TRBboy

[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.

I know they've been mentioned in several threads, but I can't recall that anyone's actually bought one yet. I'd be willing to bet that they're bloody good for the money and probably beat the pants off a (mex) standard P bass. AFAIK the bodies and necks are being made in the far east, and assembled at Braunschweig. All the hardware is standard Sandberg stuff, so all in all I would expect the fit and finish and overall quality to be top notch. They're basically just using cheaper woods and massively reducing the labour costs in making the neck and body by having it done in the far east (and probably completely mechanized production, rather than hand shaping).

Just spotted this on Sandberg's website: [url="http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/news"]http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/news[/url] If it comes in at a similar price to the VS4 (cheaper than a Mex Fender), I reckon they'll probably sell a few! I haven't had chance to try an Electra yet but I'm sure they're great, I just wish they'd hurry up and do some 5 string models! I'd love it if they did an Electra MM; like a cheaper version of the Basic. A 5 string one of those would make a perfect backup bass for me!

[quote name='Darkstrike' timestamp='1349711832' post='1829468'] My 'Berg arrived today, and man am I happy! The neck is magic, true magic, Plek'd too, that's a hell of a surprise! The sound is fantastic too, won't be screing about adding switches that's for sure! Also, the Thomann pics aren't up to date, I got a new one, with them sweet new knobs with the guide marks. Treble and bass were reversed to what I expected, but it makes sense, as I find I'll be using the treble/tone a lot more. Feels good to be playing a P again. [/quote] That's really really nice man! Is that a VM5 Supreme then? It's the necks that have always really sold 'bergs to me. The best thing about the hardware upgrade is the bridge saddles. The locking screw used to be at an angle on the inside of the saddle (hope that makes sense!) so you had to remove the string to get to it. I believe they're now more easily accessible. It was always about my only design gripe with Sandberg! Hope you enjoy it!

Hey everybody! Anyone got any recommended settings or tips for achieving a decent sound out of this thing without losing all the bottom end/guts of the sound? Ta

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1349710944' post='1829449'] Yes, but that is too far from me, and wouldn't be an SE Bass Bash at all in that event. [/quote] Yes, I realise it wouldn't be a SE bash! I was just thinking that if we were talking about a National Bash, somewhere more central would be better. What's the secret to organising a decent bass bash then SE BCers? We had one in Birmingham last November, but only 4 of us turned up! I would love to organise a bash of the same sort of caliber as the SE one, so any advice would be much appreciated!

[quote name='silverfoxnik' timestamp='1349636309' post='1828563'] As to a national Basschat Bash, that's down to Ped & Kiwi really...but it's a good idea IMO..Quite how you could do that without locating it somewhere more central, I don't know though? [/quote] I would love to go to a decent bass bash, but this one is just too far away really. I guess you stand the most chance of it being accessibleto most people if it's somewhere like Bristol or Birmingham.

Personally, I would just upgrade the bridge to one of the Wilkinson BBOT style bridges with larger brass saddles, they're only about £15 - £20 but seem to make a bit of difference to response/sustain but still look classic. Pickup wise, I would highly recommend a Dimarzio Model P: loads of guts, punch and growl but still sounds like a proper P. Something which I'm not sure anyone else has mentioned is to re-wire the bass with a CTS wiring kit (pots, orange drop cap, and better wire). For £15-20, it's probably the cheapest but most noticeable mod you could make. I bought a kit from Axesrus before, but various people do them. Hope this helps.

I could be up for it depending on when and where it is. A few of us organised one in Birmingham last year, and despite quite a few saying they would come, there was only 4 of us turned up......... it was good to meet some other BCers, but it did feel like a bit of a waste of time, so I definitely agree with v8bass; there need to be a reasonable number of people to make it worthwhile.