Late last year, I decided that it was time to start playing again after a 10-year layoff. I needed to replace my (heavily modded) Squier Affinity Jazz because time (and Minnesota winters) had not been kind to it. I figured that I'd buy something on the lower/middle end of the scale and be good to go. It was NOT my plan to buy an "expensive" bass.
I had actually purchased a bass with a great name at a bargain price and was waiting for it to arrive. I made the mistake however, of reading a post by @Jhass about his Sandberg Superlight. Then I saw a post by @gmarcus rhapsodizing about HIS Superlight. I did some research and just on a whim, I bought this Sandberg TT5 Superlight. Bad move.
The bass got here, and I knew I was in trouble almost from moment one. I've played a LOT of basses over the years. Fender, Lakland, Peavey, Sadowsky, Yamaha. This is only the second one that I bonded with immediately. (The other was a Sadowsky RV4 that I regret selling to this day. More on that later on, in a different post.)
First of all, the bass is LIGHT. 6.7 lbs. My 62-year-old back and shoulders appreciate that. The body is also slightly thinner (front to back) that the average fiver. That gives it a streamlined silhouette that feels comfortable to play. Even with the light weight, it balances beautifully.
Tonally, the thing kills. I like an active/modern Jazz Bass tone -- it's the first tone I hear in my head when I think bass. This bass delivers that by the boatload. The 2-band preamp lets you dial in deep, thick, lows as well as crisp, sizzly highs. It also sounds excellent in passive mode and, yes, it has a passive tone control.
Playability is amazing. The neck feels ... almost "delicate." Not in a weak, flimsy way, but more like a "finely crafted," elegant way. The same way a swiss watch feels beautifully put together. I literally couldn't put the thing down. I played it off-and-on the whole day I got it. I knew this was "the one" when I snuck back up to my music room around midnight to play some more. This is a killer instrument.
I know that there is a steadily growing Sandberg following here on TB, especially for the Superlights. There's a reason for that. These basses are that good.
I had actually purchased a bass with a great name at a bargain price and was waiting for it to arrive. I made the mistake however, of reading a post by @Jhass about his Sandberg Superlight. Then I saw a post by @gmarcus rhapsodizing about HIS Superlight. I did some research and just on a whim, I bought this Sandberg TT5 Superlight. Bad move.
The bass got here, and I knew I was in trouble almost from moment one. I've played a LOT of basses over the years. Fender, Lakland, Peavey, Sadowsky, Yamaha. This is only the second one that I bonded with immediately. (The other was a Sadowsky RV4 that I regret selling to this day. More on that later on, in a different post.)
First of all, the bass is LIGHT. 6.7 lbs. My 62-year-old back and shoulders appreciate that. The body is also slightly thinner (front to back) that the average fiver. That gives it a streamlined silhouette that feels comfortable to play. Even with the light weight, it balances beautifully.
Tonally, the thing kills. I like an active/modern Jazz Bass tone -- it's the first tone I hear in my head when I think bass. This bass delivers that by the boatload. The 2-band preamp lets you dial in deep, thick, lows as well as crisp, sizzly highs. It also sounds excellent in passive mode and, yes, it has a passive tone control.
Playability is amazing. The neck feels ... almost "delicate." Not in a weak, flimsy way, but more like a "finely crafted," elegant way. The same way a swiss watch feels beautifully put together. I literally couldn't put the thing down. I played it off-and-on the whole day I got it. I knew this was "the one" when I snuck back up to my music room around midnight to play some more. This is a killer instrument.
I know that there is a steadily growing Sandberg following here on TB, especially for the Superlights. There's a reason for that. These basses are that good.
Last edited:
. Congrats on that beauty. Enjoyed reading the post!
