Music Man Sabre 2PU Bass Reviews 
5 / 5 based on 1 reviewsHermies Music Clifton Pk, NY USA
$395 with OEM molded case. Both
the bass and case are in really
ugly cosmetic condition. I mean
if ugliness was stupidity, this
bass would be Gee Dubyuh. But
it's all there and no problems
except appearance-wise. I got
it first thing monday morning
after hearing at supper sunday
nite that it had just been taken
in trade and priced affordably.
I always thought MusicMan should
offer more 2-PU options, and if
anything proves that it's a good
idea, this Sabre does it. It's
sort of like a GnL but with the
MM tonal attitude that never did
carry over into GnL basses. The
range of tonal voices/colors is
impressive. One night I cranked
up the high end, killed off all
the low and played an incredible
tick-tack while another bassman
laid down the bottom. Hellified
machine. Can do Jamerson, jazz,
reggae, whatever. Be warned: as
far as I've found it can't mimic
a Hoffner Beatle bass or upright
[aww, don't cry]. Strap balance
is just right.
I also like that it's lighter
than a StingRay and has a faster
jazzier neck. The adjustable
neck tilt came in very handy for
setting it up to my preferences.
I further like that it was sold
to me cheap and pre-uglified so
I don't have to wince every time
something bangs into it. Looks
as if it used to get packed in
with the drum kit hardware.
There's a 3-way toggle for the
double PUs but no blender knob
and only one [master] gain knob.
Even though lighter than most
StingRays, it's still one of the
heavier basses I've played.
Neither of the above is really a
major complaint.
Ash [I think] body, 2 parts with
seam off-center just inboard of
the control cavity. Slim maple
neck, bone nut [1.5"], rosewood
fretboard with about 22 frets.
Rod access at the head, usual MM
3+1 duck foot tuners. 3-bolt
neck joint with tilt adjuster.
Bridge is not the usual MM style
but looks like a G&L bridge even
though it's engraved "MusicMan".
Pickguard is multi-ply. Finish
is 15 years old with a million
hairline cracks in it.
PUs are pair of exposed pole MM
thudwackers adjustable for angle
and height. Pots are gain, bass
and treble. Toggles [far as I'm
able to tell] are the 3-way PU
selector, series-parallel, and
high-end boost. Uses singe 9v
battery under seperate chromed
cover on rear, which is retained
by 2 machine screws [nice].
The "series" toggle setting does
more than put each humbucker in
series mode. It seems to join
all 4 coils into one giant PU.
In "series" mode, the 3-way PU
selector toggle has no effect at
all. Everything runs at once.
Don't know if this is factory or
home-brewed as it's a pretty old
bass and I've never met another
Sabre to compare it to.
More versatile than my G&L ASAT,
able to leap tall buildings in a
single bound. Faster than a '66
Jazz, more powerful than a Chevy
Suburban. More fun than you can
have legally in 42 states or PR.
Definitely the poster child of
the MM-to-G&L transition. Most
importantly it's fun to play.
It's not fully a "5" rating in
every single area, but overall
it's a 4.5 not just a 4, so I'm
calling it a "5".
Golem rated this unit
on
2004-04-12.
