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Thanks.Congrats! There are no VM series Superlights for sale on Reverb but you've got what I want.
And a rosewood fretboard which I was wanting too, totally out of the blue as I had resigned myself to waiting for a new build to get a Superlight with a P pickup.
Any advice to smooth out a speck on the neck? When I run my hand along there is a little blip of residue from the neck finish. Just don’t want to ruin the finish/paint on an expensive Sandberg.
So I tried out a different set of strings on my TM4 and wanted to share my thoughts. Up until this point I've used DR Pure Blues or D'Addario nickels. These were fine but I was looking for something else. I was able to grab a set of Ernie Ball Cobalt Flatwounds on sale as I've been wanting to try these out. I really like these strings and I think they're a really good match for the TM4. The feel is great but they seem to be a lot more dynamic than usual flats. Not your typical flatwound.so much dark thud. These have some zing but a little more controlled than roundwounds. I can totally slap on these as well and I like the tension. So far I've just been able to play these at home practice and at band rehearsal. I'll see how these do on our next gig and report back.
Adding to this, the Cobalt flats are a bit grippy at first but my understanding is that this is normal and wears off after some time.
Does anyone know how to replace the dual gang treble boost/cut and passive tone control pot in a TT bass with the 2-band pre?
Sandberg sells the pot connected to a mini circuit board. How do you connect the mini board to the larger board that comes with the pre, and how do you remove the part of the larger board that’s replaced by the mini board?
Here’s the pot. At least I think this is the right one.
sandbergshop.gambiocloud.com
Sandberg sells the pot connected to a mini circuit board. How do you connect the mini board to the larger board that comes with the pre, and how do you remove the part of the larger board that’s replaced by the mini board?
Here’s the pot. At least I think this is the right one.
Sandberg EL00042 Balance Pot+Circuit Board 500k
SandbSandberg EL00042 Balance Pot+Circuit Board 500kerg EL00042 Balance Pot+Circuit Board 250k
Email your question and explain what you want to do to Sandberg and they will send you a wiring diagram (they did it for me).Does anyone know how to replace the dual gang treble boost/cut and passive tone control pot in a TT bass with the 2-band pre?
Sandberg sells the pot connected to a mini circuit board. How do you connect the mini board to the larger board that comes with the pre, and how do you remove the part of the larger board that’s replaced by the mini board?
Here’s the pot. At least I think this is the right one.
Sandberg EL00042 Balance Pot+Circuit Board 500k
SandbSandberg EL00042 Balance Pot+Circuit Board 500kerg EL00042 Balance Pot+Circuit Board 250k
I did yesterday. I’m just posting here cause I’m eager for an answer and they tend to take a fair amount of time to reply.
There’s a diagram on the pot product page above. It just shows the connections for the mini board. No info about how to connect the mini board to the original larger circuit, or if you just install the pot and mini board as a standalone unit.
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Hi, the link you shared looks to be the link for the balance pot, which is why it's got an integrated circuit board. I think the link for the tone pot is this one:Does anyone know how to replace the dual gang treble boost/cut and passive tone control pot in a TT bass with the 2-band pre?
Sandberg sells the pot connected to a mini circuit board. How do you connect the mini board to the larger board that comes with the pre, and how do you remove the part of the larger board that’s replaced by the mini board?
Here’s the pot. At least I think this is the right one.
Sandberg EL00042 Balance Pot+Circuit Board 500k
SandbSandberg EL00042 Balance Pot+Circuit Board 500kerg EL00042 Balance Pot+Circuit Board 250k
I’m looking to replace the pot that has two functions: treble in active mode, tone in passive. Is this tone pot what I need? They also have the balance pot without the circuit board.Hi, the link you shared looks to be the link for the balance pot, which is why it's got an integrated circuit board. I think the link for the tone pot is this one:
I haven’t heard from Sandberg yet but I spoke with a couple local techs who said there’s a risk the PCB gets damaged. A new pre is expensive so that gives me reservations.
A shame Sandberg mounts pots on PCBs instead of a simpler wired setup. I’m sure there are technical reasons for it but it definitely makes pot replacements a PITA.
It'd probably be worth double checking the pot currently on your bass to get the resistance values, etc. Hopefully Sandberg will get back to you soon.
