Club Sandberg (part 2)

[anton72]

@anton72 I believe I found your bass pictured on Facebook as a new arrival to Synergy (U.K. distributor) dated June 2017.

Thanks a lot! And it is really helpful as I purchased it from another dealer in UK, bassdirect.co.uk So the figures and your info points out it is made in 2017. Good to know, thanks!

 

[anton72]

@anton72

Dude, when you solo the bridge pickup in your TT5 does it sound at all close to the pickup in your VS5?

Yes, especially with the tone half closed! And I really like it cause I LOVE the tone of the TT5 bridge pup soloed but in case with VS5 it is hum-free. How do you know?

 

[Jughead6]

Also, my VS5 headstock stamp says German Quality but my TT5 headstock stamp says Made In Germany. Is it common?

My 2015 Berg says German Quality. My 2019 and 2020 Bergs say Made in Germany. They must have changed the stamp to distinguish between the Electra line and the true German line.

 

[thawkeyes]

Yes, especially with the tone half closed! And I really like it cause I LOVE the tone of the TT5 bridge pup soloed but in case with VS5 it is hum-free. How do you know?

Anton... I'm a dork... I meant TT5 NECK pickup.

 

[anton72]

Anton... I'm a dork... I meant TT5 NECK pickup.

I actually noticed any of them has the same character as V pickup if you keep the tone half or fully closed.

 

[andyk]

My 2015 Berg says German Quality. My 2019 and 2020 Bergs say Made in Germany. They must have changed the stamp to distinguish between the Electra line and the true German line.

That sounds about right. I have two Ida 4-strings with different stamps on each. The older one, which is probably a 2017 model, has the "German Quality". The newer, which I picked up about 3 months ago, has the "Made in Germany".

 

[Sascha Erni]

My 2015 Berg says German Quality. My 2019 and 2020 Bergs say Made in Germany. They must have changed the stamp to distinguish between the Electra line and the true German line.

My 2019/20 VS4 also says “Made in Germany” and “since 1986”. I guess it’s one of those legal / marketing things. AFAIK Germany made their legal requirements for claiming German provenance of goods more strict a couple of years ago. You know; how-much-of-the-actual-labor-must-happen-and-how-much-of-the-materials-must-come-from-inside-Germany-for-it-to-count-as-Made-in-Germany, that sort of thing.

 

[thawkeyes]

I actually noticed any of them has the same character as V pickup if you keep the tone half or fully closed.

Seriously? Soloing my bridge pup in my TT sounds nothing like a P-bass... how can this be?

 

[TB24]

Hi There,

Did anyone have a need for a finger rest between humbucker and a single pickup on California TM?

I saw one on Ida Nielsen model, only her is on VM, and finger rest lies all the way across pickguard.
On TM it should be of variable thickness, partly on wood and partly on pickguard.

Did anyone have a similar need and a solution?

I own the bass, and although I didn't think I would use it or like at the time I bought it, it's grown on me and actually comes in handy a times. Gives me a new way to try and play.

 

[_Obra_]

Would this be something that someone would find attractive?
Maybe...California V Basic Plus?

California V body, roasted maple neck, reversed matching headstock,
active only 1 humbucker on a ''sweet spot'' and 3 band Tone Capsule from Darkglass preamp.

 

[DJ '65]

Very cool, it’s like a modern take on the bass known as Jon Snow

 

[Cuzzie]

Very cool, it’s like a modern take on the bass known as Jon Snow
View attachment 4011093

safely nestled with its rightful owner

 

[_Obra_]

Very cool, it’s like a modern take on the bass known as Jon Snow
View attachment 4011093

This one would match even better

 

[DJ '65]

Hell yeah!

 

[thawkeyes]

This one would match even better View attachment 4011651

That is the perfect "M" bass. I wish Sandy would make this one!

