TRBboy

[quote name='Darkstrike' timestamp='1349133598' post='1822371'] That one has a 3 band too, right? [/quote] Yeah, and of course the active/passive switching. One of the best things about the VM is the passive tone control IMO, you can get some great trad p tones! I did ask if they could include it on my new KT, but they said no (even though I know that Glockenklang do make a 3 band with the passive tone). Maybe I'll just have to contact Glockenklang at some point and see if I can buy the pot and get a schematic to do it.

[quote name='Darkstrike' timestamp='1349131002' post='1822347'] I had guessed it was a Basic, I think I read earlier in the thread that you sold a Basic to fund this. They look like mighty modern style instruments, especially Ken Taylors, them double buckers have got to sound beastly. [/quote] I could kind of take or leave the looks, it's the neck feel and weight that really make it for me. Plus the twin buckers with coil split are pretty versatile! I've been surprised how close to a P sort of sound I can get from the neck pup.

[quote name='Darkstrike' timestamp='1349109016' post='1821935'] I think you're right! Every soundclip I've heard has been great, and the necks sound just to my taste. I've wanted a 5er with a P pickup for a long, long time. December, thats hard, but I bet it'll be completely worth it! [/quote] I'm hoping it'll be here in time for the NYE gig! Having re-read my post, I should just point out that I'm not getting a Cali VM, but another Basic Ken Taylor 5 built to my spec.

[quote name='Darkstrike' timestamp='1349108346' post='1821922'] Oh, I'd install it myself, as I bought a stock bass. Chances are I'll play it stock and be happy though, and keep the switch for another project. I'm normally a round on my P guy, for that grindy rock tone, but I had a Squier with flats that was awesome for Thin Lizzy and blues/rock stuff. [/quote] You won't be disappointed, they're superb basses. I had a Cali PM/VM for a while and it was ace. Make sure you post some pics when it arrives! Gotta wait 'til December for mine..........

[quote name='Darkstrike' timestamp='1349104062' post='1821839'] Cheers mate! I have a VM5 on the way, and I have a mini toggle switch with it too. I was considering doing the mod if it were possible, most of my basses with humbuckers have them. I know it works better with some pickups than others, was hoping this would be one of the better cases. Surprisingly, the worst and best I've come across were both Seymour Duncan pickups. I'm still considering strings, flats or rounds. [/quote] No probs. Have you asked Sandberg to add a switch or are you installing it yourself? SS Rounds all the way for me, but it's a pretty personal choice I guess.

[quote name='Darkstrike' timestamp='1348867930' post='1819442'] Lads, anyone know if the Sandberg Power Humbuckers have the capability of being wired with a series/single/parallel switch? [/quote] Yeah, it's a 4 core wire so it's possible. I experimented with doing that on one of my Basic 4s, but I found the parallel and single coil sounds a bit too weak for my tastes, so didn't make it a permanent change. The Cali TMs have a coil split switch and so do the Basic Ken Taylor's (although I very rarely engage it!)

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1348699318' post='1817244'] 1. No, probably the most transparent multi effects unit there is! If it wasn't I would not have even considered getting it. 2. You have to hold one of the footswitches down for a few seconds to go into 'patch mode', then you hit a footswitch to cycle through the patches. It's a bit of a ball ache if you want to turn individual effects on and off within the patches, but if not just keep it in patch mode! 3. I'm not much of a synth/filter user, but I found they sounded pretty decent and tracked pretty well even for me not being used to them. 4. I use mine with a few analog pedals. Works fine, but if you have them sharing an un-isolated power supply you do get a strange high pitched electronic noise constantly. For now, I use the ZNR (gate) to deal with the problem when I'm not playing... It's not noticeable on a gig but I will be getting an isolated thingy eventually for it. Hope that helps! All in all you couldn't get a better unit for the price... I went from this: And am very happy. I call it an upgrade! [/quote] Thanks for that, very useful info! I'm not much of a synth/filter user, but I'm anticipating I may have to use a little for an upcoming project. How does it perform as a DI box for recording?

