Sandberg TM4, fender flea active or stingray special??

[Rizky Ardi]

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.

Thanks…until now, when i try to get specific tone for my liking i only noodling with other controls and not messing around with the volume on my bass hehehe…
I will try to investigate as your suggestion also…

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

I had an active Flea bass and I loved it. It is an extremely cool Jazz bass IMHO. I sold it only because I am more of a P bass guy, but I think it is extremely cool.

 

[jbasedig]

These are my basses. View attachment 4984372
What type of sound are you after? Sanbergs do not sound like Fender and the MM pickup is closer to the bridge than a StingRay. Sanbergs have a very clear, rich, piano like tone. More modern voiced. Even in passive mode. Build quality will be boutique level on the Sandberg and the Ernie Ball. They will most likely both weigh less than the Fender if that matters to you.

If you already own a pre Special StingRay, you will find the Specials to be less aggressive or more voiced towards the Fender camp. It still sounds like a StingRay with that signature StingRay bounce to the notes, but it isn't as bright. It has less clank and metallic grind. The Specials feel great and sound perfect to my ears.

I have no real comments on the Fender because I've only played the Flea RoadWorn Jazz which was a great bass.

Plus one on the Specials.

 

[jbasedig]

TB'ers What is this "active Flea bass you write about? Of course I could "Google" this. I might even just ask Alexa. However, I'd really like to hear it from the community. I know he's played Stingrays and Fender Jazz basses.. but THIS? I'm not familiar with it. BTW, Alexa apologized for not having an answer to "what is the active Flea bass?"

 

[jbasedig]

These are my basses. View attachment 4984372
What type of sound are you after? Sanbergs do not sound like Fender and the MM pickup is closer to the bridge than a StingRay. Sanbergs have a very clear, rich, piano like tone. More modern voiced. Even in passive mode. Build quality will be boutique level on the Sandberg and the Ernie Ball. They will most likely both weigh less than the Fender if that matters to you.

If you already own a pre Special StingRay, you will find the Specials to be less aggressive or more voiced towards the Fender camp. It still sounds like a StingRay with that signature StingRay bounce to the notes, but it isn't as bright. It has less clank and metallic grind. The Specials feel great and sound perfect to my ears.

I have no real comments on the Fender because I've only played the Flea RoadWorn Jazz which was a great bass.

Great arsenal, of course the purple is awesome. What is the bass on the far left? Couldn't tell even with zoom.

 

[Rizky Ardi]

TB'ers What is this "active Flea bass you write about? Of course I could "Google" this. I might even just ask Alexa. However, I'd really like to hear it from the community. I know he's played Stingrays and Fender Jazz basses.. but THIS? I'm not familiar with it. BTW, Alexa apologized for not having an answer to "what is the active Flea bass?"

Its fender flea signature active bass(jazz body and humbucker pickup with active pre amp). Sorry for confusing you with cheap old fleabass that has colorfull version.

 

[Sean150]

TB'ers What is this "active Flea bass you write about? Of course I could "Google" this. I might even just ask Alexa. However, I'd really like to hear it from the community. I know he's played Stingrays and Fender Jazz basses.. but THIS? I'm not familiar with it. BTW, Alexa apologized for not having an answer to "what is the active Flea bass?"

It is an artist series bass that Fender released a few years ago based on the custom shop bass Flea uses live sometimes. It’s got a single humbucker and an Aguilar OBP-2 preamp, jazz bass body and a chunkier quarter sawn maple neck.

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[Rizky Ardi]

Great arsenal, of course the purple is awesome. What is the bass on the far left? Couldn't tell even with zoom.

The black one? I think its Ida Nielsen sandberg signature bass. But correct me if im wrong

 

[Rizky Ardi]

It is an artist series bass that Fender released a few years ago based on the custom shop bass Flea uses live sometimes. It’s got a single humbucker and an Aguilar OBP-2 preamp, jazz bass body and a chunkier quarter sawn maple neck.

View attachment 4984933

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Thank you for support me point out

 

[Benko]

My vote would be on a Stingray Special : light, looks good, great pickup & electronics

The Flea active comes on the market from time to time, beside wanting a Flea "thing" and Fender i'm not sure it's a better experience (i dig the Shell pink though)

Now, there is a sweet Sandberg VM4 on Mercari, it's already at a pretty good price but maybe you could even get it cheaper and that would be a great first sandberg experience

 

[Rizky Ardi]

My vote would be on a Stingray Special : light, looks good, great pickup & electronics

The Flea active comes on the market from time to time, beside wanting a Flea "thing" and Fender i'm not sure it's a better experience (i dig the Shell pink though)

Now, there is a sweet Sandberg VM4 on Mercari, it's already at a pretty good price but maybe you could even get it cheaper and that would be a great first sandberg experience

Thank you for your vote
I already have stingray eventhough its not the special with neodinium one (1997) and i hard to justify the amount that i can spend for similar but not same bass hehehe…

Ah you live in japan too..はじめまして
Yes i already look at in mercari for the vm but p pick up with MM its not my thing…im leaning to TM4 for sandie.

