Highfox

Very early days but loving this already. MY first fan-fret and first Dingwall. Not a review but my first thoughts and feelings. I had faith that these Far Eastern versions would be good quality and haven't been letdown so far. Everything seems topnotch. Hope it stands up to some hard sessions. By far the easiest playing bass I have ever owned (maybe that's the banjo size frets?) The neck is a perfect P size and shape for me with very smooth rounded edges. Weighs in just under 3.9kg or 8.9 lbs. The balance on the strap is perfect. The pickups seem to be amazingly punch for a passive bass, seems all 4 selector positions can be are very usable, never had a bass that I would want to solo the bridge pickup before, this seems to be one that could work for me. Like I said early days and honeymoon phase right now, but there is nothing not to like (except for the price maybe) but then I have had more expensive USA made and boutique basses that these would give a run for their money. This really is a Super P. The custom shop versions must be obscenely nice! Maybe it's just the Dingwall thing, and I had no idea all along.

With my Sandbergs, I think I've been able to match the passive tone with tiny tweaks of the preamp. I nearly always use them in active mode now. I have both 2 and 3 band eq's.

Thanks. They are really nice and so easy to play. I'am the 2nd owner, and as far as I know it was a standard order straight from a Swedish shop.

It was already in there when I bought the bass. I can say I had a VM that I didn't really get on with sound wise. It was a bit too clean and polite sounding with the Delano's it had in it and the p pickup was in the wrong place for me. I was so used to the Fender sound. The 3 I now have all seem to work for me by contrast.

Thought I'd post a photo of my trio. weight wise.. TT 3.6KG VS SL 2.7KG And the monster TM 4.9 KG. Which is loaded with a SD humbucker! The old style TM is the winner for sound and playability for me, slightly fatter neck than the California ii's , but a bit too heavy for regular gig use. Interestingly it seems the TT is loaded with splitcoils and not singlecoil. Kind of darker sound for a jazz to my ears.

€754 to here. I think I'll skip it.

Nice. Love the colour and blocks. I go pick up a used TM4 tomorrow, it's one of the older 2008 models. I got back into Sandberg's after doing a trade for a VS4 superlight. Playability and comfort spot on for me these days.

Just checked mine, single ply and painted over.

I had already bought a used CV rosewood neck to stick on there. Might be all in the head, but it feels a little less sticky than the gloss and a little warmer sounding. The bass balances a bit better as well now with a slightly lighter neck. Think I'll keep it like this for a while.

The P bass has landed. First impression are very good. Fit and finish seem to be spot on, out of the box it was setup better than a lot of the Fenders I have bought. Weight is ok. Tone and volume pots fully function. Everything seems good so far on this.

Thomann.

Mine is with the local post and hoping it arrives before the weekend

I'm back in the Sandberg camp with a California VS4 Superlight. Pics follow tomorrow.

Agree! A demo of it's versatility here - In the hands of a decent player.

I have had both the Ignition and the Contemporary Caven (both pups in the neck position). You have to add flats to these basses to get the best out of them imo as well. The Ignition is pretty good value for money and has more of an acoustic sound without the centre block, maybe a little truer sounding to the German made basses. The Contemporary is a lot better quality in build, has a zero fret and a much nicer paint job, German made pickups. Mine isn't noticeable heavier than the Ignition. I'd say it has a little bit of a tighter sound to it, but still a good thud. Is it worth double the Ignition, not sure! But I sold the Ignition and still have the C. Buying one used as mentioned before might the way to go. They are fantastic basses, so easy to play and you have the added bonus of people telling you how great they look.