Club Sandberg (part 2)

[MaglorOnBass]

Then a VM4 sounds like it would fit very well with your requirements.
Mine has the standard Sandberg pickups. I don't find the P to be very "traditional" in sound, although I do like it, a lot. If you want a more traditional P sound you might want to choose a different pickup perhaps when ordering?

My favorite pickup currently is a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound in reverse configuration. Not sure how that would compare, but my understanding is that the QP is not traditional.

 

[MaglorOnBass]

Any more input about the balance and weight of the VM4?

I’d like as much reassurance as I can get before I invest a couple grand.

 

[_Obra_]

Any more input about the balance and weight of the VM4?

I’d like as much reassurance as I can get before I invest a couple grand.

My California is exactly 8lbs, but it is Hardcore reserved, which means that all wood is roasted, so I assume that's the one of a reasons of the light weight. You can also choose between different models of ''SL superlight''.
Related to neck dive, there is simply NO such thing with Sandberg.
You definitely need to tray and feel one of them, I would recommend Masterpiece if You are lucky enough to found one in the store.
You will be amazed like I was when i touched the first one of them, after more then 30 years of playing Fender and Musicman.
Good luck finding your piece

 

[scubaduba]

My VM5 is just under 9 lbs which is fantastic for a 5 string. Alder body with rosewood fingerboard.

No neck dive. Superb play ability and neck dive.

 

[BasEd]

Bark is a good word for the sound! And I think a little buzz adds to it. It doesn’t sound quite as scooped and polite as my Fender Jazz (maybe it has more mids) but this gives it more bite which I love. I prefer it’s slap tone to my Fender. Bark and Bite!

I’ve been playing bass on and off for 25 years and have gotten serious about it over the last couple years. I have bought, sold, and modified quite a few basses. I have decided that these are the primary factors in choosing my ideal bass:

1) Balance. I can’t tolerate neck dive, or frankly any pull on the neck. I like a slight neck up position and I want it to float there. I put Hipshot ultralights on my basses to facilitate this.

2) Weight. I want under 9lbs, preferably right around 8.

3) I love a P pickup, and I’m about to modify my second bass to have the pickup in reverse configuration. I think the midrange and tonal balance across the strings is ideal with a reverse P - I don’t know why this isn’t the industry standard.

4) I want something in the bridge for tonal variety. J pickups often seem much quieter than a P pickup. I don’t have a lot of experience with MM pickups, but I have a feeling they can compete well with a P.

With all that in mind, I’m looking at the Sandberg California VM4.

What say you all? I’m particularly interested in what you all have to say about the balance and weight of this bass as that can’t be found in the specs.

I have a Sandberg Marlowedk (similar to the California TT4) and the balance is fantastic. It weighs 8lb 7oz. The only other basses I’ve had with such good balance is my current Shuker (best balance of all) and an EBMM Stingray which I no longer have.

 

[Cuzzie]

@MaglorOnBass i have played all the range, only the 48 goes more towards horizontal but it’s not neck dive - all else are beautifully balanced

 

[mcnach]

Any more input about the balance and weight of the VM4?

I’d like as much reassurance as I can get before I invest a couple grand.

My VM4 is 8.1lbs. It feels great, balance is perfect, really comfortable... If you want even lighter you can request it.

edit: mine is standard, no ageing or roasted neck etc etc... These basses are generally light, from what I gather. The body is smaller than a Precision, which must go some way towards it's low weight without getting into selecting woods particularly. Their Super Light series get you even lighter instruments.

 

[Jughead6]

Any more input about the balance and weight of the VM4?

I’d like as much reassurance as I can get before I invest a couple grand.

As others have stated, they all balance well (although the 48 is a bit quirky). I have both Series I and Series II California TM4 basses, and Series II are generally lighter and subjectively better balanced than Series I. This applies to V's as well as T's.

 

[MaglorOnBass]

Thanks for the feedback!

How do they manage to meet requests for a lighter instrument? Different chunk of alder? Different wood altogether? Is the “super light” basswood?

 

[Jughead6]

Thanks for the feedback!

How do they manage to meet requests for a lighter instrument? Different chunk of alder? Different wood altogether? Is the “super light” basswood?

The new SL's are made from Empress. I've built bass bodies from Empress myself, and it is very light but also very easy to damage. It's a bit like Basswood but it is better looking, so better for transparent finishes.

I don't think Sandberg makes an SL version of the VM.

 

[Cuzzie]

Yep - as above its Paulownia the wood, before that Cedar with Norwegian Maple neck - fantastic instruments

 

[anton72]

I’ve been playing bass on and off for 25 years and have gotten serious about it over the last couple years. I have bought, sold, and modified quite a few basses. I have decided that these are the primary factors in choosing my ideal bass:

1) Balance. I can’t tolerate neck dive, or frankly any pull on the neck. I like a slight neck up position and I want it to float there. I put Hipshot ultralights on my basses to facilitate this.

