Club Sandberg (part 2)

[pineweasel]

What I don’t understand yet is how, with the same string height the Sandberg can play so much cleaner? The string set 40-128 SS, I think? Right now I have Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats on the TRBX which gives it a unique sound. I have no string buzz and the action is about 5/64” accross, similar to the Sandberg. But the clarity of the Sandberg is what sold me on it and I think I have to stay with the Sandberg strings to keep it playing and sounding as it does

When I received my TM5 I was amazed how well it played straight out of the box, specifically its consistency of feel and response across the entire fretboard. It's the best guitar of any kind that I have owned in that regard, thanks, I believe, to the Plek fret levelling. None of my other basses have been Plek'd, and none are quite as enjoyable to play.

I did not care for the Sandberg strings, but when fitted with my preferred set, I was able to maintain the excellent playability with minor truss rod and bridge adjustments.

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

When I received my TM5 I was amazed how well it played straight out of the box, specifically its consistency of feel and response across the entire fretboard. It's the best guitar of any kind that I have owned in that regard, thanks, I believe, to the Plek fret levelling. None of my other basses have been Plek'd, and none are quite as enjoyable to play.
.

Grover Jackson (Lake Forest, CA) Plek'd my 2013 MIM FSR Jazz bass neck (maple/rosewood) 7 years ago.

It has been my favorite Jazz neck EVER - rivals my Lull.

i've installed it on 3 or 4 bodies - it sings every time!

 

[PhinDog]

The VM4 arrived a few days ago, but I've already decided to give up and move on.

All of the Sandbergs sound amazing when watching BassBuddha videos; clean and deep. So I'm sure it’s user error, I consider myself an amateur bassist at best.

As said in my first impressions, the VM4 feels comfortable and really well made. But I’m finding some issues I cannot address with a setup.

I tried a set of Rotosound flats, and a set of Labellas after that. I cannot stop hearing clanky and buzzy sounds from the strings and the frets when doing hammer-ons/pull-offs and playing at normal speed. It's also noticeable at recordings.

I don’t think it’s a setup issue because when I play note by note there’s no noise anywhere on the fretboard. It must be my own terrible technique.

Overall I’m finding it very hard to play. I come from my other (and only) bass, a short scale Gibson that is the opposite, so forgiving and easy to play, with no weird noises at all. I have had a bunch of other (cheaper) basses and my experience was better as well.

Also, I didn't like the sound, found the M pickup so dull. I’m a bit disappointed because I wanted it to be the good bass I own.

So I'm reporting back here, not to bash the instrument but maybe as a useful comment for amateurs looking for a new bass. If anything, I’m glad I didn’t place a year long wait pre-order so it may be a good idea to look for a readily available one.


Oh, the gig bag is really nice, perfect for commuting.

Have you tried playing with the pickup height? I have the Black Diamond pickups in my VM5, which are super hot and clear. I had to lower my neck pickup and raise my bridge pickup to balance the tones. TBF it was set up like it is now when I got it but I knew better and started adjusting them, just to put them back. Now it sings.

 

[Z-Bass]

Have you tried playing with the pickup height? I have the Black Diamond pickups in my VM5, which are super hot and clear. I had to lower my neck pickup and raise my bridge pickup to balance the tones. TBF it was set up like it is now when I got it but I knew better and started adjusting them, just to put them back. Now it sings.

I second this. When I first received my TM4 I had a bit of a hard time adjusting to it compared to my other bass. However, once I got new strings, a solid setup, and the pickup heights adjusted, the playability and tone was much improved. Not that it sounded bad, just needed set up for me.

 

[vindibona1]

When I received my TM5 I was amazed how well it played straight out of the box, specifically its consistency of feel and response across the entire fretboard. It's the best guitar of any kind that I have owned in that regard, thanks, I believe, to the Plek fret levelling. None of my other basses have been Plek'd, and none are quite as enjoyable to play.

I did not care for the Sandberg strings, but when fitted with my preferred set, I was able to maintain the excellent playability with minor truss rod and bridge adjustments.

Grover Jackson (Lake Forest, CA) Plek'd my 2013 MIM FSR Jazz bass neck (maple/rosewood) 7 years ago.

It has been my favorite Jazz neck EVER - rivals my Lull.

i've installed it on 3 or 4 bodies - it sings every time!

I am inspired now to get my Yamaha Plek’d. Perhaps not this month as I got lambasted with a $400 January electric bill for a 1200 sq ft place. I thought I had things budgeted for, but this hit me harder than I thought.