There is always a risk of PCB damage when removing and reattaching components unfortunately. But I don't think that Sandberg are alone in mounting pots on PCBs for basses with active circuits.
You were right about the treble pot. This is what Sandberg said I need. Sharing in case it helps others.
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Treble Pot: Sandberg EL00044 Tone Pot 50k/500k
Bass Pot: Sandberg EL00045 Tone Pot 50k LIN
“The best method for the treble pot is to first carefully cut off the potentiometer near the housing using electronic side cutters (flush cutters). You can then separate the remaining individual pin headers and desolder them one by one from the circuit board. This technique prevents the through-holes on the circuit board, in which the conductor tracks are located, from lifting off or being damaged during the desoldering process.
Clean the through holes before soldering the new pots on the board.
All remaining pots should be blown out to remove deposits from the inside, this can be done with compressed air through the underside.”
——
A friend of mine who repairs electronics recommended using a high quality solder sucker instead of braid.
I tried a small amount of Deoxit and it helped loosen up the pots somewhat. The bass pot is now in good shape. The treble pot still rotates slower but it’s improved. Everything is functional so I might just leave it be rather than have a local tech do a pot swap due to the risk.
—-
Treble Pot: Sandberg EL00044 Tone Pot 50k/500k
Bass Pot: Sandberg EL00045 Tone Pot 50k LIN
“The best method for the treble pot is to first carefully cut off the potentiometer near the housing using electronic side cutters (flush cutters). You can then separate the remaining individual pin headers and desolder them one by one from the circuit board. This technique prevents the through-holes on the circuit board, in which the conductor tracks are located, from lifting off or being damaged during the desoldering process.
Clean the through holes before soldering the new pots on the board.
All remaining pots should be blown out to remove deposits from the inside, this can be done with compressed air through the underside.”
——
A friend of mine who repairs electronics recommended using a high quality solder sucker instead of braid.
I tried a small amount of Deoxit and it helped loosen up the pots somewhat. The bass pot is now in good shape. The treble pot still rotates slower but it’s improved. Everything is functional so I might just leave it be rather than have a local tech do a pot swap due to the risk.
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Separate questions for those with active Sandbergs. When you go into passive mode, and roll the treble knob from max to min, how pronounced is the difference in tone compared to doing the same thing on a passive Fender or other passive J or P bass?
The difference in tone on my bass is definitely less pronounced. Less highs are cut on the Sandberg. The tone is brighter compared to a passive bass.
Is it bc Sandberg uses caps with a lower value than 0.047 uF? The treble pot is 50k/500k so that means in passive mode it’s 50k right? If so, shouldn’t the tone be darker?
The difference in tone on my bass is definitely less pronounced. Less highs are cut on the Sandberg. The tone is brighter compared to a passive bass.
Is it bc Sandberg uses caps with a lower value than 0.047 uF? The treble pot is 50k/500k so that means in passive mode it’s 50k right? If so, shouldn’t the tone be darker?
Hi Club. I've found a good deal on a new California TT passive for around 1200 euro and it is currently shipping from Czech Republic to Poland 
I'm wondering how different will it be from my Fender Player Jazz. I really like it's sound, but I hope that Sandberg will have more comfortable neck and the body will not be as big. And being made in Europe is an additional bonus.
I'll report when I'll receive it in a couple of days.
I'm wondering how different will it be from my Fender Player Jazz. I really like it's sound, but I hope that Sandberg will have more comfortable neck and the body will not be as big. And being made in Europe is an additional bonus.
I'll report when I'll receive it in a couple of days.
Hi Club. I've found a good deal on a new California TT passive for around 1200 euro and it is currently shipping from Czech Republic to Poland
I'm wondering how different will it be from my Fender Player Jazz. I really like it's sound, but I hope that Sandberg will have more comfortable neck and the body will not be as big. And being made in Europe is an additional bonus.
I'll report when I'll receive it in a couple of days.
View attachment 7211750
It will be better then Player Jazz in all aspects. It's a beautiful bass. I would consider putting a Kloppmann pickups in it, to get a sound as close as Bass The World bass.
It's always an option, but I'm wondering how will the stock pickups sound.
It just arrived.
