Here’s an interesting video that does the Stingray comparison
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I compared my TM4 (with Darkglass preamp and stock Glock) with Stingray Special and a lot of Jazz bass type basses - Lakland Darryl Jones, Fender USA '77 Jazz, Fender CIJ... You can found the videos on my YT channel, but in short:
-TM4 with standard Glock preamp can not sound like the Stingray neither in solo H or H+S mode. Humbucker is just to near the bridge comparing to a Ray. However, with Darkglass 3 EQ preamp (bass, low mids and high mids) in H solo, you can come pretty close to a Ray sound, almost 100%. (also available to hear on my YT video).
-On the other side, TM4 in passive mode and split humbucker is much more like the '60s Fender. When splitted, the coil near the neck is engaged so it's more like 60s then the 70s Jazz sound but not 100% the same.
So it's not the same as TT, but it shouldn't be. They are made differently with a clear intention.
Next to my CS Fenders and a Stingray Special which I all love so much, TM4 is often a first choice, being so versatile especially for my cover band.
I just saw that Pineweasel atached one of my videos above
I refuse to believe there is any particular magic to a Darkglass onboard preamp.I compared my TM4 (with Darkglass preamp and stock Glock) with Stingray Special and a lot of Jazz bass type basses - Lakland Darryl Jones, Fender USA '77 Jazz, Fender CIJ... You can found the videos on my YT channel, but in short:
-TM4 with standard Glock preamp can not sound like the Stingray neither in solo H or H+S mode. Humbucker is just to near the bridge comparing to a Ray. However, with Darkglass 3 EQ preamp (bass, low mids and high mids) in H solo, you can come pretty close to a Ray sound, almost 100%. (also available to hear on my YT video).
-On the other side, TM4 in passive mode and split humbucker is much more like the '60s Fender. When splitted, the coil near the neck is engaged so it's more like 60s then the 70s Jazz sound but not 100% the same.
So it's not the same as TT, but it shouldn't be. They are made differently with a clear intention.
Next to my CS Fenders and a Stingray Special which I all love so much, TM4 is often a first choice, being so versatile especially for my cover band.
I just saw that Pineweasel atached one of my videos above
I have listened to your videos and agree that the TM4 with Darkglass preamp sounds somewhat similar to a Stingray Special.
I would assume that running a TM4 in passive mode and tweaking the EQ on any pedal preamp or amplifier with equivalent control over bass, low mid and high mid frequencies would also achieve something close to a Stingray sound.
Yes, if You have particular EQ frequencies that works in particular way with the TM4 position of a humbucker - 70Hz, 500Hz, 2.8kHz os close to that... nothing special with Darkglass but it turns out their frequencies do the job.
First I managed to make such a sound with their Vintage ultra pedal, ans later I bought Tone capsule preamp because of the mentioned frequencies which I wanted to have on board.
I wonder if the DG pre will work with Delano extender “oval” pickups on a Cali 35th?I compared my TM4 (with Darkglass preamp and stock Glock) with Stingray Special and a lot of Jazz bass type basses - Lakland Darryl Jones, Fender USA '77 Jazz, Fender CIJ... You can found the videos on my YT channel, but in short:
-TM4 with standard Glock preamp can not sound like the Stingray neither in solo H or H+S mode. Humbucker is just to near the bridge comparing to a Ray. However, with Darkglass 3 EQ preamp (bass, low mids and high mids) in H solo, you can come pretty close to a Ray sound, almost 100%. (also available to hear on my YT video).
-On the other side, TM4 in passive mode and split humbucker is much more like the '60s Fender. When splitted, the coil near the neck is engaged so it's more like 60s then the 70s Jazz sound but not 100% the same.
So it's not the same as TT, but it shouldn't be. They are made differently with a clear intention.
Next to my CS Fenders and a Stingray Special which I all love so much, TM4 is often a first choice, being so versatile especially for my cover band.
I just saw that Pineweasel atached one of my videos above
I don’t see why it wouldn’t, but it’s best to contact Sandberg directly. They always respond very quickly.
Both bass sound great, I think the Sandberg sounds clearer to me, less muddy. I wonder if the German version of the TT will have different P/U's and pre-amp? I found my Cali Supreme has more gain and cut bandwidth that I leave my amp on Flat settings and the bass can do any sound I want.
No manufacture does. You always get what you get, then put the ones on you really want.
No offense, but I honestly think this is the first time I've ever heard anybody refer to a StingRay as "muddy."
I have a sting ray and had a sandberg grand dark. The grand dark made the sting ray sound muddy...
My Sandberg has more clarity and note seperation than my StingRay Special but I still don’t consider my StingRay Special to sound muddy. Less defined with richer thicker notes and more punch is a more accurate description .
I have the same bass in a 5 string, Honey burst. The midrange on that bass is so variable. I also have a BFR Stingray special but I find myself playing the Cali on all my gigs now. The only complaint is the low B has to at least a 130 to give it a tight punch on low notes.
You're mostly right. My gripe is more that Sandberg puts stainless steel roundwounds on every single bass, even fretless basses (!). The least they could do is put on some nickel flatwounds on fretless basses like other manufacturers do.
Sandberg's configurator has options for so many things, and most basses take months to build. It wouldn't be that hard to include cost added options for strings, so that the purchaser gets exactly what they want after months of waiting.
Buying a custom bass only to throw away strings that I never ordered strikes me as wasteful.
Agreed. Understandable. I'll be sure to pass this on to Holger!
Now that I think about it, that pickup placement bring closer to the bridge as well as the smaller pole pieces I’m sure is the main reason for the difference in clarity on my Sandberg vs StingRay Special .
I welcome and appreciate the differences between the 2.
I would think whatever dealer you're going through could request this no? I was able to request Lollar pups for a TTSL build I have in now through my dealer even though it's not an option on their configurator.
Sorry, I meant to have them request the strings you want to already be on the bass. I'm getting the pups already installed in the bass from Sandberg not having the dealer swap after. Dealer put in all my specs/requests upon order. Seems strings would be an easy request like you're saying.
Indeed. It could also be a very simple check box and text field in the configurator.
