TRBboy

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.

[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.