Sorry of this has already been covered, but I don't have time to read through the whole thread! Maybe some of you B3 owners can tell me: 1. Do they suffer any loss of bottom end/guts, etc? 2. Is it easy to change between patches whilst playing? 3. Are the synth or filter sounds any good? 4. Does it behave okay when used with other pedals? It certainly looks like a lot of bang for the buck, and would help me minimise my gear a bit! Thanks.

The RBX170 is solid Agathis, and the RBX270 is solid Alder. Obviously the RBXA2 has the AIR system, so is technically a hollow plywood body but obviously that's not because it's cheaper than solid wood, it had to be a laminate for the design concept to work. Older RBXs (late 80's - early 90's) were ply AFAIK (or some of them at least).

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1348355274' post='1812776'] Oh my word! I hope he's ok. [/quote] Sounds like he'll he fine thankfully, just a slow and painful recovery.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1348351361' post='1812744'] I think he's been away so seems I was just impatient haha. [/quote] Just heard from Alan via email. Turns out he's fallen off a ladder onto concrete and nearly died! Hence he's been off the radar for a while recuperating.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1348351361' post='1812744'] I think he's been away so seems I was just impatient haha. [/quote] Ha ha! I think we all have a tendency to be impatient when it comes to satisfying GAS! Hopefully he's been visiting Sandberg HQ and trying to hurry my new bass along while he's there. I know he said he was going over sometime in September.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1348306030' post='1812060'] I asked for a quote on two basses, on two occasions, and I still haven't heard back from Synergy. [/quote] I'm surprised about that, they're usually pretty quick to respond. I'll drop Alan a line and bring his attention to it.

[quote name='legend142' timestamp='1348305090' post='1812044'] Here's mine. Recently purchased off Paul on here, so very happy with it [/quote] Good score man! You're unlikely to come across another one in that finish any time soon!

I agree with what you guys are saying, you don't have to put up with something completely inappropriate and hideous in this day and age, but I suspect that most players would have to have a custom build to be honestly 100% happy on all three points. I also think that if you play with confidence, competence and a bit of flair and attitude, you can rock more or less any bass in more or less any situation. Most people will notice what you're playing musically and how much you seem to be enjoying yourself, far more than the instrument itself. Only if there are other bass players in the audience will you get people scrutinizing your instrument.......

For me the priorities are always: 1. Feel/playability 2. Sound 3. Looks If it feels really great, and inspires you to play, then it's the right bass for you. If you don't have the bass that feels 100% right in your hands, then you're never going to realise your full potential as a player IMHO. Unless the looks truly repulse you, just go with whatever really does it for you when you play it. As far as sound goes, electronics, etc can be swapped out, as long as it's a well built instrument you'll be able to get a decent sound out of it.

[quote name='Darkstrike' timestamp='1347224941' post='1798314'] Ahhh. I shouldn't be worried about picking up a more recent/new in stock one so, rather than looking for new old stock/2nd hand ones. It's almost a shame you never see their straight V(P)5's in stock anywhere. Then again, I've a habit of modding P basses to have bridge pickups so might be for the best that it's already stock that way. Are they hard to get replacement hardware or pickguards for? [/quote] All of the hardware and pickguards, etc are readily available (and fairly reasonably priced IMHO). Most of the hardware is shown on Sandberg's webshop http://merchandise.cottoncontrol.com/browse/sandberg-guitars/en,0,308,0,0.html , but I would just contact Synergy if there's anything I want. I've been considering getting a replacement bridge for my KT, because they've improved the design this year.

Although they've moved to having "Sandberg" pickups and preamps, I'm 99.999% sure that the pickups are Delano (or possibly made to their spec by someone like Harry Haussel), either way AFAIK they don't wind their own pickups, so they're definitely made by someone else on an OEM basis. As for the preamp, you only have to take the backplate off to see those unmistakable red components, which are without a shadow of a doubt Glockenklang. There's obviously some benefit to having the electronics branded as Sandbergs own, but whether it's a price benefit from the supplier, or to allow a greater degree of flexibility for changing supplier, etc, etc, I don't know.

