Most recent pic of my Sandberg basses. Florence, Lionel and Florence Basses, sorry about the reflection in the middle bass.
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Great looking trio! Are you still going to have one of the Florence basses converted to fretless?
Yes - the one on the right. I will be heading up to Virginia in a few months where this guy I know who really does great work on guitars. He has been the only one to work on my basses for years. Thanks for remembering my posts.
I was told 25 months - when I was thinking about ordering another one. Lucky for me I found the bass I wanted used.
If you can cancel your order, there is a new one at Chicago Music Exchange right now in gloss black.
Sandberg California Central High Gloss Dark Grey
The images on this listing are renderings of the instrument on order. The final product will vary slightly. If you want to change an aspect of this build or design your own Sandberg, please contact our sales team today!<
www.chicagomusicexchange.com
hello
While looking for a 4-string instrument, I came across Ida Nielsen's signature bass and fell in love with it twice: once for the looks, and again for the old school sound.
I'm new to Sandbergs, so I have no idea what to expect, but what is the neck feel, playability, etc. like?
While looking for a 4-string instrument, I came across Ida Nielsen's signature bass and fell in love with it twice: once for the looks, and again for the old school sound.
I'm new to Sandbergs, so I have no idea what to expect, but what is the neck feel, playability, etc. like?
Thanks. Looks like the prices went up though. I think mine was under $1,500If you can cancel your order, there is a new one at Chicago Music Exchange right now in gloss black.
Sandberg California Central High Gloss Dark Grey
The images on this listing are renderings of the instrument on order. The final product will vary slightly. If you want to change an aspect of this build or design your own Sandberg, please contact our sales team today!<
Yeah - I noticed the prices have gone up over the last 2 months since I bought mine. Good Luck
Here's my California TM4. I bought it new just recently "of the shelf" at Thomann (no waiting time). Plays absolutely amazing but personally I didn't love the original tort pickguard and the (very light) natural headstock combined with the tobacco burst; too many different colors. So I gave it a black headstock (rattlecans and a lot of sanding/polishing) and a black pickguard. Now to me it looks almost better than it plays. Have been playing bass for 40 years and went from one bass to another, this is my first Sandberg and I think this is the one for the rest of my days. Sandberg kindly sent me new decals for the headstock, but I left the "California" off. I love the minimalistic sandberg :: with the dots and the California jumps around a bit too sunny for me. Hope you like it too.
That looks great! The black headstock and pickguard pull in the black edge of the burst finish and it's almost like the rosewood compliments the brown center of the burst. Great job. I have a TM4 as well and really love the neck and overall design of the bass.
Just thought I'd post a note here that I'm looking for a nice used Lionel. I'd never even heard of the brand till I stopped into CME a couple months ago. I saw them and thought they looked interesting, but I didn't see a short scale at the time. Next time there, ahen I asked, they brought out a used Lionel that had I think an Aguilar pickup in it, and I fell in love with the feel. Didn't love the heavy relic look on that one, and it was already being held for someone. The order time is ridiculous, as you all know. There are a few in the FS area right now but none really appeal to me visually. My preference would be black/rosewood with minimal relicing. So if you happen to be thinking of letting one go...
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"Our Song" by Yes. Not to be confused with "Your Song" by Elton John. 
I went down a rabbit hole to find either a lionel (or florence) a few months ago. I ended up not finding one at the right price and specs after about 3 months of looking. There are 2 black ones on reverb right now (and have been for ages) - both roasted maple, though the pics are super light in color. They are both sold by Bass Central. Pitbull Audio has a dealer special black finish with racing stripes of sorts and no pickguard. They are going for ~60% of what the typical new prices are now. I also had looked at importing from Europe - Thomann, Station, and Bass Direct (UK). Station was the best interaction I had. Also, if weight is a consideration - the ash versions seem to be all over the place - from just below 8 to just over 9 lbs. The alder basses seem to be more consistently lighter (7s to low 8s) from my research.
I ultimately ended up with a JMJ Mustang, which is fantastic, but I still wish I was able to get my hands on a Lionel - especially literally the neck, which by all accounts is fantastic. JMJ is chunky...Good luck!
Anyone have any experience with the California TT shortscale? I'm jonesing for one of those, and was considering placing an order until I heard 2 years.
I've got 2 Lionels right now, and if I could find a TT short or a Florence I would probably sell the one in my profile pic (the natural finish one on the left - the one on the right is a Maruszczyk).
I've got 2 Lionels right now, and if I could find a TT short or a Florence I would probably sell the one in my profile pic (the natural finish one on the left - the one on the right is a Maruszczyk).
Thanks, good to have the perspective of a fellow rabbit-hole-follower! I can't take the racing stripes on that first Reverb listing, don't get the appeal at all. Maybe nobody does, which accounts for the lower prices? Appreciate the observation on the ash vs alder weight. I've seen a heavily-reliced black Lionel from a private seller, but he wants 'offers' and claims he doesn't know weight, which doesn't inspire confidence. Maybe I'll see about getting in the order queue for the exact specs I want, YOLO!
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My Sandbergs (I'm a big Sandberg and Stingray fan).
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The Ida Nielsen signature Sandberg come with the Japanese silk pickguard.
