Club Sandberg (part 2)

[Pet Sounds]

Thanks for the feedback. So many cool options, how does one choose?

I'm not the best person to answer your earlier question because I've never played a TT, but I feel that my TM-4 cops a Jazz sound very well, plus you get the added flexibility of having the humbucker mode if you want it, though I do not think the humbucker makes it sound like a StingRay.

 

[TechsMechs]

Alright abandoning the medium scale review requests. Apparently a very niche market!

Let's try another. Leaning towards a TT for my first Sandberg but I am intrigued by the TM as well. Is the TM in split coil mode a compromise on getting that classic j bass tone or is it everything the TT is but with the added option of having the hum bucker mode?

Thanks in advance for any info!

In the exact same boat as you, esp trying to get more info/impressions on the 32.5" scale thing - there really doesn't seem to be much info out there. Try looking up Ellen O'Reilly - according to Twitter, she had her SL (seems like hers might have been a prototype) VT bass converted to 32.5" scale back in 2018, and there are at least a few videos of her playing that bass since then.

*EDIT* Nevermind - listening to an interview from last year, and it sounds like she's got a chambered ash body and she went back to her original neck

 

[Jazzpunk]

In the exact same boat as you, esp trying to get more info/impressions on the 32.5" scale thing - there really doesn't seem to be much info out there. Try looking up Ellen O'Reilly - according to Twitter, she had her SL (seems like hers might have been a prototype) VT bass converted to 32.5" scale back in 2018, and there are at least a few videos of her playing that bass since then.

*EDIT* Nevermind - listening to an interview from last year, and it sounds like she's got a chambered ash body and she went back to her original neck

I emailed Sandberg to see if they had any medium scale demos out there and they couldn't point me to any. Maybe I will be the first on the YouTubes?

 

[Naigewron]

Eyeing a used 35" Umbo 5 with Haussel pickups.

Just how jazzy does this bass get? I love the Jazz tone, but I'd like to achieve it in a more modern package than Fender usually offers.

 

[kasbrey]

Eyeing a used 35" Umbo 5 with Haussel pickups.

Just how jazzy does this bass get? I love the Jazz tone, but I'd like to achieve it in a more modern package than Fender usually offers.

View attachment 4551661

If you're looking for a modern tone then the Umbo is possibly not the bass you're looking for. In my opinion, the standard tones (with the Haussel alnico II pickups) are very vintage and the passive circuitry and switching only make it more so when used.
The front pickup is very P like, but both pickups on full are very jazzy sounding. The bass typically has more mids than a standard Jazz.
I love them though.

 

[Naigewron]

If you're looking for a modern tone then the Umbo is possibly not the bass you're looking for. In my opinion, the standard tones (with the Haussel alnico II pickups) are very vintage and the passive circuitry and switching only make it more so when used.
The front pickup is very P like, but both pickups on full are very jazzy sounding. The bass typically has more mids than a standard Jazz.
I love them though.

I've got the modern tones covered, so vintage is definitely not a bad thing. When I said "modern package" I meant in terms of build and playability, not necessarily tone

 

[kasbrey]

I've got the modern tones covered, so vintage is definitely not a bad thing. When I said "modern package" I meant in terms of build and playability, not necessarily tone

In that case it could well be exactly what you're looking for.

They're quite quirky (but in a predictable way). Friends who have played mine really love them and liken them to a really good pre-CBS Jazz.

 

[Ctenium]

i'm a new owner of a Sandberg California VM5. i absolutely love it. i also wonder what the stock string and tension of said string on these basses are? i actually would prefer a nickel string over the pretty harsh feeling steel strings that come with it, but the bass is so perfectly setup i don't want to do anything to disturb that. i'm probably being paranoid, but does anyone have a good replacement string that didn't require any further adjustments?

 

[MascisMan]

i'm a new owner of a Sandberg California VM5. i absolutely love it. i also wonder what the stock string and tension of said string on these basses are? i actually would prefer a nickel string over the pretty harsh feeling steel strings that come with it, but the bass is so perfectly setup i don't want to do anything to disturb that. i'm probably being paranoid, but does anyone have a good replacement string that didn't require any further adjustments?

