Sandberg eq/clack

[matt11]

Hi Folks,

I’ve never played one, but I love the look, build quality of the Delano equipped Sandberg basses I’ve seen, and am thinking of buying one (vm5) as for the most part I like the sound (as I’ve watched too many Sandberg tt5, tm5, vm5 etc videos on YouTube). But I am just wondering about the possibility of eq-ing out all that string noise and “clack” that I hear in most of the sound samples.

so… can that clack and zing be eq’d out with the treble control without losing the otherwise great sonic character? It’s not a question of technique, b/c it’s in virtually every sound sample. I’m kinda psyched to get a vm5, but just want the best info before deciding.

 

[DrGroovenstein]

Post an example? Maybe it’s stainless vs nickel strings, or just that everybody likes really low action.

 

[Shlabotnik]

I have a TM4 and yes you can tame the high end easily. I imagine the VM series is similar in that regard. Tonally, it’s incredibly versatile.

 

[matt11]

I have a TM4 and yes you can tame the high end easily. I imagine the VM series is similar in that regard. Tonally, it’s incredibly versatile.[/QUOTE

That’s great to know. Thanks.

 

[matt11]

Post an example? Maybe it’s stainless vs nickel strings, or just that everybody likes really low action.

The first one’s pretty typical. I don’t want to give the wrong impression. I like a lot of what I hear. The second one, by IvanBassist (good talkbasser), is the review that made me think a Sandberg might work for me.
https://youtu.be/b_7aiZOBP4E

 

[DrGroovenstein]

My new-to-me Sandberg should arrive today so I guess I’ll get some first hand experience to share.

 

[matt11]

My new-to-me Sandberg should arrive today so I guess I’ll get some first hand experience to share.

I’d be very interested to hear about your experience. Which model are you getting?

 

[Geri O]

The clacking is more a function of something out of balance between string height and neck relief. Sandberg should not let that video out there, unless an individual posted that.

This may not be the textbook way to reduce or eliminate the clacking, but I set my neck adjustments with a tiny bit of relief, just enough to see it’s there. Then I lower the action until the clacking gets noticeable. Then I raise it just a touch.

The clacking can also be caused by playing too hard, something I’ve been working for a good while now. In fact, I was setting the action low to the point where, if it cracked, I knew I playing too hard. But I’ve gone to raising the action a little bit. Low enough to be comfortable (for me) so I can get away with leaning in a little bit.

My methods are totally unscientific and work for me, but not guaranteed to with for anyone else.

Any bass out there can suffer from clacking if it’s not set up well.

 

[Lesfunk]

I don’t have that issue with my Sandberg.
I think It’s a playing technique and setup thing.
I have to purposefully induce string and fret noise to get it. Mine an the others I’ve played are the same
My setup is low also. 1.5 mm at 12th fret and .008 feeler gauge under the string at the 7th fret (capo’d at each end) that’s pretty flat

 

[DrGroovenstein]

I’d be very interested to hear about your experience. Which model are you getting?

I have a TM5, maple fingerboard. No clacking issues I can find, very consistent fret work. I feel like I can drop the action a bit. I didn’t measure but I’d call it medium-low at the moment. It is a bright bass, I think there are steel strings on it at the moment, I’ll go for nickel when I’m ready to change them. The treble can tamed it but it’s not quite as powerful of a treble control like my MTD for example. Overall very impressed.

 

[matt11]

I have a TM5, maple fingerboard. No clacking issues I can find, very consistent fret work. I feel like I can drop the action a bit. I didn’t measure but I’d call it medium-low at the moment. It is a bright bass, I think there are steal strings on it at the moment, I’ll go for nickel when I’m ready to change them. The treble can tame it but it’s not quite as powerful of a treble control like my MTD for example. Overall very impressed.

Thanks for that detailed explanation. Really helps.

 

[DrGroovenstein]

Rehearsal tonight so I can give an “in the mix” perspective.

Thanks for that detailed explanation. Really helps.

 

[Eon Sky]

For what it's worth when I got my Sandberg VM5 the action was SUPER MEGA ULTRA low. Raising it up a little bit solved a lot of the "clacking", while still staying extremely comfortable with low action.

 

[matt11]

Rehearsal tonight so I can give an “in the mix” perspective.

great! Look forward to the “in the mix” update.

 

[matt11]

For what it's worth when I got my Sandberg VM5 the action was SUPER MEGA ULTRA low. Raising it up a little bit solved a lot of the "clacking", while still staying extremely comfortable with low action.

I wondered about exactly that. I prefer medium low, like you, so glad to hear that made a difference. I’d probably go with slightly heavier gage strings too.

 

[DrGroovenstein]

Sat really well with the band. I don’t use my own amp at these rehearsals, but sounded great to me. Extremely consistent sound up and down the fingerboard. Definitely on the brighter side and the active treble control is usable through its entire range. I was amazed that there is no volume drop between passive and active. I really liked passive mode with the neck pickup favored and the the tone turned down about half way. Again, very impressive instrument. I like where the action is at, a nice medium-low.

 

[matt11]

Sat really well with the band. I don’t use my own amp at these rehearsals, but sounded great to me. Extremely consistent sound up and down the fingerboard. Definitely on the brighter side and the active treble control is usable through its entire range. I was amazed that there is no volume drop between passive and active. I really liked passive mode with the neck pickup favored and the the tone turned down about half way. Again, very impressive instrument. I like where the action is at, a nice medium-low.

Feel free to post a pic of your bass, if only to fuel my Sandberg GAS….

 

[matt11]

I don’t have that issue with my Sandberg.
I think It’s a playing technique and setup thing.
I have to purposefully induce string and fret noise to get it. Mine an the others I’ve played are the same
My setup is low also. 1.5 mm at 12th fret and .008 feeler gauge under the string at the 7th fret (capo’d at each end) that’s pretty flat

Great to know! Thanks,

 

[matt11]

The clacking is more a function of something out of balance between string height and neck relief. Sandberg should not let that video out there, unless an individual posted that.

This may not be the textbook way to reduce or eliminate the clacking, but I set my neck adjustments with a tiny bit of relief, just enough to see it’s there. Then I lower the action until the clacking gets noticeable. Then I raise it just a touch.

The clacking can also be caused by playing too hard, something I’ve been working for a good while now. In fact, I was setting the action low to the point where, if it cracked, I knew I playing too hard. But I’ve gone to raising the action a little bit. Low enough to be comfortable (for me) so I can get away with leaning in a little bit.

My methods are totally unscientific and work for me, but not guaranteed to with for anyone else.

Any bass out there can suffer from clacking if it’s not set up well.

Thanks Geri. I agree, setup and technique make a big difference. I’m guessing that Sandberg sends its basses out set up super low on the assumption that’s what buyers want. An easy fix if that’s the culprit.

 

[direktor]

I have a passive TT4 with Delanos.

The tone control can really wipe out the high end pretty well…better than some of my active basses.