Obviously I'm now a massive Sandberg convert. I don't like to say that they're better than everything else, because it's all down to personal preference. All I know is that I think they're superb VFM for a hand made bass, with plenty of options available "as standard", and for me I've never played basses that feel so "right" in my hands (and sound right for me). The Basic series really float my boat, but I owned a California PM4 for a while, and have played a few other Cali's, and as someone who played a USA Jazz for most of my playing life so far I really think they take some beating if you're into Fender style basses. The build quality and playability are exceptional, and I think they represent excellent VFM, especially considering how much Fender have hiked their prices in the last 12 months or so, and when you consider the cost of other handbuilt Fender style basses (I know Sadowski has already been mentioned). Just my 2p worth

[quote name='Prime_BASS' timestamp='1347044170' post='1796455'] I'm still in love with my Sandberg basic. [/quote] Good! I was looking at pictures of it yesterday, and feeling a bit sad

[quote name='BluRay' timestamp='1347042726' post='1796435'] I've used them a few times - they've been fine. Prompt delivery, well packaged etc. They seem to have a good returns policy - tho I've not needed it I've been eyeing up the Sandbergs for a while too. Not sure about the reverse P pup - looks better with it the right (?) way round,. And with J instead of the bucker. And with dots. And rosewood. And matching headstock. hmmm how do I order that??? [/quote] The P might look better the right way round, but the reason that Sandberg (and a lot of other manufacturers) reverse it is to offer a little more balance, so that the D and G have got a little more guts, and the E and A sound a little more defined, but it is only a small difference really. How do you order what you want? Speak to Alan Greensall at Synergy Distribution and get the ball rolling!

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1347023649' post='1796131'] Im a bit worried about their customer service to be honest...only because of a few horror stories. [/quote] I looked at Thomann and Session Music too (and sent emails back and forth regarding my requirements). In the end, Synergy were the most helpful, and I felt happy to pay the TINY bit more just to have someone in the UK I can pick up the phone and talk to about it, and I know that if I have any issues with it, it will be easy to sort out. I have to say that Session Music were very helpful too, but Thomann didn't really seem interested in my business.......

It's been said before, but the VM should pretty much be veiwed as a PJ tonally. Yes it has a MM pickup, but it's way further back, and basically sounds more like a beefed-up, muscular J pup IMHO. You can get a great, burpy bridge pup sound without some of the weakness that can be associated with a J bridge pup. I did used to find with mine though, that if you dial in some of the P pup to taste, you can get a pretty reasonable approximation of a 'Ray. It's worth noting that the TM has a coil split switch for the 'bucker whilst the VM doesn't. They both have passive tone control too. I ordered my new KT5 in June/July and it's currently scheduled for sometime around Christmas BUT I did change the specquite significantly a couple of times, and I know it's well worth the wait I don't think Sandberg make a bad bass, and it depends whether you desperately want something that looks like a Fender, but the Basic (specifically Basic Ken Taylor 5) series rule for me: Lighter (by a good pound or so), EVEN nicer neck, very comfortable, and twin 'buckers with coil split. I can get pretty much whatever sound I want out of it, and it feels like magic in my hands. Let me know if you have any other questions!

I think they just did it for a bit of fun to show SOME of the options that you can choose. There are far more "standard" options with Sandberg than most other manufacturers, without undertaking a full-on custom build. [quote name='throwoff' timestamp='1346849389' post='1793991'] Have to say doesn't this prove what some of us (myself included) believe. Woods mean NOTHING to tone and that it is all in the p/ups and electrics? [/quote] I think that woods do make a difference, but that maybe the quality of the wood, and the quality of construction, have a greater impact on tone than the species of wood.