I haven’t gone back to DR Pure Blues strings since I tried them at the very beginning of my ownership of my Yamaha, but I’ve got a set in my Amazon shopping cart and may give them a go.

The one thing I haven’t tried yet beyond the 40-128’s that are on my Sandberg are lighter gauge bass strings. The Pure Blues are offered in a 40-120 set. I’m apprehensive. I’m not a soloist, and certainly not Victor Wooten. What do y’all think of lighter bass strings for general work?

 

[triviani]

Have you tried playing with the pickup height? I have the Black Diamond pickups in my VM5, which are super hot and clear. I had to lower my neck pickup and raise my bridge pickup to balance the tones. TBF it was set up like it is now when I got it but I knew better and started adjusting them, just to put them back. Now it sings.

Thanks for the suggestion, I did try.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Why do people keep buying Sandbergs and expecting them to sound and play like a Fender ? They don’t sound like a Fender in demo videos. They don’t sound like a Fender when you play them in store?

Sandbergs should come with a warning label. Warning SANDBERG BASSES DO NOT SOUND LIKE A FENDER BASS!!
They are a very modern voiced bass with great clarity, note separation, sustain , and fullness throughout the range. If your technique is bad, these basses will expose it.

People don’t buy a Ken Smith or Wal because they want a Fender sound. Don’t buy a Sandberg if you want a Fender. Don’t buy a Fender if you want a Sadowsky. And don’t buy a Sandberg if you want a MusicMan.

They don’t sound the same. There is a difference in a copy and inspired by. Sometimes you have to embrace a bass for what it is, not what it isn’t. Otherwise your just need to buy what you really want the first time.

This post is for those that will research this thread before buying a Sandberg. I realize they are not in most stores and people just don’t know if the only look with their eyes and haven’t played one themselves. Just trying to .

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

Why do people keep buying Sandbergs and expecting them to sound and play like a Fender ? They don’t sound like a Fender in demo videos. They don’t sound like a Fender when you play them in store?

Sandbergs should come with a warning label. Warning SANDBERG BASSES DO NOT SOUND LIKE A FENDER BASS!!
They are a very modern voiced bass with great clarity, note separation, sustain , and fullness throughout the range. If your technique is bad, these basses will expose it.

People don’t buy a Ken Smith or Wal because they want a Fender sound. Don’t buy a Sandberg if you want a Fender. Don’t buy a Fender if you want a Sadowsky. And don’t buy a Sandberg if you want a MusicMan.

They don’t sound the same. There is a difference in a copy and inspired by. Sometimes you have to embrace a bass for what it is, not what it isn’t. Otherwise your just need to buy what you really want the first time.

This post is for those that will research this thread before buying a Sandberg. I realize they are not in most stores and people just don’t know if the only look with their eyes and haven’t played one themselves. Just trying to .

similar posts in the Ibanez EHB thread

which as wildly different from.a Fender as you can get

 

[Matthias]

Why do people keep buying Sandbergs and expecting them to sound and play like a Fender ? They don’t sound like a Fender in demo videos. They don’t sound like a Fender when you play them in store?

Sandbergs should come with a warning label. Warning SANDBERG BASSES DO NOT SOUND LIKE A FENDER BASS!!
They are a very modern voiced bass with great clarity, note separation, sustain , and fullness throughout the range. If your technique is bad, these basses will expose it.

I see your point and agree that the California VM and TM Models sound different.
But for what I heard on YouTube, the VS (=P Pickup only) in passive mode is fairly close to a Fender P bass?
Can anyone confirm (or deny) this? Haven't seen one in real life unfortunately.

 

[tb-player]

Why do people keep buying Sandbergs and expecting them to sound and play like a Fender ? They don’t sound like a Fender in demo videos. They don’t sound like a Fender when you play them in store?

Sandbergs should come with a warning label. Warning SANDBERG BASSES DO NOT SOUND LIKE A FENDER BASS!!
They are a very modern voiced bass with great clarity, note separation, sustain , and fullness throughout the range. If your technique is bad, these basses will expose it.

People don’t buy a Ken Smith or Wal because they want a Fender sound. Don’t buy a Sandberg if you want a Fender. Don’t buy a Fender if you want a Sadowsky. And don’t buy a Sandberg if you want a MusicMan.

They don’t sound the same. There is a difference in a copy and inspired by. Sometimes you have to embrace a bass for what it is, not what it isn’t. Otherwise your just need to buy what you really want the first time.