2) Weight. I want under 9lbs, preferably right around 8.

3) I love a P pickup, and I’m about to modify my second bass to have the pickup in reverse configuration. I think the midrange and tonal balance across the strings is ideal with a reverse P - I don’t know why this isn’t the industry standard.

4) I want something in the bridge for tonal variety. J pickups often seem much quieter than a P pickup. I don’t have a lot of experience with MM pickups, but I have a feeling they can compete well with a P.

With all that in mind, I’m looking at the Sandberg California VM4.

What say you all? I’m particularly interested in what you all have to say about the balance and weight of this bass as that can’t be found in the specs.

You actually did tick all the boxes of my preferences too including the reverse P. The answer is VM4, VM5 for me as I actually a 5 str player. I don't own one myself but I had a chance to play VM-5 Nighthawk at Sandberg NAMM booth in January and all I can say I still regret I didn't get one off the booth. It was 8.8 lbs and balanced perfectly. So VM5 is no my radar too.

 

[SB Service]

Hi Mike,

Thank you for your response.

The best way to describe it is it feels like you are running your fingers over a piece of paper rather than glass.

It's the strangest thing but under a bright light you simply can not see any imperfection. But running your hand over it you can definitely feel a rather dramatic change from the smooth gloss of the rest of the bass. It's not subtle when you touch it, it's very obvious. Not sure what to do at this point. Suggestions? I will try to take pictures of it today and see if it can be seen.

Strange, let´s see what the luthier will say. I hope he can solve the problem.

 

[BasEd]

Does anyone know if Sandberg have a recommended way of setting up the truss rod?

 

[dwellers]

The same setup like me. Only problem now is that I can't setup my Fenders like that

The luthier I showed my bass to today was shocked at how straight the neck was and how low the action is. In fact it's a little too low. He suggested some very slight truss rod relief and raising the action just a bit. He usually sets the E at 3mm at the 12th fret but mine was about 1mm. Just a bit too low. I think with some new, heavier gauge strings (50-105) and some slight adjustments it will be perfect!

Oh yeah, and he fixed the finish right up. It was some kind of material that had splattered and it left a residue that couldn't be seen until a little naphtha was put on it. Didn't clean it up. Took some alcohol and polish compound to get it all off. But he loved the thin poly lacquer finish that really resonates better than a thick coat. Might have made a new Sandberg fan!

Oh, and still need my number so I can update my signature!

 

[Jughead6]

The luthier I showed my bass to today was shocked at how straight the neck was and how low the action is. In fact it's a little too low. He suggested some very slight truss rod relief and raising the action just a bit. He usually sets the E at 3mm at the 12th fret but mine was about 1mm. Just a bit too low. I think with some new, heavier gauge strings (50-105) and some slight adjustments it will be perfect!

Oh yeah, and he fixed the finish right up. It was some kind of material that had splattered and it left a residue that couldn't be seen until a little naphtha was put on it. Didn't clean it up. Took some alcohol and polish compound to get it all off. But he loved the thin poly lacquer finish that really resonates better than a thick coat. Might have made a new Sandberg fan!

Oh, and still need my number so I can update my signature!

Welcome to Sandberg Fandom .

Good news that the finish is now fixed. In my experience Sandberg does a decent job with all their finishes (although I have to say that EBMM probably still does the best sparkle finishes in the business).

 

[_Obra_]

Welcome to Sandberg Fandom .

Good news that the finish is now fixed. In my experience Sandberg does a decent job with all their finishes (although I have to say that EBMM probably still does the best sparkle finishes in the business).

On the latest Special series finishes are really great, but I can't agree on regular models in period from around 1993-2012. I owned few and saw a lot of EBMMs with peeled paint

 

[BasEd]

Does anyone know if Sandberg have a recommended way of setting up the truss rod?

I decided to put a bit more relief in the truss by 3/8 of a rotation (loosening) which means I now have a credit card width at the 7th fret when fretting at the 1st and 17th frets (before there was hardly any gap). Also raised the string height a bit so from E to G at the 12th fret it’s about 2.8mm, 2.5mm, 2mm and 2mm. Little bit higher than I normally have it but this as reduced a bit of string rattled which sounded good but was a bit too aggressive and impolite for all styles of music.

 

[BasEd]

To conclude, although the Sandberg can be set up with an extremely straight neck which makes it very barky, I prefer it set up with some neck relief as with my other basses.

 

[Shlabotnik]

Help! I'm about to put in a custom order for my first Sandberg (a TM4) but I'm still undecided on pickup choice. At first I thought I would go with the Black Label because I heard they were more punchy but, after watching a bunch of YouTube video demos, I think the stock Delanos sound great so now I'm leaning toward to the Delanos. Anyone have any info that might sway me one way or the other? Is anyone unhappy with their Delanos? Thanks!