TRBboy

I'll give it a full setup tomorrow night, but the neck on my BB605 was a bit shiny and sticky from years of use, so I've just done my old trick of giving it a gentle rub with some 1200 grit paper and now it feels like silk!

[quote name='4StringFortress' timestamp='1350595378' post='1841160'] Cant wait to see it, is it just me or there seems to be a huge amount of love for BBs at this moment in time, its nice and its fitting for such a good line of basses. Has there ever been a "bad" BB? One that puts a bit of a smudge on an otherwise clean sheet? Also I will be expecting my 415 tomorrow and im really excited! [/quote] Has there ever really been a bad Yamaha bass full stop?!

Well, my BB605 arrived yesterday, and what can I say........ Awesome! I was looking for a cheap but decent backup for my Sandberg, and I really couldn't find anything better for the money. It's been well used and there's a bit of a nasty deep scratch just above the upper horn, but its in great working order and the neck and fretboard is in great condition. I need to give it a good setup but its ace! I took it along to band practice last night, and I was amazed by how good it sounds, I'm certainly not worried about upgrading the pups at the moment. It sounds monster, especially when you get the frequency sweep pot just in the sweet spot between "clang" and "boom". It's actually a perfect sort of backup for my sandberg, I can get a fairly similar sort of tone and the neck feel isn't a million miles away. The other plus is that it's very light on the strap for a 5er. All in all, I'm a very happy boy! May try to post some pics when I can. Anyway, I'm off for a tinker!

[quote name='such' timestamp='1350418069' post='1838661'] good choice! had one before (see my avatar), sold stupidly, regret ever since! Now I have a BB415 that I bought for 80 quid from a former Jethro Tull bassist, keeps me happy, sounds just as good (if very very different) as 605. [/quote] Yeah, I'm looking forward to getting it! I've not played one before, but I've had enough Yamahas to know what to expect. I was keeping an eye out for a decent backup 5er, and I don't think you could find anything better for the price I paid! Not sure whether I'm gonna want to change the pickups out for dimarzios because single coils don't seem to do it for me anymore, but I'll wait yo pass judgement til I've played it!

Expecting delivery of a BB605 tomorrow, so I can join in!

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1350414292' post='1838580'] Don't even think about it is those terms..... 5 is very comfortable for me so I don't hanker after a 4 at all. In fact, for me, a 4 is lacking [/quote] +1 I think if you can find the right 5 to suit you, you can have it all! I've only been playing a 5 exclusively again for about 5 months, but when I pick up a 4 again now it does just feel like there's a string missing.

[quote name='LiamPodmore' timestamp='1350396046' post='1838224'] [attachment=121230:my_custom_sandberg.jpg] I'm rather liking the look of that. Basic Ken Taylor 5 in Violetburst. Liam [/quote] Love it! That's one badass bass.....

Wish they'd had this configurator in June when I was trying to choose which to order: [attachment=121216:my_custom_sandberg_cherry.jpg] [attachment=121217:my_custom_sandberg_white.jpg]

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1350378140' post='1837911'] I didn't order a tinted neck with my VT5... didn't realise I could..... hope it doesn't look too weird with the hardcore aging! [/quote] Should be fine because they age the neck anyway.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1350319297' post='1837246'] How do you choose vintage tinted?! Am I right in guessing you can order the maple board to look darker? I'm still a bit unsure about blocks on the P style body. I think I'd be happy with just dots to be honest. If it was binding as well as blocks as well I'd probably go for it. Another questions about options...the coil tap on the TM (Jazz), it isn't on the VM normally unless you order it. Does the switch also allow for series/parallel? I'd quite like that option. Does anyone know the string spacing on the 5ers? Cheers [/quote] Yeah, I think the vintage tint is as you say, just a bit of a darker more golden sort of tint (if you know what I mean). I've got a copy of last years price list, and it mentions an "aged finish" under neck options. AFAIK, none of the Sandberg basses feature series/parallel switching. They seem pretty reluctant to do anything that they don't normally offer, as far as preamps go. I asked if they could include the passive tone control on my new Ken Taylor 5, and got a flat "no" even though I know that Glockenklang make a 3-band with it on. That said, they will theoretically make anything you want, but I guess that you're talking about custom builds then, rather than "standard" basses. The string spacing is adjustable, and I don't know the measurements on the Cali's, but I'd say it's fairly generous. Certainly feels more like a Yamaha TRB than a Ibanez Soundgear. I'd guess about 18 - 18.5mm

Sandberg do great reliced basses if you can find one used. [url="http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/sandberg-california-jjv-boutique-5-string-jazz-bass-trades-wanted/110646011"]http://www.gumtree.c...anted/110646011[/url] Very nice! PS: Nothing to do with me by the way, just spotted it on Gumtree!

I've found through trial and error that I do prefer the flatter fretboards, but not too flat. I think quite a few of the small, high end luthiers offer completely flat fretboards these days (i think both Shuker and ACG do). Just go with what feels best for you!

Good news! Glad your enjoying your bass more, I'm always of the opinion that the feel/playability of a bass is paramount. Don't know if they still do, but I think they used to use bell brass for frets on Warwicks (very very hard!)? As an aside, would it be possible for you to just wire in a passive wiring circuit? Seems to make sense if you loved the sound straight from the pickups so much (and a lot cheaper and easier too!). I guess if you've got holes for 4 pots, you could just go for volume and tone for each pup, or do volume, blend, tone and then maybe a toggle switch to bypass the controls and go straight to the jack. Just a thought!

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1350143167' post='1835134'] See above...I'd like one VM and one TM...probably 5ers...they seem to look better in 5 string format. I'm edging towards maple. [/quote] If I was ever gonna go for a Cali again, it would have to be Marley Blue with Maple board and black hardware! Awesome!

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1350133574' post='1834953'] The only thing I don't like is their tort...it seems VERY red like the MIJ Fender Tort...is it like that in real life?! [/quote] There's quite a few things that don't look right IMHO. I think they've just chopped bits out on Photoshop from all the "gallery" pictures, to enable this mix and match facility. You can see that different bits were shot under different lighting conditions, etc, so I wouldn't worry about it too much I'm sure the tort looks fine in the flesh.

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1350113474' post='1834633'] Harc core aged matt on ash. [/quote] Nice!

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1350089309' post='1834574'] Brilliant! I can now see what my VT5 will look like when it arrives in a month's time. [/quote] Very nice it is too sir! Are you going for an ash/matt or alder/highgloss body?

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1350077058' post='1834454'] http://www.configurator.sandberg-guitars.de/ There is a link off the main site as well. What a BRILLIANT idea. Musicman used to have one years back but that has long gone. I'm very tempted to get a Sandberg at the moment. [/quote] Hadn't spotted that before! What a useful idea. I'll have to have a look on the laptop tomorrow, it won't work properly on my phone. Go on, get one, you know you want to! You're always banging on about them.....

I know he definitely played Yamaha TRB1004s for a while.