This post is for those that will research this thread before buying a Sandberg. I realize they are not in most stores and people just don’t know if the only look with their eyes and haven’t played one themselves. Just trying to .

With the exception of the MarloweDK bass. Best sounding jazz bass!

 

[vindibona1]

Why do people keep buying Sandbergs and expecting them to sound and play like a Fender ? They don’t sound like a Fender in demo videos. They don’t sound like a Fender when you play them in store?

Sandbergs should come with a warning label. Warning SANDBERG BASSES DO NOT SOUND LIKE A FENDER BASS!!
They are a very modern voiced bass with great clarity, note separation, sustain , and fullness throughout the range. If your technique is bad, these basses will expose it.

People don’t buy a Ken Smith or Wal because they want a Fender sound. Don’t buy a Sandberg if you want a Fender. Don’t buy a Fender if you want a Sadowsky. And don’t buy a Sandberg if you want a MusicMan.

They don’t sound the same. There is a difference in a copy and inspired by. Sometimes you have to embrace a bass for what it is, not what it isn’t. Otherwise your just need to buy what you really want the first time.

This post is for those that will research this thread before buying a Sandberg. I realize they are not in most stores and people just don’t know if the only look with their eyes and haven’t played one themselves. Just trying to .

I completely agree. I think what drew me to Sandburg was that I was searching for something but didn’t know what it was until I held it in my hands. I discovered that what I was missing in my other basses was CLARITY. I’m still trying to figure out why it plays so easily too; more easily than my TRBX, which dimensionally is shockingly similar, even though the string height is the same. Could it be the Plek’ing or that the string gauge is 40-128?

I am relatively certain that this will be my last bass purchase. Because I’m the curious type almost to the point of being OCD, the remaining question for me is, how close can I now make the Yamaha to the Sandburg, at least in terms of feel? I have it in my mind that I’ll start with strings, perhaps DR Pure Blues or Black Beauties. I’m not sure.

 

[NordicBard]

I see your point and agree that the California VM and TM Models sound different.
But for what I heard on YouTube, the VS (=P Pickup only) in passive mode is fairly close to a Fender P bass?
Can anyone confirm (or deny) this? Haven't seen one in real life unfortunately.

In passive mode you get super close to a Fender'ish sound. In active it's the Sandberg Clarity.

 

[triviani]

Why do people keep buying Sandbergs and expecting them to sound and play like a Fender ? They don’t sound like a Fender in demo videos. They don’t sound like a Fender when you play them in store?

Sandbergs should come with a warning label. Warning SANDBERG BASSES DO NOT SOUND LIKE A FENDER BASS!!
They are a very modern voiced bass with great clarity, note separation, sustain , and fullness throughout the range. If your technique is bad, these basses will expose it.

People don’t buy a Ken Smith or Wal because they want a Fender sound. Don’t buy a Sandberg if you want a Fender. Don’t buy a Fender if you want a Sadowsky. And don’t buy a Sandberg if you want a MusicMan.

They don’t sound the same. There is a difference in a copy and inspired by. Sometimes you have to embrace a bass for what it is, not what it isn’t. Otherwise your just need to buy what you really want the first time.

This post is for those that will research this thread before buying a Sandberg. I realize they are not in most stores and people just don’t know if the only look with their eyes and haven’t played one themselves. Just trying to .

I guess this is directed to my latest comments.

No, I didn't have the chance to try one beforehand. No, I did not expect it to sound like a fender. And yes, in Youtube the bass sounds great.

But as a(n amateur) user, I find my Sandberg dull and hard to play. Compared, at least, to the other basses I've owned before (which are not many). There's that. Worst part is that resale is terrible over here, which sums into the disappointment.

Plenty of happy users in this thread, so "it's not you it's me".

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I guess this is directed to my latest comments.

No, I didn't have the chance to try one beforehand. No, I did not expect it to sound like a fender. And yes, in Youtube the bass sounds great.

But as a(n amateur) user, I find my Sandberg dull and hard to play. Compared, at least, to the other basses I've owned before (which are not many). There's that. Worst part is that resale is terrible over here, which sums into the disappointment.

Plenty of happy users in this thread, so "it's not you it's me".

Nope it wasn't directed at you. it was in response to an entirely different thread that I posted pretty much my same response in. I just decided to post it here as well for reference so that people who do a search will know.

FYI. here is that thread.nbd-sandberg-lionel.1595895

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

here's a local offering - lighter than my Ibanez EHB 1505!

