Club Sandberg (part 2)

[Upstate SC Bass]

I think I like the switch that goes from single coil to humbucker and sort of understand it but can anyone explain exactly which of the three rows of pickups does what when the switch is changed. I looked at the owners manual picture but still is not clear I suppose.
it says toward neck both pickups single coil
toward bridge both pickups humbuckers
and the humbucker seems the louder right? thanks

number 5

 

[bdplaid]

Anyone know what the difference is between Sandberg Power Splitcoil and Sandberg Black Label Splitcoil is?

Google gives absolutely nothing and their own website does not give any other description other than what is in the box.

Did anyone answer this?

 

[Taustin Powers]

Did anyone answer this?

I read somewhere that the Black Labels are more modern and aggressive sounding than the regular Sandberg pickups.

I have the Black Labels on my TM4 Nighthawk, and I find them very bright.

 

[NordicBard]

I read somewhere that the Black Labels are more modern and aggressive sounding than the regular Sandberg pickups.

I have the Black Labels on my TM4 Nighthawk, and I find them very bright.

But are the Power Splitcoil considered Regular?

Anyhow, think I will shoot Sandberg an email and ask them - I been unable to find a single line describing the voicing of the pickups. (Official that is - I am grateful of the users describing the sound).

 

[tb-player]

I just ordered a couple of sets from Morten at Bass Buddha. Curious to see how long it takes for delivery to the US. The bass took 3 weeks so I’ll set my expectation there.

In case anyone’s interested, my strings arrived today. Denmark to MD: exactly 2 weeks.

 

[thawkeyes]

I think I like the switch that goes from single coil to humbucker and sort of understand it but can anyone explain exactly which of the three rows of pickups does what when the switch is changed. I looked at the owners manual picture but still is not clear I suppose.
it says toward neck both pickups single coil
toward bridge both pickups humbuckers
and the humbucker seems the louder right? thanksView attachment 5002796
number 5

Hmm. I would wager that "neck direction coils" means the rows of coils closest to the neck.

 

[guyfergy]

Hmm. I would wager that "neck direction coils" means the rows of coils closest to the neck.

That's the way I understand it as well. I wonder why they chose neck side instead of bridge side, I'm guessing they tried different options and found it sounded better.

 

[NordicBard]

Still no word from Sandberg about the different voicings on their pickups.

 

[jid]

So here is something I hadn’t seen on a Sandberg before…. I have a Passive VM4 which I’d purchased used and sight unseen from overseas. Love the bass. It is my #1 go-to.

I didn’t know I wanted active pickups but after a couple of years I decided to add the audere pre-amp. It sounds awesome! I’m thrilled with it! And for a 2-hole bass…. Here is what it looks like with the stacked pots:

 

[bdplaid]

This Precision pickup came from a Cali VT4, approx 2021. Does anyone know which model pickup it is?

 

[mtonbass]

This Precision pickup came from a Cali VT4, approx 2021. Does anyone know which model pickup it is?

View attachment 5014892

Sandberg Black Label - also the stock p/u on the Lionel SS.

 

[tb-player]

Hey guys. I'm reluctantly selling my new VM5. I'm pooling cash for some gear I need. This is my newest bass, so it has to go. Any questions, hit me up.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/sandberg-vm5-hardcore-aged-5-string-bass-guitar-black.1602521/

 

[NordicBard]

Sven from Beyers-Music, I salute you! Best customer service ever!

I just got a message from Sven that my pickguard is on it's way.

While I had him I asked what the difference between the Sandberg Power Splitcoil and Sandberg Black Label was. Within a minute he answered the following:

The black label V4 has a higher output than the power solitcoil and is therefore best suited for harder sounds. also has a special design with separate coils for the high and low strings, which creates an oppressive low-mid growl and a pleasant rock Character.

 

[Taustin Powers]

Thanks for all the comments.

I didn’t care for the stock strings and changed them on day 2. Tried DR Lo Riders and Fodera Steels. These go on all my basses and make them all sound good!

The TM4 just has an inherent brightness to it that I can’t get under control. I usually go for a cut treble and slight boost in the low mids in my tone. Warm, beefy and punchy. When I dial out the treble on the TM4 to where I think it would sound good, it starts to sound muffled. Can’t seem to find the sweet spot. It just wants to sound bright and clanky until it reaches the point where it’s just dull.

By contrast, I am very happy with the tone on my VM5. It sounds massive and and doesn’t have that inherent brightness. That reverse P is killer.

So is what I am hearing due to the T/MM pickup combo in general? Or could it just be the Black Label pickups vs the regular Sandberg pickups?

