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 Post subject: 1980 Sabre in France - help/thoughts wanted
PostPosted: December 31st, 2016, 4:21 am 
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Joined: February 21st, 2011, 10:51 am
Posts: 521
Location: London, UK
Hello fellow lefties and (almost) happy new year!
I'm chasing the 1980 MM Sabre on Arnis site. I contacted the seller in France, and he tells me the following:

Quote:
Le propriétaire précédent y avait monté un manche neuf de Musicman Stingray avec plaque de fixation 6 vis, car Le manche original de son instrument nécessitait une rectification de la touche, ceci étant plus compliqué et plus onéreux au final.

L'instrument m'a été revendu remonté avec le manche d'origine, mais injouable, les possibilités de réglages ne suffisant plus du tout.
J'ai donc confié l'instrument aux luthiers DNG à Paris. Il a été ainsi défretté, la touche longuement et précisément rectifiée
(Par Nicolas Petibon), vernie, refettée, et revernie à nouveau.

La Basse ensuite réglée ensemble une première fois. (Total Devis et facture en pièce-jointe, 380 euros)

Après l'avoir jouée un peu, elle est ok, mais décision d'un deuxième séjour chez DNG pour un deuxième réglage et quelques modifications de manière à l'optimiser :
Vérification de l'électronique (impeccable), changement du sillet pour obtenir un espacement plus proche de celui d'une Jazz bass et ainsi limiter les déplacements et faciliter le jeu (Le sillet d'original reste bien sûr disponible) (Voir facture 60 Euros)

La basse est désormais parfaite, très facile à jouer, réglage optimal, son extraordinaire en vérité.
Nous avons gardé la plaque 6 vis de fixation du manche, Le "Micro-tilt" (réglage supplémentaire initial d'inclinaison du manche au niveau de la plaque de fixation originale est tout-à-fait opérationnel et efficace)


Google translate:
Quote:
The previous owner had mounted a new sleeve of Musicman Stingray with fixing plate 6 screws, car The original handle of its Instrument required rectification of the key, this being more complicated and more expensive in the end.
The instrument was sold to me again with the original handle, but unplayable, the possibilities of adjustments being no longer sufficient at all.
So I entrusted the instrument to the luthiers DNG in Paris. It was thus defeated, the touch long and accurately rectified
(By Nicolas Petibon), varnished, reworked, and revernie again. The Bass then settled together a first time. (Total Estimate and
Invoice in attachment, 380 euros)
After having played it a little, it is ok, but decision of a second stay at DNG for a second adjustment and some modifications of the
Way to optimize it:
Electronic checking (impeccable), change of the nut for obtain a spacing closer to that of a Jazz bass and thus
Limit travel and facilitate play (The original nut remains of course available) (See invoice 60 Euros)

The bass is now perfect, very easy to play, optimal setting, sound extraordinary in truth.
We kept the plate 6 fixing screw of the handle, The "Micro-tilt" (Additional initial adjustment of tilt of the handle at the level of the
Original mounting plate is fully operational and efficient)


Can someone make some sense of what was done to the bass?
What is a "manche" (sleeve)? is it the neck? by "rectification of the key" does he mean truss rod?

The owner sent me quite a few pictures and the bass looks in really good condition, but at EUR 2600 it might be too expensive if it was heavily modified, no? thoughts?


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 Post subject: Re: 1980 Sabre in France - help/thoughts wanted
PostPosted: December 31st, 2016, 10:56 am 
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Joined: November 20th, 2013, 6:09 pm
Posts: 1240
Location: Cincinnati
Apparently, "monté" also means "handle," which he refers to several times. I suppose this means the neck, based on the description of the work done to it.

"Touche" (key) directly translates to fingerboard. I guess he is actually referring to the truss rod. I don't know what "adjustments" can be done to a fingerboard.

It sounds to me like he received the bass with a Stingray neck on it, along with the original Sabre neck, which was warped and the truss rod maxed out. He then twice took the Sabre neck to a luthier who got the neck straightened out, and put a shim in the pocket.

Oh, and a new nut was installed for narrower string spacing.

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 Post subject: Re: 1980 Sabre in France - help/thoughts wanted
PostPosted: December 31st, 2016, 11:34 am 
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Joined: May 1st, 2013, 8:58 pm
Posts: 469
Belinmad, I am French and can communicate with the seller on your behalf if you want me to...


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 Post subject: Re: 1980 Sabre in France - help/thoughts wanted
PostPosted: December 31st, 2016, 11:47 am 
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Joined: May 1st, 2013, 8:58 pm
Posts: 469
Superheavy did a great job: indeed he talks about getting the bass with the original defective neck (the previous owner had temporary installed a Stingray neck because the repairs were too expensive) the seller took the effort and paid for repairing the original neck. He had a luthier work on it twice, including a complete refret, revarnish and changing the nut for a closer string spacing a la Jazz Bass. Original nut available.

