The Sabre wins for me. Those tones are like you said smooth and familiar. The special sounds great and those pickups sound like active EMG’s. The full range clarity is crazy and I would need the 3 band eq to help tame that beast. Now they just need to make a Sabre special. Great video.

The Stingray Special has more clarity and is brighter... having said that, i liked the Sabre more! I prefer the rounder warmer tone. Good work as always Mr. Lobster! 🦞🤘🏻

These are my all around 2 favorite basses ever. When I woke up this morning and saw this I thought I was dreaming! Get out of my head!!!

Be interesting to see these two compared to a G&L L-2000.

Great review sir! It’s amazing how different the two sound. The Sabre is all smoothness (very envious by the way.) and the HH is all about in your face sizzle. Love them both and they each have their uses. The G&L L2000 is sort of the successor to the Sabre. A comparison of those two would be cool.

@LowEndLobster

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Richard! Hoping to snag a L2000 or L2500 CLF in the near future

nothing pops like a music man

Love the aesthetics of the Sabre it’s my all time favorite bass design. Also love the bridge mutes, not sure why they’re a thing of the past. I actually have the same exact one & the only thing I don’t like is it’s an absolute boat anchor. Definitely agree the Stingray’s got more bite to it.

I think I you have any doubts about the Pre EB MM basses and G&L basses you can ask the CLF Research team (they have a youtube channel).

I loved the Sabre sound. Would love to see it compared to an L-2000. 🎶

Sabre for the looks, StingRay for the sound. I should say, I play a sunburst five string StingRay. :D

Hard to choose a favorite there! Really really cool basses.

The Sabre for me. So if you’d just like to pop it in the post. It may not make it for Christmas, but a nice New Years present!! 😉

@davidmiller6076

2 жыл бұрын

Hey Rev, get the Wax cleaned out of Your Ears 👂!!! Lol 😆 just kidding.. It’s depends on an individual preference!

Sounds great! Keep practicing with that pick!

I prefer the tone overall of the brown bass, not the pink one, the brown sounds like the original stingray tone, nice playing as usual bro 👍🏾

Missed my chance to buy a black Sabre classic new. Loved playing it at the store though. Used to own a '79 Music Man Sabre Bass. It was a monster both in tone (useless phase switches) and weight. I sold it to fund the purchase of 3 late 80s Stingrays in the mid 2000s.

The Sabre is my favourite but both basses are exceptional.

@LowEndLobster

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Billy!

Well, I guess I’ll be the odd man out so far since I prefer the Special. I like it’s bright hi mid punch. Of course the Saber is more bank account friendly! I would like a MM in my arsenal one of these days. They do have a distinctive sound. Happy Holidays Low!

They both sound amazing. I'd probably pick the sabre classic but it would be difficult to give up the punch on that stingray. I want both at same time lol

The bite of Lobsters Sting Ray is incredible. The Sabre also sounds great, but more common - the StingRay cuts through. I like it more.

Finally the Stingray has some good competition. I guess it’s all about one’s mood on any given day. They both have that good unique juicy MM sound with extra meat but on this video, the Saber had the sound that stood out, however, if there were two players (you and your clone) competing for a win, there would be no loser. Love your videos👍🏽

@LowEndLobster

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Sumbi Sumbi!

That special was bred for metal and begging for a distortion pedal. The sabre is more of a master of all trades.

Hey Lobster, thanks for another excellent tonal shootout. I really enjoyed hearing them.

@LowEndLobster

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Philip! Happy new year!

@philipmcadam5339

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks @@LowEndLobster, all the best for you in 2022!

Agree agree any word keep on blowing 🥊

used to have a sabre we did a show at the vic in chicago svt with two 810 cabs the sound was out of this world i loved that bass but it was another one i let go and regret selling .

To drop the information directly: I only liked 2 of all MusicMan basses I ever heard. It' simply not my cup of tea ... But this Sabre sounds so much better to me than the Ray ... wow - have to try this one time.

@hbrunyan

4 ай бұрын

I much prefer the Sabre here. I bought a Stingray Special 5H. Beautiful bass. I just couldn’t bond with the pickup. It was relatively light and beautifully made but just not for me. BTW, as always, well made and informative video.

The Stingray Special HH won easily for me. The only thing I liked better on the Sabre was position 2. If I could take any of your basses it would be the Stingray Special HH. It’s just beautiful and sounds great.

Both sound fine, but I liked that the Sabre has fewer high and high mid overtones. That said, in a fairly busy mix, I don’t know if I could pick apart from each other.

Recognizing that every player has individual body shapes / physical limitations ( I am a Senior ) as well as playing needs / styles & “ Personal Sonic Tone ” preferences, I happen to prefer the Sabre vintage tone. The Sabre has a EBMM Cutlass “Tone” that can become more pointed using the bridge pick-up. It is unfortunate that EBMN does allow the Sabre, Cutlass or Caprice to be purchased on a “Special Order” albeit at a premium. Once again Lobster, thanks for sharing. On a final note, my sympathies for Mike, your friend.

