Club Sandberg (part 2)

[kissjt]

Although I 'get it', aged/roadworn isn't for me. Spending on a quality new instrument means I want it to look good/clean. I dust my basses and run a hoover around my pedal board, amp & cabs! Just like everything clean & shiny. Not v rock n roll haha.

I remember the early punk days in 70s of putting stickers over my bass and generally chucking it about. That's history!

But it's great Sandberg offer such a diverse choice for all tastes.

I am with you on this, though I do like Smallmouth_Bass's approach of thinking of aging as just a finish. Hey, after all, aging is a finish that will be applied on every one of us sooner or later, so why not put it on a bass, too?

Nice profile picture, BTW

 

[Billyears IV]

I am with you on this, though I do like Smallmouth_Bass's approach of thinking of aging as just a finish. Hey, after all, aging is a finish that will be applied on every one of us sooner or later, so why not put it on a bass, too?

Nice profile picture, BTW

Ha ha yes, perhaps the shiny new bass is a distraction (in my case) from the players road-worn features?!!

About time I changed my profile pic to something more musical.....

 

[Lugan]

One reason to get the "Masterpiece" level of extreme aging is the vibration and thermo treatment. I have three basses at that level of aging, and while I don't love the look of the aging and the fact that it is fake, I love how they play and sound. YMMV of course.

 

[Nuage420]

I've been lurking around here as the former owner of a Basic VM5. Lately I've been thinking about getting another Sandberg and I've narrowed it down to the Grand Dark 5 and the Nighthawk TM5. I can try the Nighthawk but I'd have to order the Grand Dark sight unseen from an online retailer.

I'm not gigging just having fun with friends, we play rock and metal. I gravitate towards the Grand Dark, the price I'd get is good and I like the idea of having a 3 band EQ on board, even though I am running into an HX Stomp and I could do everything on it.

How noticeable is the hum with the Grand Dark's humbucker in split coil mode? At home I'm ok, but in the rehearsal room we do get hum with single coils. Is the Nighthawk's Blacklabel humbucker humcancelling in single coil mode?

I have had the grand dark TM4 and aVM4. The VM was awesome but I did keep my dingwall DROC over it. I currently have another grand dark on the way.

 

[Z-Bass]

One reason to get the "Masterpiece" level of extreme aging is the vibration and thermo treatment. I have three basses at that level of aging, and while I don't love the look of the aging and the fact that it is fake, I love how they play and sound. YMMV of course.

Can you get the vibration and thermo treatment without the aging? I recall Yamaha incorporating these treatments into their (at the time) BB2024 and 2025X series of basses which was a top of the line model at the time. Those did not have a distressed finish but did have the vibration and thermo treatments, although referred to as IRA and ARE. I'm assuming those are/were similar but maybe not.

 

[Lugan]

Can you get the vibration and thermo treatment without the aging? I recall Yamaha incorporating these treatments into their (at the time) BB2024 and 2025X series of basses which was a top of the line model at the time. Those did not have a distressed finish but did have the vibration and thermo treatments, although referred to as IRA and ARE. I'm assuming those are/were similar but maybe not.

I don't know if Sandberg will do that, but it's worth asking a dealer if a custom instrument could include those options. Yamaha top-end BB series includes a vibration treatment they call IRA as you noted, but no heat treating I don't think. The Billy Sheehan model includes both though. In any case, those are also highly rated basses as you probably know.

 

[vindibona1]

I used to be the same, but I have to say it's somewhat liberating not having to worry about that first ding or other little bumps and scratches. As long as it's not on the back of the neck and too over the top, I don't really mind. I don't think of it as fake wear (which it is) or trying to pull something over on the audience, I think of it as a finish in the same way as a top wood or colour choice.

There is something to say about worrying about "first dings". I don't know that I "worry" about it so much but do take steps to minimize incidents. One of my trumpet teaches says I'm "legendary" in terms of how I treat my instruments. My main trumpets are 1973 and 1981. I played them every day for years. When polished they look like they came out of the factory that year. One my main acoustics is a 1972 Martin D35. It looks aged but not worn. That's what I like.

If one worries about dings and wear, then just look for bargains that are already worn. Too me relic'd means "beaten up". I guess it's the same mentality as pre-ripped jeans. I don't get it exactly.

Below is the American Deluxe Strat that apparently had been dropped. For what I paid for it I pretty much stole the darned thing and did a pretty good job of camouflaging the damaged area. Cost- less than $1000 BENEATH RETAIL! Then the is my former Ibanez Gio 206b. Bought it WITH A GATOR SEMI-HARD CASE for $100. Dropped in a $10 preamp and sold it for $350 and kept the case.

Last pic is my '72 Martin D35. Hard to believe it's 52 years old now! I wish I'd gotten a '69 or earlier, but it is what it is. It's a "players" guitar not a collector as the saddles have been repositioned for intonation and the neck has been reset and refretted. Good as new. Sounds like no other D35.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Can you get the vibration and thermo treatment without the aging? I recall Yamaha incorporating these treatments into their (at the time) BB2024 and 2025X series of basses which was a top of the line model at the time. Those did not have a distressed finish but did have the vibration and thermo treatments, although referred to as IRA and ARE. I'm assuming those are/were similar but maybe not.

When I was asking, they said they couldn't do it on a new finish. All the others, yes, including a soft aged.

