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Club Sandberg (part 2)

#4,501
mcnach said:
Filed zero fret?
The zero fret on my VM4 is not filed, it looks just like the rest.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've seen talk about it on other forums. Unless I misunderstood, someone had a reply from Sandberg saying they do indeed file the zero fret, but didn't really explain why.

I think it's only subtle, but quite a few people confirmed the fret does look filed (as opposed to worn).

If you zoom right in on various pics of Sandberg basses, they do look filed. It's particularly noticeable on the G.

Are you sure yours isn't? Is it new and you've just not needed to change the strings yet?
 
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#4,504
foldyman said:
Yeah, I've seen talk about it on other forums. Unless I misunderstood, someone had a reply from Sandberg saying they do indeed file the zero fret, but didn't really explain why.

I think it's only subtle, but quite a few people confirmed the fret does look filed (as opposed to worn).

If you zoom right in on various pics of Sandberg basses, they do look filed. It's particularly noticeable on the G.

Are you sure yours isn't? Is it new and you've just not needed to change the strings yet?
Click to expand...

Whoa, what do you know? Mine have some filed grooves indeed (bought it new in 2019). I had to lift the strings off to see it. Weird I hadn't noticed before when I replaced the strings (only once... I don't like them very bright).

I have looked now at pictures online and I see some with very deep grooves. Mine are shallow, very minor, but still there.
I have no clue why they do that. The action can get very low without buzz on this one, but at the moment I have one other bass with a zero fret which can also do very low action and this one absolutely (triple checked :D ) has no grooves on the zero fret (a Maruszczyk).

Dang, I didn't realise I could be so unobservant sometimes! :D
Apologies for the wrong info earlier. But the preamp power answer was correct, I promise :roflmao:
 
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#4,507
mcnach said:
Whoa, what do you know? Mine have some filed grooves indeed (bought it new in 2019). I had to lift the strings off to see it. Weird I hadn't noticed before when I replaced the strings (only once... I don't like them very bright).

I have looked now at pictures online and I see some with very deep grooves. Mine are shallow, very minor, but still there.
I have no clue why they do that. The action can get very low without buzz on this one, but at the moment I have one other bass with a zero fret which can also do very low action and this one absolutely (triple checked :D ) has no grooves on the zero fret (a Maruszczyk).

Dang, I didn't realise I could be so unobservant sometimes! :D
Apologies for the wrong info earlier. But the preamp power answer was correct, I promise :roflmao:
Click to expand...

No apology necessary!
And thank you for the preamp thing, I suspected as much.
 
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#4,508
mcnach said:
I wonder if the way they set up their basses they only level frets 1-forward, and finally they do the grooves on the zero fret to get the height right.
Why do it that way? No idea.
Click to expand...
Yeah, can't get my head around it.
I'm not in anyway suggesting it's wrong or bad (I'm sure most owners on here would disagree if I was, and I've got one on order anyway), I just don't get why they would do it. I've asked but not got an answer.
For me, it doesn't even have to be a "it's better because..." answer, it could even be a "it's easier or more economical because..." answer. I wouldn't think any less of them!
 
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#4,509
foldyman said:
Yeah, can't get my head around it.
I'm not in anyway suggesting it's wrong or bad (I'm sure most owners on here would disagree if I was, and I've got one on order anyway), I just don't get why they would do it. I've asked but not got an answer.
For me, it doesn't even have to be a "it's better because..." answer, it could even be a "it's easier or more economical because..." answer. I wouldn't think any less of them!
Click to expand...

Sandberg do make great instruments, even if they may use some methods that are not common.

I carefully had a look at the VM4 again. The zero fret is exactly the same as the rest... but a little taller. All the other frets are levelled a bit lower, so it becomes necessary to slot the zero fret in order to get the best setup.

I guess it's one way to do it, even if I don't really understand why they choose to do it that way. The result is good, 'though.
 
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#4,512
All the TM-5s and VM-5s I've owned had the zero fret filed. I'm not a tech, but I figured that was just part of getting the action as good as possible at that end of the neck--the same way luthiers have to take care with how they cut a new bone or plastic nut for basses without a zero fret.
 
