Club Sandberg (part 2)

[thawkeyes]

I received my Vm4 with the roasted neck and fretboard a few weeks back. The roasted neck and fingerboard significantly change the sound of the bass compared to other neck woods I have used. Especially if you use a pick. That color looks great!

Was that the little guy I saw at GC?

 

[MachMike]

I bought mine through Bass Central. Its is actually this very bass David Pastorious is playing. They recorded this before they sent it off to me.

 

[Jeremy Unruh]

Was that the little guy I saw at GC?

Yes it was. I was actually going to order one from Sandberg when I saw this one at GC. lol, funny enough its also the exact one pictured on Bass Centrals site which is the one I was eyeing anyways. I was shocked when it showed on GC.

 

[Sascha Erni]

What strings are fellow owners of the VM4 California players using? The stock strings are .40-100. I was considering using 45-105 as these basses are quite bright.

I use Nickel 045-065-080-100 on my VS4 (not the same bass, but you get the idea). It turned out to be the best balance in conjunction with the Hipshot D-Tuner I made Sandberg install – less change in action when detuning, and it keeps the aggressive brightness on the D and G strings in check, compared to what was delivered. YMMV, but it has worked very well for me, for both Hard Rock and Metal.

 

[dwellers]

What strings are fellow owners of the VM4 California players using? The stock strings are .40-100. I was considering using 45-105 as these basses are quite bright.

I've really enjoyed the GHS Balanced Nickels (light, 40-101) and good old D'Addario XL Nickels, 40-100. I prefer a little mellower nickel on what can be a bright bass. But virtually everything I've tried on it sounds good. Might do some flats next. In that realm I'm partial to the Ernie Ball Slinky Flatwounds. Have those on a P bass and they are remarkably bright and feel great. I'm sure they would sound good on my TM4.

 

[MachMike]

I use Nickel 045-065-080-100 on my VS4 (not the same bass, but you get the idea). It turned out to be the best balance in conjunction with the Hipshot D-Tuner I made Sandberg install – less change in action when detuning, and it keeps the aggressive brightness on the D and G strings in check, compared to what was delivered. YMMV, but it has worked very well for me, for both Hard Rock and Metal.

Any particular brand? Or are you mixing and matching sets?

 

[Sascha Erni]

Any particular brand? Or are you mixing and matching sets?

I usually use Rotosounds, but if I run out and am desperate (hard to find in shops here, have to order), I pick up D’Addario XL.

 

[Harold Runyan]

I've been all over the place with string selections for my basses. I've finally settled on 2 or 3 different strings that work for me. If I need round wounds I typically go with Elixir SS Nano Coated. For Flats I use EBMM Cobalts. If Elixirs are not available I use round wound Cobalts. What made up my mind was an allergy to Ni that literally ate up my plucking fingers. These strings seem to not cause allergic reactions and sound good for what I do. 50-105, 45-100, & 45-130 on the fivers.

 

[Matt Dean]

Does anyone own or have experience with the Victor Brandt signature Sandberg bass guitar? I’ve recently purchased a Marlowe DK5 and absolutely love it, and am thinking about buying a Victor Brandt or another more P oriented Sandberg.

 

[Wolford]

I bought mine through Bass Central. Its is actually this very bass David Pastorious is playing. They recorded this before they sent it off to me.

That's alot of pressure. lol. Now you can never blame the bass.

 

[MachMike]

That's alot of pressure. lol. Now you can never blame the bass.

Well....the battery is dead ........so once I get a new one it should sound just like that... lol

 

[NOLA Bass]

I'll admit, I almost did something really rash yesterday. I may have even done it, but it sold at one option and then the second place never called me back. The third place seemed priced high and I sorta backed off.

 

[thawkeyes]

I'll admit, I almost did something really rash yesterday. I may have even done it, but it sold at one option and then the second place never called me back. The third place seemed priced high and I sorta backed off.

Yeah! I was really hot on that one. Then my gas backed down. It's hard to spend $2700usd and not know what it really sounds like. I wish Sandberg would release the specs with a proper demo when they do things like this to us.

They still have one of these available and they will be doing more in 2021.

 

[NOLA Bass]

Yeah! I was really hot on that one. Then my gas backed down. It's hard to spend $2700usd and not know what it really sounds like. I wish Sandberg would release the specs with a proper demo when they do things like this to us.

They still have one of these available and they will be doing more in 2021.

Yeah, a demo video of it would be so helpful.

 

[Matt Dean]

I'll admit, I almost did something really rash yesterday. I may have even done it, but it sold at one option and then the second place never called me back. The third place seemed priced high and I sorta backed off.

ugh! I am suddenly super interested that.

 

[NOLA Bass]

ugh! I want one based on looks alone.

I had one of those Mike Lull T-birds. I sold it because the ergonomics and long reach to the first fret were a little uncomfortable for me (I'm 5'8" and the reach to the first fret was far). That being said, it sounded amazing, so I've thought of one of the Lull P or J bodies with their Third pickups in it. I was looking at the Sandberg California series after playing them at NAMM last year. I just loved the bass in the picture below. I played it every day at NAMM. So when I saw this Lollar equipped with the aging, it took everything to not hit buy now at $2699.

 

[NOLA Bass]

Now I'm totally on the fence of do I want the Lollar equipped on or a regular J bass setup.

 

[Matt Dean]

I had one of those Mike Lull T-birds. I sold it because the ergonomics and long reach to the first fret were a little uncomfortable for me (I'm 5'8" and the reach to the first fret was far). That being said, it sounded amazing, so I've thought of one of the Lull P or J bodies with their Third pickups in it. I was looking at the Sandberg California series after playing them at NAMM last year. I just loved the bass in the picture below. I played it every day at NAMM. So when I saw this Lollar equipped with the aging, it took everything to not hit buy now at $2699.

View attachment 4148467

That’s an amazing looking bass.

 

[Ewo]

I had one of those Mike Lull T-birds. I sold it because the ergonomics and long reach to the first fret were a little uncomfortable for me (I'm 5'8" and the reach to the first fret was far). That being said, it sounded amazing, so I've thought of one of the Lull P or J bodies with their Third pickups in it. I was looking at the Sandberg California series after playing them at NAMM last year. I just loved the bass in the picture below. I played it every day at NAMM. So when I saw this Lollar equipped with the aging, it took everything to not hit buy now at $2699.

View attachment 4148467

You mentioned the reach to the first fret. Yeah, that's consequential to me, too; both my shoulders became arthritic and needed replacement parts.

I've got one of those multi-guitar racks in my music room, and instruments rest on the bottom edge of the body. I've had my trusty Cali TM-5 side-by-side with a Sadowsky Will Lee and a Fodera Monarch. On the rack, the nut on the Sandberg is about an inch lower than those two. It does make a difference in comfort to me.

 

[TheLopp]

Sorry for my messy office but I just have to share this lovely combo. Can’t stop playing.