 

[Stagelab]

I have a 2014 TT4 and I adjusted the saddles to make the string spacing as tight as possible, which I read is 18.5mm. I moved the outermost saddles as far inward as possible and then adjusted the inner two saddles for even string spacing. Still, when I measure, over the saddles, from the center of the G to the center of the E string, it comes to 2.34in or 59.53mm. 19mm spacing means 57mm from G to E so that means my spacing is wider than 19mm. Why is mine wider than 19mm if I’ve moved the outermost saddles inward as much as possible? Could it be that Sandberg changed the string spacing range after 2014? Even still, I’m sure the range would’ve allowed for 19mm and mine can’t even get to 19mm.

 

[vindibona1]

Can you get the vibration and thermo treatment without the aging? I recall Yamaha incorporating these treatments into their (at the time) BB2024 and 2025X series of basses which was a top of the line model at the time. Those did not have a distressed finish but did have the vibration and thermo treatments, although referred to as IRA and ARE. I'm assuming those are/were similar but maybe not.

I'm not sure exactly what these are, but must assume they are similar to the "torrified" acoustic guitar tops and the wood fibers broken in with vibrations similar to the process of the ToneRite (vibratory system) available for acoustic guitars.

Personally, with a solid body instrument I don't think either type of thing does a heck of a lot. I've played torrified acoustics without being impressed. I have a ToneRite and ran it for 200 hours on my Taylor 814ceDLX and 614ce. It did make *a bit* of different on those guitars, but not any more than playing and aging would have. My '72 Martin D35 sound better than my step son's 2011 D35 or my friend's later issue D35. It's just warmer and more open aged by time.

And while we're plugged into an amp by requirement, I can't imagine any of these processes have much practical value. And FWIW, almost 30 years ago I was in an experiment with cryogenics of brass instruments. There is something to that process, both good or bad (for metal instruments only).

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I'm not sure exactly what these are, but must assume they are similar to the "torrified" acoustic guitar tops and the wood fibers broken in with vibrations similar to the process of the ToneRite (vibratory system) available for acoustic guitars.

Personally, with a solid body instrument I don't think either type of thing does a heck of a lot. I've played torrified acoustics without being impressed. I have a ToneRite and ran it for 200 hours on my Taylor 814ceDLX and 614ce. It did make *a bit* of different on those guitars, but not any more than playing and aging would have. My '72 Martin D35 sound better than my step son's 2011 D35 or my friend's later issue D35. It's just warmer and more open aged by time.

And while we're plugged into an amp by requirement, I can't imagine any of these processes have much practical value. And FWIW, almost 30 years ago I was in an experiment with cryogenics of brass instruments. There is something to that process, both good or bad (for metal instruments only).

Holger talks about the thermal treatment and vibration treatment here in this seminar:

 

[Jughead6]

Holger talks about the thermal treatment and vibration treatment here in this seminar:

"We can't explain why it sounds better, but... it's SCIENCE!"

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

One things I have noticed is that my Sandberg records really well. These basses are very underrated . I’m glad because I’ve put mine up for sale twice and I knew better than to let it go for peanuts. Now that I have the perfect strings and put more time into actually getting it know what this bass can do, I appreciate it so much more.

 

[Stagelab]

One things I have noticed is that my Sandberg records really well. These basses are very underrated . I’m glad because I’ve put mine up for sale twice and I knew better than to let it go for peanuts. Now that I have the perfect strings and put more time into actually getting it know what this bass can do, I appreciate it so much more.

Which strings do you like on your Sandberg?

 

[Stagelab]

I have a 2014 TT4 and I adjusted the saddles to make the string spacing as tight as possible, which I read is 18.5mm. I moved the outermost saddles as far inward as possible and then adjusted the inner two saddles for even string spacing. Still, when I measure, over the saddles, from the center of the G to the center of the E string, it comes to 2.34in or 59.53mm. 19mm spacing means 57mm from G to E so that means my spacing is wider than 19mm. Why is mine wider than 19mm if I’ve moved the outermost saddles inward as much as possible? Could it be that Sandberg changed the string spacing range after 2014? Even still, I’m sure the range would’ve allowed for 19mm and mine can’t even get to 19mm.

Bumping my string spacing question. Anyone willing to post a video clip of you adjusting the spacing?

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Which strings do you like on your Sandberg?

TI Jazz Rounds. Mine are at least 3 years old. They sound and feel perfect for me. Flexible, warm yet bright enough with the black label pickups . Sounds great in both passive and active mode. Thunderous lows, sweet miss, and clear trebles . It is a very refined sound. Not to modern yet not to vintage either.

 

[VeryTallBassist]

Which strings do you like on your Sandberg?

I'm using EB Cobalt Flats on my VM5. Sounds awesome to me. It was a bit brighter than I'd like with the rounds on it.

 

[Stagelab]

Bumping my string spacing question. Anyone willing to post a video clip of you adjusting the spacing?

here’s a video clip.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

You’ll see I loosen the two screws and try to move the saddle though there’s almost no space for it to move. Am I doing something wrong or is there an issue with my bridge? String spacing is currently about 19.5mm. I’d like to adjust it to 18.5.

 

[_Obra_]

Bumping my string spacing question. Anyone willing to post a video clip of you adjusting the spacing?

Spacing at 2:35

 

[Stagelab]

Spacing at 2:35

thanks. I was doing it wrong. I just adjusted the outermost saddles for the narrowest spacing possible following your video—so cool you made it!—and the distance from the center of the G string to the E string over the saddles is now 58.74mm. That’s as tight as I can make it turning the string spacing slots left and right. To get 19mm spacing it would be 57mm from G to E. To get 18.5mm it would be 55.5mm. Am I missing something here or is Sandberg’s 18.5-20mm spec for string spacing inaccurate?