'05 SSII 5 vs late 80's Thumb NT6 vs '79 Musicman Sabre 4

J

johnthebassist

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Hola good bass people

I recently found a late 80's Thumb NT6 for sale and I can't stop thinking about it. I don't have the cash to buy it, so I'm gonna need to sell/trade one or both of my current basses. Good idea? If so, which bass, or both?!

Until I bought the SSII 5 last year, I'd used my Sabre for everything for about 4 years. It's a wonderful bass, there aren't many around and it covers the "traditional" look requirement....but I've not used it once since buying the Streamer.

The SSII 5 has been my "go to" bass for the last year. I love that clear, articulate tone, the growly low-mids and that thunderous bottom when the bass is boosted. I've used it for EVERYTHING for a year.

The Thumb and SSII don't sound a million miles apart, while the 6-string would open up huge avenues of new possibilities (chords!) AND has the additional bite of a vintage Warwick with a wenge neck. BUT, I have used the SSII for everything for a year.

The Sabre sits on the stand waiting to be played...BUT if required it does sound very different to a Thumb or a Streamer AND it covers that traditional thing.

So, which bass(es) to lose?!! Some decision-making help would be much appreciated.

Also, the Thumb 6 has a 2-band pre-amp and Bartolinis. Anyone know what kind of pre-amp they used as standard back then?

Cheers

John
 
Keep both MusicMan and SSII.



If you must, trade SSII.
In my opinion..
 
Hi John,
Preamp was MEC :)

You have to decide for yourself if you want to keep collectible items, or real instruments. I would not trade a SSII IMHO, it is one of the best basses in the universe!
 
Thanks guys

Just popped in and had a try of it alongside my SSII. Really interesting. It's as heavy as hell (of course), pretty neck heavy (due to big ole schaller tuners) and much more articulate than my SSII...but without as much bottom end. I guess the neck pickup placement has a lot to do with that. I don't think I could replace my SSII with it, that's the bottom line. I would love to own the Thumb, it sounded so direct and punchy, I just need to find another way of doing it. Maybe "bye bye Sabre". We'll see...

Thanks again
 
why vs? give it a + and everything is alright! amount of strings such as sound possibilities would be covered;)
 
11080 said:
Keep both MusicMan and SSII.
Click to expand...

+1.

Parting with the Sabre is waaay macabre.
Replacing a Sabre with a Thumb is dumb.


OK, so much for semi-semi-haiku. Sabres
are cool but I let mine go, replaced by an
EBMM Sterling ["JazzMan" PU config] and
I can say that a Sterling is simply a much
better version of the Sabre. Acoarst, MMs
are kinda pricey in the UK, but the Sabre
is NOT irreplaceable so long as EBMM will
still sell you a Sterling.

I'm no fan of Thumbs, so no comment on
the relative merits of keeping vs trading.
 
Well I went with the Thumb '88 NT6 AND the Sabre. Hurrah! Thumb weighs more than a small village in Bavaria and I probably will sell the Sabre when I can get the right price for it, but for now they're both mine. Will post photos of the new bass when I get around to taking some. It's absolutely mint...but very, very, VERY heavy!

Thanks for your help in draining my bank account, everyone. Much obliged.
 
Hehehehe!

Good call mate, and I personally I am very happy to see you visiting our forum so often :)
 
Sabre?? I will pickup thumb 6nt.

SSI and II both great, but the thumb 6 is "the thing", I got all of them, and that is what I feel!
 
`



Ut ougghh .... EBMM just reintro'ed the Sabre.

FORWARD ! ... into the Past !
 
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