Few questions about California Oliver Riedel and Sandberg Configurator:
Can Anyone confirm that California Oliver Riedel ''Special Hardcore Aged'' finish implies Thermo Treatment?
There is a little doubt for me regarding Aged levels and Thermo Treatment in the latest configurator.
At the ''old'' configurator Soft and Hardcore aged levels did not include Thermo neither the Vibro treatment.
Hardcore Reserve level included only Thermo, and Masterpiece level included both Thermo and Vibro treatment (next to the visual differences).
At the ''new'' configurator, You can add roasted option for the neck next to the Aged level You first need to choose. So if I choose Hardcore Reserve or Masterpiece (that should include Thermo treatment), why I can also add the ''roasted'' option for the neck (it also raise the price)?
Before I ordered my TM4 Hardcore reserve in 2019 I contacted Sandberg and got the email from Holger, who answered to my question and said that in Thermo treatment (at that time) all the wood for a bass is roasted, Neck, fingerboard and body wood. That puts me in a quandary!
So my questions again:
What does ''Special Hardcore Aged'' means in relation to the California Oliver Riedel?
Does California Oliver Riedel implies Thermo Treatment?
Why ''Roasted'' option is available in configurator even if Hardoce Reserved or Masterpiece is first choosen?
Thank You very much.
It's only special in regards to being Rammstein themed I guess. Oliver's stamp is on the back of the headstock burned in. It's just an O and R with the bass clef symbol next to it. It's a hardcore aged black poly finish too on the body I believe and they call it hardcore because the headstock matches the body and has one or a couple marks that look like burned plastic in texture. I don't think it's roasted in any way. The neck is Canadian hardrock maple with ebony on top as the fretboard.
As for the sound it's very versatile. It can do a trebly, steely sounding Stingray with just the bridge pickup or a really bright P pickup which you can adjust with less treble and more bass if you need it. It also has a passive feature. I've had this bass nearly a year now and really enjoy it. Playing it loud with both pickups on full and the bass knob cranked gives it a pressure pot sound. Very punchy, rich and with scooped mids. Granted, all of this is probably because of the stock steel strings I still have on it.
The only thing that's odd about the P/MM configuration is Oliver Riedel's Sandberg on stage has bigger/larger pole pieces compared to the ones they made for the general public. No idea why it's like that. I believe they are still black label tho. Will have to call them and ask why this is. I also wish it came with a hard case instead of a gigbag for the price.
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