NBD: Sandberg Superlight (Loving it!)

[SteveHeissner]

Nice! Always looking for a lightweight bass. These had stayed under the radar until now.

"It also sounds excellent in passive mode and, yes, it has a passive tone control."

So if the battery dies mid set you can keep on rolling. Better than nice!

 

[petch]

Congrats on a superfine purchase! I love my TM4 Superlight (6.0 lbs.) - it was instant bonding for me as well.

 

[Micha84]

All of what you are saying I could have written myself when I played a Sandberg Jazz for the first time. The difference is, I didn't buy it. I am not a smart man.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Congrats on a superfine purchase! I love my TM4 Superlight (6.0 lbs.) - it was instant bonding for me as well.

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Nice!! Love the blocks and that bridge hum bucker. That is what sold me on mine.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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.

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Congrats.

 

[Terry Farmer]

Yes! I have 5 Sandberg SLs in various scale lengths and pickup configurations. Also built my own with a paulownia p bass body and squire jazz bass neck. SLs rule!

 

[Nedmundo]

That is a beautiful bass and the weight is a bonus.

I don’t have a super light but I’ve never really seen an over weight Sandberg.

It took me some time to really appreciate mine. But the more I play it, the more I appreciate and enjoy it.
Sandbergs are underrated .

Great point about the light weight of Sandbergs generally. Even the alder samples are often around eight pounds, which is light enough for me. I'd love to get an alder VS5 (P5), and seriously considered one a few years ago.

 

[Terry Farmer]

Here’s my latest SL. Still getting used to the humbucker.