Sandberg JM5 vs Sandberg PM5

[Wraithwrider]

Hiya all.

I recently bought a Sandberg JM5 in sunburst based on being blown over by it in the shop. I've owned it a week and I have to say that the love for this bass grows ever stronger. It has real warmth in jazz form yet great bite with the MM Delano pup soloed in it's full humbucker form.

I have very recently lost my Mum. I'd like to have a bass built that stands in her memory, not to be sold on and in some way a part of my life and akin to my memory of her (I hope this doesn't sound too corny).

Sandberg build very nice custom basses and it occurred to me to commission a 'special' PM5, based in part upon my experience with the JM5.

Can anyone who has played both comment on their relative tone? My thoughts lie along the 3 EQ route as a custom option but with the PM pickups and a wood top with rear routing and no pickguard.

Peter

[joeslam]

First off, my sincerest condolences.

The PM5 to me sounds more 'ballsy' than the JM5, which tome has more bite. Hope that makes some sense. I personally preferred the PM's sound, even though I primarily like jazz basses.

The standard PM does not have a splittable bridge PU like the JM, so you might want to add this as an option as well.

As you already have a JM, I'd definitely recommend you get the PM to round it up. Sandberg make some of the best production basses out there, you just can't go wrong.

[Wraithwrider]

Many thanks Joe, your condolences and advice both.

Peter

[Ezbass]

I find the positioning of the MM p/up on Sandbergs make it sound more like a really ballsy J p/up rather than an MM. So my Basic PM4 sounds like a P/J on steroids. The P p/up soloed is wonderful and then you can blend in the MM for when you need a little extra upper mid. I can really recommend this p/up combination on Sandbergs.

With regard to your "I hope this doesn't sound too corny" comment. 1. It doesn't and 2. If it makes you feel better that's what counts, don't worry what others think. Bereavement is about dealing with the loss in your own way. It's a situation that sucks anyway without people telling you how you act.

[Boombass76]

I have a PM5, and although it's a great bass, it doesn't seem to cut through the mix as nicely as my 79 Fender P or my SR5. When I plugged it in initially, I was blown away, but in a band situation, it's just a bit too 'polite' for my playing style and tonal goal.

With both PUs on, it sounds somewhat like a jazz, and with the bridge humbucker soloed (or favored), it sounds more like a Jazz bridge PU than a MM SR to my ears. This is not a bad thing, I was just a bit surprised (I am aware that its position is more like a J bridge than an SR5).

With the P PU soloed, it sounds P-ish, but it doesn't have that very significant Fender P kinda sound, IMO. It sounds a bit more like a P in passive mode, though. Maybe it's due to the 'reverse P' PU - I don't know. OTOH, the reverse P makes the coils for the high strings sit more like a J, which gives it a great slap tone.

I like it a lot, but I don't love it the way I love my Fender P, Fender J, MM SR5 or Lakland 55-02 (fl)...

[dudelove]

Il take pm, I don't know why, it just my choose