Sabre. First and it depends on the music u r playing

I hope they bring the Sabre back, maybe even in a 5 string version! I love the vintage look & feel, and with the changed electronics compared to the original Sabres they just nailed it! It dips its toes into Fender waters just enough to be incredibly versatile without loosing its Music Man personality. Such an awesome instrument! The StingRay HH is also really great, but it always sounds like a StingRay. And in this configuration with the Neodymium pickups, it's just a bit too aggressive and modern sounding for my taste.

Another Great Vid Brother That Special is a Funk Bass LOL! @LowEndLobster

Both basses look and sound amazing but I WANT PINKY!! It always kills me seeing it hanging front and center in the background of all of your video reviews. I prefer the more scooped and aggressive tone of her compared to the Sabre. I like me some "tonal violence"! It is basically a nicer, better, and prettier version of my SBMM HH Stingray, and at only 8 lbs. too! (if I heard that right)? On the position 2 and 4 question, I do like the position 2 on the Sabre, it does give you a cooler P-bassish tone to choose from. But I wouldn't want to give up the position 4 "outer coils" (J-bassish) option on the stingray special. That is one of my favorite and most useable pickup setting on my SBMM HH Stingray.

Definitely enjoyed this one and I'm not really a Stingray guy. I definitely preferred the neck PU tone of the Sabre. The middle positions both sounded good. The bridge position also sounded great on both but I''d have to give it to the Stingray since it sounds more Stingray-y. For positions 2 and 4... I really like all of them. I think I prefer both positions on the Sabre but I usually really like the inside coils/outside coils combos as in my head, that seems more versatile but overall I'd have to give the Sabre the win here! Great vid!

excellent BTK shirt. No disrespect intended but Bully is the original king of Bass KZread and it's really cool to see crossover between Lobster's channel and Bully's. Loving that Sabre too. It's a damb fine bass and you play it well.

Sabre over HH Stingray any day. Single H Stingray however, reigns supreme.

Both sounded great but I definitely like the brighter more aggressive sound of the Stingray better. It all depends on application though, and I could definitely see myself preferring the Sabre for certain gigs if I was in possession of both.

Great video as always! I've long desired a Sabre, but after listening to the two back-to-back, the Stingray sounds better to my ears. However, the Sabre does the P-bass tone very nicely(!) Still think you should A/B the Bongo & Stingray Special; on paper the two look very similar, but I suspect they will be miles apart in tone ;)

Stingray for me please, can you deliver to England by Christmas day😂 Very merry Christmas Lobster to you and your family. Great video as always.

@LowEndLobster

2 жыл бұрын

Heheh thank you Phil! Merry Christmas to you as well!

I prefer the old-school look and darker tones of the Sabre, plus it looks like it would weigh less. The Stingray seems as though it would be more versatile, however.

@57precision

Жыл бұрын

Stingray specials are about 2 lbs lighter than most Sabres.

Could you compare MM Sabre with it’s offspring G&L L-2000?

@Below-Average_Joe

2 жыл бұрын

I know you did not ask me but Music Man and G&L are apples and oranges tonally.

@SkibidiEugensson

2 жыл бұрын

@@Below-Average_Joe this is correct, but it is important to know that both these basses were designed by the same person in the timeframe of two years. L-2000’s preamp is the logical evolution of the Sabre’s preamp, the MFD pickups are the evolution of the Sabre’s pickups etc.

@Below-Average_Joe

2 жыл бұрын

@@SkibidiEugensson I understand your view, but the basic design of Music Man and G&L is too different in my mind for a direct comparison. If anything, I see the L-2000 as Leo Fender making a Jazz Bass with humbuckers.

Hi Lobster! Fortunately I'm also have Classic Sabre & dual humbucker StingRay but with a little bit different from yours. My Classic Sabre is natural finished with rosewood fretboard while my StingRay 4HH is the regular version with alnico pickup which is more mid in my opinion. And I believe your StingRay 4HH Special BFR is using neodymium pickup which is more thick but a little bit dark compare to the alnico version. Just wanna add a little bit, Classic Sabre use 2 band EQ EBMM MC459W stock preamp which in my opinion is not as brilliance/bright as EBMM 2 band EQ MC466W stock preamp as in Classic StingRay 4 or 5 (I own those classic series too 😎🤘). Meanwhile, the regular 3 band EBMM preamp (can't find the series name on the board) has more low end tone compare the 2 band version. Anyway, nice share & keep make great videos of bass just like you always did 🍻🤝.

@LowEndLobster

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Jemmy for the great information and insight! These sabres are truly gems and are getting harder and harder to find!

