Where can I try/buy Sandberg in the UK?

[ashevans09]

Absolutely hankering after a California VM-5!

[dannybuoy]

Bass Direct! [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Sandberg.html"]http://www.bassdirec...s/Sandberg.html[/url]

Although according to the site they only have a very tasty looking used PM4 in stock...

Edited April 16, 2012 by dannybuoy

[pietruszka]

Just buy one! I bought a Sandberg with out trying it and haven't regretted it! They're fantastic basses and you won't be disappointed!






Dan

[Conan]

[quote name='pietruszka' timestamp='1334606389' post='1618520']
Just buy one! I bought a Sandberg...[/quote]

Oh? What kind?

[TRBboy]

Bass Direct haven't sold them for a while, and I think a fellow BCer purchased that sunburst PM at the weekend.......

PMT have the best stocks in the UK, although GuitarGuitar have a few too. It's far cheaper to buy from Germany at the moment, I think Session Music are about the cheapest.

It's worth seeing if there's any BCers near you that have them, I'm sure you could have a try. They really are superb basses, I cannot praise them highly enough! They are good value new for such a quality, handbuilt bass, and they're just silly value for money used. Since I bought my first one last year, I've sold everything else and bought more, because nothing else hits the spot for me now!

I'm going to sell two of mine to help fund a custom Sandberg build, so let me know if you're interested.....

[ashevans09]

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1334607049' post='1618543']
Bass Direct haven't sold them for a while, and I think a fellow BCer purchased that sunburst PM at the weekend.......

PMT have the best stocks in the UK, although GuitarGuitar have a few too. It's far cheaper to buy from Germany at the moment, I think Session Music are about the cheapest.

It's worth seeing if there's any BCers near you that have them, I'm sure you could have a try. They really are superb basses, I cannot praise them highly enough! They are good value new for such a quality, handbuilt bass, and they're just silly value for money used. Since I bought my first one last year, I've sold everything else and bought more, because nothing else hits the spot for me now!

I'm going to sell two of mine to help fund a custom Sandberg build, so let me know if you're interested.....
[/quote]

If it's a p bass body with a P/MM PU combo colour me interested! . ANd session music is ridiculously cheap. Wondering how fast their turnover is... the VM-5 they have in stock is cheap but (however vain this sounds) isn't the right colour/fingerboard wood for me. Might hold off and watch their website. That said, PMT have always done me really good deals on Meinl so hopefully that extends to all German brands .

Looking for a maple necked, preferably white or natural VM-5. The one in this video is just gorgeous:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRHKMHbnhpA&feature=player_embedded

I've heard really great things about them, I hear they're just huge sounding? How do they cut? Anyone know the string spacing on a 5er?

Cheers

Ash

[pietruszka]

They sit really well in a band, my fretless just fills and sits brilliantly in my rockabilly band. It records well to. Play a bit harder on the strings over the pick up and it really does sound Stingray esk. I was on thomann.de earlier today, they have plenty of Sandbergs and are cheap to.
[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1334606502' post='1618524']
Oh? What kind?
[/quote]
I have a Basic fretless 4 string. in blue, 'cos blue is awesome.





Dan

[TRBboy]

[quote name='ashevans09' timestamp='1334609481' post='1618605']


If it's a p bass body with a P/MM PU combo colour me interested! . ANd session music is ridiculously cheap. Wondering how fast their turnover is... the VM-5 they have in stock is cheap but (however vain this sounds) isn't the right colour/fingerboard wood for me. Might hold off and watch their website. That said, PMT have always done me really good deals on Meinl so hopefully that extends to all German brands .

Looking for a maple necked, preferably white or natural VM-5. The one in this video is just gorgeous:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRHKMHbnhpA&feature=player_embedded

I've heard really great things about them, I hear they're just huge sounding? How do they cut? Anyone know the string spacing on a 5er?

Cheers

Ash
[/quote]

Mine's the Basic, which is the one with a single humbucker. I had a PM 4 string last year and the pickup combo works great, although in the end the neck just wasn't as good for me as a Basic. The neck is slimmer than a Fender P, but maybe a little fuller than a jazz. The MM bridge pickup basically works like a Jazz bridge pickup on steroids. Better output and fullness (more balanced with the neck pup), but still a nice burpy bridge sound. When you blend with the P, it sounds more like a Stingray, and obviously the p sounds like ...... well, a precision! The two band glock is great, and the fact you've got the passive tone control makes it a versatile beast with a monster sound.

All Sandbergs are just awesome!

