A $350 take on a $2k bass. Does it nail it?

[40Hz]

I think you're reading something that's not there. I've owned a couple of SX basses over the years. They would be my "spare" bass that I brought to gigs in case something happened to my main bass. They were adequate, which means "satisfactory or acceptable in quality." There is a bias on TB that if you don't say something is fantastic, or great, then you are slamming it. I guess I just don't get people that are desperate to elevate a bass beyond what it is.

I think you might be reading a bit more into it than is there as well. I think it's more that some people are just delighted to find something that punches well above it's weight for the price and they get enthusiastic about it. I don't detect any desperation there. People who play inexpensive gear rarely have any illusions they're impressing anybody with it. Which is not the case with many of the high end gear players I've run into over the years who seek affirmation for what they use and bristle whenever someone suggests that maybe their $5K JB type bass isn't all it's cracked up to be in any significant way. So what I guess I don't get are people who so identify with their material possessions that they interpret any critique of them as a personal attack on themselves. As in: Love me? Then love my gear. Not saying that's you. But there are plenty enough like that out there that some people will push back when they suspect that's who they're dealing with.

And shifting gears for a moment, where's the opportunity for unexpected delight with high end stuff? I mean if you bought something like a Fodera or (my fav) a Wal, and find it's an utter joy to own and play, is there any real surprise there? My feeling is: Wow! Sounds great. Good to know the five digits I plunked down actually got me something. Or as one Wal player replied when I complimented him on the tone of his Wal: "Thanks! It damn well better for what they charge you for one."

As far as "beyond what it is" goes, who gets to make that call? My feeling is the person who actually plays one more than anybody else. Most of the heavy knocks I see on most inexpensive things here don't offer anything concrete to support their "what it is" characterization. Instead they offer short drive-be snipes like "Well...if you appreciate quality..." - or "Once you try a real <fill in the blank> PM me and tell me you feel the same way about it." -or- "Well...if it's good enough for you..." and similar. Which basically boils down to: "You don't know what you're talking about, plus you have no taste - however, unlike you, I do!"

But whatever. I still think as far as the above videos went, the HB sounded better. To me. And in some respects that's all that really matters. What sounds good to each of us individually.

 

[Al Krow]

And shifting gears for a moment, where's the opportunity for unexpected delight with high end stuff? I mean if you bought something like a Fodera or (my fav) a Wal, and find it's an utter joy to own and play, is there any real surprise there? My feeling is: Wow! Sounds great. Good to know the five digits I plunked down actually got me something. Or as one Wal player replied when I complimented him on the tone of his Wal: "Thanks! It damn well better for what they charge you for one."

Hah very true. But a bass-face grin is still exactly that! I'd share exactly that sentiment you've expressed about my Spector Euro 5LX. But the fact is the opposite can also be true - we spend a hefty chunk and the bass actually falls a little short of what we hoped and end up being a little (or lot) disappointed. We've all been there, right?
Gotta be a better result when a piece of kit under-promises and over-delivers, rather than the other way around?

 

[40Hz]

Hah very true. But a bass-face grin is still exactly that! I'd share exactly that sentiment you've expressed about my Spector Euro 5LX. But the fact is the opposite can also be true - we spend a hefty chunk and the bass actually falls a little short of what we hoped and end up being a little (or lot) disappointed. We've all been there, right?
Gotta be a better result when a piece of kit under-promises and over-delivers, rather than the other way around?

I hear you. I really like my Euro Spector. But it didn’t surprise me. I was already very familiar with Spector basses long before I got myself one. So I expected nothing less from it because of that. And (fortunately) I wasn’t disappointed.

On the other hand, the two biggest good surprises came from: a $350 Squier Matt Freeman PB that’s since become my all time favorite PB; and a $300 Gretsch Junior Jet. That inexpensive little short-scale floored me with how well built it’s and how great it sounds with that TV Jones designed pickup Gretsch put in the model I have.

 

[TrustRod]

Based on the 2 videos in the OP the HB crushes the Sandberg by a huge margin. And since no one can hear what you paid I would pick the HB.

Switch the basses between players and have them redo the videos and I'd probably say the same thing for the Sandberg.

 

[Al Krow]

Based on the 2 videos in the OP the HB crushes the Sandberg by a huge margin. And since no one can hear what you paid I would pick the HB.

Switch the basses between players and have them redo the videos and I'd probably say the same thing for the Sandberg.

Yeah it's weird, you would have thought that there might be some really good clips of the VM5 being played as it seems to be regarded quite highly by Sandberg fans, but I didn't find too much better on YT. If any of you do manage to finder a better Sandberg clip, please do upload.

I understand the weight of the Alder (Creme or LPB) HB is 4.5 to 4.7kg, so that should just about be manageable with a decent strap, and some lightweight tuners would bring it down to sub 10 lbs.

 

[40Hz]

Switch the basses between players and have them redo the videos and I'd probably say the same thing for the Sandberg.

Agree. The player is also is a major part of it.