Sandner basses

swingingoodtime · #1 05-05-2009, 02:53 AM

Hi all,

I'm a newbie looking to buy his first double bass; been looking around (Australia) for a reasonable quality first bass up to about $2500-ish. Would prefer to avoid laminate so as to avoid having to upgrade too soon (and that I prefer the sound & resonance of a solid). I'm not against Chinese basses if they come recommended, but want to avoid a CCB.

The choices in Sydney are frustratingly limited. Dammit, why is all the choice in VIC, QLD or SA?! (I'm just asking for a raft of anti-NSW posts to that one, aren't I?).

Anyway, has anyone ever tried the Sandner range of basses? They're apparently a German company with German & Shanghai manufacturing, the basses being made in the latter factory. They have two models: SB-2 (student model) & CB-2 ('concert' model). Both all-solids, about $2300-2600 for the SB & anywhere between $3600-$4500 for the CB, depending on where you go (there are two sellers in VIC).

The SB-2 looks particularly interesting, although a new set of decent strings would immediately add to the price (comes with 'Sandner' brand).

Thanks!

MIKMAN · #2 05-05-2009, 02:00 PM

Last year the National Conservatorium in Athens bought seven Sadners, all of them concert models, for 3.000 euros each. They are decent instruments, well made in China, with excellent tonewood. All of them needed a thorough set up but after it they delivered a warm, focused arco sound. One of my friends strung his one with Spiros mittel and the instrument delivered a good jazz sound with tons of sustain and strong volume. IMHO they represent a good value for money choice, so if there are not many alternatives ask your teacher to try thoroughly some of them and ... good luck.

swingingoodtime · #3 05-06-2009, 04:29 AM

Hi Mikman,

Awesome, thanks heaps for that; there's barely anything out there on these basses so the feedback is much appreciated. They seem to have a good heritage, so it's good to hear the product itself is good enough to be bought by the Athens' Con.

If anyone else has experience with these basses, I'd love to hear their thoughts, particularly the SB-2 (Mikman's feedback was on the CB-2).

Cheers,

Paul

swingingoodtime · #4 06-11-2009, 08:07 PM

...bump.
Has anyone else tried these basses...? Thanks!

vin*tone · #5 06-29-2010, 04:00 AM

How did you go with this? I'm considering one myself.
Looks like you bought something going by the avatar

.

swingingoodtime · #6 06-29-2010, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vin*tone

How did you go with this? I'm considering one myself.
Looks like you bought something going by the avatar

.

Yes, but not a Sandner; I never got to try one so never went down that path. I asked Jouelline Strings to put me in touch with any NSW buyers, but he never came back to me on that. I ended up getting a Korean Bogey (apparently); hybrid, ply ribs. Love it.

However, check out this thread:
2009: A (Chinese) Bass Odyssey...

hallmark (username) has just bought an SB2 and may post a review soon.

Good luck in your search!

vin*tone · #7 07-05-2010, 08:34 PM

Thanks man.

hallmark · #8 07-18-2010, 10:03 PM

Hi I purchased this train wreck of a bass from a store in melbourne for $1890 and it's the worst decision I have ever made! Yes it is solid wood, but not quality wood. The thing is held together with plastic part's and the ebony is cheap painted wood. The bridge is crap and is $500 or so to replace. Mine had a massive bump in the neck which cost's around $800 to fix (which I won't do), and the bass bar underneath will collapse fairly quickly destroying the whole damn thing. The conman I bought off will not refund money as he is a conman who does not know how to fix the item properly. So. I'm stuck with a piece of junk and a large credit debt.

hallmark · #9 07-18-2010, 10:04 PM

Hi I purchased this train wreck of a bass from a store in melbourne (sandner sb2) for $1890 and it's the worst decision I have ever made! Yes it is solid wood, but not quality wood. The thing is held together with plastic part's and the ebony is cheap painted wood. The bridge is crap and is $500 or so to replace. Mine had a massive bump in the neck which cost's around $800 to fix (which I won't do), and the bass bar underneath will collapse fairly quickly destroying the whole damn thing. The conman I bought off will not refund money as he is a conman who does not know how to fix the item properly. So. I'm stuck with a piece of junk and a large credit debt.

swingingoodtime · #10 07-18-2010, 11:24 PM

Hi hallmark,

Man, I'm sorry to hear of your problem;

thanks for giving us all the heads up, though.

Re seeking a resolution, perhaps take it up with the VIC Dept of Fair Trading (or whatever it's called); you may be able to get a result on the basis of false advertising (painted non-ebony f/b, for a start). Strongly suggest you start saving/downloading webpages of his advertisements as quickly as possible before he changes any of his descriptions.

Good luck! Our thoughts are with you in your plight.

Paul

vin*tone · #11 07-19-2010, 05:03 AM

Man that sucks. I feel for you man - I weighed up the Sandner option and could so very easily be in your shoes right now. Talk to Vincent Hayes about a set up - he knows his stuff and may be affordable. I can highly recommend Puglisi but he is .... less affordable.

swingingoodtime · #12 07-19-2010, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vin*tone

Man that sucks. I feel for you man - I weighed up the Sandner option and could so very easily be in your shoes right now. Talk to Vincent Hayes about a set up - he knows his stuff and may be affordable. I can highly recommend Puglisi but he is .... less affordable.

+1 on seeing Vincent (on a budget) or Ben Puglisi if you're cashed up. Although more expensive, by reputation, Ben may be better turning at sow's ears into silk purses...

But DON'T do anything until you've exhausted all your legal options & avenues; you don't want to risk voiding any legal warranty rights by 'modifying' the instrument.

btw; make sure you download both his eBay ads as well as his website ads to show he consistently advertises what he does (ie, that it's not a one-off typo).

Maybe also take your beef to Sandner itself (http://www.franzsandner.de/en/contact.asp); J's just a distributor, so maybe rattling the cage that way may also produce results. Get a luthier to make a decent appraisal of the state & quality of the instrument & see what they have to say; I'm sure they won't be too happy with bad press like this (ah, the joys of a WORLD-WIDE web...)

I wonder if the CB-2's are the same, though? Mikman mentioned above about the Greek Conservatorium buying them & that they were supposed to be quite good...

(the basses, that is, not the Conservatorium. I'm sure the Conservatorium is very good... alright, I'll shut up now...)

MIKMAN · #13 07-19-2010, 11:14 AM

The Sadner basses are produced in China, in a factory near Shanghai. Sadner buys them mainly "in white" and after an oil varnish and a decent set up delivers them worldwide. Some of them are very good instruments and some of them made me less then happy when i laid my hands on them.
Sadner, as i gathered, delivers some of them as they were finished in China. Well, i saw two of them, with this horrible glossy polyurethane finish, very thick top plates and a hint of white glue in the linings inside (but i can't testify it under oath, since i hadn't my light and mirror for a thorough inspection). So, it depends on what product reaches the final customer and IMHO it's not good to generalise about the whole product line.
The Athens Con selected the high grade basses, specified the set up and purshased from Germany decent and best value for money instruments. At least a couple of them are floor shaking canons.
That's my whole experience from Sadners.
Mike

swingingoodtime · #14 07-20-2010, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIKMAN

The Athens Con selected the high grade basses, specified the set up and purshased from Germany decent and best value for money instruments.
Mike

Ah, I should have thought about that: Of course the Athens Con would have got to pick & choose from the cream of the crop. They carry prestige & are not exactly the kind of client you want to develop a bad rep with (yes, yes, I know that TECHNICALLY you shouldn't want to develop a bad rep with any of your clients...)

Dear, oh dear. I hope this works out well for you, Hallmark.