I absolutely love the Sabre!!! Maybe because I don’t have one and really want one! Hopefully one day!!! I do have a ATK 305 coming my way!! You got me into them!! Thanks lobster 🦞 🙏🤘 I wish a selector would have just the back pole pieces that would be so cool! I believe the Harley Benton offers that if I’m correct,

I still kick myself for not grabbing a Sabre when they were more available.

Hmmm... I am on the hunt for a good Sabre with birds eye neck --- but...i may be leaning towards a Stingray Special now instead. I feel I can duplicate (or close) with one of my existing bass'...but that Stingray buzzbite is hard to replicate. May have to look for one in Black/maple

The necks are different as well with the Sabre being glossed front and back and the stingray being the gunstock oil wax blend. I know this will be divisive much like the weight difference between the two. Since many dislike the glossy neck. But I would assume if you wanted the Sabre you were more into retro vibe and sound. More of a hold it down type of playing. Where as the special with its modern looks and sound you could be doing fast tapping and modern styles. As a fanboy of music man I’d say have both for different situations. Thank you for always making quality videos. I’d agree with some of the comments, you should see if you could get a G&L on here. Maybe the new big chonks as it’s been nicknamed. The G&L L-2500 series 750. A five string with 19mm spacing. It just came out a few months ago.

@LowEndLobster

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Dean! Great comment! I have a Series 750 on order :)

@deangomes6280

2 жыл бұрын

@@LowEndLobster nice which color did you get? The tangerine?

@LowEndLobster

2 жыл бұрын

@@deangomes6280 How'd you guess? hahaha

@deangomes6280

2 жыл бұрын

@@LowEndLobster based on previous purchases and colors you’ve had. 😂 also that’s the one I’d go for. Now if they had it available in their royal purple with a maple fretboard, I’d probably already have one. Lol

The Sabre sounds more 'fenderish' to me. Must be the double poles.

Is the main tonal difference the pickups or possibly the preamps if they are different?

@LowEndLobster

2 жыл бұрын

Both the pickups and preamp are very different

I own 2 stingray4 /1 stingray5 and compared to my Classic sabre i found the output of the pickup of the stingray much louder. The sabre output is like the old smoothie but whit little more output.do you think the same low end lobster ?

@LowEndLobster

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah I found the Stingray to be a bit hotter. You get the same general tone and snarl, but to a slightly lesser degree.

Sabre all the way.

Hey lobster I'm thinking of selling my silver sabre that's just like yours. What do you think would be a fair asking price?

Are there any stingrays with same nut width as a jazz bass 1.5 nut wiidth

@LowEndLobster

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, those are called the "SLO Special", that have the thinner nut width and profile of the USA Sterling (similar to a Jazz) but still a Stingray body and electronics.

LETS GET READY TO RUMBLEEE !!!!!!!! oh wait…. Thats not my line 🤔 … what was it again?… oh yeah thats right 💡!! (Clears throat). LETSSS GOOOOOOOO !!!!!!

@LowEndLobster

2 жыл бұрын

Just had major flashbacks of Ready 2 Rumble for Sega Dreamcast. XD

I will be back in a while to finish this but I didn't want to forget to share this thing I saw Incognito - You Are In My System ft. Bluey 41,577 views Nov 29, 2021

@russellzauner

2 жыл бұрын

TIL: in addition to the asymmetrical pickup configuration that the Sabre was brought back twice before being discontinued for a third time (Big Al owners collect Sabres as well, apparently) Well this article explained basically everything in a couple paragraphs...and it's exactly how it sounds. 5. Why the black covers? Music Man went to this look when they changed to the 16 pole neck pickup. The bridge pickup still has the 8 magnets, so the black covers give a uniform look. 6. Pickups: Why and what are the advantages of 16 poles in the front and 8 poles in the back pickup? The original design had 8 large magnets in the neck pickup and this caused string vibration problems. The smaller magnets do not have this issue. The bridge pickup is still the 8 large Alnico magnets, and is actually hotter than the StingRay pickup. EDIT: I love it when they give up the secrets right there...that is something I wouldn't have realized right off and would be frustrating chasing that tone blind. Seems obvious in hindsight though, of course.

Sabre sounds best to me.

@LowEndLobster

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Tracy!

Preferred the stingray

I think they are BOTH fine Basses but,..☝🏾🤨 one might ponder real hard on just which to bring (torn!! ..😒decisions, decisions!)..to an “All-Mighty” various Genre gig!!✨🎸🎵 🥹🙄🤔⁉️

Stingray

The Stingray for me! The Sabre is to muddy and dead 💀.. I own a Stingray and Bongo, You can’t beat em’ 😉

Y u show me this 🤣🤣🤣🤣 The Sabre is what I want my ray to sound like Always set my eq with obp treble high so when I roll it off it’s great snd when I boost its never too much then make sure the bass just gives that oomph at the top of the pot I have a 2 band

Sabre wins...