Sandberg Basses

[Clarky72]

So here's my dilemna - they look great, I've seen a lot of good looking basses coming out of there. They make some lovely options and finishes, their relic/aged finishes look better than most companies. My problem is that I see more for sale second hand than anything else. The second hand market is flooded with Sandbergs. Bass Direct posts a second hand one almost every day it seems!

Are they any good? Or is everyone sucked in by the plethora of options and finishes and then they're pretty average basses that you want to move on within a few weeks of delivery??

[franzbassist]

I can only speak from personal experience, but I have owned two (one of which I still own) and they were both superb instruments.

[40hz]

I had a Sandberg Basic 4. That thing honest to god could out-ray a Stingray. It was a very dynamic instrument to play, really responsive. That thing could sound out even the most brutally attacked notes. Excellent build quality to boot and lightweight. They go for relative peanuts 2nd hand. Wish I hadn't sold it

[fretmeister]

I have a TM5 and it's brilliant.

I actually bought it as a backup to my Marleaux, but they are so different it has become another first choice, depending on the job.

The only thing I would say is that they can be quite heavy, so try them out and take your scales!

[Clarky72]

thanks for the reassurance guys!

[GrammeFriday]

Further reassurance: I had a TM4 fretless and absolutely loved it. Amazing tone and top notch build quality. Only sold it because I moved to 5 strings and needed to raise cash for a fretless fiver.
Currently GASsing for a VM5 and have long been lusting after a Basic Ken Taylor. Sandbergs are ace - no doubt about it.

[Mudpup]

I have a custom PM4 and its a keeper.

Really nice modern gritty rock sound with the actives on, a little like a Stingray on the bridge pickup and a great Precision sound on the neck one. Pop the volume control and it woodies up a bit in passive mode. Great build quality too. I really fancy a hardcore aged white one too.

[IMG]http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj640/mudpup1/Guitars/01471fe93b3f7949a34a03b76bb5cbe5.jpg[/IMG]

Edited November 13, 2014 by Mudpup

[njr911]

The bass player in 3rd Eye Girl was using one whe I saw prince live..looked tasty!*


And the bass wasn't bad either!!!???!!! OI OI

[GrammeFriday]

[quote name='Mudpup' timestamp='1415922392' post='2605389']
I have a custom PM4 and its a keeper.

Really nice modern gritty rock sound with the actives on, a little like a Stingray on the bridge pickup and a great Precision sound on the neck one. Pop the volume control and it woodies up a bit in passive mode. Great build quality too. I really fancy a hardcore aged white one too.


[/quote]
Oooh, lovely - yet more GAS! You should post this to the 'Sandberg Love' thread in 'Gear Porn', if you haven't done so already.

[GrammeFriday]

[quote name='njr911' timestamp='1415980039' post='2605823']
The bass player in 3rd Eye Girl was using one whe I saw prince live..looked tasty!*


And the bass wasn't bad either!!!???!!! OI OI
[/quote]

Ida [s]Neilson[/s] (oops) Nielsen. Agreed on all counts.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VKUs4lfsHs[/media]

Sandberg recently released her own sig model:
[url="http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/basscat-overview/calv-series/california-ida-nielsen"]http://www.sandberg-...nia-ida-nielsen[/url]

Bass Direct had one recently but it's already sold!

Edited November 15, 2014 by GrammeFriday

[GrammeFriday]

[quote name='GrammeFriday' timestamp='1415921740' post='2605382']
... and have long been lusting after a Basic Ken Taylor ...
[/quote]
It's just occurred to me that this could be seriously misconstrued. Not that I have been inundated by messages from any Ken Taylors asking me how basic I want them to be, but anyway ...

[JTUK]

[quote name='Clarky72' timestamp='1415897122' post='2605015']
So here's my dilemna - they look great, I've seen a lot of good looking basses coming out of there. They make some lovely options and finishes, their relic/aged finishes look better than most companies. My problem is that I see more for sale second hand than anything else. The second hand market is flooded with Sandbergs. Bass Direct posts a second hand one almost every day it seems!

[b]Are they any good? Or is everyone sucked in by the plethora of options and finishes and then they're pretty average basses that you want to move on within a few weeks of delivery??[/b]
[/quote]

More this, IMO....

[Subbeh]

The two I had were in a poor state but I'm certain that was down to the retailer not Sandberg. The first VM4 I received, quite easily the nicest bass I've ever heard, sounded huge in active mode and had such a great fat mellow sound in passive mode and despite it's issues I still kind of regret returning it. Will definitely be looking to get another in future.

[quote name='Clarky72' timestamp='1415897122' post='2605015']My problem is that I see more for sale second hand than anything else. The second hand market is flooded with Sandbergs. Bass Direct posts a second hand one almost every day it seems! [/quote]

I'd noticed this as well, several resold within weeks of the owner getting them but I am still jonesing for the sound the VM4 made. You could order from Thomann, they offer a money back deal (less shipping) if you're not satisfied with the instrument.

I'd say I see more Warwicks going second hand than Sandbergs though and the owners in general seem to be taking a bigger hit on price. Amazes me considering what great quality basses they make.

