LeftyBassist.com

Just arrived today:






She is well worn, but in a cool way. I am not usually a relic guy (well I actually am a relic myself, but not usually into that in a bass) but I like this.
Clearly the electronics have been modded, with 2 extra switches installed. I think one might be a series/parallel/single coil and the other active/passive, but not sure. It does have great tone, although the output is a little less than I expected. It is the daddy to the L2000, and I guess I was thinking it would have that kind of volume when wide open. Any thoughts on the added switches? I have a really good guitar store near me that is a Musicman dealer, I was going to have them take a look at it to see if they can figure out the added switches. If they can be removed, would you recommend that? Also there is an indicator light, which only lights up when you touch a string to a pole piece, and it flickers briefly when you switch the 3 way switch.
The case is interesting too:

There are stickers on it from St. Paul:

This bass has a history, and it has been played. Kinda cool.
Any thoughts you have on this would be appreciated. Not a lot on the interweb about these.

I know zero about them. But that is badass

very cool

Thanks guys I threw together a quick vid on this vs. my '83 L2000. It's not really a fair comparison because I just put new strings on the Sabre and the L2K is in passive, but man I like the tone in the MM. I take back the quiet comment, I think I just had the crazy switches set wrong. I think I will leave them on the setting I have on the vid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCXaa8PSZXQ

This is going to my next band practice. I want to see how it does in the mix. I predict it will do well.

I had a '79 Sabre once. A refinished natural with a rosewood board. And the original case like yours. An evil bass

I also had a Sabre that I bought used in 85,black on black with a maple board.A little on the heavy side (a bit over 10 lbs) but a great sounding and playing bass. The 2 pick up design was a first for Musicman. Very powerful sound and sat great in the band mix. Enjoy, they're pretty rare.

Nice score! I continue to be amazed at how many more Pre-EB lefty Sabres have been spotted vs. Stingrays, as they were far less popular. I love these basses. Killer slap tones! And you got a teardrop case too. Is yours a true lefty case? MM were known to ship the lefties in righty cases, so you'd have to put the bass in face first. (My Stingray came with a righty teardrop case). Knuckleheads.

Here's my ''80, identical to yours:


The stock electronics are: 1 master volume, 1 treble, and 1 bass knobs; the 3 switches are one 3-way pickup selector, one phase switch, and one treble boost switch. Not sure what the rest of your modified switches do, however.

If you don't mind my asking, what the serial # or range of yours? Mine is serial #C004901. (The serial # should be etched into the bridge). The reason I ask is all Pre-EB lefty Sabres and 'Rays I've spotted to date can be traced to a single manufacture run in February/March, 1980. (Bodies usually made in 3rd week of Feb, necks in March). So I'm guessing yours falls within that window, unless you surprise me.

Damn! You lucky dog. One of these has been on my bass bucket list for a long time.

Thanks for all of your comments. PJ - the serial is C005294. I looked on musicmanbass.org and that falls in the 1980 range it looks like. I have been searching the history of production. I know there was a falling out between Leo and Musicman but I think in 1980 the MM basses were still being made in Leo's factory in Fullerton. Is that your understanding? And yes the case is a lefty
Jayce - yes I do feel lucky it is nice

I did a little more research on this bass. I think it belonged to the bass player from a band called The Criminals. You can see the sticker from the bank on the case:



I did find a bill that showed this band played at the Stroh's Winter Carnival at the St. Pauls Civic Center in Feb 1988. Still searching for for more info.