Musicman20 Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Prices seem to be excellent due to the Euro situation. This make the Sandbergs that are normally £1400 about £1100 or less! I've just realised that Sandberg make a P/J bass. The Sandberg California VT. Apparently these are quite new. Has anyone seen or played one? http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/basscat-overview/calv-series/calvt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dingus Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I've never had my hands on one of these but have always thought Sandberg basses as a whole always look very, very sturdy and well-made. That bridge looks pretty chunky , for a start. What I do know is that those Delano Pickups sound fantastic. I just wonder why they don't put dots on the fingerboard. Maybe they think it makes them look more modern. It looks like a lot of bass for £1100. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I appreciate the quality but overall they bore me, ok rays are not that exciting but mine are not trying to copy anything, I put them in the 'another Fender copy' camp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I've been contemplating the fretless TT, looks a lot of bass for the money, 1/2 the price of signature model Fenders like Tony Franklin & Victor Baileys. I emailed Thomman asking about the current stock having the same (Delano) pick ups as shown, but was told "[font="Arial"]Sorry, but this item comes with Sandberg PU´s." [/font] [font="Arial"][url="http://www.thomann.de/de/sandberg_california_jj4_rw_tsbfl_passiv.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/de/sandberg_california_jj4_rw_tsbfl_passiv.htm[/url][/font] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Just to contradict myself European and tasty, Mayones Jabba 5 Classic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted August 17, 2012 Author Share Posted August 17, 2012 [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1345232357' post='1775434'] Just to contradict myself European and tasty, Mayones Jabba 5 Classic [/quote] Yep, I'm interested in those! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I have a TM4 and it's brilliant. Build is probably the best I've seen on a wood neck bass. Sounds bang on too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 It snowed the day I bought my blue SR5 which stopped me going to bass direct, it could easily of been one of those or a clover maybe else! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 ah some of the clovers look nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AttitudeCastle Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Anyone seen the new "budget concious" Sandberg stuff? Looks like a fair amount of bass for the money! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0Hh90PSaf8&feature=plcp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pietruszka Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Sandbergs are outstanding for the money, the build quality on my basic is easily up to the standard of the stingray. The day I can afford another bass will definitely be a Sandberg. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted August 19, 2012 Author Share Posted August 19, 2012 Now I really want a VT4 or 5 (the older name was PM). Do the basses come with series/parallel switches? A few reviews say they do...but a mod? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jellyfish Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Sandberg are one of those companies that you never ever really here anything bad about, but are never really a popular or 'in fashion'. But if I was allowed the money for a custom build, it'd be a Sandberg for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 I looked at them pretty closely a few months back in a large music retail shop which had a good few basses. Nothing stood out, tbh... but they were no worse than the other more glam basses they stocked and I think the shop failed to set them up properly.....BUT.... as they had about 40-50 basses, this would be a major HASSLE everytime new stock was delivered...!!!!! I would take a few tools like allen keys to the shop.... and if they are keen to sell, they might tweak the bass..as GAK were prepared to do. My initial feeing about Sandbergs was that they were ok but not worth £1400 ....£1100-ish is better but I would say £7-800 for VGC SH i what I would look for. Having said that, they were relic'ed, so ...??? ha ha But G, you probably have a better idea than me what you get for that money these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinball Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 (edited) I played a couple recently in-store. One was a California jazzer and the other was similar with humbuckers. They felt great, necks were fast and the sound was punchier than I was expecting. I was really there trying out another bass that was half the price but trying the Sandburgs just highlighted the gulf in quality. I don't have much experience playing basses over the £1000 so can't compare it with others but they felt good to me. Edited August 19, 2012 by Pinball Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 [quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1345385957' post='1776924'] I played a couple recently in-store. One was a California jazzer and the other was similar with humbuckers. They felt great, necks were fast and the sound was punchier than I was expecting. I was really there trying out another bass that was half the price but trying the Sandburgs just highlighted the gulf in quality. I don't have much experience playing basses over the £1000 so can't compare it with others but they felt good to me. [/quote] (not directed to you btw, just a general thought) I think it's a good idea to play as many basses as you can, in as many price ranges- and with an open mind. Judging them on feel/playability and tone. What I realised is that some basses are hideously overpriced, and some very very much underpriced for what you are getting. (the cravat being yes maybe the bad ones were really actually good and just badly set up and I was too daft to notice that and don't worry I won't say anything bad about your particular favourite bass.... ) So something like the Tanglewood/overwater are far higher quality and tone than the price suggests. And Stingrays I would say are bang on quality/price wise... It's only when you play things with $8000 list prices that you start to see the top end of what could be possible with a bass... and that helps work out if your £1000 is worth spending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinball Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Good thinking, I'm already having great fun trying different basses and am happy with the ones I have but am always keen to try something different. I must admit that I don't usually try the real high end stuff as my uses will never justify spending that sort of money. Already well impressed with TRBs, Spector, Overwaters G&L's, not to mention a nice Squire/Fender that played far better than its price tag suggested it should. Re: Sandburg I just thought I ought put my playing experience in context Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkstrike Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Tell ya, wouldn't mind that purple 6er with the Delanos that's up on the Basschat FB page. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.I. Joe Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 I'm liking the look of the Sandberg Californias. Does anyone know a dealer in the southwest that stocks them so that I could try one? Don't have the money to buy one but nothing wrong with a bit of food for thought! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinball Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 (edited) PMT in Bristol had two, give em a call to check Not very close to you unfortunately Edited August 19, 2012 by Pinball Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mokkat Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 I really, [i]really [/i]like the new passive jazz-basses they make. The ones with the regular jazz pickups instead of Delanos and passive electronics. They're cheaper than the regular ones too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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