Club Sandberg (part 2)

[Sascha Erni]

Update:

Caveats:

- Pickups could be a tad hotter, but then, I haven’t experimented with pickup height yet.

I raised the pickups some. Factory settings were 3.5mm (D, A) / 4mm (G, E), measured from top of the pole pieces to the bottom of the strings, depressed at the last fret. After some experimenting I ended up with 2mm (G-A) / 2.5mm (E) without hitting the pickups or producing those weird flanger-like detuning effects you sometimes get if the strings are too close.

The fully-passive VS4’s output is a LOT hotter now. Like, a lot, really. I’ll measure once I find the volt meter in my mess, but anecdotally – for the same perceived loudness during practice, I had to turn down my amp’s Gain by 2 steps, of 10. Also, my Fuzzes react much quicker than before, as does the Bass Butler’s dirt channel.

My guess is the Sandberg was set up as if it had active electronics, i.e. no separate setup or the like depending on the active / passive option. In short – experimenting with pickup height might be a good idea. There seems to be a lot of leeway in both directions, e.g. to balance out different instruments should you plan to switch during a gig or something. In the factory setup, the pickups weren’t fully drilled in, there was still a millimeter or so to go further down.

 

[matt thompson]

Question (Im sure this has been answered in this mega thread before)


What are the differences between California Series 1 and 2? Also aside from body materials and construction location the Electra too..I realize this is their "budget" line

I really want a TT4 but just trying to figure out the differences

 

[thawkeyes]

Question (Im sure this has been answered in this mega thread before)


What are the differences between California Series 1 and 2? Also aside from body materials and construction location the Electra too..I realize this is their "budget" line

I really want a TT4 but just trying to figure out the differences

I am trying to figure out this exactly....

Is the V1 more dense and "vintage" sounding. If the same woods were used, same strings and pickups, will a V1 sound different than a V2? I have had some conflicting opinions.

The V1 are heavier and have a slightly longer reach. Let me know if that isn't correct.

 

[anton72]

A question for you Sandberg players: can I somewhere purchase a set of Black Label pickups for my TT5? And are they direct replacement for standard Sandberg Alnico single coils? Thanks!

 

[kasbrey]

I am trying to figure out this exactly....

Is the V1 more dense and "vintage" sounding. If the same woods were used, same strings and pickups, will a V1 sound different than a V2? I have had some conflicting opinions.

The V1 are heavier and have a slightly longer reach. Let me know if that isn't correct.

I think the opposite is true. The version 2's I've owned and tried have had a more "open" bottom end, more like a Fender IMO. The V1 are tighter and more modern sounding in my experience.
The V2 are ergonomically an upgrade on the old Fender shape in my view.

 

[Guinness20]

Always known about Sandberg, but since I started looking at options for a 5 string they've really started to catch my eye. I love the look and sound of the VM5 Nighthawk, but there's a few sites here (based in the UK) saying that the VM5 Nighthawk is discontinued. Is this true? The VM2 5 string and TM5 nighthawks seem readily available but not the VM5.

 

[hardtop]

I finally got out to the rehearsal space to grab my Sandbergs. Here is a picture of the whole collection for now. I'll get a couple pictures of the Grand Dark and the VS on their own tomorrow. The VS is my latest and it's a brilliant instrument.

 

[Cuzzie]

Always known about Sandberg, but since I started looking at options for a 5 string they've really started to catch my eye. I love the look and sound of the VM5 Nighthawk, but there's a few sites here (based in the UK) saying that the VM5 Nighthawk is discontinued. Is this true? The VM2 5 string and TM5 nighthawks seem readily available but not the VM5.

I just did this on their configurator, so it may be available still

 

[anton72]

I finally got out to the rehearsal space to grab my Sandbergs. Here is a picture of the whole collection for now. I'll get a couple pictures of the Grand Dark and the VS on their own tomorrow. The VS is my latest and it's a brilliant instrument.View attachment 3776143

Sorry to derail the thread, but how do you find Dunable Thunderclapper which is on the picture compared to VS4 ergonomically and tone-wise?

 

[hardtop]

Sorry to derail the thread, but how do you find Dunable Thunderclapper which is on the picture compared to VS4 ergonomically and tone-wise?

