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Sandberg or Spector dilemma......


Veils
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As I am sure a few people on this forum will have seen before, I totally rave about Sandberg basses. Despite a big fall out with the guys at Synergy Distribution regarding a former endorsement, I have decided to go a bit crazy and take out a big loan to treat myself to a new bass. Now when I initially had this idea a few weeks ago, there would have been no competition for a Cali JM5, but I went into a shop and had a bash on a Spector Euro LX 5 and for the price I was totally blown away by the sound, feel and ease of which I could play it despite being so hung over I was shaking like a leaf, made the shop reek of booze and had to wear my aviators indoors.

The specific Spector I am looking at is for sale on this forum and has a Schack eq fitted, so I guess I want to know peoples opinions on that as well as Spectors in general.

The Sandberg it is going up against is this one -

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/sandberg_california_jm5_mn_bb.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/sandberg_california_jm5_mn_bb.htm[/url]

I already know what to expect from this bass and know it is gorgeous :)

Oh what should I do?! If anyone has alternatives my budget is about a grand........

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I tried a Spector Euro LX5 in a shop once while I was waiting for a friend of mine. Very impressed by an instrument with a relatively low price tag.

An alternative to the Sandberg could be a [url="http://www.cloverbasses.com/index.php?id=9&bass=18"]Clover Apeiron H.5[/url]. Never tried one but they look awesome. Same Fender J-style bass with the same Delano J neck pickup but with the Delano Hybrid MM/J bridge pickup.

Sandberg could probably install one of those into one of their California basses for you without any real difficulty.

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never played a Sandberg but I love my Euro 5. it's poles apart in character from my SR5,and the B is really excellent on the Spector.

I just got the Godlyke Disciple 5 off Eubassix and that sits somewhere between the two,more mids/growl than the Spector and more hi-fi than the MM. I was going to have another crack at a Bongo and had a 5string Hum/Single in mind but went for this instead and I'm glad I did. The Disciple has an 18v pre amp like the Bongo and more room between the J and the end of the f/board. but I guess availability could be an issue with them even if you wanted to have a look.

these are a couple of David's pics



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In a fair competition I'd go for the Spector every time, but this isn't a fair competition - The Spector has a Schack pre-amp.

And this means I'd go Sandberg.

Schack make great basses - their woodworking skills are fabulous - but, sadly, their preamps are woefully awful. They break down regularly, in my experience anyway, as I've had two and I thought the problem with the first one was a one off - it wasn't.

I'd have another Schack bass in an instant - fine instrument - but I'd get their preamp out toot sweet for an aggy or similar. If the spector you want has a schack pre then choose the sandberg.

No question, Sandberg make brilliant basses too, not quite US spectors in my view, but great basses never the less. And they don't come with schack electrics...

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Alternatively, take out a smaller loan for a deposit, and ask ACG or Shuker to build you something to your specs and you can save for the balance in the six to eight months it takes to build it. Keep your specs relatively simple in terms of the tonewoods you want and you can have a custom build for anything between 900 pretty basic and 1400 quid with whistles. I have ACG building me a bass right now and the quote price astonished me when it came in.

Custom builds ARE within your price bracket it you have a grand to spend. You owe it to yourelf to at least consider it.

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  • 1 month later...
  • 2 years later...

[quote name='presoulnation' post='170065' date='Apr 4 2008, 11:25 PM']As I am sure a few people on this forum will have seen before, I totally rave about Sandberg basses. Despite a big fall out with the guys at Synergy Distribution regarding a former endorsement, I have decided to go a bit crazy and take out a big loan to treat myself to a new bass. Now when I initially had this idea a few weeks ago, there would have been no competition for a Cali JM5, but I went into a shop and had a bash on a Spector Euro LX 5 and for the price I was totally blown away by the sound, feel and ease of which I could play it despite being so hung over I was shaking like a leaf, made the shop reek of booze and had to wear my aviators indoors.

The specific Spector I am looking at is for sale on this forum and has a Schack eq fitted, so I guess I want to know peoples opinions on that as well as Spectors in general.

The Sandberg it is going up against is this one -

[url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/sandberg_california_jm5_mn_bb.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/sandberg_california_jm5_mn_bb.htm[/url]

I already know what to expect from this bass and know it is gorgeous :)

Oh what should I do?! If anyone has alternatives my budget is about a grand........[/quote]

hello this my bass that i have for sale its a custom shop bass and i have not seen anyother bass like this if you like becouse you might have to trivel i will sell it to you for £1100 tell me what you think
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SANDBERG-PM5-Custom-shop-/290552380180?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item43a6457b14"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SANDBERG-PM5-Custom-...=item43a6457b14[/url]

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[quote name='rafael_bassplayer' post='1188574' date='Apr 5 2011, 03:04 AM']hello this my bass that i have for sale its a custom shop bass and i have not seen anyother bass like this if you like becouse you might have to trivel i will sell it to you for £1100 tell me what you think
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SANDBERG-PM5-Custom-shop-/290552380180?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item43a6457b14"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SANDBERG-PM5-Custom-...=item43a6457b14[/url][/quote]

I think the OP has probably made his choice in the last 3 years and that you shouldn't post e-Bay links to your item in this forum... :)

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[quote name='cetera' post='1188795' date='Apr 5 2011, 11:37 AM']I think the OP has probably made his choice in the last 3 years and that you shouldn't post e-Bay links to your item in this forum... :)[/quote]

He's been posting it everywhere. He wants a new one and is prepared to sell his 2nd hand for only about £50 more than it'd cost to get one new. :)

Edited by ThomBassmonkey
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to be honest i feel like the only detractor here. I moved on my sandberg JM 5 string couple of yrs ago, well made but the wood was a bit non descript on the neck and the tone never did it for just a bit blandand lacking in character. Played a couple of Spectors and liked them, i would go for a spector personally.

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[quote name='Scoop' post='170540' date='Apr 6 2008, 01:29 AM']Alternatively, take out a smaller loan for a deposit, and ask ACG or Shuker to build you something to your specs and you can save for the balance in the six to eight months it takes to build it. Keep your specs relatively simple in terms of the tonewoods you want and you can have a custom build for anything between 900 pretty basic and 1400 quid with whistles. I have ACG building me a bass right now and the quote price astonished me when it came in.

Custom builds ARE within your price bracket it you have a grand to spend. You owe it to yourelf to at least consider it.[/quote]

Pretty sure Veils has already had a custom Shuker but I'mnot 100% on that. I'd personally go for the Sandberg.

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