Club Sandberg (part 2)

[Billyears IV]

I've got a California VM4, which I'm loving. But I'm curious about trying other strings. Don't mind some high frequency brightness, as seems to work well with certain ODs/distortions I'm currently using.

Someone commented earlier that this bass is well suited to narrower gauge ie 40-100. I'm wanting to try elixir Nanoweb 45-105. But concerned they won't fit well, having paid for a fresh set up.....

Options... Decisions....

 

[Jon Draffan]

Sounds good!! Did you have to do large setup changes when you put these strings on? I’ve also experienced a lot of brittleness when I turn up the treble knob, so I’m starting to think that I have to try out some other strings. I have a VM4.

I think the non-polished flat wound really tame down the sound

 

[Bthebassplayer]

I think the non-polished flat wound really tame down the sound

Does that mean that if you turn the treble knob full open, the sound gets brighter but without brittleness???

 

[Jon Draffan]

Does that mean that if you turn the treble knob full open, the sound gets brighter but without brittleness???

I like them a lot of other people like them and a lot of people like something different. I think you should try them and see what you like.

 

[Bass Viking]

Here's a bit of Deep Purple's "Fireball" on my Sandberg.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Here's a bit of Deep Purple's "Fireball" on my Sandberg.

You are having too much fun!!! Glad you are enjoying that Sandberg.

 

[JTE70]

I just got a VM2 which came strung with TI flats. Sounds awesome.

 

[Bass Viking]

Here's the front pickup of my Sandberg:

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Here's the front pickup of my Sandberg:

Nice t-shirt. Your videos and playing are really highlighting how versatile these basses can be.

 

[Bass Viking]

Nice t-shirt. Your videos and playing are really highlighting how versatile these basses can be.

Thanks! That’s the t-shirt Bass Central gave me when I bought the bass. Grasshopper said I could go hunting with it.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Thanks! That’s the t-shirt Bass Central gave me when I bought the bass. Grasshopper said I could go hunting with it.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Listening to the demos of the VS4 Passive, I can't work out what kind of strings are being used. Demos are usually nickel-plated rounds, right? If so, there seems to be quite a bit of grit available when the tone is on full, with a solid amount of mids .... I'm wondering if people find it capable of resembling a Dimarzio Model P? (Especially if strung with steel rounds?)

 

[gunai]

Listening to the demos of the VS4 Passive, I can't work out what kind of strings are being used. Demos are usually nickel-plated rounds, right? If so, there seems to be quite a bit of grit available when the tone is on full, with a solid amount of mids .... I'm wondering if people find it capable of resembling a Dimarzio Model P? (Especially if strung with steel rounds?)

An important thing to note regarding Sandberg: They are beyond willing to put in one of a whole bunch of different pick-ups into their basses. My own VS has a reversed Delano HE/M2 in it.

Regarding the Black Label big pole Sandberg pick-up that comes in the VS4 by default in particular: I think that it can absolutely approximate the "sort of like a DiMarzio P or maybe a certain Californian designed split-coil that goes into basses with poorer QC than Sandberg's" tone you are likely asking because of. Since these basses ship with nickel-plated 40-10, I'd expect the same to be present in the demos.

In a direct overall comparison between the Sandberg and your (likely) comparison standard. the Sandberg is:

• not quite as hot or as gritty, but is very much in the general ballpark as the DiMarzio and the MFD split-coil. This I say based on demos and impressions by other players, since the pick-up in mine isn't as 'textured'. A repeated complaint/observation by people is that there's a brightness and directness to the Sandberg that requires them to swap out the pick-up and electronics.
• Has superior quality control, period.
• Better/more modern ergonomics. The body is thinner, the scale is shifted farther to the edge of the body (and G&L already does a great job with this!), the necks are slightly thinner and have a flatter radius.
• Worse hardware. There's nothing wrong with Sandberg's bridges or tuners, but the bridge isn't as comfortable as the G&L design, and the tuners don't hold a tuning quite as well. This is more the G&L being exceptional, IMHO, than the Sandberg lacking, since the latter's hardware is plenty in-line with my similarly priced Schecter, and my twice-as-much priced Mayones.

I think you cannot go wrong with a Sandberg, just have to know what kind of sound you want and opt for the appropriate electronics. In your case, the 'default' VS4 passive should fit the bill. If you are worried that it won't, simply ask your dealer to specify an aggressive Delano or Häussel.

 

[Lugan]

@gunai are you sure the Black Label is the default pick up in the VS4? If it is, that's a new development. I thought the default was the series with the big poles. At least, my own pair of VS4s came with the big pole models, and I swapped Black Labels into both later. FWIW, I found the big pole pickups to be a bit too shrill and trebly for my taste, while the Black Labels are rounder and warmer.

 

[gunai]

@gunai are you sure the Black Label is the default pick up in the VS4? If it is, that's a new development. I thought the default was the series with the big poles. At least, my own pair of VS4s came with the big pole models, and I swapped Black Labels into both later. FWIW, I found the big pole pickups to be a bit too shrill and trebly for my taste, while the Black Labels are rounder and warmer.

My sincere apologies, I mixed them up. Thank you for the correction!

The VS4 does indeed come with the Sandberg big pole split-coil.

I conflated the big pole VS4 with the 'black label', since I had a specific pick-up in mind already when I ordered my Sandberg (with an order and a wait time being necessitated by playing left-handed).

Ricky: what I said is applicable to the big poles which come by default, and not the black label which are indeed more vintagey as Lugan thankfully pointed out. In turn, this is still in-line with what I (somewhat presumptuously) guesstimate is the reason for your query.

 

[Stingray5]

Sheets from the house I stayed at this past weekend. No wonder I was dreaming of my TM5:

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Sheets from the house I stayed at this past weekend. No wonder I was dreaming of my TM5:

View attachment 6981631

 

[Groovegestapo]

I’m having an issue with sudden volume jump when turning up the pre volume in my 3 band Cali Supreme, has anybody else had the same problem ? I wish customer support was much easier to get in touch with.

 

[Bass Viking]

Here is the bridge pickup on my Oliver Reidel Signature:

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Here is the bridge pickup on my Oliver Reidel Signature:

I always enjoy your videos. Keep them coming . Seems like this versatile bass was a good purchase for you.