MUSIC MAN SABRE BASS

  • Music Man Sabre Bass (1978-1991)
  • Music Man Classic Sabre (2013-)

Overview

Brand name: 

Product: 

  • bass guitars

Variant of: 

Dates of manufacture: 

1978 to 1991
2013

MUSIC MAN produced the Precision style SABRE BASS between 1978 and 1987. This model was available under the Ernie Ball brand name from 1988 to 1991. It was essentially a two pickup version of the StingRay but never acheived the success of that model.

In 2013 it was reintroduced as the "Classic Sabre" model. The new Classic Sabre has covered humbuckers (unlike the exposed poler pieces of the original). The new model also has different control electronics: a 5-position pickup selector switch and a 2-band EQ,

The specifications of the original Sabre (in 1989) are as follows:

Body specifications

  • Size:  13" wide, 1 5/8" thick, 45” overall instrument length
  • Weight: 9 pounds, 5 ounces. Varies slightly with each piece of wood
  • Bridge: Hardened steel bridge plate w/stainless steel string saddles
  • Wood: Poplar, Alder or Ash depending on finish color
  • Finish: Catalyzed lacquer, high gloss
  • Colors: Black, White, Translucent Red,Translucent Blueburst, Sunburst Ash, Natural Ash, Special “Feature" colors offered periodically

Neck specifications

  • Frets: 21 jumbo
  • Scale: 34"
  • Width: 1-5/8" at nut — 2-1/2" at last fret
  • Wood: Selected maple with maple or rosewood fingerboard
  • Finish: Catalyzed lacquer, velvet
  • Radius: 11"
  • Tuners: Schaller BM, with tapered string posts
  • Options: Fretless, no extra cost — pau ferro fingerboard with inlaid fretlines, No fretlines available on request

Electronic specifications

  • Preamp Options: Active, 2-band (bass and treble) or 3-band (bass, mid and treble), Cut and boost. Center detent = Flat response
  • Pickups:Custom humbucking made in Ernie Ball shop, Bridge pickup: Eight 3/8" diameter Alnico magnets, Neck pickup: Sixteen 3/16" diameter Alnico magnets
  • Switch: 5-way (First position is closest to neck), 1 Neck pickup, both coils; 2 Both pickups, both coils;
  • 3 Bridge pickup, both coils (Sounds like a Stingray); 4 One coil of neck pickup + both coils of bridge pickup; 5 One coil of neck pickup only

Specifications (11)

Body

Body materialalder body, ash body, poplar body
Body shape featuresdouble cutaway
Body styleprecision bass style

Fretboard

Fingerboard materialmaple fingerboard

General

Finish colorsblue finish, natural finish, red finish
Finish effectstransparent finish
Made inUSA

Neck

Neck jointbolt on neck
Neck materialmaple neck
Tuner layoutthree-up-one-down tuners

Electronics

Preampactive preamp

Prices (2)

DatePriceConditionNameComments
1978$150worn
1991€1500excellent

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