TRBboy

[quote name='ezbass' post='1317135' date='Jul 26 2011, 02:49 PM']So two PM4s eh? How do they compare tone, playability wise? Nice score BTW.[/quote] Well, a California PM4 and a Basic 4. The PM has a slightly fuller, rounder neck, but still very slim for a P-type bass, and this one seems a fair bit slimmer than the one I tried in PMT a while ago. The basic is very slim and starts out as sort of a shallow D at the headstock end but then flattens out down the centre line as you get toward the top end. The fretboard radius seems to be about the same on both (quite flat), and they both feel kind of similar to play. Tone-wise, they're a lot more similar than I'd expected! Obviously you've got a bit more flexibility on the PM although the Basic does have the 3-band eq, which allows for quite a lot of tone sculpting. With everything centered on both basses, there's actually not much difference at all! I guess it's partly down to the pickup positions and the fact that the P pickup on the PM has the oversized pole pieces (one per string). This results in more of a MM sound with the blend centered, than what I would think of as a classic PJ sound. The MM at the bridge on the PM really is exactly as described above; like a jazz bridge pickup but with more guts and growl. I think that a lot of the more modern manufacturers are reversing P pickups because it gives a slightly more even tone across the strings. Sometimes in the traditional orientation, the D and G strings can sound a little thin compared to the E and A. Thanks for all the comments! I really feel at home with these Sandbergs, after 16 or so years of playing, and many basses, I think I've finally found an instrument that feels really natural and just seems to work for me.

Tom bought my Yamaha TRB1004 off me a few months ago. Great guy, fantastic communications and paid immediately. He was also very understanding when the courier delivered a day late! Top bloke, buy/sell from/to with great confidence! Oli.

I think that jazzes can cut through better, and you get more definition and clarity due to the bridge pickup. I pretty much always played both pickups full and found that that gave me plenty of punch and cut-through. If you really want a kick in the nuts, shove some Dimarzio Ultra Jazz in it; REALLY punchy and powerful but still defined. Because they're hum-cancelling (side by side coils), you can get the neck pup fairly close to a P sound.

[quote name='longtimefred' post='1316609' date='Jul 26 2011, 08:52 AM']White MoP? Copycat!!! Hahaha. Go for it dude, looks ace. I have pics somewhere of mine if you can find em![/quote] Yeah, then I can look just like my favourite Sandberg endorsee! No seriously, I don't know if it's just TOO black at the moment. Besides, It could never look like yours cos of the matching headstock, unless I get busy with the woodstain! Is the whole of your neck stained, or just the face of the headstock?

Thanks guys, it is awesome, and I just can't put it down at the moment! It's so useful having the passive tone control too. Might have to see if I can get a 3-ply white pickguard, or white mop, see what that looks like!

Well, after selling my beloved jazz last week (thanks Peteb), I knew I had to find another bass quick before my better half made plans for the money I'd raised! I love my Sandberg Basic 4, and thought about another Sandberg but new is just too expensive for me at the moment, and I hadn't seen anything I liked come up in the s/h market, until..... I was perusing eBay, and saw a California PM4 in Blackburst I contacted the guy, and as luck would have it, I was going to be in his neck of the woods on Saturday, so I arranged to pop round. Went round, picked it up, played it, fell in love instantly! It has obviously been used, but in really good nick (except a cople of minor niggles which can be easily rectified) and well set up. Came with a Fender ABS hardcase, and I'm not gonna tell how much I paid for it because you'll all throw up on your PCs! I think it was an absolute bargain, and the guy just said he's happy that it's going to a good home. I think I need to change my username to Sandbergboy! [attachment=85582:IMG_1202.JPG] [attachment=85584:IMG_1204.JPG] [attachment=85585:IMG_1205.JPG] [attachment=85586:IMG_1206.JPG]

I've Just sold Pete my USA Jazz Bass. He was a great guy to deal with, fantastic communication, swift payment and happy to come to agree a mutually beneficial deal. Would gladly deal with Pete again, and would recommend anyone to buy/sell from/to this man with confidence! Oli.

I've just sold Ian a pair of Dimarzio Ultra Jazz Pickups. He was an absolute pleasure to deal with, great communications and immediate payment. I would gladly deal with Ian again, a top bloke! Oli.