For the fender, despite it being artist series, i always curious how fender can make bass with MM configuration and as a spec its really good i think…so thats why i came out with this question in the 1st place

 

[Benko]

Do you have any opportunity to go to a shop and try them? The TM4 you're looking at is actually already at a pretty good price but it won't be exactly the sound of a Stingray, for me they are more like supercharged jazz bass

I'd agree also if you have a good old Stingray maybe the new one are not so appealing (especially if you do not "need" the lighter weight, as I play mostly 5 it was a very important parameter)

 

[Killing Floor]

I would buy the one that felt the best. Mostly based on my fretting hand.

 

[Rizky Ardi]

Do you have any opportunity to go to a shop and try them? The TM4 you're looking at is actually already at a pretty good price but it won't be exactly the sound of a Stingray, for me they are more like supercharged jazz bass

I'd agree also if you have a good old Stingray maybe the new one are not so appealing (especially if you do not "need" the lighter weight, as I play mostly 5 it was a very important parameter)

i think nor of those basses i can directly try due to those shop is on another perfecture. And not in kanto area. The most possible one is to try similar bass in other shop heheehee maybe ochanomizu area…
Really its like super jazz bass? So it will be naturally little bit scooped mid?
But that what make jazz bass is a jazz bass.
Im bashing around in youtube also about the sandie and i think its not like jazz bass. I cant explain it but it sound different (all pickup engage)

 

[jeff62]

Sandberg all day. I’ve played them all and own two, a TM4 and a Stingray Special. The build quality of the sandberg is the best. And since you’ve already got a Ray, you’ll not only be acquiring a voicing that you can leverage but you’ll also get the highest quality instrument out of all your choices.

 

[Rizky Ardi]

I would buy the one that felt the best. Mostly based on my fretting hand.

yes mostly i agree with you. But sometimes our fretting hand can be adjusted or sometime it can works at all. But i always see the bass base on the ease of playability off course.
True fact, the most easy to play among my bass is my cheap sire v3 jazz bass (34”, 7.25rad,38mm width) and not the others but i still can adjust with my stingray and have good playability also (its the most fittest of my liking sound)

 

[Rizky Ardi]

Sandberg all day. I’ve played them all and own two, a TM4 and a Stingray Special. The build quality of the sandberg is the best. And since you’ve already got a Ray, you’ll not only be acquiring a voicing that you can leverage but you’ll also get the highest quality instrument out of all your choices.

so its very valid opinion from you also.
Do you feel the sandie is supercharge jazz bass in term of sound?

80%-90% in the opinion is lean toward the sandie now

 

[Killing Floor]

yes mostly i agree with you. But sometimes our fretting hand can be adjusted or sometime it can works at all. But i always see the bass base on the ease of playability off course.
True fact, the most easy to play among my bass is my cheap sire v3 jazz bass (34”, 7.25rad,38mm width) and not the others but i still can adjust with my stingray and have good playability also (its the most fittest of my liking sound)

One day after years of playing it struck me that every bass I really love to play has a 63- style C shaped neck. Spacing didn’t matter, nut didn’t matter. My Fenders and MM basses and even some customs all have a nearly identical neck profile.

My point is find what works for you. And if you buy something that you do not bind with, sell and try again. Because you will want to play more and you’ll work harder on your technique if you are comfortable.

 

[Rizky Ardi]

One day after years of playing it struck me that every bass I really love to play has a 63- style C shaped neck. Spacing didn’t matter, nut didn’t matter. My Fenders and MM basses and even some customs all have a nearly identical neck profile.

My point is find what works for you. And if you buy something that you do not bind with, sell and try again. Because you will want to play more and you’ll work harder on your technique if you are comfortable.

yes yes, i understand.
Thank you for the advice.
Its true if we use the most comfortable gear the effort to more digging into more technique is easier.
last week i gig with the stingray, then yesterday i just noodling around with my G&L L2K and find its easier to due some lick than stingray (more efforless).
So i always sees the neck profile spec absolutely so that i can judge whether its still fit my liking with allowance or not.
I will try to try it first the sandie maybe, because for the special its said 43 mm so its not in my ball park for the comfortable.
And flea active bass doesnt exist anywhere in japan

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Great arsenal, of course the purple is awesome. What is the bass on the far left? Couldn't tell even with zoom.

Thank you . Sandberg Ida Nielsen 5.