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Sandberg Lionel short scale bass
- Thread starter Merlo
- Start date
My Lionel arrived in perfect shape, smack dab in the middle of a good weather stretch. I let it acclimate a bit then peeled the pickguard and tuned 'er up.
I love it. Sandberg managed to get the ergonomics just right, which is uncommon for a short scale. The neck is awesome, feels and plays great all over. I switched out to nickel rounds, never have liked the feel of stainless.
Glad I hooked up with this killer bass. She'll be sharing time, mostly with my beloved old Lakland.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Weight-wise, it's about the same as my Lakland, so a little heavier than expected at around 8.5. No matter though, slightly body heavy so it stays where you put it.
It lays out similarly to a classic shape like a P, J or Ray. Of course it's very small, so has its own sound and feel. Solidly in Precision territory, no doubt. The neck is awesome - not too narrow and with a solid comfortable carve. Same school as my Lakland 4-94. Hardware is top notch.
Certainly a nice bass option, especially on arthritic days. The stretches and jumps are soooo much easier on 30", first position octave lines are a breeze. Intonation is surprisingly good above the 15th, chords sound nice. Plays cleanly everywhere.
Anyway, my adaptation will take some time as I learn about short scale characteristics.
It lays out similarly to a classic shape like a P, J or Ray. Of course it's very small, so has its own sound and feel. Solidly in Precision territory, no doubt. The neck is awesome - not too narrow and with a solid comfortable carve. Same school as my Lakland 4-94. Hardware is top notch.
Certainly a nice bass option, especially on arthritic days. The stretches and jumps are soooo much easier on 30", first position octave lines are a breeze. Intonation is surprisingly good above the 15th, chords sound nice. Plays cleanly everywhere.
Anyway, my adaptation will take some time as I learn about short scale characteristics.
Just FYI, I had one of the Rondo short scale hard cases in the house. Not the stoutest, but well made and it's a truly excellent fit for the Lionel. Holds the neck well.
I love the "figuring" on that maple neck spufman. You can't go wrong with Black Body White/Mint Pickguard (I can't tell color sometimes) and a maple neck. Classic combination.
I received my Lionel last week. I used Sandberg's configurator and order it through Chicago Music Exchange in August of 2020. So, about 5 months to get it.
It's the only bass I have currently, and probably will be my last.
I purchased a few other short scales while waiting for this, but sold them for various reasons.
Sorry to go dark, but mainly for medical bills that insurance didn't cover.
I'm battling two different types of cancer right now, which forced me to retire in the summer of 2019 to focus on my health and just enjoy ever day.
This one is a keeper though. It's checks all the boxes for me...size, weight, P bass tone and shape. This is my first Sandberg and I love it.
Weight is 7lbs 13oz.
I just put Short Scale Daddario Chromes on it 45-65-80-100. I liked the stock Sandberg Stainless strings 40-60-80-100 but prefer the slightly bigger 45-65 G&D strings to the 40-60 stock strings.
Here is my post on a thread asking "who makes Sandberg String" for those wondering if short scale vs medium scale vs long scale strings will work and choice of gig bag that fits the Lionel:
"Even though I said I was going to leave the Sandberg Strings on....I couldn't help but change them. Seems like I'm always doing things to my basses...I just can't leave them alone. But again the Sandberg stock strings sounded good and felt good to me.
Anyway, I put on some Daddario Chromes 45-65-80-100 Short Scale strings and didn't have to adjust the action or relief. I know there isn't much difference between the 40-60 G & D Strings to 45-65 but I like the slightly bigger G & D strings.
I was worried that the short scale strings would be too short because Daddario lists them as 32" winding from Ball End To Silk (Taper if using round wounds). And I wasn't sure if that was from the left(front of) or right(end of) the ball end. It's the front of/left side of the ball end to the silk.
But as you can see in the pictures they fit perfectly. The Bridge is staggered where the ball ends are held (similar to saddles being staggered)
So it's 32" from the end of/right side of E String ball end in the bridge to the nut.
The distance between the ball end in the bridge to the nut decreases for each of the other strings due to the bridge being staggered as mentioned.
The Lionel is 30.5" Scale from saddles to nut by the way.
So I'm pretty sure most or all short scale strings by various manufacturers will work. For example La Bella Short Scales are listed at 32.5" silk/taper to ball end, GHS are listed 32.75" silk/taper to ball end etc.
I tried to see if the core of the stock Sandberg strings was round or hexagon but it's so small I can't tell. So, I don't know if stock strings are GHS Supper Steels or not. (refer to my above post that GHS Super Steels use hexagon core and Sandberg strings are listed as round core on website).
They probably are GHS Super Steels though and the website listing them as round core is wrong. The stock strings do have grey silk like GHS Super Steels are were long scale strings with the E & A being cut down. And like GHS Super Steels the string winding on the stock strings is 38" from ball end to silk.
I hope this helps if someone is thinking about changing strings as to short scale vs medium scale vs long scale strings working.