#4,513
I've got a basic that has had the frets levelled. To do this, the nut was removed and the zero fret was levelled to the other frets. It feels and plays great but I don't know how it felt before this was done as I got it used. The slots filed in the zero fret were removed by the levelling process and the Sandberg zero fret is now as smooth as the zero fret on my MTD.

I would have thought that the manufacturing advantage of a zero fret is that you just need to level it to the other frets and you have the perfect string height at the nut. They are giving away this advantage by doing it the way they do. Seems odd to me but it obviously works for them and the basses are stellar as they are so why worry about it?
 
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#4,514
bpc said:
I've got a basic that has had the frets levelled. To do this, the nut was removed and the zero fret was levelled to the other frets. It feels and plays great but I don't know how it felt before this was done as I got it used. The slots filed in the zero fret were removed by the levelling process and the Sandberg zero fret is now as smooth as the zero fret on my MTD.

I would have thought that the manufacturing advantage of a zero fret is that you just need to level it to the other frets and you have the perfect string height at the nut. They are giving away this advantage by doing it the way they do. Seems odd to me but it obviously works for them and the basses are stellar as they are so why worry about it?
Click to expand...

I don't think I'm necessarily worried, I'm just curious and can't get my head around why.
 
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#4,516
Hello everyone,
I am kindly petitioning your help with something please
I have been in search of a lightweight bass that meets all my criteria and I believe I found it in the
Sandberg TM-4 or the TM-5 superlight series.
Before I shell out the money I really need to know if a Sandberg that weighs 5.8-6.8 lbs exhibits any neck dive whatsoever when hanging on a strap.
Is it also well balanced ?
ALSO, Do any of these models exhibit any fretboard “dead spots” ?
Please let me know your experience.
Thank you
 
Last edited:
#4,518
p12bassnut said:
Hello everyone,
I am kindly petitioning your help with something please
I have been in search of a lightweight bass that meets all my criteria and I believe I found it in the
Sandberg TM-4 or the TM-5 superlight series.
Before I shell out the money I really need to know if a Sandberg that weighs 5.8-6.8 lbs exhibits any neck dive whatsoever when hanging on a strap.
Is it also well balanced ?
ALSO, Do any of these models exhibit any fretboard “dead spots” ?
Please let me know your experience.
Thank you
Click to expand...

I haven't played a Sandberg that has a neck dive and I played all the Sandbergs in the my local shop. In fact one of the reasons I bought my Sandberg was that I went to the shop decided to get a Fender P and all of them had huge neck dives, unfortunately. Then I took a Sandberg off the wall and that was it :)

No dead spots either even though that can happen to the best of basses.

Plus, the necks are fantastic to play.
 
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#4,519
p12bassnut said:
Hello everyone,
I am kindly petitioning your help with something please
I have been in search of a lightweight bass that meets all my criteria and I believe I found it in the
Sandberg TM-4 or the TM-5 superlight series.
Before I shell out the money I really need to know if a Sandberg that weighs 5.8-6.8 lbs exhibits any neck dive whatsoever when hanging on a strap.
Is it also well balanced ?
ALSO, Do any of these models exhibit any fretboard “dead spots” ?
Please let me know your experience.
Thank you
Click to expand...
I didn’t get much time on a super light,just a quick play thru at BassDirect while purchasing my 48, but my experience was VERY positive, incredibly light (of course) extremely comfortable, no discernible neck dive, and a sound to die for, considering it felt like it was made from balsa !!
If I’d not set my heart on the 48, I would have been sorely tempted
Good luck
 
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#4,520
p12bassnut said:
I have been in search of a lightweight bass that meets all my criteria and I believe I found it in the
Sandberg TM-4 or the TM-5 superlight series.
Before I shell out the money I really need to know if a Sandberg that weighs 5.8-6.8 lbs exhibits any neck dive whatsoever when hanging on a strap.
Is it also well balanced ?
ALSO, Do any of these models exhibit any fretboard “dead spots” ?
Click to expand...
TM5 Superlight player here. Balance on a strap is excellent. It's slightly neck heavy just sitting on your leg, like most Fender type designs, but nothing to worry about. No noticeable dead spots on mine either. It's a superb bass.
The only thing I would mention is that the relatively soft body wood will pick up marks easily unless you are really careful
 
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