Now he claims the bass works perfect with the original neck.

Touche= fingerboard
Monte /remonte = installed/reinstalled


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 Post subject: Re: 1980 Sabre in France - help/thoughts wanted
PostPosted: January 1st, 2017, 3:30 am 
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Joined: November 30th, 2011, 3:01 pm
Posts: 179
Location: France
I'm the previous owner, so I can give some info about the bass too if needed. Don't hesitate to send me a PM.

I've bought it with a recent Stingray neck installed, and a spare Sabre neck which I don't think is the original one.
The Sabre neck is now installed and has been fixed.
At the time my luthier told me the Sabre neck had a problem, We tried to install it, set it up, it was playable with a average action (I've played it like that for many months) but cannot go lower without heavy fixing, which I chose not to do at the time.
I've sold it like that some months later, at a very low price. Thought he tried it and we discussed about it during the sale, It appeared to be not clear enough for the actual buyer so I paid for the neck repair as well afterwards.

The bass sounded incredibly well when it was mine, it is probably still the case. The electronics were working perfectly.

My one and only nightmare sale, and it is painful to see it for sale again.


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 Post subject: Re: 1980 Sabre in France - help/thoughts wanted
PostPosted: January 1st, 2017, 6:05 am 
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Joined: March 9th, 2008, 7:46 am
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Location: West Orange, NJ
It doesn't surprise me that there were neck issues with this Sabre. Nearly every lefty Sabre I've encountered, including my own, has made mention of some sort of neck problems.

Still, absolutely killer basses if and when you get them set up right/repaired. Arguably the best slap sound produced out of any MM bass.


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 Post subject: Re: 1980 Sabre in France - help/thoughts wanted
PostPosted: January 1st, 2017, 8:47 am 
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Joined: February 21st, 2011, 10:51 am
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Location: London, UK
iozz wrote:
I'm the previous owner, so I can give some info about the bass too if needed. Don't hesitate to send me a PM.

I've bought it with a recent Stingray neck installed, and a spare Sabre neck which I don't think is the original one.
The Sabre neck is now installed and has been fixed.
At the time my luthier told me the Sabre neck had a problem, We tried to install it, set it up, it was playable with a average action (I've played it like that for many months) but cannot go lower without heavy fixing, which I chose not to do at the time.
I've sold it like that some months later, at a very low price. Thought he tried it and we discussed about it during the sale, It appeared to be not clear enough for the actual buyer so I paid for the neck repair as well afterwards.

The bass sounded incredibly well when it was mine, it is probably still the case. The electronics were working perfectly.

My one and only nightmare sale, and it is painful to see it for sale again.


Thanks iozz, I just messaged you.


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 Post subject: Re: 1980 Sabre in France - help/thoughts wanted
PostPosted: January 2nd, 2017, 9:49 am 
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Joined: December 13th, 2008, 7:03 am
Posts: 807
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Hi all,

I believe this is the bass I sold to Iozz.

Here is what I know from that bass:

I bought it here from Andrew few years ago. When I bought the bass, it was fitted (monté) with a Sting Ray neck with a rosewood fingerboard installed at the EB shop if I remember correctly from Andrew. Later I found an original Sabre maple neck on Ebay to make it closer to an original Sabre bass for the heck of it. Spent some $$ to get it. I did prefer the SR neck for sound and playability. That was my back-up Sabre bass, so I sold it to Iozz with the 2 necks. Is that maple neck the original? May be yes, may be no but I bought them separately.

This is what I know from that bass. Electronics are perfect on that bass. The only odd thing is the backward Bass and Treble pots from my other Sabre. I don't know which one of the pots should be closer to the jack.

Sly.


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 Post subject: Re: 1980 Sabre in France - help/thoughts wanted
PostPosted: January 2nd, 2017, 11:09 am 
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Joined: February 21st, 2011, 10:51 am
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Location: London, UK
Thanks Sly - that's useful. I found your thread: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=5710&hilit=sabre

I've contacted the seller and asked him to reconsider the price. We'll see.


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 Post subject: Re: 1980 Sabre in France - help/thoughts wanted
PostPosted: January 2nd, 2017, 11:37 am 
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Joined: December 13th, 2008, 7:03 am
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Location: Montreal, Quebec
belinmad wrote:
Thanks Sly - that's useful. I found your thread: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=5710&hilit=sabre

I've contacted the seller and asked him to reconsider the price. We'll see.

Great, good luck ;-)


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