 

[Iridescentone]

I second this. When I first received my TM4 I had a bit of a hard time adjusting to it compared to my other bass. However, once I got new strings, a solid setup, and the pickup heights adjusted, the playability and tone was much improved. Not that it sounded bad, just needed set up for me.

That's interesting. Recently a very nice TM4 with Delano pickups crossed my path. It's my fourth Sandberg, but first TM. Unlike the others (which I bonded with immediately), I'm not finding its sweet spot sound-wise, yet. It sounds "good" but I know it can sound closer to what I expect from it. I'm starting to think it's one of those basses wants certain strings to live up to its potential (which is totally subjective of course). So I guess it's "string rolling" time for the TM. It's definitely worth fiddling with though, as it's a fine instrument for sure.

 

[vindibona1]

Why do people keep buying Sandbergs and expecting them to sound and play like a Fender ? They don’t sound like a Fender in demo videos. They don’t sound like a Fender when you play them in store?

Sandbergs should come with a warning label. Warning SANDBERG BASSES DO NOT SOUND LIKE A FENDER BASS!!
They are a very modern voiced bass with great clarity, note separation, sustain , and fullness throughout the range. If your technique is bad, these basses will expose it.

People don’t buy a Ken Smith or Wal because they want a Fender sound. Don’t buy a Sandberg if you want a Fender. Don’t buy a Fender if you want a Sadowsky. And don’t buy a Sandberg if you want a MusicMan.

They don’t sound the same. There is a difference in a copy and inspired by. Sometimes you have to embrace a bass for what it is, not what it isn’t. Otherwise your just need to buy what you really want the first time.

This post is for those that will research this thread before buying a Sandberg. I realize they are not in most stores and people just don’t know if the only look with their eyes and haven’t played one themselves. Just trying to .

That's interesting. Recently a very nice TM4 with Delano pickups crossed my path. It's my fourth Sandberg, but first TM. Unlike the others (which I bonded with immediately), I'm not finding its sweet spot sound-wise, yet. It sounds "good" but I know it can sound closer to what I expect from it. I'm starting to think it's one of those basses wants certain strings to live up to its potential (which is totally subjective of course). So I guess it's "string rolling" time for the TM. It's definitely worth fiddling with though, as it's a fine instrument for sure.

I’m coming to the conclusion that strings are a critical part of the “sound recipe”, possibly more critical than many of us recognize. When I got my Yamaha TRBX605 I disliked the sound so much that I’d already had a return label printed, and just before re-boxing for return I slapped on a set of DR Pure Blue strings. Those strings by themselves changed my mind and I kept the bass. That bass now has Ernie Ball Cobalt flats and until now have been the preferred strings on that bass because it had a different sound palette than my other basses. With my TRBX I went with NYXL’s on it for a time, but when I discovered Slinky’s for that bass those were the strings that made that bass come alive both in sound and feel.

Conversely, I love the sound that my Sandberg came with and think that the strings that came on it are an integral part of its sound. I’m sure that I’ll try some of the previously installed strings that I might be laying around, but then I ask myself “what’s the point”? I went through that journey with my acoustic guitars, and while I ended back up with the Elixirs that came with them, it was the saddles and bridge pins that dialed in the sound for me. Obviously it’s not the same with a hard body electric instrument.

So now the question becomes, do I try to make my Yamaha or other basses sound like my Sandberg, or do I just let them have their own sound? Perhaps my curiosity will changes the Sandberg’s sound, just to try to reveal its secrets?

Just sayin’

 

[NordicBard]

When I got my VS4 I was, like others, slightly suprised about the 'tone' from it. Yes, it looks like a P-bass, but in active mode it sounds nothing like one - As mentioned earlier the passive mode gets really close.

Anyhow, I swapped from whatever strings was installed to La Bella 760FS - Perfect now in active mode and nails the Pbass in passive.

Basicly it's all motown/yummy-yum in passive but a whole other beast in active. Love it!

And don't even get me started on the build quality, it *SCREAMS* German - Everything is perfect, everything.

 

[kasbrey]

Well, for those that think Sandbergs should only be modern "Fender on steroids" type instruments I'll leave this pic of the new Florence bass.

 

[NordicBard]

Well, for those that think Sandbergs should only be modern "Fender on steroids" type instruments I'll leave this pic of the new Florence bass.

View attachment 4973682

Lovely, if that olive green comes in a left handed version I am going to order as soon as it's on the configurator.