Sandberg UMBO

[Dr Cryptosis]

I just obtained this Sandberg UMBO. It was described as having an alder body with a rosewood fretboard. I dont think so. It appears to be swamp ash with an ebony fretboard. It’s super light. 8lbs or less. I don’t think it has the original pickups but has DiMarzios. They sound great. Please check the pictures and let me know what you think.

 

[Not_Shane]

California 'T' Series - Sandberg Guitars

Official website of Sandberg Guitars - German producer of guitars and bass guitars: California T Bass, California V Bass, Basic Bass, Classic Bass, Custom Bass, Electra Bass, Forty Eight Bass, Panther Bass, STS Guitar, Florence Guitar, California DC Guitar, Electra DC Guitar, Forty Eight Guitar

www.sandberg-guitars.de

Website says matte finish is Ash.
IDK about the fretboard.

 

[Dr Cryptosis]

California 'T' Series - Sandberg Guitars

Official website of Sandberg Guitars - German producer of guitars and bass guitars: California T Bass, California V Bass, Basic Bass, Classic Bass, Custom Bass, Electra Bass, Forty Eight Bass, Panther Bass, STS Guitar, Florence Guitar, California DC Guitar, Electra DC Guitar, Forty Eight Guitar

www.sandberg-guitars.de

Website says matte finish is Ash.
IDK about the fretboard.

Thanks. I’m sure it’s Ebony. I compared it to my 90’s Les Paul bass. It was one of those inaccurate descriptions that you get from Guitar Center.

 

[Ethix4]

If it had delanos originally I'm not surprised about the pickup swap. I haven't gotten along with any sandberg that has delanos in it. But they are great once that's changed imo.
The delanos fit other basses in passive well..
Could be haussels or black labels as well, wouldn't hurt to see!
What does the switch do on these umbos? Is it active passive ?
I feel like after a certain year 2015+ the sandberg basses just became lighter overall most of the time. And especially after covid , they seem to have become alot more dialed. I have owned alot of them and do, and that's just my take.

I almost grabbed this bass as well! I was talking to a GC rep for it. I wasn't expecting to be a superlight though!

 

[Dr Cryptosis]

If it had delanos originally I'm not surprised about the pickup swap. I haven't gotten along with any sandberg that has delanos in it. But they are great once that's changed imo.
The delanos fit other basses in passive well..
What does the switch do on these umbos? Is it active passive ?
I feel like after a certain year 2015+ the sandberg basses just became lighter overall most of the time. And especially after covid , they seem to have become alot more dialed. I have owned alot of them and do, and that's just my take.

I almost grabbed this bass as well! I was talking to a GC rep for it. I wasn't expecting to be a superlight though!

It’s not active so I’m assuming there’s a by pass plus a couple of capacitors that are changing the tone from a dirty to a more compressed sound. This one predates the squattier body style. The ebony board predates them using pao. It is so dark and smooth. I didn’t wait long to put in that order at GC. The traditional shaped UMBOs don’t come up that often.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

I just want to know how this thing sounds.
That neck pickup situation has me doubtful of a decent sound, but that’s just me.
I spend most of my thoughts on pickup placement trying to get the D&G strings to sound bassier, not tinnier.

 

[Dr Cryptosis]

I just want to know how this thing sounds.
That neck pickup situation has me doubtful of a decent sound, but that’s just me.
I spend most of my thoughts on pickup placement trying to get the D&G strings to sound bassier, not tinnier.

It sounds great. It has DiMarzios in it. Not thin. But a thick bass sound can be achieved. I have flats on it.

 

[Fender_Bender]

Definitely not alder, and if the pores are very hard to see then I suspect ebony.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

Looks awesome.

Those GC descriptions are AI and often wrong. Sometimes wildly wrong

 

[Dr Cryptosis]

Definitely not alder, and if the pores are very hard to see then I suspect ebony.

It is swamp ash. It is ebony. Too smooth and dark for anything else.

 

[Pep]

I believe you’re correct about the fretboard being ebony. Perhaps the body has a Swamp Ash cap (top) on an alder or basswood body.
What ever it is, it’s beautiful.

 

[Dr Cryptosis]

The fretboard is an ebony slab over a Canadian Maple neck. The body is 2 pieces of solid swamp ash per Sandberg specifications.