Sandberg TM4, fender flea active or stingray special??

[Rizky Ardi]

Sandberg, no doubt. I have a TM5 and a Nighthawk Plus, if you can afford the Nighthawk, it's a better instrument, the neck is better, it has better pickups and an amazing preamp.

Hem…i just know there are nighthawk + from you and directly go to youtube to see basstheworld LOL…
Even if i can afford, i dont know whether i want to spend too much money

I check in market place and there are both bass below.
The black is using oak for the fretboard and weight 3.79 kg
The blue one is rosewood fretboard and weight 4.4 kg…why its very different in weight and i just hear oak for fretboard what does it sound like???

 

[Rizky Ardi]

I find the black labels to be more rich in their voicing and more depth throughout the entire range.

Thank you its a new knowledge for me

 

[RGerhart]

If you already have a Stingray, go for the Sandberg. I've played all three you mentioned, and the Flea bass was not very impressive to me.

 

[Rizky Ardi]

If you already have a Stingray, go for the Sandberg. I've played all three you mentioned, and the Flea bass was not very impressive to me.

Really…?? Can you share what is the lack of the fender flea compare with other 2 basses above? Its us fender made right, is there any something wrong?

 

[RGerhart]

Really…?? Can you share what is the lack of the fender flea compare with other 2 basses above? Its us fender made right, is there any something wrong?

Sure thing. My opinion, of course:

1. The neck was not very comfortable
2. The pick up was not very versatile (granted, it's just one pick up)
3. The control knobs seemed kind of flimsy/cheap
4. Honestly, I think it's a really ugly bass in the first place

 

[Fernando Costa]

I check in market place and there are both bass below.
The black is using oak for the fretboard and weight 3.79 kg
The blue one is rosewood fretboard and weight 4.4 kg…why its very different in weight and i just hear oak for fretboard what does it sound like???

The two are very similar, it has Delanos, 2 band preamps. The weight difference is weird if it's just because of the fingerboard woods. Black is alder, blue should be too. The tone of the two should be similar.

The Nighthawk has Black Labels, ebony fretboard, aluminum pickguard and a modified 3 band Glockenklang preamp, with low, mid and hi-mid.

 

[Rizky Ardi]

Sure thing. My opinion, of course:

1. The neck was not very comfortable
2. The pick up was not very versatile (granted, it's just one pick up)
3. The control knobs seemed kind of flimsy/cheap
4. Honestly, I think it's a really ugly bass in the first place

Hem, something that i dont expected from signature series. Thanks for your input, more and more opinion toward sandberg now…..
In the other side, The curious feeling for fender flea is growning now due to your explanation…i need to get my hands down to that bass…and try it by my self…

Let me get another tbers fellow opinion again, then i will think deeply with my brain and also considering my pocket off course hehehe…

 

[Rizky Ardi]

The two are very similar, it has Delanos, 2 band preamps. The weight difference is weird if it's just because of the fingerboard woods. Black is alder, blue should be too. The tone of the two should be similar.

The Nighthawk has Black Labels, ebony fretboard, aluminum pickguard and a modified 3 band Glockenklang preamp, with low, mid and hi-mid.

yes both has alder body, so maybe the differences is on the body weight but its have huge gap. So thats why its very strange for me.
so this version is not good enough from your perspective? (2 pre amp and using delanos)

 

[Z-Bass]

I find the black labels to be more rich in their voicing and more depth throughout the entire range.

Yes, this is a good description. I have the Delanos and those big pole magnets hit like a hammer, and are more big/open sounding. It's in the way they respond to playing like say when you dig in a bit, they respond differently than typical bi-pole magnets. I know it's tough basing things on online video clips but the Black Labels seem to be more rich in the midrange as LadyLoveStingRay5 indicated. Not that the Delanos are bad sounding, just different. They can get a bit pingy sometimes, at least for me it did but I worked that out with a setup and pickup height adjustment for my playing.

 

[Rizky Ardi]

Yes, this is a good description. I have the Delanos and those big pole magnets hit like a hammer, and are more big/open sounding. It's in the way they respond to playing like say when you dig in a bit, they respond differently than typical bi-pole magnets. I know it's tough basing things on online video clips but the Black Labels seem to be more rich in the midrange as LadyLoveStingRay5 indicated. Not that the Delanos are bad sounding, just different. They can get a bit pingy sometimes, at least for me it did but I worked that out with a setup and pickup height adjustment for my playing.

thanks you for point out for those differences….it become my consideration also

 

[alex1fly]

I say don't buy any new basses and just change some strings on your basses. New strings, plus cleaning, always makes a bass feel like new for me.

 

[Sean150]

Sure thing. My opinion, of course:

1. The neck was not very comfortable
2. The pick up was not very versatile (granted, it's just one pick up)
3. The control knobs seemed kind of flimsy/cheap
4. Honestly, I think it's a really ugly bass in the first place

A second opinion on these points.

1. This would mainly be personal preference. I quite like the neck. But I will admit that it does seem to be shifted to the left so it almost feels like a long scale. The end result is a bass that is really comfortable from frets 3-22.

2. I found it the opposite. However it took some time to learn to use the boost only 2 band preamp. I find it’s more like a guitar in that you need to use the volume as part of your tone controls which I don’t find with standard 3 bands. Also, like a p bass you need to change your playing position to get the most tonal versatility.

3. The tone knobs are looser than on most basses, but I think this is by design to allow for quick tweaks. They are very smooth which I don’t find with cheap knobs (ie squier).
4. I like mine so …

I personally have never been able to connect with a stingray and actually bought my Flea over a stingray special because I found the tone much more versatile. The Stingray always has a compressed tone to it that I do not like all the time. For the amount of money they ask it was a no go for me.

