Hi folks,
I just wanted to create a cautionary post for anyone considering installing a Sadowsky onboard bass preamp with VTC (4 knob system – BP4K) in a Sandberg bass, particularly a California VM.
Here are the issues I encountered:
#1 – The holes in the pickguard are smaller and need to be enlarged (to 10.5mm).
Luckily, I have a buddy who works in a machine shop that was able to do this for me so they were enlarged and perfectly centered in their existing holes.
#2 – The existing electro-socket side jack “dish” is not removable from the input jack.
I had to order a new one (metric 9mm) to use with the pre-wired existing Sadowsky input jack. I could have unsoldered it and used the original, but I wanted to use as much of the pre-wired Sadowsky preamp as possible.
#3 – You need to cut the battery connector on the Sadowsky preamp and splice it to the battery box.
#4 – And this is the BIG one: the Sandberg control cavity is not large enough to house the preamp.
The Sadowsky preamp is big, the pots are deep, there are lots of cables and there is an additional circuit board.
If you look at a Sadowsky bass, it not only has the space under the control plate, but an additional 2.5 times more space, plus a spot for the 9V battery that is accessible through a control plate cover on the back of the bass. This gives plenty of room for all the large pots and wiring.
#5 – Did I mention that the Sandberg control cavity is not big enough?
The other very important thing to mention is the depth is also reduced on the Sandberg. They have downsized bodies (at least they do on the VM and VT series basses) that also have thinner bodies than a standard Fender sized bass. Not only that, the input jack extends into that limited space, so couple that with the long and large pots and you have trouble.
I had to remove a washer on the pot below the pickguard to gain some additional clearance as well as re-orient the positioning of the pots. The extra circuit board is floating in the cavity and it is all in there very very tight. I initially squished it in with those washers on, but the pots were not turning properly, so opened it up and removed the washers.
It works, but it wasn’t easy and it was (is) not pretty. My only solace is that it is so tight, I don’t think anything will or can move. And now that the battery box is connected, hopefully all I will only need to do is change the battery periodically.
So, how does it sound? My first impression is that it sounds great. Thick and clear and what you would expect a really good bass to sound like. I still have to play it with the band, but so far I like it.
I would also just like to say that this is no fault of the Sadowsky preamp. Just be sure to take into consideration the size of the location you’re installing in before taking the plunge.
This is the original Sandberg 2-band preamp. Notice how the last two pots are fairly short, giving the required clearance for the side jack.
Another view with the preamp removed. Look how much the side jack extends into the (already small) cavity.
This is the Sadowsky onboard preamp before having removed a washer from each pot under the pickguard and before reorienting some of the pots to fit better. Look at how much stuff has to go in that little space (don't forget, the pickup wires, battery wires, grounding wires and the side jack are in there too!
Once all done and squished in.
And, to show you the real-estate available in a Sadowsky bass.
This is the amount of room you have to do it in the Sandberg:
I just wanted to create a cautionary post for anyone considering installing a Sadowsky onboard bass preamp with VTC (4 knob system – BP4K) in a Sandberg bass, particularly a California VM.
Here are the issues I encountered:
#1 – The holes in the pickguard are smaller and need to be enlarged (to 10.5mm).
Luckily, I have a buddy who works in a machine shop that was able to do this for me so they were enlarged and perfectly centered in their existing holes.
#2 – The existing electro-socket side jack “dish” is not removable from the input jack.
I had to order a new one (metric 9mm) to use with the pre-wired existing Sadowsky input jack. I could have unsoldered it and used the original, but I wanted to use as much of the pre-wired Sadowsky preamp as possible.
#3 – You need to cut the battery connector on the Sadowsky preamp and splice it to the battery box.
#4 – And this is the BIG one: the Sandberg control cavity is not large enough to house the preamp.
The Sadowsky preamp is big, the pots are deep, there are lots of cables and there is an additional circuit board.
If you look at a Sadowsky bass, it not only has the space under the control plate, but an additional 2.5 times more space, plus a spot for the 9V battery that is accessible through a control plate cover on the back of the bass. This gives plenty of room for all the large pots and wiring.
#5 – Did I mention that the Sandberg control cavity is not big enough?
The other very important thing to mention is the depth is also reduced on the Sandberg. They have downsized bodies (at least they do on the VM and VT series basses) that also have thinner bodies than a standard Fender sized bass. Not only that, the input jack extends into that limited space, so couple that with the long and large pots and you have trouble.
I had to remove a washer on the pot below the pickguard to gain some additional clearance as well as re-orient the positioning of the pots. The extra circuit board is floating in the cavity and it is all in there very very tight. I initially squished it in with those washers on, but the pots were not turning properly, so opened it up and removed the washers.
It works, but it wasn’t easy and it was (is) not pretty. My only solace is that it is so tight, I don’t think anything will or can move. And now that the battery box is connected, hopefully all I will only need to do is change the battery periodically.
So, how does it sound? My first impression is that it sounds great. Thick and clear and what you would expect a really good bass to sound like. I still have to play it with the band, but so far I like it.
I would also just like to say that this is no fault of the Sadowsky preamp. Just be sure to take into consideration the size of the location you’re installing in before taking the plunge.
This is the original Sandberg 2-band preamp. Notice how the last two pots are fairly short, giving the required clearance for the side jack.
Another view with the preamp removed. Look how much the side jack extends into the (already small) cavity.
This is the Sadowsky onboard preamp before having removed a washer from each pot under the pickguard and before reorienting some of the pots to fit better. Look at how much stuff has to go in that little space (don't forget, the pickup wires, battery wires, grounding wires and the side jack are in there too!
Once all done and squished in.
And, to show you the real-estate available in a Sadowsky bass.
This is the amount of room you have to do it in the Sandberg:
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