Rabea's Superb Signature Music Man Custom Sabre is finally fully available!
I say the Rabea Sabre is fully available - while noting that the Limited 30 Run Frenzied Flame Burst Edition sold out in just a couple of days or so. The Standard Vileblood Burst will be available at all Music Man Dealers, including at Andertons - where it’s priced @ £4,299 (Music Man = $3999).
My upper ceiling for guitar acquisitions is usually at £3.5K, but I would most definitely make an exception for this fantastic guitar. It’s designated as a Sabre Model - but there are so many cool alterations - including significant differences in the carve of the guitar body, heel and neck. A different Bridge format, and of course Rabea’s Signature Bare Knuckle Silo Pickups. The Regular Music Man Sabre model retails at $3,800, and so the much-improved Rabea Sabre @ $3999 ($4K) is something of a bargain really.
I initially much preferred the Frenzied Flame Burst Edition, and bemoaned the timeliness of its incredibly limited run - as I’m not really in a position right now to invest in a new guitar! While I have much warmed to the more practically coloured standard Vileblood Burst Edition - and actually would not mind owning that one either. While there’s no chance of that happening any time soon.
My only tiny niggles here are the 22 frets limit, and the thicker carve of the neck. I have small hands, and the PRS Pattern Thin is pretty much perfect for me - so I would need to try the ’Rabea Sabre’ first hand to satisfy that I can easily get my thumb around the neck and onto the board - as yes - I’m one of those players who uses his thumb too! I also like to have the run of a full 24 frets, even though I don’t much access the very top ones! Those 2 would be my only tiny reservations.
I have done this further visual (above) to illustrate all the key features and differences - which include things like the Arm Carve, Spoon Carve on Lower Cutout, and Lower Profile Heel, as well as the Neck of course! I much prefer the Lower-Profile Custom Tremolo Bridge also. In fact the guitar is beautifully thought out throughout - with so many delicate refinement. As a long-term PRS fan too - I love the accentuated lower cut - which is very much a PRS type touch!
You can of course read up further details on the Music Man Website, while I've included all the essential specifications below :
SPECIFICATIONS for Rabea Massaad Artist Series Sabre
- Model : Rabea Massaad Artist Series Sabre
- Size : 12-7/8" wide, 1-3/4" thick, 38-1/8" long (32.7 cm wide, 4.4 cm thick, 96.8 cm long)
- Body Wood : Alder with thick flame maple top
- Body Finish : Satin
- Body Bindings : Natural Wood
- Bridge : Black Matte, Music Man® vintage rectangular tremolo with cover
- Pickguard : None
- Scale Length : 25-1/2" (64.8 cm)
- Neck Radius : 10" (25.4 cm)
- Frets : 22, .095" x .047", Stainless Steel
- Neck Width : 1-11/16" (43.0 mm) at nut, 2-1/4" (57.2 mm) at last fret
- Neck Wood : Figured Roasted Maple Neck
- Fingerboard : Ebony
- Fret Markers : White Atlante Rings
- Neck Finish : Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend
- Tuning Machines : Schaller M6-IND locking
- Neck Attachment : 5 bolt, sculpted neck joint
- Electronic Shielding : Graphite acrylic resin coated body cavity and aluminum control cover
- Controls : 500kohm volume and tone - .022µF tone capacitor
- Switching : 5-way lever pickup selector
- Pickups : HH - Rabea Massaad Signature Bare Knuckle Silo
- Left Handed : No
- Strings : 10p-13p-17p-30w-42w-52w
- MAP / RRP : $3999
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