 

[Rizky Ardi]

I say don't buy any new basses and just change some strings on your basses. New strings, plus cleaning, always makes a bass feel like new for me.

Hahahaha…yes its good idea…in fact i always change the string every 3month eventhough i only bashing arounf in my room and gig twice a month and cleaned with lemon liquid…
its the GAS that move towards me

 

[Rizky Ardi]

A second opinion on these points.

1. This would mainly be personal preference. I quite like the neck. But I will admit that it does seem to be shifted to the left so it almost feels like a long scale. The end result is a bass that is really comfortable from frets 3-22.

2. I found it the opposite. However it took some time to learn to use the boost only 2 band preamp. I find it’s more like a guitar in that you need to use the volume as part of your tone controls which I don’t find with standard 3 bands. Also, like a p bass you need to change your playing position to get the most tonal versatility.

3. The tone knobs are looser than on most basses, but I think this is by design to allow for quick tweaks. They are very smooth which I don’t find with cheap knobs (ie squier).
4. I like mine so …

I personally have never been able to connect with a stingray and actually bought my Flea over a stingray special because I found the tone much more versatile. The Stingray always has a compressed tone to it that I do not like all the time. For the amount of money they ask it was a no go for me.

Wow thanks its very interesting POV.
Is it because they have smaller body jazz bass look a like so its feels like long scale?
I also never experience 2 band eq beside my L2k which cut only pre amp.
And also i never roll off the volume because i have believe, the maximum vol = maximum pure signal delivered from our bass to the amp.
For stingray, is it compressed look a like? I always turn on my boss LMB when i do gig..to get even and fatter tone.
But maybe it just my skill and my hearing that still not good enough to understand those differences.

 

[Fernando Costa]

yes both has alder body, so maybe the differences is on the body weight but its have huge gap. So thats why its very strange for me.
so this version is not good enough from your perspective? (2 pre amp and using delanos)

Yes, it's good, it's a great bass, but the Black Label pickups and the 3 band preamp make the Nighthawk a better bass, but you'll also be very satisfied with any of these.

 

[Bright Midnight]

Is there any specific reason?? Do you already play all those bassess?

A Fleabass isn't my thing, so can't comment on that one. I'd love me a Stingray Special, without doubt, but Sandies are so very well made I would get one before I'd get a Stingray. Check out the Sandberg configurator, if you haven't already. There's loads of options, and if you can't find you taste there, you can just contact them and order one completely tailored to your liking. Never head one single person say something bad about ANY Sandberg.

 

[Rizky Ardi]

A Fleabass isn't my thing, so can't comment on that one. I'd love me a Stingray Special, without doubt, but Sandies are so very well made I would get one before I'd get a Stingray. Check out the Sandberg configurator, if you haven't already. There's loads of options, and if you can't find you taste there, you can just contact them and order one completely tailored to your liking. Never head one single person say something bad about ANY Sandberg.

thanks for the POV. Yes i already check the configurator and its way beyond my allowance budget if i try to configure to my liking not to mention the shipping cost to japan.
So maybe i prefer to acquired that already in stock here in japan.
More and more opinion from fellow tbers that i get toward sandie its very interesting for me, thanks

 

[Sean150]

Wow thanks its very interesting POV.
Is it because they have smaller body jazz bass look a like so its feels like long scale?
I also never experience 2 band eq beside my L2k which cut only pre amp.
And also i never roll off the volume because i have believe, the maximum vol = maximum pure signal delivered from our bass to the amp.
For stingray, is it compressed look a like? I always turn on my boss LMB when i do gig..to get even and fatter tone.
But maybe it just my skill and my hearing that still not good enough to understand those differences.

It could be the smaller body, never thought that hard about it aside from making the observation.

With active basses you don’t really lose character by rolling back the volume because the preamp is voicing and buffering your signal anyways. I’d have to check but the volume on an active bass might not even be connected to the pickup, instead adjusting the output gain of the preamp.

With regards to compression, my understanding is that all active basses will compress the signal to some extent as it is adjusting the signal. The extent and nature of this is part of the voicing of the preamp. I have not played a preamp that would take the place of an outboard compressor though.

 

[Rizky Ardi]

It could be the smaller body, never thought that hard about it aside from making the observation.

With active basses you don’t really lose character by rolling back the volume because the preamp is voicing and buffering your signal anyways. I’d have to check but the volume on an active bass might not even be connected to the pickup, instead adjusting the output gain of the preamp.

With regards to compression, my understanding is that all active basses will compress the signal to some extent as it is adjusting the signal. The extent and nature of this is part of the voicing of the preamp. I have not played a preamp that would take the place of an outboard compressor though.

Very very interesting…i got more and more knowledge now. Change my whole perspectives.
So whats the point to roll off the volume if its doesnt affect the buffer signal? Because it will be came from pre amp.
It will not cut any frequency also right due to pre amp will do the job, eventhough the volume is change. Only to evade the clipping?

 

[Sean150]

Very very interesting…i got more and more knowledge now. Change my whole perspectives.
So whats the point to roll off the volume if its doesnt affect the buffer signal? Because it will be came from pre amp.
It will not cut any frequency also right due to pre amp will do the job, eventhough the volume is change. Only to evade the clipping?

Effectively yes. There will always be some change as you make adjustments so it is important to use your ears. Once I started treating the volume knob on my active basses as an additional control instead of as an on off switch my tone improved a lot.

Most of this stuff I learned when I was learning about signal chains for my pedal board. It’s a good place to start if your interested in how every item you plug into affects your final tone.