Sandberg California series help

JDtheBassPlayer · #1 10-16-2011, 06:49 PM

So I have been wanting to sell my first bass, an Epiphone thunderbird goth, and I wanted to buy a one of the Sandberg California series. It doesn't really mater if it's the V or T (V being like a p bass and T a Jazz) I like them both. I found one seller in the U.S. Diffusion audio and I just wanted to know what kind of things the bass should have. First off I play more metal then rock, I am really into extreme types of metal right now, but I need to also be good for playing stoner rock and hard rock. I'm most likely to stick with a four string and passive pickups. All I want is an experts advice and thoughts on wood. Ok, European ash or Alder for body wood? would walnut be a good top for any of those? Rosewood, Maple, or Ebony for finger board? now I think they will either put a maple neck or the same as the body wood, I don't know about that part. Also, has anyone played a Sandberg, and if so which one is your favorite. Thanks!

CORBS · #2 10-16-2011, 07:25 PM

Of those two I'd recommend the T model. I would go Ash for the body wood, 70s pickup spacing if possible, and maple or ebony for the board. I know some luthiers make or supply all-Ash necks but it is rare, I don't have any info on that sorry. I know I've never heard of anyone using Alder for a neck wood.

bongomania · #3 10-16-2011, 07:44 PM

The neck will be maple, that's the only option available there.

As far as the rest, in "extreme metal" the wood is just as irrelevant as the socks on your feet. The wood of the body and fretboard will have NO meaning in that context. If you have a mighty-sounding amp and cab(s), you could be playing a koa ukulele bass with a piezo pickup and it would crush skulls--never mind "tonewood", or one onboard pre versus another.

You probably want a bright-sounding bass, so a bridge pickup will help, and stainless strings will help, and maybe an onboard preamp that has some gain boost if you want to overdrive your amp more. Aside from that, it's all in what looks and feels good to you.

The same is essentially true for hard rock etc.

JDtheBassPlayer · #4 10-16-2011, 07:59 PM

Thanks! The thing with the pickups is that they are Sandberg brand, and I don't want to buy some passive Kloppmann's for $250 extra. I mean I might add them in with some other stuff, I will most likely end up selling my old bass to a fellow upright bass player/ friend at school, and might sell my Fender Strat and Epiphone SG, and get my dad's old Gibson SG firebrand. So I'll have money from selling old stuff. So it's a yes on the T bass, now what about the walnut top how will that do, give me you thought on what the combo should be, because I already have a pretty good amp set up

sysexguy · #5 10-19-2011, 10:03 PM

Hi JD, Andy from Diffusion Audio here,

All active Sandberg's also have a push pull pot to bypass the active electronics. The T and TM models feature Delano pickups and different models are available with Kloppmann, Hausell, Delano and Sandberg pickups. If you looking for a particular sound, we can find a suitable model.

You may want to consider an MM model for metal....the push pull could be reversed so that your default position is passive....or we could make a passive bass. MM's also have the option of splitting the coils for a more vintage sound

The walnut top on a TT or TM would be an excellent choice, body wood is then Mahogany which has a beefy tone, you may also want to check out the Panther TT in Walnut as it's a bit sleeker, both body shape and neck, great metal bass

Andy