Armand Sabal-Lecco

[mica]

I think this was taken shortly after the big concert he played with Paul Simon at Central Park.

[mica]

This concert's long over, but here's a cool shot.

[Paul Lindemans (palembic)]

Mica,
 
I'll tell you a secret and nobody may know about this. ASL is my absolute hero on bass. I never met him and just listen to his records and see my old copy of the Paul Simon concert all over again.
I think he's one of the most complete bassplayers (at least... that I know).
I had this friend Congolese bassplayer here in Blegium who knows ASL and he already explained some african-styled-basslines to me. Really a guy I once want to hear and maybe meet!
Tanx for posting the pictures!
 
Paul

[keavin]

I recently saw armand w/stanley,& he never touched alembic at all that night

[kungfusheriff]

Well, what do you expect him to find in the LA County lockup!?!
I have yet to find the bass that will keep me from going to other basses, Sabal-Lecco said with a typically Gallic breath of amourousness--quoted from an old issue of Musician magazine.
Sounds familiar for some reason...

[karl]

Yes, ASL was using that old Musicman Sabre in the photo above when I saw him with Stanley at Ronnie Scott's here in London the other month. I'd guess that he's using this with Stanley so that they avoid treading on each other's musical toes, as it were: using such different instruments mean they have very distinct sounds despite playing in the same kind of register. Realy helps to hear who's playing what when both are going hell for leather with the old slappy stuff . . .
 
I must say, since hearing ASL with that Sabre, I've been trying to find one myself - it sounded great - not much luck, though - there don't seem to be many of them around. I'll just have to stick with my trusty old Stingray (and the Alembic, of course!).
 
Karl

[keavin]

those G&L basses are identical in sound to those musicman basses, there's plenty of those cookies lying around. try your local GUITAR SINNER.

[willie]

I know where 1 Sabre is laying around, my house since 1978 or 79, it was my first good bass and I still have it, maybe I'll get it out & play it a little, its kinda been in retirement since the Alembics showed up.

[karl]

Keavin,
 
Yeah, I considered a G&L, but having tried a few, I wasn't blown away - something just doesn't feel quite right about them to me - yeah, I know it was Leo Fender's baby, his attempt to upgrade the Stingray/Sabre but IMHO it all just went downhill after the Stingray . . .
 
Anyway, maybe when I finally try a Sabre, it won't be anything special and I'll just have to put that sound down to ASL's magic hands . . .
 
Willie,
 
How do you find the Sabre? Does it compare favourably to a Stingray? (I won't even bother asking how it compares to an Alembic, because I'm sure it just doesn't!) And if you ever feel the need to sell her on, let me know!
 
Karl

[willie]

Well I usually look in the last place I had it, ha ha. Karl I also have a Stingray 5 although it is an Ernie Ball while the Sabre is an original Music Man, & the 1 thing the Stingray has over the Sabre is the mid-range knob. Stingrays have a 3 band EQ & Sabre's have 2 band EQ. But the Sabre has 2 seperate pick ups while the Stingray has a single pick up with 2 coils in it. The Sabre can do anything from rock to funk to jazz to country and can really churn up the ground. Its a great bass but is currently enjoying an early retirement due to the arrival of my Europa in 95. As far as selling it I've thought of selling it & the Stingray & having Alembic build me a five string 35 scale Europa, still undecided. Both basses are in great shape & the Stingray has a Basslines pre-amp & pick up installed in it. I,m curious what that Sabre would go for.
Willie

[keavin]

or what you can do is have alembic build you a bass with one big FATBOY pickup @ the bridge position that would give you that musicman twang, or they even make a music man replacement p/ups i think.

[willie]

If I was to sell them to have the 5 string built I would have Alembic build it as an Alembic not have them build me a music man copy. I already replaced all the electronics in the Stingray but there's alot of them around, I wouldn't mess with the Sabre since its a rare original, its probably worth alot more to leave it as is, besides it ROCKS. I just prefer my Alembics over anything else. The B string is a little floppy on the Stingray, I can only imagine what it would be like to have a 35 scale Europa with ebony neck laminates, I think I would call that bass The Richter Scale because it would probably show up on them when it was played

[willie]

Karl
How serious are you about getting a Music Man sabre?
Willie

[karl]

Hi Willie,
 
Very interested - you thinking of selling or know somebody who is? If so, drop an email to the address on my profile with any more details (condition, colour/finish, pics if poss, rosewood or maple fretboard? etc) and the price you'd be looking for.
 
Cheers!
 
Karl

[palembic]

Heho ....heero ....when things are settled to everybody's joy and pratcical use ...I'de like to see some pictures too ...you know ...I am a curious guy no candidate for buying or so but I played a Sabre long time ago. BEFORE I went to Edwins shop I was tempted to buy a second hand Sabre in an old shop in Antwerp. I chose the Alembic way.
 
Paul the bad one