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Well - plays very similar to the Lionel, they both have the basic same neck. The Florence - is what a Gibson bass have been. They just made it better, in normal mode it has great even sounds with balanced highs and lows. Then you activate the tone pot for what I call the mud bucker boost. Then you get that old Mud bucker sound.
When I started playing back in the late 60's early 70's I had a precision and a Gibson EB0. So, I had both sounds at that time covered - now since I have gone short scale and discovered Sandberg I have 2 Lionel basses that cover the P bass and wanted the Florence to cover the more Gibson sounds.
The body across the bridge is larger than the Lionel - but still the same Sandberg. The neck will play itself and the action with the zero frets is great. Everything about it is a Sandberg with looking like its older relative - the Gibson EB's.
I do not think the available tone setting will work great with a solo player - but to hold down the fort it is there 110%.
I think the reason you have not seen much is that they are fairly new and the back log for orders is high. I was lucky my friend decided to sell his and I got first chance. Sandberg makes several different styles for 34" scale basses. But in the short scale only 2 sofar - the Lionel and the Florence. Both are great in my opinion, and another plus Florence was my grandmother's name.
I hope this helps and keep a lookout for them.
California vs California II -- what's the difference?
I'm seriously considering a California II superlight. Thanks!
I'm seriously considering a California II superlight. Thanks!
body shape and electronics in some cases. Might also be some hardware differences.
Californias are the same shape as Fenders. California IIs have slimmer bodies, smaller headstocks, and lighter hardware.
I play a tm5 with Delanos and Glockenklang pre, I’ve done a fair amount of pit work and gig with iems. This bass is really reasonably quiet in stock.
That's great to hear, too. My main passive "all-rounder" is a Fender Roscoe Beck, which has the coil tapping, so it might be a little extra fun to have the option to go between series/parallel and single coil
In a nutshell -The Lionels sound like a really smooth precision bass and the Florence sounds like what Gibson should have done with the old EBO.
With the pull tone knob, you get that muddy Gibson sound. But with that off you get this really nice lower end tone, kind of like turning your tone knob down to about 50 to 60% on a P bass.
I have only had it for 4 days - so after a few more to see all the ins and outs I will get back with everyone.
Anyone have tips on deep cleaning their masterpiece and the unfinished portions of the neck and body?
I would write an email to Sandberg with a serial number and maybe some pics. They have pretty good support and should answer to all of Your questions. That's at least my experience.
