krispn

It's OK lads the question doesn't need any more answering. The man is happy with what he's got.

So I'd agree with @Al Krow that Delano's can sound a bit sterile to my ear too and wouldn't be my choice of bass tone either. @Al Krow shared a video of his band playing (the 'Livin' On A Prayer' cover from way back) and the bass tone was a tad sterile/MiDi like and I'm guessing that was a combination of straight DI and those pick ups and it didn't sound there was any 'post eq' or 'active eq' engaged on that video Al? I've also played other Sandberg basses with other pick-ups which I have preferred over Delano's - if the fit is right a change of pick up (and pre amp if desired) isn't that big a deal in the grand scheme especially if the bass and new pick ups/pre is picked up used. @mcnach posted a very sensible approach to trying and then ordering a Sandberg bass - have a pretty good idea of what you like, try some models out at a dealer if possible (make the trip to one if it means that much to get it as perfect as possible), note the models and get the shop/dealer to find out the spec and get your order made! Fender don't offer that, Gibson don't offer that. Maybe G&L and Sandberg are the two companies who spring to mind who do? (Don't add a list I'm not buying a new bass any time soon!) I do find it a wee bit of a stretch that someone as diligent as @Al Krow who keenly researches other manufacturers gear to the nth degree can't email a company as accessible as Sandberg and ask what the up charge, if any, is on a set of black labels (or any other offerings) whacked into a California VT5 would be but can wax lyrical on "chip set used", "frequency response of", "Xover point", "mA draw" etc. on a whole bunch of other gear. Maybe he's just cage rattling for sport However I will also agree with Al that the 'pick up option' would be really help if it listed the (additional) charges for other pick up brands V's in house but again a phone call/email could have that info in minutes/days.

Pictures of knobs would give me no idea what was happening but thanks for the offer. Some audio on the other hand would be insightful! I was just interested to hear what that bass and it’s unique controls were doing that was giving you a reason to keep it engaged. You made reference to the mid cut being an always on feature and it piqued my interest as to which context that would be advantageous.

So the mid cut is always on in your set up. Interesting! Are you tweaking it as you go between pick up blend etc.? I’ve not played a bbne but you know my views that a semi parametric eq just makes a bit more sense in the grand scheme over a single fixed point. A second sweepable mid is no bad thing but cut only could be interesting. Are you gravitating to a particular sound with that bass seeing as it's got some unique features over the others?

@Al Krow Are you finding the additional semi parametric mid cut is a feature you’re employing frequently or more a case of its handy to have? I’m guessing it’s good for slapping?

It didn't read on paper that the extra £££ for the BBP34 would be 'adding value' to an already good bass that is the 734. It's actually quite a weight difference but I'm guessing the cavity for the pre-amp reduces some of the mass. Knowing your preference for lightweight gear I'd have thought you'd gravitate to the lighter model. Do you see the P35 knocking the Ibanez off the 'go to' gig bass (or did the other Yamaha already take that spot?) Understandable they're two different voices now you've had an opportunity to gig a few of them...

I'd say with the P35 and BBNE you'd have all you need right there.

Cheers for that but the spec aside it's really the tonal similarities I was asking about. I've read the respective pages on the Yamaha site and the vibration treatment (and MIJ build) aside it appears they're 'the same bass on paper' with the same pick up's. I guess the original question still stands "Do they sound the same/similar in passive mode or is there a discernible difference?"

I was thinking more the direct differences between the BB735 V's BBP35 as they're more similar in terms of their pick up's, features etc than the 1025 V's BBP35 comparison but yeah I get your points about those two. That's really my question would I be getting anything 'more' in the BBP34 over the 734 as you have the 735/BBP35 to compare directly considering the substantial price difference in the two. It'd be good to hear from someone who can directly compare the two. From what I can gather the vibration treatment is the only difference? Interesting that you picked those two, what's the reasons?

I was gonna suggest this too. Pretty simple and if you don’t have the gear a local metal work shop could do it in seconds.

@Al Krow I was thinking more about ‘passive mode V’s passive bass’ as the active will obviously have a greater variety of options. Does the 734 in passive mode sound or feel so different that it’s worth the upgrade to BBP35? There’s a BBP34 up just now but I can’t see the value in the upgrade even with the vibration treatment. Any details on the nuances are welcome. The video recently posted I couldn’t really discern and differences in passive.

It is a slappers delight!

@M@23 Don’t forget you may need to add some more bass than normal at the amp (I’m sure you can do it on the bass too) but a wee touch of bottom end reinforcement helps with the SL. Enjoy!

I sold it on to get a JO5. Cracking bass both of them but I think the original DJ with Aero pick ups has been my favourite Lakland.

Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio and others have useful Bass Middle Treble charts showing the characteristics of their various models so it’s at least a ball park idea of what to expect but there is always a ‘risk’ until you’ve actually installed and heard for yourself. The BC market place is as a good a place as any to try something out and shift them on if they’re not to taste. If everything else about a bass works except the electronics then it’s a pretty good idea to experiment with pick ups. Often just putting in a solid passive set can be the answer.

It was me Al Krow is referencing. A few facts to clear up his spurious claims as I believe I'm the best person to tell my experiences of yamaha or any other brand of bass Firstly I'm not Scottish, I'm Irish! I never 'avoided Yamaha for decades' I'm far to perspicacious to take such a blinkered view and my electric guitar is a Yamaha 611 model! I grew up in a very small town where two folks I knew had Yamaha bases -I just didn't really care that much for the aesthetic - that extended bridge saddle on the 5'ers was just wrong looking even if I understood the principle of it. Nor did I have the chatter of the internet and bass forums to assuage my decision making. I, under my own volition and of sound mind, chose to go to check out a used BB734A at a local guitar shop. I was not ambushed by it and had a very clear goal of going and playing it with a view to buying it. I wasn't happy with the price but found one much cheaper elsewhere and bought it on my way to collect another item of gear. When the TRBx series were released (in 2012/2013?) I checked them out and I was really impressed with the build quality and would have had no hesitation in recommending them to a new player and was tempted to get one myself - clean modern looks and good range of tones available enhanced with a clever little eq switch to influence the EQ curve (on some models). A fellow Edinburgh bass player raved about his higher end TRB but I never got a chance to try it. I've played the 1024/2024x and found the pick ups too overpowering and the single coil hum was a bit much. Now there's a pick up the could do with being changed out for a hum canceller! I gravitate to more traditional, passive bass shapes and styles as that's what I prefer but I've played many basses both, active and passive, and owned a few odd-balls too. I played an active Ibanez years back and around that time had the opportunity to do a recording where the producer suggested I play with an old passive Gibson and from listening back and asking questions on that 'session' I went out and managed to trade that Ibanez for a late 70's P - I just prefer the sound of a passive bass! The rationale of "You don't own one therefore you must not rate it" is a tad basic and often not reflective of ones 'bass journey'. As Al Krow will know I've had an external eq on my pedal board for years and I just prefer the added control my units provide with semi-parametric mids over the fixed points offered on many active basses, Sandberg included. I've owned Sandberg basses and while I'm not a 'fanboi' I do respect Holger the person, his attitude and ethos. He doesn't strike me as "No!" type of person. I'd hardly base his entire business outlook on the stock preamps and pick-up's he uses. Actually maybe we should... I guess he could out source his pre-amps to John East or his pick ups to DiMarzio but he appears to be using the German made gear of his neighbours which all forms part of the greater economy/ecoolgy of the local bass building community. As @mcnash has demonstrated if one were serious about getting a more personal spec a call or email to the factory or via a local dealer could have a pretty definitive answer in all of about 10 minutes.

So which is your preference over the BB735 and the BBP35 after the initial play test.

Log in and download the software. It’s the best way to edit the stomp and you can do everything on the pc. It’s a great feature!

EHX Battalion?

The Grand Dark features black labels and a three band eq (Darkglass) but unsurprisingly you pay a bit more for these upgraded features. I believe it’s a 35” scale too but comes in over the £1000. Its a tricky one as a ‘standard’ model will feature standard parts. If one wanted an Ibanez SR with the ‘upgraded’ Nordstrand pick ups one is potentially looking at double the price to get those features (and that’s maybe a bit unfair as the ‘quality’ and features may appear to be upgraded across all areas of the bass on the higher priced model) over a more standard offering of the non premium models. Since Ibanez have switched to the Bart BH2 in the mid/upper price range are they an improvement over the cheaper Mk1’s in the lower priced models or more of the same? As the price rises the top of the line Ibanez offer Aguilar pick ups so again this points to a price/parts correlation. It’s true there are cracking value basses to be had in the mid price ranges of many brands and some folk may avoid a ‘lesser known’ brand and that’s where BC can be helpful but by the same mark when a company like Bartolini offers so many variations of pick ups (as does Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio etc.) it’s hard to justify a blanket ban based on one specific experience with a factory fitted, lower grade pick which has possibly been wound to the spec of the company who have it installed in their model. I say this having used Bart p pick ups and loved them for the warmth and depth they added to a p bass. I’d happily use them again. I’ve heard clips of @Al Krow playing his sandberg and I’d agree the tone was was too hi-fi/sterile/midi like and I understand why he’s moved on from that sound as I wouldn’t gravitate to it either but within the debate on pick ups it’s important to know there’s are as many pick ups out there’s as opinions on them.