Edited November 15, 2014 by Subbeh

[Old Horse Murphy]

[quote name='GrammeFriday' timestamp='1416053645' post='2606438']
Ida [s]Neilson[/s] (oops) Nielsen. Agreed on all counts.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VKUs4lfsHs[/media]

Sandberg recently released her own sig model:
[url="http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/basscat-overview/calv-series/california-ida-nielsen"]http://www.sandberg-...nia-ida-nielsen[/url]

Bass Direct had one recently but it's already sold!
[/quote]

It did

[URL=http://s945.photobucket.com/user/nwmurphy/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image-5.jpg.html][IMG]http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/ad298/nwmurphy/Mobile%20Uploads/image-5.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[GrammeFriday]

Aha! Lovely bass - congrats!

[GrammeFriday]

[quote name='Clarky72' timestamp='1415897122' post='2605015']
So here's my dilemna - they look great, I've seen a lot of good looking basses coming out of there. They make some lovely options and finishes, their relic/aged finishes look better than most companies. My problem is that I see more for sale second hand than anything else. The second hand market is flooded with Sandbergs. Bass Direct posts a second hand one almost every day it seems!

Are they any good? Or is everyone sucked in by the plethora of options and finishes and then they're pretty average basses that you want to move on within a few weeks of delivery??
[/quote]
Having no gig and thus time on my hands this evening, and being a bit sad anyway, I've just decided to put this perception to an empirical test, by counting the number of basses for sale by different manufacturers in the first two pages of the 'Basses for Sale' thread as it appears on my computer screen. Results suggest that perceptions are a bit different from reality:

Fender 26
Warwick 9
Music Man 8
Ibanez 6
Squier 4
Yamaha 4
Self build/Custom build Fender copy 3
Status 3
Aria 2
Fernandes 2
Fodera 2
Lakland 2
Ritter 2
Spector 2
Aquilinia 1
Alembic 1
Alleva Coppolo 1
Carvin 1
Celinder 1
Clover 1
De Gier 1
Dean 1
Epiphone 1
G&L 1
Gretsch 1
Harley Benton 1
Hofner 1
Hohner 1
Lag 1
Line 6 1
Manne 1
Modulus 1
NS 1
Overwater 1
Peavey 1
Sadowsky 1
Sandberg 1
Taylor 1
Washburn 1

Methinks "sucked in by the plethora of options and finishes and then they're pretty average basses that you want to move on within a few weeks of delivery" may be a better description of some other manufacturers in this list than it is of Sandberg!

Edited November 15, 2014 by GrammeFriday

[GrammeFriday]

PS @Old Horse Murphy - good to see you decided not to replace the black peace sign guard with a tort one after all!

[thebuckets]

Ive had a basic 4m which itraded for a vm4 by far the best p bass ive ever owned. I foolishly traded that in cos I was wanting to try a 5er. They are top instruments that I would heartily recommend. I would favour one over fender any day. Buy with confidence you wont be disappointed

[NancyJohnson]

I've played a couple in stores...really nice but couldn't get past how hideous the headstock design is.

[Opticaleye]

I have 3 with another on the way and have also owned one more. I swapped that one for an aged Umbo on here and now realise that I prefer the way the reliced ones feel. I've never tried one that wasn't built to an extremely high standard especially for the bargain price.

[stingrayPete1977]

[quote name='GrammeFriday' timestamp='1416095354' post='2606938']

Having no gig and thus time on my hands this evening, and being a bit sad anyway, I've just decided to put this perception to an empirical test, by counting the number of basses for sale by different manufacturers in the first two pages of the 'Basses for Sale' thread as it appears on my computer screen. Results suggest that perceptions are a bit different from reality:

Fender 26
Warwick 9
Music Man 8
Ibanez 6
Squier 4
Yamaha 4
Self build/Custom build Fender copy 3
Status 3
Aria 2
Fernandes 2
Fodera 2
Lakland 2
Ritter 2
Spector 2
Aquilinia 1
Alembic 1
Alleva Coppolo 1
Carvin 1
Celinder 1
Clover 1
De Gier 1
Dean 1
Epiphone 1
G&L 1
Gretsch 1
Harley Benton 1
Hofner 1
Hohner 1
Lag 1
Line 6 1
Manne 1
Modulus 1
NS 1
Overwater 1
Peavey 1
Sadowsky 1
Sandberg 1
Taylor 1
Washburn 1

Methinks "sucked in by the plethora of options and finishes and then they're pretty average basses that you want to move on within a few weeks of delivery" may be a better description of some other manufacturers in this list than it is of Sandberg!
[/quote]
You need to factor in the new sales to used sales surely? If PMT sell 28000 Fenders a year to 1000 Sandbergs then the for sale section shows the same factor of basses being sold on.

Edited November 16, 2014 by stingrayPete1977

[GrammeFriday]

... in which case the OP still has nothing to worry about.

[stingrayPete1977]

I agree the list looks fairly similar to what I'd expect a shop's sales to look like, in fact I'd expect more Sandbergs if anything.

[GrammeFriday]

Yeah, admittedly it wasn't a very scientific analysis - small sample size = dodgy stats!

[Clarky72]

[quote name='GrammeFriday' timestamp='1416178659' post='2607756']
Yeah, admittedly it wasn't a very scientific analysis - small sample size = dodgy stats!
[/quote]

Thats surprising... it does seem there's always a used Sandberg coming onto the market