Maybe I was expecting too much, but I don't feel it. The neck is ok, however the grain doesn't look particularly good. The finish has some imperfections under the clear coating. Sound is ok, brighter than Fender, maybe because of fresh strings in lower gauge.
It's very light - for a moment I was afraid that the cardboard was empty!*
I don't know. It's ok I guess, but I was expecting more. I could bond with it over time if I wouldn't have other basses, but I don't feel that it's a special one for me.
*Edit: I weighted all my basses for a comparison:
- J&D fretless: 3,2 kg
- Sandberg: 3,55 kg
- Ibanez SR 1205: 3,8 kg
- Ibanez ATK 310: 4,2 kg
- Fender Jazz with high mass bridge, D-tuner and additional string retainer: 4,25 kg
- Warwick Thumb 4: 4,45 kg
- Jazz Bass 6 string: 5,35 kg
Maybe I was expecting too much, but I don't feel it. The neck is ok, however the grain doesn't look particularly good. The finish has some imperfections under the clear coating. Sound is ok, brighter than Fender, maybe because of fresh strings in lower gauge.
It's very light - for a moment I was afraid that the cardboard was empty!*
I don't know. It's ok I guess, but I was expecting more. I could bond with it over time if I wouldn't have other basses, but I don't feel that it's a special one for me.
*Edit: I weighted all my basses for a comparison:
- J&D fretless: 3,2 kg
- Sandberg: 3,55 kg
- Ibanez SR 1205: 3,8 kg
- Ibanez ATK 310: 4,2 kg
- Fender Jazz with high mass bridge, D-tuner and additional string retainer: 4,25 kg
- Warwick Thumb 4: 4,45 kg
- Jazz Bass 6 string: 5,35 kg
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I have said it here many times before. Dont buy any Sandberg and expect it to play , sound, or feel like a Fender. They just dont. They have more clarity, note operation, sustain , and an over all brighter , more modern voice . They play faster. They inspire you to play differently. I have also said that I am not a big fan of the super light models. The ones that I have played lack heft or weight to the notes. It is a very airy sound. But that might be what some like. It's not for me. My other advice is to ditch the stock strings. I dont like them at all. Too bright and metallic for my ears and they dont feel good in my hands.
Did you get a model that is listed with light relic? If you did unaware, you might be seeing that in the imperfections. Sandberg usually has excellent qc and finishing. But their light relic models will seem to show slight wear .
+1 on the strings. However I'm not sure about some of the other observations.
Passive Sandbergs, imo, are similar to the better examples of passive Fenders (without graphite rods) in response and the Alnico pickups in the TT passive are exceptional (and I've tried a lot of pickups).
I have 5 passive Sandbergs and they all sound vintage to me but obviously they tend to be more even across the fretboard and remind me of some of the more vintage Fenders that I've owned or played. The lighter Sandberg California II's I have (not Superlights) are quite resonant and bright but tend to be well balanced unlike the light 75 Fender jazz re-issue (swamp ash) that I had that had no bottom end.
The ceramic pickup Sandbergs that I've owned previously, do sound modern but the necks, if you can accept the standard neck width and relative lack of fingerboard radius, don't feel overly modern to me.
Passive Sandbergs, imo, are similar to the better examples of passive Fenders (without graphite rods) in response and the Alnico pickups in the TT passive are exceptional (and I've tried a lot of pickups).
I have 5 passive Sandbergs and they all sound vintage to me but obviously they tend to be more even across the fretboard and remind me of some of the more vintage Fenders that I've owned or played. The lighter Sandberg California II's I have (not Superlights) are quite resonant and bright but tend to be well balanced unlike the light 75 Fender jazz re-issue (swamp ash) that I had that had no bottom end.
The ceramic pickup Sandbergs that I've owned previously, do sound modern but the necks, if you can accept the standard neck width and relative lack of fingerboard radius, don't feel overly modern to me.
It's a passive base model, not the super light version and not a relic.
The sound is rather good. It does sound like a Jazz Bass. I could definitely live with it. And I agree that the strings are probably too zingy right now. Just overall it doesn't strike me as as premium as it seems to be.
The sound is rather good. It does sound like a Jazz Bass. I could definitely live with it. And I agree that the strings are probably too zingy right now. Just overall it doesn't strike me as as premium as it seems to be.
