Sandberg Lionel short scale bass

[TechsMechs]

Old thread, but I'll give it a go: anyone who had the chance to play both the Lionel (with flatts) and the JMJ Mustang? I currently play the mustang (and a Supro Huntington II), but I am tempted to sell the JMJ for a Lionel...

It's been a while, but I have played both on multiple occasions. From what I can remember, the JMJ and Lionel are two very different beasts despite both being 30" split pickup basses in reliced nitro (option for Lionel).

Whereas the JMJ is pretty vintage all around in terms of feel and sound with its slab body, chunky neck with 19 frets and 9.5" radius, and vintage voiced pickup, the Lionel kind of goes in the opposite direction. The body is well contoured, neck is pretty slim and jazz bass-like (nut width very slightly bigger than a standard jazz with a slightly thicker profile as well) and fast feeling with a flat 14" radius and 22 frets, the "slotted" zero fret, and standard precision style pickups that are very modern sounding with a bright tone, deep lows, and a scooped profile (as far as I can remember, anyways; I think the one I played was the Sandberg Black Label with Chromes, but I'm going to guess the Delano option would be even more modern sounding). I remember being pretty surprised how bright and lively the bass sounded when I first played it. Of course you could always change out the pickup for one of the many P bass pickups out there, or just adjust that tone knob to taste =P. Also, the Lionel had much better balance than the JMJs (though weights for the Lionels can vary a lot depending on wood selection) I've played and had more of a modern full-scale bass "feel" and sound combined with the ease of playing a short scale. FWIW, people seem to have mixed feelings about the zinc bridge on the Lionel - I personally prefer more traditional methods of bridge adjustment, but on it's on it's probably not enough to deter me from owning the bass if I liked everything else about it.

Two very different flavors of great, IMO. The Lionel I think is probably more versatile with the standard p-pickup and it comes with a ton of configuration options, though it starts off significantly more expensive than the JMJ and just becomes even more so if you order custom (along with a long wait). They do come up used for good prices every now and then.

 

[KristofferB]

It's been a while, but I have played both on multiple occasions. From what I can remember, the JMJ and Lionel are two very different beasts despite both being 30" split pickup basses in reliced nitro (option for Lionel).

Whereas the JMJ is pretty vintage all around in terms of feel and sound with its slab body, chunky neck with 19 frets and 9.5" radius, and vintage voiced pickup, the Lionel kind of goes in the opposite direction. The body is well contoured, neck is pretty slim and jazz bass-like (nut width very slightly bigger than a standard jazz with a slightly thicker profile as well) and fast feeling with a flat 14" radius and 22 frets, the "slotted" zero fret, and standard precision style pickups that are very modern sounding with a bright tone, deep lows, and a scooped profile (as far as I can remember, anyways; I think the one I played was the Sandberg Black Label with Chromes, but I'm going to guess the Delano option would be even more modern sounding). I remember being pretty surprised how bright and lively the bass sounded when I first played it. Of course you could always change out the pickup for one of the many P bass pickups out there, or just adjust that tone knob to taste =P. Also, the Lionel had much better balance than the JMJs (though weights for the Lionels can vary a lot depending on wood selection) I've played and had more of a modern full-scale bass "feel" and sound combined with the ease of playing a short scale. FWIW, people seem to have mixed feelings about the zinc bridge on the Lionel - I personally prefer more traditional methods of bridge adjustment, but on it's on it's probably not enough to deter me from owning the bass if I liked everything else about it.

Two very different flavors of great, IMO. The Lionel I think is probably more versatile with the standard p-pickup and it comes with a ton of configuration options, though it starts off significantly more expensive than the JMJ and just becomes even more so if you order custom (along with a long wait). They do come up used for good prices every now and then.

Thank you so much for taking the time and answering in detail! I know they sound and play different, but from what I read in your description the Lionel might be the one if I have to chose only one shorty. The JMJ sound and plays great, but it sort of has one tone imo. My Supro H2 is actually way more versatile (and an incredible bang for the buck). I sold my 1982 Fender P japan (jv series) to buy the jmj, and now I miss the P sound. I think I might swap my JMJ for a Lionel if I can find one used, but so far I have never seen a used Lionel for sale in Norway where I live.
Again, thanks!

 

[projectapollo]

I just took delivery on this minty used Lionel from the TB classifieds. So far so good. It came with Chromes and sounds very good. Egonomics are so much better than the JMJ.