It's a great bass.
Ergonomics: Its a little bulkier than my Sandberg, but it's also an older model and they seem to be a bit slimmer and contoured now. Neck is nice and narrow, though it has a tighter radius, so it take some adjustment to get the feel back after playing a Sandberg. It is in no way as "baseball bat" as the neighboring Steve Harris, but definitely not flat.
Sound: I don't know if its the fret size or just how I interface with the bass, but it is a little clanky when I fret; not when I pluck, when I fret, and doesn't matter how gentle I am about it. It's kind of weird and it records strangely for that reason. It's probably a combination of things including user error. Otherwise the sound is great! It sounds like a P with an SD Quarter Pounder, more or less. It is very resonate though. One of the most resonate basses on the wall.
It was my number one bass for years and years, and I still play it live and in rehearsal sometimes. I dig it. Ill probably buy a Yeti bass somewhere down the line too.

 

[Shlabotnik]

Does anyone know if there is a pause or slowdown in production at the Sandberg factory? Wondering if my custom order will be delayed. I have no problem at all waiting as long as it takes if it helps ensure the good health of the workers there but just curious about what might be happening, if anyone knows. Thanks!

 

[Vlad Tepes]

In this adverse time of uncertainty the only thing to do is BUY ANOTHER BASS!!!
2009 Sandberg California VM4 Special

in white.

 

[Vlad Tepes]

In this adverse time of uncertainty the only thing to do is BUY ANOTHER BASS!!!
2009 Sandberg California VM4 Special View attachment 3777769 in white.

 

[Sascha Erni]

Does anyone know if there is a pause or slowdown in production at the Sandberg factory? Wondering if my custom order will be delayed. I have no problem at all waiting as long as it takes if it helps ensure the good health of the workers there but just curious about what might be happening, if anyone knows. Thanks!

Lower Saxony has rules in place that businesses with direct customer contact which aren’t really necessary for daily life (i.e. bakeries, butchers, grocers are okay, car or instrument dealers etc. are not) need to remain closed. Sandberg isn’t affected by this, as they don’t have a brick-and-mortar front store. But they need to adher to additional hygiene rules including minimal distance between workers, a maximum of 10 workers inside a specific radius, and people who belong to a risk group to remain at home.

So yeah, production might have slowed down. But it’s not as if they were a sweatshop with hundreds of workers on 50 sqft or something. And Lower Saxony has started to relax rules already, so at the most, you might have to wait a bit longer. Right now, shipping and logistics are more of an issue in Germany, as staff is either off sick, needs to follow Germany-wide rules regarding physical distancing and whatnot, while at the same time dealing with a volume of shipments comparable to Christmas season.

 

[bdplaid]

I'm just marvelling at my always-perfect timing of ordering a custom Sandberg right about the time the whole thing hit.

 

[Shlabotnik]

So yeah, production might have slowed down. But it’s not as if they were a sweatshop with hundreds of workers on 50 sqft or something. And Lower Saxony has started to relax rules already, so at the most, you might have to wait a bit longer. Right now, shipping and logistics are more of an issue in Germany, as staff is either off sick, needs to follow German-wide rules regarding physical distancing and whatnot, while at the same time dealing with a volume of shipments comparable to Christmas season.

Thanks for the update!

Does this mean that all of the fingerboards will now have a 6-foot radius???

 

[Sascha Erni]

Thanks for the update!

Does this mean that all of the fingerboards will now have a 6-foot radius???

Let's hope not. That might be too flat even for me, and I still need a new fretless.

 

[TK4261]

I'm just marvelling at my always-perfect timing of ordering a custom Sandberg right about the time the whole thing hit.

In same boat..I placed my special order in the beginning of Feb.

 

[equill]

I'm just marvelling at my always-perfect timing of ordering a custom Sandberg right about the time the whole thing hit.

Likewise, but it's more wry amusement at circumstance than serious upset.
I'd prefer it to be delayed by a few months, than for people to risk getting seriously ill by trying to stick to what's already a pretty loose ETA.

 

[groove pump]

In this adverse time of uncertainty the only thing to do is BUY ANOTHER BASS!!!
2009 Sandberg California VM4 Special View attachment 3777769 in white.

Special indeed - I hope you make a happy couple

Curious about that vintage of that model. How's the weight and what's the neck width up at the nut/zero fret? The new ones look like they have a 39.5mm width, but I recently picked up an Electra from perhaps the 2014 era. Their site currently lists these as also having that 39.5mm width, buy my older one is 38mm.

Thanks for any info