Lastly, the Lionel comes in a regular scale gig bag, which is better than nothing, but I didn't like all of the extra space.
So, I bought a Gator Pro Go Guitar Gig Bag and it fits perfectly with a little room to spare vs being wedged in. You just have to remove the Velcro extra 2" pad. The Gator Pro Go has plenty of padding with it removed.
The Lionel overall length is 42" and the Gator Pro Go is 41" with the extra pad and 43" without it.
So the Gator Pro Go will house a Fender Mustang Bass as well, which are 42.5"
I received my Lionel last week. I used Sandberg's configurator and order it through Chicago Music Exchange in August of 2020. So, about 5 months to get it.
It's the only bass I have currently, and probably will be my last.
I purchased a few other short scales while waiting for this, but sold them for various reasons.
Sorry to go dark, but mainly for medical bills that insurance didn't cover.
I'm battling two different types of cancer right now, which forced me to retire in the summer of 2019 to focus on my health and just enjoy ever day.
This one is a keeper though. It's checks all the boxes for me...size, weight, P bass tone and shape. This is my first Sandberg and I love it.
Weight is 7lbs 13oz.
I just put Short Scale Daddario Chromes on it 45-65-80-100. I liked the stock Sandberg Stainless strings 40-60-80-100 but prefer the slightly bigger 45-65 G&D strings to the 40-60 stock strings.
Here is my post on a thread asking "who makes Sandberg String" for those wondering if short scale vs medium scale vs long scale strings will work and choice of gig bag that fits the Lionel:
"Even though I said I was going to leave the Sandberg Strings on....I couldn't help but change them. Seems like I'm always doing things to my basses...I just can't leave them alone. But again the Sandberg stock strings sounded good and felt good to me.
Anyway, I put on some Daddario Chromes 45-65-80-100 Short Scale strings and didn't have to adjust the action or relief. I know there isn't much difference between the 40-60 G & D Strings to 45-65 but I like the slightly bigger G & D strings.
I was worried that the short scale strings would be too short because Daddario lists them as 32" winding from Ball End To Silk (Taper if using round wounds). And I wasn't sure if that was from the left(front of) or right(end of) the ball end. It's the front of/left side of the ball end to the silk.
But as you can see in the pictures they fit perfectly. The Bridge is staggered where the ball ends are held (similar to saddles being staggered)
So it's 32" from the end of/right side of E String ball end in the bridge to the nut.
The distance between the ball end in the bridge to the nut decreases for each of the other strings due to the bridge being staggered as mentioned.
The Lionel is 30.5" Scale from saddles to nut by the way.
So I'm pretty sure most or all short scale strings by various manufacturers will work. For example La Bella Short Scales are listed at 32.5" silk/taper to ball end, GHS are listed 32.75" silk/taper to ball end etc.
I tried to see if the core of the stock Sandberg strings was round or hexagon but it's so small I can't tell. So, I don't know if stock strings are GHS Supper Steels or not. (refer to my above post that GHS Super Steels use hexagon core and Sandberg strings are listed as round core on website).
They probably are GHS Super Steels though and the website listing them as round core is wrong. The stock strings do have grey silk like GHS Super Steels are were long scale strings with the E & A being cut down. And like GHS Super Steels the string winding on the stock strings is 38" from ball end to silk.
I hope this helps if someone is thinking about changing strings as to short scale vs medium scale vs long scale strings working.
Lastly, the Lionel comes in a regular scale gig bag, which is better than nothing, but I didn't like all of the extra space.
So, I bought a Gator Pro Go Guitar Gig Bag and it fits perfectly with a little room to spare vs being wedged in. You just have to remove the Velcro extra 2" pad. The Gator Pro Go has plenty of padding with it removed.
The Lionel overall length is 42" and the Gator Pro Go is 41" with the extra pad and 43" without it.
So the Gator Pro Go will house a Fender Mustang Bass as well, which are 42.5"
Sorry to hear about your health issues, I hope you can get that behind you soon.
Great choices - the new bass looks amazing!
Thank you
In only a week, it has brought more smiles to my face than I've had in the last year and a half.
In only a week, it has brought more smiles to my face than I've had in the last year and a half.
Do tell?It seems they are starting to build a VT version
How did you find out?
MN - Bass Dad
Commercial User
- Mar 19, 2020
- 15
- 71
- Disclosures
- I currently am a consultant/rep for Sandberg Guitars. I used to work at Chicago Music Exchange.
How about the sound and playability of the Lionel compared to a JMJ? I am considering getting a Lionel to replace my JMJ. Worth the wait and expense for the Lionel?
I haven't played a JMJ unfortunately. I do have a two Squier Mustangs and a Japanese Mustang though.
The two differences that come to mind for me are the neck being wider on the Sandberg (prefer the Mustang width personally as I have small hands) and also the Sandberg sounds like a slightly more modern tone to my ears? A bit more zingy maybe? I have recently put flat wounds on the two Squiers though so maybe my ears are fooled?
Anybody else feel this way?