[TRBboy]

I should add that the Basics are very versatile for a single pickup bass, and the neck is the nicest in the whole Sandberg range IMHO (although I haven't tried a couple of models!).

[ashevans09]

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1334610078' post='1618622']
The neck is slimmer than a Fender P, but maybe a little fuller than a jazz. The MM bridge pickup basically works like a Jazz bridge pickup on steroids. Better output and fullness (more balanced with the neck pup), but still a nice burpy bridge sound. When you blend with the P, it sounds more like a Stingray, and obviously the p sounds like ...... well, a precision! The two band glock is great, and the fact you've got the passive tone control makes it a versatile beast with a monster sound.

All Sandbergs are just awesome!
[/quote]

Sounds perfect! Quick question though, what's the differenc between a PM and a VM?

[TRBboy]

[quote name='ashevans09' timestamp='1334615017' post='1618748']


Sounds perfect! Quick question though, what's the differenc between a PM and a VM?
[/quote]

Ah yes, it can be confusing! They are the same thing; p became v and j became t last year, to reduce the risk of Fender taking issue with them. VM is a Precision and MM pickup, TM is a Jazz and MM pickup, TT is two jazz pickups, etc, etc.

When you get a Sandberg in your hands, you'll know why some of us love them so much! They're fairly simple basses, but they're so well made, and just feel and sound awesome.

[ashevans09]

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1334615546' post='1618768']


Ah yes, it can be confusing! They are the same thing; p became v and j became t last year, to reduce the risk of Fender taking issue with them. VM is a Precision and MM pickup, TM is a Jazz and MM pickup, TT is two jazz pickups, etc, etc.

When you get a Sandberg in your hands, you'll know why some of us love them so much! They're fairly simple basses, but they're so well made, and just feel and sound awesome.
[/quote]

Ah right. Was getting confused! Thanks for that. Definitely in the market for one will post gratuitous photos if/when I get one . If i were to order a particular combination from the factory ( through a dealer) anyone have any ideas what their lead time is? Want to take this on tour in August.

[TRBboy]

[quote name='ashevans09' timestamp='1334656862' post='1619115']
Ah right. Was getting confused! Thanks for that. Definitely in the market for one will post gratuitous photos if/when I get one . If i were to order a particular combination from the factory ( through a dealer) anyone have any ideas what their lead time is? Want to take this on tour in August.
[/quote]

I believe the current lead time is about 12 weeks/3 months. I've been speaking to Session Music about a custom order in the last few days......

[TheG]

I really wanted a particular Sandberg but didn't have the cash at the time at all. Well not a new one, even though I was tempted to just stick one on a 0% interest credit card and worry about it later. (I was SO tempted). Anyway I saw them coming up on eBay and put a saved search in. I noticed Sandberg basses did come up regularly and even close(ish) to matching the bass that I wanted. A California, 4 string, tobacco, hardcore aged, JM model.

I persevered and waited to see if the exact model came up. They did come up but were 5 strings, different colours, etc, etc, etc. I also had a price that I really didn't want to go over because I didn't have the money.

In the end "MY" bass came up on eBay the right model, colour, price and location. The guy put it up on the Sunday and I was round his house with the cash on the Monday.

It did take 8 months so I understand people may not want to wait that long but if you haven't got the money its a waiting game. In my experience second hand Sandberg basses came up on average every 1-3 weeks.

I collected it within 15 miles of my house and it cost £650. The only compromise was that it was soft aged and not hardcore aged. No problem. Wicked bass!


[attachment=105642:P1050273.JPG]

[ashevans09]

[quote name='TheG' timestamp='1335003880' post='1624553']
I really wanted a particular Sandberg but didn't have the cash at the time at all. Well not a new one, even though I was tempted to just stick one on a 0% interest credit card and worry about it later. (I was SO tempted). Anyway I saw them coming up on eBay and put a saved search in. I noticed Sandberg basses did come up regularly and even close(ish) to matching the bass that I wanted. A California, 4 string, tobacco, hardcore aged, JM model.

I persevered and waited to see if the exact model came up. They did come up but were 5 strings, different colours, etc, etc, etc. I also had a price that I really didn't want to go over because I didn't have the money.

In the end "MY" bass came up on eBay the right model, colour, price and location. The guy put it up on the Sunday and I was round his house with the cash on the Monday.

It did take 8 months so I understand people may not want to wait that long but if you haven't got the money its a waiting game. In my experience second hand Sandberg basses came up on average every 1-3 weeks.

I collected it within 15 miles of my house and it cost £650. The only compromise was that it was soft aged and not hardcore aged. No problem. Wicked bass!


