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Club Sandberg (part 2)

#4,161
Naigewron said:
Been paying a bit of attention to B strings lately, and I've realised more and more that my VM5 B string is pretty weak at the moment. Even compared to my Ibanez EHB1005, which is also 34" and has a pretty muddy pickup set, I just can't get the note definition I want.

To be clear: I'm not looking for more brightness, only a more clearly defined note attack and definition.

Using regular Ernie Ball 45-130 strings at the moment.

Are there any quick tips on how to improve a muddy B string? Hopefully I don't have to resort to intentional fret clank, because I don't really enjoy that sound.

Example of what I mean:
17 seconds into this video, I go down from the A string to the E string and land on a low D on the B string, and the attack and definition on the low D is just not there at all:
(Edit: It's actually even clearer at 31-32 seconds)


I realise this is a grungy bass tone, but you can still really notice the difference in clarity between the B string and the other strings.
Click to expand...

Difference in clarity is a common thing. You can only avoid it using fanned frets. But difference in clarity and floppy B are different things.
 
#4,166
Naigewron said:
Could you define "higher output" string? Or just give an example?

I've been meaning to check out DR Lo Riders, and they have a 125 set. Would those qualify?
Click to expand...
LO Riders are the best for low B. Hex core, higher tension! My VM5 Nighthawk with them growls like a beast, and the low B is one of the best I’ve played, here’s short demo I made at home with focus on low B https://youtube.com/shorts/XIXAt27B8Ss?feature=share
 
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#4,167
Naigewron said:
Been paying a bit of attention to B strings lately, and I've realised more and more that my VM5 B string is pretty weak at the moment. Even compared to my Ibanez EHB1005, which is also 34" and has a pretty muddy pickup set, I just can't get the note definition I want.

To be clear: I'm not looking for more brightness, only a more clearly defined note attack and definition.

Using regular Ernie Ball 45-130 strings at the moment.

Are there any quick tips on how to improve a muddy B string? Hopefully I don't have to resort to intentional fret clank, because I don't really enjoy that sound.

Example of what I mean:
17 seconds into this video, I go down from the A string to the E string and land on a low D on the B string, and the attack and definition on the low D is just not there at all:
(Edit: It's actually even clearer at 31-32 seconds)


I realise this is a grungy bass tone, but you can still really notice the difference in clarity between the B string and the other strings.
Click to expand...


I have found the best success with Kalium tapered strings. The whole set sounds great, but I’ve even replaced just the B sometimes and used another round wound set and had great results.
 
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#4,168
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#4,169
Shiveringbass said:
Hello,

I was just blown away when I heard about the superlight series so I could not pass on this one : a TM5 superlight, natural mate finish and maple board.

The thing weights exactly 3kg (6,61 lb) and is lighter than my little Yamaha guitar...
:)

My first choice originaly goes to a TT5 but I could not find one in stock and had to weit about 10 months for a new build.

To my ears, this TM5 sounds very modern, very punchy and dinamic but does not have a single shade of jazz bass. Time will tell if it works in my funk cover band.



This is a quick soundcheck recorded in one shot. The sound is not overly loud so don't hesitate to turn up your speaker or headphones.

I start in passive, bridge pickup in single coil mode. Then I turn on the preamp and finaly turn the bridge pickup in humbucker mode.

Click to expand...

I think that sounds really good and I hope it works for your group!
I recently got a TT SL 5 and it sounds very good for my band, which is rock covers. That said, I'm not willing to say it is particularly prototypical jazz bass-sounding. And I would say I slightly prefer the tone of my Sire P7 5 string. However, that bass is nearly 10 pounds and not worth the extra wear and tear over the course of 3 sets!
20210730_132124.jpg
 
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#4,170
Naigewron said:
Could you define "higher output" string? Or just give an example?

I've been meaning to check out DR Lo Riders, and they have a 125 set. Would those qualify?
Click to expand...

I think by "higher output" he just means a stronger fundamental. I guess another way to put it is, more "oomph" from the string or possibly more "note attack?" Hard to verbalize. I use DR Nickel Lo-Riders and I would say they have a stronger fundamental comparatively to other strings I've tried (Sunbeams, NYXL's, Slinkys, XL nickels).
 