 

[equill]

I've wanted to take decent pictures of my instruments for ages.
The problem was time, really - I haven't had any for photography for several years. Now I've reclaimed some time, and today I started remembering how to drive a camera and lights. Naturally, I started with the most beautiful bass guitar in my collection.
With a small amount of editing, this is my favourite from the session:

 

[anton72]

Guys, those who had a chance to compare Sandberg Alnico T pickups vs Sandberg Black Labels (J-style both), which of them have more output and how would you describe difference in tone?

 

[thawkeyes]

Guys, those who had a chance to compare Sandberg Alnico T pickups vs Sandberg Black Labels (J-style both), which of them have more output and how would you describe difference in tone?

I found this from CUZZIE on a different website. Ill quote him:

Now this pick up is very subjective, for example plenty like but I do not like turdstrand pick ups, but as a generalisation.

Delano - yes more hifi, but not sterile in anyway, transparent in a good way with plenty of oomph.

Haussel - Little German manufacturer, verry meaty and quite hot mid focussed jazz pick up, neck solo’d it’s as close to a P as a jazz pick up will get.

Old Sandberg - more vintage sounding, less output, very very nice pick ups. Especially nice if you like pedals with preamps in as they are hot enough to be good on their own, but not too hot that they do not then fight with a pedal to over power it if that makes sense. Very easy to sculpt a sound.

Black labels - blew my socks off - it’s like the Old Sandberg’s with More chutzpah, very punchy, great sound - sort of like all the best bits of the aforementioned ones rolled into a pick up. Played a TM2 before and after - transformed it.

from here:

Sandberg Black Label vs Delano etc

 

[anton72]

I found this from CUZZIE on a different website. Ill quote him:

Now this pick up is very subjective, for example plenty like but I do not like turdstrand pick ups, but as a generalisation.

Delano - yes more hifi, but not sterile in anyway, transparent in a good way with plenty of oomph.

Haussel - Little German manufacturer, verry meaty and quite hot mid focussed jazz pick up, neck solo’d it’s as close to a P as a jazz pick up will get.

Old Sandberg - more vintage sounding, less output, very very nice pick ups. Especially nice if you like pedals with preamps in as they are hot enough to be good on their own, but not too hot that they do not then fight with a pedal to over power it if that makes sense. Very easy to sculpt a sound.

Black labels - blew my socks off - it’s like the Old Sandberg’s with More chutzpah, very punchy, great sound - sort of like all the best bits of the aforementioned ones rolled into a pick up. Played a TM2 before and after - transformed it.

from here:

Sandberg Black Label vs Delano etc

Thank You for sharing! Very helpful!

 

[Cuzzie]

I found this from CUZZIE on a different website. Ill quote him:

Now this pick up is very subjective, for example plenty like but I do not like turdstrand pick ups, but as a generalisation.

Delano - yes more hifi, but not sterile in anyway, transparent in a good way with plenty of oomph.

Haussel - Little German manufacturer, verry meaty and quite hot mid focussed jazz pick up, neck solo’d it’s as close to a P as a jazz pick up will get.

Old Sandberg - more vintage sounding, less output, very very nice pick ups. Especially nice if you like pedals with preamps in as they are hot enough to be good on their own, but not too hot that they do not then fight with a pedal to over power it if that makes sense. Very easy to sculpt a sound.

Black labels - blew my socks off - it’s like the Old Sandberg’s with More chutzpah, very punchy, great sound - sort of like all the best bits of the aforementioned ones rolled into a pick up. Played a TM2 before and after - transformed it.

from here:

Sandberg Black Label vs Delano etc

Cheers buddy - they are very brief descriptions of the range, but I think hold water, in some ways the more I play the more I favour the old Sandberg ones in my MarloweDK - certainly for jazz pick ups they might just take it.

MM - I would go with Black labels edging it.


P pick up - well my fave is the Creamery 58 P or Seymour Duncan APB-1

but notable mention to all those as standard in a Sandy.
It really does depend on your signal path IMHO - if you are bass, amp, cab - you can go as hot as you like.

If you are popping a preamp before an amp pre-amp - too hot pick ups will start to overload and blunt what you are trying to do, too weak, the first preamp does not get driven.

no wrong answers, just experimentation