[attachment=105642:P1050273.JPG]
[/quote]

Awesome! Glad you like yours . Really excited, I found one that worked for me and it should be here sometime this week!

[TheG]

Which one and where are you getting it from?

[ashevans09]

[quote name='TheG' timestamp='1336319882' post='1643948']
Which one and where are you getting it from?
[/quote]

It's a VM5, tobacco burst, ebony FB, haeussel PUs, 35" scale . Went through station music. Really excited about it!

Been looking at yours more, that ageing is really nice. Always wondered though, is it still laquered over? Don't know if I'm getting across what I mean properly... do they paint it normally then sand it down/do whatever to it after that?

Thanks!

Ash

[ashevans09]

It's this one in fact

http://www.station-music.de/images/bass/instrumente/sand_calvm5tbsunbrw.jpg

[TheG]

Hey Ash Very, Very NICE! Talk about old school meets new school. That looks fantastic!

My other bass is a Music Man which is very nice but I wanted something a bit more versatile. Also, it had a maple fingerboard which gives a very hard sound, which is good but I wanted something a bit more organic sounding too. The Sandberg is versatile and also has a rosewood fingerboard. Your ebony fingerboard will be excellent. The Sandberg has a nice smooth sound for slapping too.

I was playing at a music festival last year and I heard this guy playing bass in another band. He sounded fantastic. I couldn't see him because I was round the corner. The sound of the bass really intrigued me as it was so good so I decided to go and see what he was playing. Guess what? Yes it was a Sandberg.

I was playing my Sandberg last night and a couple of the band members commented on how good my bass sounded.

Just checked and the ageing of the bass is down to the wood in some areas, so they must take a new bass and then just do what they do to it. There is no additional lacquering which is great. I wouldn't mind the bass continuing down that road to be honest, although I wont be bashing it around.

Unfortunately this will be a long week for you ........ until it arrives that is.

Keep us posted!

[ashevans09]

I'm really excited! I've heard great things about them and you're certainly making me even more like a kid on christmas eve . I too kind of only bumped into them when I heard someone playing one. Heard one at a gig and it sounded brilliant, think he was playing through an EBS if memory serves. Great sounding things. This is my first ever ebony board though so I'll be interested to see what it brings to the table. I've heard it's very bright.

And that's really cool how they do it, I guess having it predone takes the agony away when you ding a bass for the first time. It's really weird, I hate it when I ding a bass but I love the look of roadworn/relic'd basses! Guess I like the end result but not the process of getting there.

I'll definitely keep you posted! I'll put up pics in this thread when I get it . It's being shipped on Monday, hopefully customs won't hold on to it for too long! Am I going to get walloped on import duty? Hoping that because Germany and the UK are in Europe I might get a bye...

[TheG]

I would be interested in the breakdown of the costs to be honest ie original cost, postage, import duty etc to see how the import thing works.

I've got a fretless with an ebony fingerboard. John Diggins replaced the maple fingerboard and it sounds Great. It will give it a nice punch. Not as bright as maple.

[ashevans09]

[quote name='TheG' timestamp='1336345085' post='1644411']
I would be interested in the breakdown of the costs to be honest ie original cost, postage, import duty etc to see how the import thing works.

I've got a fretless with an ebony fingerboard. John Diggins replaced the maple fingerboard and it sounds Great. It will give it a nice punch. Not as bright as maple.
[/quote]

Fair enough, I'll PM you when I know

[JTUK]

[url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Sandberg_PM4.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Sandberg_PM4.html[/url]

great pic but not so sure about the price or pickup config... but she is a stunner

[longtimefred]

nice one dude, buying a Sandberg is the right choice! i fecking love mine, i bought it without trying it and it was just perfect. Good choice on the Haussel pickups, i got them and they are just incredible.

5 string PM for me next i reckon! yum yum

[ashevans09]

[quote name='longtimefred' timestamp='1336493738' post='1646414']
nice one dude, buying a Sandberg is the right choice! i fecking love mine, i bought it without trying it and it was just perfect. Good choice on the Haussel pickups, i got them and they are just incredible.

5 string PM for me next i reckon! yum yum
[/quote]

Thanks! I'm really excited about this, got some elements I've never had in a bass before! What do the Haussels sound like? I got them because they were already in the bass. Only description I've found is that they're quite vintage sounding? And haha, I'll give you feedback about mine , they're mighty looking basses.

Been tracking mine via UPS since Monday. It's been sitting in a warehouse near Stuttgart all day! Hoping it's just waiting for a night freight flight over here!

Ash