Relics - Limelight, Eternal, Sandberg

[Clarky72]

Does anybody have any experience of any of these brands at all? Even better has anyone ABC'd them, its a longshot I know..

Its a marmite topic, but I'm getting some relic GAS. I like the look of a beaten up Jazz, but I fancy one with 2 MM pickups, like the Sandberg TM2.





I'd like (in case you're interested) a 4 string version of the above, with tortoiseshell scratchplate, rosewood board, and reverse headstock (not painted).

I haven't tried any of the brands I mentioned apart from Sandberg, so any opinions would be most welcome!

Thanks

[bakerster135]

Have you seen the Limelight thread here!? http://basschat.co.uk/topic/243644-the-show-us-your-limelight-thread/page__pid__2773482__st__570#entry2773482

I had a Limelight 64-style Jazz for a while, and it was awesome! Looked as good as the real thing, and certainly sounded as good.

Also had an older Glockenlang loaded Sandberg Jazz too, for about two weeks...It was lovely, but I just never got used to the feel or sound.

[fretmeister]

Here's my Sandberg



It's a great bass.

[ubit]

I have a Sandberg California TM4, and its hands down, the best relic job I've ever seen. It's a joy to play and sounds great too. One of my favourite basses!

[Clarky72]

[quote name='bakerster135' timestamp='1432063960' post='2777836']
Have you seen the Limelight thread here!? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/243644-the-show-us-your-limelight-thread/page__pid__2773482__st__570#entry2773482"]http://basschat.co.u...70#entry2773482[/url]

I had a Limelight 64-style Jazz for a while, and it was awesome! Looked as good as the real thing, and certainly sounded as good.

Also had an older Glockenlang loaded Sandberg Jazz too, for about two weeks...It was lovely, but I just never got used to the feel or sound.
[/quote]

How so, what did you think was different about the sound/feel, and how did the Limelight and Sandberg compare?

Edited May 19, 2015 by Clarky72

[Clarky72]

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1432065112' post='2777863']
Here's my Sandberg



It's a great bass.
[/quote]That is beautiful....

[NancyJohnson]

I've always liked the Sandberg relicing, although never really been a fan of that headstock.
P

[Pow_22]

Of all the 'name' relics ive seen ive always thought the limelights looked a bit....naff. Dont look remotely genuine and a bit like a kid has gone at it with a sander. Nowhere near as genuine looking as the likes of nash and sandberg in my humble

[Clarky72]

[quote name='Pow_22' timestamp='1432069533' post='2777930']
Of all the 'name' relics ive seen ive always thought the limelights looked a bit....naff. Dont look remotely genuine and a bit like a kid has gone at it with a sander. Nowhere near as genuine looking as the likes of nash and sandberg in my humble
[/quote]

I know what you mean, I've not seen any relics that match up to the Sandbergs.

[bakerster135]

[quote name='Clarky72' timestamp='1432066110' post='2777883']


How so, what did you think was different about the sound/feel, and how did the Limelight and Sandberg compare?
[/quote]

IMO, and for the price, the Limelight basses are very well made. Mine sounded great acoustically, little truss tweak but the neck was buzz and 'dead spot' free! The pickups are also fantastic and really brought out the acoustic tone of the bass! Hard to explain, and no idea if Mark (Limelight) winds them himself...The neck also felt convincingly worn in, as though it had been played for years! I was never particularly convinced by the relic job, but they feel so good, as most Limelight owners on here will profess.

The Sandberg had a great, hot and powerful sound with the preamp, but really lacking and with a boomy E string in passive mode IME. It was really light in its favour, and the relic job on the body was nice, but the neck was not at all aged or worn in, and I found it a bit chunky...The quality was ok, just didn't feel like it was quite worth the money I paid for it!

[Sammers]

Just a heads up you might not be able to order the more traditional Fender shaped Sandberg's anymore, they've introduced their own body design and are phasing out the J and P shapes.

You [i]might [/i]be able to custom order the old shape but i'm guessing you'll have to pay custom prices for it.

These are the new shaped Sandberg's introduced earlier this year:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6w6GNi1Nx8[/media]

Lovely basses though! Mine, though heavy, sounds massive!

[fretmeister]

The old ones are discontinued completely. Not even a custom option.

[Clarky72]

yep...

the new ones aren't very nice at all.


[b][url="https://www.facebook.com/sandbergguitars"]Sandberg Guitars[/url][/b][color=#141823][font=helvetica, arial,]


[size=3]

Hi Steve,
no, we're only taking orders for the new Californias now. But there are still plenty of "old" ones out there in our retailers stores.
best wishes, Gregor[/size][/font][/color]

[fretmeister]

I prefer the new ones.

There are far too many Fender clones as it is - far better to have their own identity.

And from what I gather from their facebook feed the new ones are far lighter! Can't wait to try one.

[Sibob]

Get a limelight! Simples

Si

[Clarky72]

[Clarky72]

Si, have you seen an Eternal at all mate? I've never seen one but read some good things about them. Sandberg have changes their designs which I now massively dislike, are the Limelight relics well done?

[Clarky72]

This is basically what I wanted before they changed their designs...

[Sibob]

I've looked at Eternals website and I just prefer the look of the Limelights. No-ones ever said a bad word about them, look at the 'Show us your Limelight' thread, lots of inspiration there.

Si

[wateroftyne]

Limelight gets the closest for my money. FWIW, relics that aren't in the old Fender stylee make my brain hurt.

[AndyTravis]

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1432163545' post='2778857']
Limelight gets the closest for my money. FWIW, relics that aren't in the old Fender stylee make my brain hurt.
[/quote]

Yeah. Agreed on this.

[Raslee]

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1432163545' post='2778857']
Limelight gets the closest for my money. FWIW, relics that aren't in the old Fender stylee make my brain hurt.
[/quote] Yup, another +1. Were Sandbergs around in the 60/70's? Most relics tend to replicate basses of that era I thought- IMO of course. Anyhow another Limelight lover here and the attention to detail is amazingly good, well on mine at least, and having compared it to a 'real' 71 P bass there was virtually no difference between the two (apart from value), the wear and tear, sound & playabilty was pretty much the same too. Don't get me wrong though those Sandbergs look lovely - I just don't get the idea of a relic modern bass that's all - bit like having a relic Lakland Sadowsky etc

[fretmeister]

I think Sandberg have been around for about 30 years - so mid 1980s.

[fretmeister]

[quote name='Clarky72' timestamp='1432160723' post='2778844']
This is basically what I wanted before they changed their designs...


[/quote]


According to the Bass Direct website they have a TM2 coming in. Black, hardcore aged, matching headstock. Ebony board.

Best get your credit card out while you have the chance!

[GrammeFriday]

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1432200300' post='2779042']
According to the Bass Direct website they have a TM2 coming in. Black, hardcore aged, matching headstock. Ebony board.

Best get your credit card out while you have the chance!
[/quote]
Yep, and I'm 99% certain that this one was ordered before they announced the new styles, so it will have the Fender-like styling you are after.
Limelights look good to me, but a double humbucker pup config with active-passive switching, Glockenklang pre, zero fret, plek'd fretboard, six-bolt neck joint etc. etc. would be well beyond their remit, so definitely go Sandberg if you can! Different class innit.