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Tim DeBraal (Dbrawl)
Posted on Tuesday, October 16, 2001 - 10:02 am:   

Ok, here's another question, since I got such a quick response to my last one. (Thanks!)

I have a couple Sabers, both USA made in '88. One is a metallic red with two double coils, a three way toggle switch, and another switch to go from double to single coil. It has dot inlays on the neck.

The second one is yellow with a very faint (barely noticeable in most lighting) fade to orange on the edges. This one has two single coils and one double coil with, and it, too, has dot inlays.

Are these S540s, or are the model numbers different based on the pickup configuration?
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Tim DeBraal (Dbrawl)
Posted on Tuesday, October 16, 2001 - 10:13 am:   

Here is a picture of the two guitars...

My two sabers
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Steve (Gitfiddle1)
Posted on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 2:45 am:   

Tim,

Okay, got the '88, '89, & '90 catalogs in front of me. Only 2 Sabre models for '88; 540S & 540SHH. However, the selector switches on the photo guitars are the 1989 version. The '88's have a mini-toggle for each pickup. So assuming a 1988 build date, they're probably early '89 models. Now it gets interesting!

1989 540S models;
540S hum/sing/sing w/edge trem
540SHH hum/hum w/edge trem
540SLTD hum/sing/hum w/edge trem
540SC hum/sing/hum w/vintage trem

Available finishes; BK(black) DY(desert yellow) LR(lipstick red)

I would say these are 540SHHLR & 540SDY. Obviously the "S" migrated to the front of the model number sometime after 1990 giving us the more familiar S470 & S540 models.


Note: The '88 catalog shows 540S Saber, 540R Radius, & 540P Power. The '89 & '90 catalogs also list 540S, 540R, & 540P, but no mention of Sabre, Radius, or Power.


Cheers
Steve
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Tim (Dbrawl)
Posted on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 10:54 am:   

Wow, that's quite a detailed answer. Thanks! I didn't expect to get the color names too. You rock!!!
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Steve (Gitfiddle1)
Posted on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 3:10 pm:   

Tim,

I aim to please! You're welcome. Any chance you'd sell/trade either of them? I'd love to have a whammy equipped "S" to go with my hardtail.

Steve
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Óscar Sarquiz
Posted on Saturday, November 03, 2001 - 11:19 pm:   

Steve: may I add my congratulation to Tim's, since ever since I got it (as a very unexpected gift - long story, strictly upon request) I thought my own Lipstick Red S H/S/H to be a Saber Roadstar Pro Series, due to its 880591 serial number and the fact that it was an '88 catalog that somehow (through a mixup, again, long story) made it fall into my loving hands. To the best of my understanding, this is a Japanese manufactured instrument, probably assembled in the then new U.S. Bethlehem, PA Ibanez facilities, and I'm very attached to it. Your revelations come in very handy, as it is sort of peculiar. Ain't it word it was definitely made in '88 but it's an '89 model? Thanks again, you're helpful above and beyond the call of duty!

Óscar

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