Dimarzio Ultra Jazz is the best I've tried, and because they're hum-cancelling, they can be wired series/parallel.

Depends how vain you are......... For me, the order of priorities always are: 1. Neck feel, ease of playing, and general comfort. 2. Sound. 3. Colour/style That said, I wouldn't even bother trying something that I REALLY didn't like the look of, but I'm not too fussy anyway!

Never got on with Elixirs really. They're ok but if you play with a pick, once the wrap starts going I found them really annoying! I preferred the D'addario EXP, but have since gone back to prosteels 'cause I prefer them. What's the difference between Elixirs and EXP's? Apparently Elixirs are coated after the string is wound, covering the whole lot. With EXP's, the wrap is coated before the string is wound. This means that the string can effectively move more freely and without disturbing the coating as much (they also sound a bit brighter). It also means that any damage to the coating is localised and does not usually cause as much of a knock-on effect to the rest of the coating.

[quote name='longtimefred' post='1310876' date='Jul 20 2011, 09:46 PM']Well done mate. Lovely looking bass that was, can see why it meant a lot to you. Onwards and upwards eh!! Any sign of a new Sandberg on the horizon then?[/quote] Hmmmm........ Nothing I want seems to be coming up on here, and my budget is limited to more or less what I got for my Jazz. I could get another Basic new for about that, but do I really need two? I still think I would quite like a Basic Ken Taylor, but unless a used one comes up I can't really justify it as we're in the process of buying our first house, so I don't think splashing an extra £300 - £400 would go down too well! EDIT: Just seen a blackburst Cali PM going for a reasonable price; recommended Will?

[quote name='jmsjabb' post='1310895' date='Jul 20 2011, 10:05 PM']That one is a right hand though, keep up [/quote] D'oh! Sorry, didn't realise the OP was a cack-hander! I really should actually read stuff properly first......

Well, that's it, I've gone and sold it! Onto the next I s'pose! I'm quite tempted to go and give Evil Undead's $$ a rip..........

There's a "proper" Warwick Corvette Fretless for sale on here for £500 and open to offers. Would probably be a lot better if you can stretch a bit. Just thought it was worth letting you know. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=145664"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=145664[/url]

[quote name='Bigwan' post='1310212' date='Jul 20 2011, 12:31 PM']They want you to pay a 10% deposit for them to shift stock from one of their shops to another? You'd have thought they'd be glad of the CHANCE of a sale! With that attitude they've no chance!!![/quote] They say it's so they've got a guarantee that you'll actually turn up and try it, and CAN be refunded if you don't want it. Just kinda puts me off a little. It sounds like the bass has been knocking around for a fair while too as it's been in most of the PMT stores by the sound of it!

[quote name='Machines' post='1309108' date='Jul 19 2011, 01:31 PM']Have you phoned PMT Birmingham ? They usually have a load of Sandbergs in, i've definitely some Basics there in the past.[/quote] Yeah I spoke to them at the weekend. They haven't had any more stock since I was in there a month or so ago. They have got a Basic, a Cali PM and a Bullet (I think), but that's it. There's a KT at their Norwich store which they could get shipped across, but want me to pay a 10% deposit before they get it in!

[quote name='martthebass' post='1309067' date='Jul 19 2011, 12:58 PM']I had a Basic KT5 a couple of years back as a (cheaper) replacement for a Stingray 5 that I sold to fund some GAS. Build quality was pretty good (typical Sandberg) and the neck profile and string spacing wasn't far off the SR5 (good for me). Sound wise though I was a bit less impressed; with the 2 pickup setup there was plenty of variation but to me they all seemed to be slightly on the dark side (the pups were Delanos IIRC). I couldn't get a decent cut-through sound when I wanted it - maybe there was one in there but I couldn't get it. On the other hand I couldn't get the thump/punch of a P bass either so ultimately I decided to let it go and I went back to an MM when funds allowed it. This is only IMHO, the sound might work for you......I don't tend to do subtle well, i.e. I like P bass 'thump' or Ray 'grit' - your mileage may vary....[/quote] I'm kinda surprised, 'cause I don't find my Basic to be "subtle" at all! It's got a great punchy growl but is incredibly defined and cuts through really well. I find that it could almost do with being a bit darker sounding - if you want to get a slightly woolly/muddy p type tone, you haven't got a chance! Interesting though...... thanks for your comments.