

 

[muggsy]

This question has been asked before, and the short answer is that "reissues are for when you run out of new ideas." Sabres didn't sell much when they were available, and the two-pickup Stingrays, Sterlings and Bongos are all great instruments and very popular. I know there are a few people out there who really like the Sabre, but there are some who always think vintage is better. Even if there were a lot of Sabre fans out there, they'd probably choose an old Sabre over a reissue. I'd take a new two-pickup EB over a Sabre any day.

 

[Dr Stankface]

I guess the question can be turned around as well. Why bring back the Sabre when there's the dual pup Rays, Sterlings, and Bongos? It'd be cool to see the Sabre again but I doubt it'll happen. There's plenty to choose from already.

 

[bassmonkeee]

So am i the only one who would like to see the Sabre back?

Probably.

 

[Caca de Kick]

The Sabre was a bass ahead of it's time, that's why it didn't sell well. Back then the single pickup Ray was the flagship, the visual icon, and that's what everyone wanted. After the Sabre was long forgotten, it took years for people to start asking for a dual pickup MM to be built, since it seemed people were now ready for more tonal options. And now a dual pickup MM's sell very well....go figure.
I love my Sabre and when I post a pic of it on say the TalkBass site, most people there don't seem to know it ever existed. I get the same reactions when I gig it out.

I wouln'd say it would be a reissue, but with all the dual pickups models out now, it's pointless. As sexy as a bass it was.

 

[ibanez2005]

Ive not seen one for ages, would be nice to see an anniversary model or a limited edition run to celebrate it. When people talk of re-issues, we tend to think of the crappy japanese Fender Mustangs, Jaguars and various Telecaster models that were good orignally but poor quality axes now.
Done properly, and lets face it EB only do quality, i think they would be really popular.
Wouldnt any of you guys buy one?

 

[muggsy]

Ive not seen one for ages, would be nice to see an anniversary model or a limited edition run to celebrate it. When people talk of re-issues, we tend to think of the crappy japanese Fender Mustangs, Jaguars and various Telecaster models that were good orignally but poor quality axes now.
Done properly, and lets face it EB only do quality, i think they would be really popular.

I'd be shocked if a Sabre reissue would sell. Quality's not the issue -- that big company in Corona has done some really nice P and J reissues, but people want them because the new models aren't as popular and the vintage ones cost a fortune. EB has a six-month waitlist right now for their current models, and there are thousands of variations available when you consider the different models, pickup configs and colors. Anniversary editions of current models make sense, but why bring back something that was probably discontinued for a good reason? If they were as popular as you think, they'd still be making them.

 

[Disquieter]

wasn't there an issue with the neck pickup magnets being too strong or something?

 

[ibanez2005]

I dunno about that.
To me, it would make sense to at least try bringing back the Sabre as a 2 pickup variant and make improvements on it.
That 2 pickup SR5 looks top notch though.

 

[midopa]

Yeah, Disquiter's right. The neck pickup pulled on the strings I bleeb.

 

[Caca de Kick]

wasn't there an issue with the neck pickup magnets being too strong or something?

Over the years, I have only heard a couple people say that. My Sabre has not been an issue, so I'm not sure there's total truth to that.

 

[ibanez2005]

More like a pull-down than a pick-up then

 

[bdgotoh]

My first MusicMan bass was a Sabre and I've had many over the years. They are great basses but they don't seem as integrated as the Stingray. What I mean is everything on a Stingray works, there aren't any wasted settings.

With the pre-EB Sabre the phase and brightness switches were useless.

I like the tones of the EB-era Sabres better but some of the lever switch positions aren't humcancelling and there are big differences in output as you go through the choices.

As said above, the new 2 pickup models cover Sabre territory and do it better in my opinion. You should A/B a Sabre from either era against an HH Stingray or an HH Sterling. I think you'd be very impressed, although I do know a couple of people who still prefer the Sabre.

I'll probably always have a Sabre but I reach for my HH Sterling more than any of my other EBs.

 

[ibanez2005]

My first MusicMan bass was a Sabre and I've had many over the years. They are great basses but they don't seem as integrated as the Stingray. What I mean is everything on a Stingray works, there aren't any wasted settings.

With the pre-EB Sabre the phase and brightness switches were useless.

I like the tones of the EB-era Sabres better but some of the lever switch positions aren't humcancelling and there are big differences in output as you go through the choices.

As said above, the new 2 pickup models cover Sabre territory and do it better in my opinion. You should A/B a Sabre from either era against an HH Stingray or an HH Sterling. I think you'd be very impressed, although I do know a couple of people who still prefer the Sabre.

I'll probably always have a Sabre but I reach for my HH Sterling more than any of my other EBs.

You got any pictures of your Sabre?

 

[Caca de Kick]

but why bring back something that was probably discontinued for a good reason? If they were as popular as you think, they'd still be making them.

I have to argue that one....
I was playing when Sabres were still being made. The single pickup Ray worked and the Ray was the icon...that's what people wanted to be seen with. I remember talking to guys and them saying they want the Ray and only the Ray, not that other bass...they didn't even try it out. The only "reason" was simply 2 pickup Musicmans were not needed then. It would really be almost 20 years before people were really ready for dual pickup MM's.

Now that people have caught on that they existed, thanks to the net. Just watch ebay and you'll see they're getting snatched up and at suprisingly escillating prices.

It will never happen, but I'm perfectly happy with mine.

 

[Caca de Kick]

Ibby,
Here's a pic for you....

 

[ibanez2005]

WOW, love the natural w/rosewood combination.

 

[azzy_wazzy]

I have no opinion on this topic but just want to say:

a) Welcome
b) Where in west mids are you?
c) Your avatar is uber cool and is making me veeeeeery thirsty! Bring on the drinkies!

Hijack over - you may return to your reguarly scheduled programme

 

[ibanez2005]

Thank you for the welcome.
Im in Dudley.
And i love Guiness ( a little too much maybe )