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#4,171
MascisMan said:
I think by "higher output" he just means a stronger fundamental. I guess another way to put it is, more "oomph" from the string or possibly more "note attack?" Hard to verbalize. I use DR Nickel Lo-Riders and I would say they have a stronger fundamental comparatively to other strings I've tried (Sunbeams, NYXL's, Slinkys, XL nickels).
Click to expand...
Thank you for clarifying that better than I could
 
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#4,172
Bass Man Dan said:
I think that sounds really good and I hope it works for your group!
I recently got a TT SL 5 and it sounds very good for my band, which is rock covers. That said, I'm not willing to say it is particularly prototypical jazz bass-sounding. And I would say I slightly prefer the tone of my Sire P7 5 string. However, that bass is nearly 10 pounds and not worth the extra wear and tear over the course of 3 sets!View attachment 4408385
Click to expand...

I'm so used to the classic JB tone that I was a bit lost during Friday night gig. A lot of fidling with pots to find the good balance between presence and bass weight.

In short the learning curve will be a bit longer than I'm used to.
;)
 
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#4,173
332C0572-F22D-4328-B53D-3D8AE79EA3B1.jpeg
332C0572-F22D-4328-B53D-3D8AE79EA3B1.jpeg
Shiveringbass said:
I'm so used to the classic JB tone that I was a bit lost during Friday night gig. A lot of fidling with pots to find the good balance between presence and bass weight.

In short the learning curve will be a bit longer than I'm used to.
;)
Click to expand...
Black label pickups will never sound like classic jazz bass pickups: they are humcancelling split coils with ceramic magnets vs Alnico magnets singles in a jazz bass. The only similar thing between them is their shape. So if you are after jazz bass tone the only Sandberg bass which will give it to you is California TT5 passive with Alnico singles, my TT5 passive is everything jazz bass but with solid B string ;) I also own VM5 Nighthawk and still can’t chose which one should I part with to fund my next bass. They are so different…
 
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#4,178
anton72 said:
View attachment 4412710 View attachment 4412710
Black label pickups will never sound like classic jazz bass pickups: they are humcancelling split coils with ceramic magnets vs Alnico magnets singles in a jazz bass. The only similar thing between them is their shape. So if you are after jazz bass tone the only Sandberg bass which will give it to you is California TT5 passive with Alnico singles, my TT5 passive is everything jazz bass but with solid B string ;) I also own VM5 Nighthawk and still can’t chose which one should I part with to fund my next bass. They are so different…
Click to expand...

If you read me on the previous page or saw my soundcheck video, you know that my Sandy is even not a TT5 but a TM5... so black label pickups or not, this bass is even farer from a JB than a TT5.
;)

I'm sure I'll find the sweet spot but I'm still experimenting and struggling a bit..
;)

I'm still very happy about the build quality of this Sandy. This morning I worked a bit on it and wanted to set it up more precisely. The truss rod works so smooth, it's outstanding. You'll set it just without any force needed.

The bridge is a bit more tricky to adjust... I'm still not totaly sure to understand how to balance the two usual screws with the only rear one.
;)
 
#4,179
Shiveringbass said:
If you read me on the previous page or saw my soundcheck video, you know that my Sandy is even not a TT5 but a TM5... so black label pickups or not, this bass is even farer from a JB than a TT5.
;)

I'm sure I'll find the sweet spot but I'm still experimenting and struggling a bit..
;)

I'm still very happy about the build quality of this Sandy. This morning I worked a bit on it and wanted to set it up more precisely. The truss rod works so smooth, it's outstanding. You'll set it just without any force needed.

The bridge is a bit more tricky to adjust... I'm still not totaly sure to understand how to balance the two usual screws with the only rear one.
;)
Click to expand...
When I had a TM4, I reversed the single coil on the MM pickup so that with the switch on the coil nearer the bridge was selected. I didn't like the single coil mode the way it came stock. No idea whether the California II's still come with the neck coil as the default for single coil mode.
Also, this and cutting the bass control on the preamp by the smallest amount possible put me in the general area of a 70's Jazz.
 
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