NBD: Sandberg 30th Anniversary California II VM4.

[grayn]

I popped down to the Great British Bass Lounge, this morning, to see Drew and check out some Sandbergs.
I've known Drew for some years now and have got some excellent gear, from the GBBL, including 3 Sandbergs.
One of which, I still have, a California II VT4.
I've been fortunate enough to own many top basses, over the years, including Rickenbacker, Wal, Fender, Gibson, MusicMan, Overwater, Goodfellow, Warwick, Gordon-Smith and Yamaha.
But I have to say that Sandbergs just seem to suit my playing and taste, the best.

I tried out 3, California II Models.
A brownburst TM4, with a maple fingerboard, which looked grand and sounded even grander.
I'm not keen on black, block markers, on maple but the neck was very nice to play.
The single-coil and humbucker set up, worked really well, too.
Great finishing.
Next came a blackburst VM2.
2 humbuckers, with a coil switch, worked very well in creating some very tasty bass tones.
A nice, overall satin finish and a neck that felt almost identical to my VT4, made this very tempting.

But the bass I'd mainly gone to see, was the 30th Anniversary California II VM4.
What a looker!
All black body, with matching headstock and chrome hardware.
The big, chrome humbuckers, with chrome pole-pieces, look amazing.
They kind of remind me of a MusicMan.
And not surprisingly, the tone is reminiscent of a double humbucker Stingray.
With the ability to switch the neck pickup to single-coil, a passive/active push/pull option and the quality, active electronics, this 30th Anniv, model has a lot of scope, tonally.
Overall the tone is clear and powerful.
Strong but not muddy or boomy.
The bass is very dynamic and sensitive to your playing.
Which I would say is a characteristic of Sandberg basses.

The neck is super playable.
Even faster feeling that my VT4, which I thought, just couldn't be beaten.
They've curved off the edge of the fingerboard, just perfectly.
Playing nirvana, for this bassist.
The 12th fret has a scrolled "30", inlayed.
Drew tells me, this is only 4-string, 30th Anniv model made, thus far.
Although some more are planned.

Now it's home and through my gear, I'm even happier.
Got to get this to the next band practice.

[gary mac]

That is a good looker, congrats on your very fine purchase

[Fisheth]

Beautiful! Would love to own a Sandberg one day.