I had a very similar experience with my Fano JM4. It came with NYXL Stainless strings normally not my thing but they felt great and it was set up so well that I just used them. Recently I swapped them for DR Lo Riders and I didnt have to make any adjustments.

What brand are the factory strings?

 

[dmccombe7]

I swapped over to D'addario nickels same gauge on my VM4 without any need for changing set up.
I did hear that the Sandberg strings are made by a well known string compay but for life of me i cant remember who.
Dave

 

[dmccombe7]

Was complimented on my bass tone tonight at a 70's punk rock gig. Guy said he could hear every note clearly.
Was using my Marlowe DK.
Dave

 

[kasbrey]

I did hear that the Sandberg strings are made by a well known string company but for life of me i cant remember who.
Dave

GHS

 

[dmccombe7]

GHS

I've never actually tried GHS strings.
Think i'll give them a go as i quite liked the Sandberg steels but they were too difficult to get in UK.
Dave

 

[Naigewron]

GHS strings sound great for about a week, but they die really quickly in my experience.

 

[DrGroovenstein]

i'm a new owner of a Sandberg California VM5. i absolutely love it. i also wonder what the stock string and tension of said string on these basses are? i actually would prefer a nickel string over the pretty harsh feeling steel strings that come with it, but the bass is so perfectly setup i don't want to do anything to disturb that. i'm probably being paranoid, but does anyone have a good replacement string that didn't require any further adjustments?

Sandberg has their own strings, the stock ones are stainless. I didn't leave them on my VM5 for very long and put on a set of D'Addario XT strings (coated nickels) which seem to be pretty decent so far. They were on sale, so got a good deal and I know that I already like D'Addario XLs. The setup on these basses is almost effortless given the adjustability of the bridge. Do not be intimidated, just do it. If you are worried to return it to how it was, then just take some measurements (hight and saddle placement). Since I changed the strings on the VM5, I changed strings on some other basses to Ernie Ball Cobalt rounds and also the Cobalt flats -- very surprised by these, I love them. I'm going to give them a try next on my Sandbergs. My TM5 is currently sporting Dunlop SB Nickels and I do not dig them at all, still too harsh on this particular bass (maple neck, maple board, and I assume ash body).

 

[Ctenium]

Thanks for the replies everyone. The sales rep at the place I bought it got back to me and relayed basically the same thing people have been saying here:

Stainless roundwound on a round core with the following gauges:
B-128 E-100 A-80 D-60 G-40

He indicated GHS were the closest thing to stock.

Still not sure of what has the most similar tension, given the minor differences in gauge/core I'm not sure the GHS chart is applicable to the Sandberg strings but it looks like generally medium-light gauge balanced nickels or pressurewounds would be in the same ballpark tension wise, at least for GHS stuff. I'll be sure to look into the ones Sean above me posted while I was writing the rest of this malarkey.

 

[DrGroovenstein]

Yes, anything medium-light would be pretty similar I would think, just look for 100 E to 40 or 45 G. I usually go for a 130 B, but I like a beefier B string sound. 125 B tends to be OK, but most sets come with a 130 B so maybe I just got used to it.

If you want slinkier feel, look for round core. If you want tighter feel, look for hex core. I find D'Addario XLs to be middle of the road, essentially.

 

[dmccombe7]

I did put EB low tension flats on my VM4 and loved it. Again no set up changes but the band preferred the tone from the nickel rounds in the Glam rock band. Think they preferred the edge from the rounds in certain songs that was simply lacking with flats.
Certainly easier on the fingers IMO.
Dave

 

[DrGroovenstein]

If you want the feel of flats with low tension but some additional bite or clarity, give tape wound a try. I just put a set of Labella tape wound (limited edition, so not sure but probably close to gold/white) on a Yamaha BBNE2 and they are fantastic. Just need to train myself to not accidentally bend notes.

 

[kasbrey]

GHS strings sound great for about a week, but they die really quickly in my experience.

Boomers do for sure. I like that though. They thump more than most rounds.

Their Pressurewounds start off darker but stay like that a long time.
My fingers tend not to kill strings quickly though.