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Club Sandberg (part 2)

#4,841
Partners in good taste! I would like to join the club, please.

I picked up this Marlowe DK used a year or so ago as a possible replacement for a MIJ Geddy Lee Jazz I had. They both had Fralin pickups in them (which I am a HUGE fan of) but the build quality and feel of the Sandberg was so great I sold the Fender. I LOVE this thing. Here's the picture I use as my avatar...

sandberg.jpg
 
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#4,842
Digg said:
Partners in good taste! I would like to join the club, please.

I picked up this Marlowe DK used a year or so ago as a possible replacement for a MIJ Geddy Lee Jazz I had. They both had Fralin pickups in them (which I am a HUGE fan of) but the build quality and feel of the Sandberg was so great I sold the Fender. I LOVE this thing. Here's the picture I use as my avatar...

View attachment 4683587
Click to expand...

That's one beautiful bass. It's not in the same league as MIJ Geddy Lee Jazz.
 
#4,844
Local pawn shop has a beautiful blue burst Sandberg classic 5 with a P/MM pickup config. I'm having a hard time finding out how much this may have been new and if their price is fair. They want $1600, but are flexible on price as it sounds like they have had it awhile and would really like to sell it. Everything seems to work and it sounds good (save for testing it on a little 10" Eden combo amp that can't handle the low B)

It's the first Sandberg I've ever seen in person and I was really impressed, but I really don't know much about them other than made in Germany and excellent quality. Do they have cheaper non German made lines or anything I should know about when haggling. I don't think they know much about them either.
 
#4,845
Avocett said:
Local pawn shop has a beautiful blue burst Sandberg classic 5 with a P/MM pickup config. I'm having a hard time finding out how much this may have been new and if their price is fair. They want $1600, but are flexible on price as it sounds like they have had it awhile and would really like to sell it. Everything seems to work and it sounds good (save for testing it on a little 10" Eden combo amp that can't handle the low B)

It's the first Sandberg I've ever seen in person and I was really impressed, but I really don't know much about them other than made in Germany and excellent quality. Do they have cheaper non German made lines or anything I should know about when haggling. I don't think they know much about them either.
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They do make a budget line called the Electra series, but I don’t think they make budget fives, only fours.
If you can get a deal that’s an excellent bass.
1600 seems in the ballpark for a German sandberg. Not a bad price at face value.
New prices vary depending on options.
Any pics?
 
#4,846
Lesfunk said:
They do make a budget line called the Electra series, but I don’t think they make budget fives, only fours.
If you can get a deal that’s an excellent bass.
Any pics?
Click to expand...

Stupidly, no. I'm going to swing by and give it a longer test next chance I get and grab some pics, and get a serial number as well. Was kind of rushed the first time. Good to know the 5 string makes it definitely German. It didn't have a made in Germany anywhere on it, just an embossed serial number on the back of the headstock, which I think makes it older, looks like current Sandberg's have a fancy little logo they stamp around the serial number.
 
#4,848
Avocett said:
Stupidly, no. I'm going to swing by and give it a longer test next chance I get and grab some pics, and get a serial number as well. Was kind of rushed the first time. Good to know the 5 string makes it definitely German. It didn't have a made in Germany anywhere on it, just an embossed serial number on the back of the headstock, which I think makes it older, looks like current Sandberg's have a fancy little logo they stamp around the serial number.
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does it look like either of these?
361AE2C5-29F5-4342-A60A-1953EAD275A0.jpeg
7027AED7-DD67-4EEA-82E7-426E2B7FFB12.jpeg
 
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#4,850
Avocett said:
Oh nice! It's that second one! but with a white pearloid pickguard instead of black. Same knobs, pickups, rosewood fretboard and that exposed grain on the finish. Thanks!

I'm still going back to give it a longer check and I'll snag some pics too. It's definitely played, but clearly well cared for.
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ok
That’s a VM5 “basic”
Here’s an example from the Sandberg website for that model with no special options priced in euro
Which is about $2013.00 priced in dollars new
959624CE-673D-4D54-BEF3-4B2FF553DAC0.png
 
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#4,851
This page here :- Serial numbers - Sandberg Guitars

will tell you how old it is.

Serial numbers are still embossed but you are right they have a fancy logo around them now.

That finish is very durable so minor dings and dents don't show, which is a good thing, but you'll need to examine it very closely to determine how many knocks it has had.

A matched headstock adds value, dot markers on the fretboard add value etc. Note as many details as possible to get an accurate assesment of its current cost.

I don't know how the market is where you are but I paid £650 for a bass that would have cost about £1600 new and I got it from a guitar shop in Glasgow. Mine has had the frets agressively levelled which knocks something off its value. Condition is everything when it comes to value. My feeling is that $1400 would be an OK price if condition is A+ but your market is not the same as mine.

Great basses, good luck.
 
#4,852
Lesfunk said:
ok
That’s a VM5 “basic”
Here’s an example from the Sandberg website for that model with no special options priced in euro
Which is about $2013.00 priced in dollars new
Click to expand...

Do keep in mind that the price in euros includes a %19 VAT which isn't applicable in the USA.
Accounting for this, the $1,600 that Avocett's dealer is asking for the retail price rather than offering a steal, pre-flexibility of course.
 
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#4,853
gunai said:
Do keep in mind that the price in euros includes a %19 VAT which isn't applicable in the USA.
Accounting for this, the $1,600 that Avocett's dealer is asking for the retail price rather than offering a steal, pre-flexibility of course.
Click to expand...

That's a very good point. Looking at the price new, and that this one, while not damaged in any way, has been well played, I'm going to bargain for a WAY lower price. Also, some Basics on reverb have sold for sub $1k in like new condition. If they don't want to budge that far then oh well. They might later.

Big thanks for everyone helping me out on this, way more info than I ever could have found on my own!
 
#4,856
Pet Sounds said:
No offense, but I honestly think this is the first time I've ever heard anybody refer to a StingRay as "muddy."
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Maybe muddy wasn't the right description, just not as clear as the Sandberg. I own a 77 Sting Ray that I bought new, it needs neck surgery, needs frets and a fretboard refinished. Hoping to get that done this year.
 
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