So, as outlined in my post above, I am not happy with the tone of the TM4 Nighthawk Plus. I am hesitant to sell it though, cause I really love how it looks, feels and plays. Would replacing the pickups and/or preamp be a viable alternative? Any recommendations on what would be a good drop-in replacement without rerouting anything?

My preferred tone is a warm, thick low-mid heavy punch with some growl, not too bright. MTD‘s stock Bartolini electronics are my favorite, but I understand they are exclusive to MTD and wouldn’t fit anyways. I have seen someone put Häussels in their Nighthawk. How do they compare?

Thanks for any input!

 

[_Obra_]

So, as outlined in my post above, I am not happy with the tone of the TM4 Nighthawk Plus. I am hesitant to sell it though, cause I really love how it looks, feels and plays. Would replacing the pickups and/or preamp be a viable alternative? Any recommendations on what would be a good drop-in replacement without rerouting anything?

My preferred tone is a warm, thick low-mid heavy punch with some growl, not too bright. MTD‘s stock Bartolini electronics are my favorite, but I understand they are exclusive to MTD and wouldn’t fit anyways. I have seen someone put Häussels in their Nighthawk. How do they compare?

Thanks for any input!

I would change the preamp first.
I also wasn't happy with active sound of my TM4, so Sandberg sent me Darkglass tone capsule preamp with one stacked pot and soldering diagram, and I changed it myself.

Now I'm happy with both passive and active sound with Darkglass EQ and stock Delano pickups (particularly the neck single one).

 

[Z-Bass]

So, as outlined in my post above, I am not happy with the tone of the TM4 Nighthawk Plus. I am hesitant to sell it though, cause I really love how it looks, feels and plays. Would replacing the pickups and/or preamp be a viable alternative? Any recommendations on what would be a good drop-in replacement without rerouting anything?

My preferred tone is a warm, thick low-mid heavy punch with some growl, not too bright. MTD‘s stock Bartolini electronics are my favorite, but I understand they are exclusive to MTD and wouldn’t fit anyways. I have seen someone put Häussels in their Nighthawk. How do they compare?

Thanks for any input!

I would say that it's at least worth a shot. I can relate to your dilemma. I love everything about my TM4 (the look, the design, the weight, the balance and overall feel of the neck) but the sound is something that I've struggled with at times. I think you have black label pickups in your Nighthawk, which are ceramic. The pickups in my TM4 are also ceramic but the big pole magnet versions. These passive ceramic pickups hit differently than say an alnico pickup. That being said, I've used ceramic pickups in the past with success/satisfaction but those were a bit different. I may try a pickup and preamp swap in the near future as well. To me it's worth it because how much I like the bass in general. Please let us know what you end up trying. Would love to hear your thoughts.

 

[Kmrumedy]

So, as outlined in my post above, I am not happy with the tone of the TM4 Nighthawk Plus. I am hesitant to sell it though, cause I really love how it looks, feels and plays. Would replacing the pickups and/or preamp be a viable alternative? Any recommendations on what would be a good drop-in replacement without rerouting anything?

My preferred tone is a warm, thick low-mid heavy punch with some growl, not too bright. MTD‘s stock Bartolini electronics are my favorite, but I understand they are exclusive to MTD and wouldn’t fit anyways. I have seen someone put Häussels in their Nighthawk. How do they compare?

Thanks for any input!

Might seem like a simple solution but on basses I found too bright, I simply changed the pickup height. Problem solved in most cases.

Have you played with this?

 

[Taustin Powers]

Might seem like a simple solution but on basses I found too bright, I simply changed the pickup height. Problem solved in most cases.

Have you played with this?

I have not, never knew it would affect tone like that. I‘ll give it a shot!

 

[Z-Bass]

Might seem like a simple solution but on basses I found too bright, I simply changed the pickup height. Problem solved in most cases.

I'll second this. I had the pickup height lowered on my TM4 when I had it setup for the first time after playing it a bit when I first got it. They were really close to the strings and you couldn't look at them without hearing some clank. After a string change, setup, and lowering the pickups, there was a definite improvement.

I still may mod the electronics a bit. I'm thinking of starting with a simple pickup swap and replacing the front pickup only with the alnico Delano JC AL/M2, and keeping the rear pickup as is. See how that goes. I'm also intrigued by the Darkglass preamp that _Obra_ recommended. That looks interesting with the bass/lo-mid/hi-mid approach.

 

[Ethix4]

I had a hard time finding a hard case for my sandberg booster 5 string , I should've came and asked you guys. Found the cheap economy roadrunner for now that worked after trying many. The upper left horn makes the bass not work in most cases as well as the larger than average body. Do you guys know or have any suggestions of a better hardcase for the sandberg booster series?