Pickups for my sandberg vs4 passive

[Radchenko]

Hello. The stock pickups Are a Sandberg imitating delano. Sounds good but a little inorganic...
I want a Pbass sound but modern, similar to a jbass but punchiest. Clear cutting with the band.

Thanks.

[Cuzzie]

Hi,

Interesting you say that as I have a VS4 passive and really dig the sound of the propietary Sandberg's compared to the more hifi Delano's.

This post is a massive can of worms as no matter what anyone else says its what you ears want.

I could say to you how about Lindy Fralins, or the New Nordstrand blade split coil pick ups they have released.
If you want really hifi go for Joe Barden JBE pick ups.

You can use a pre amp pedal, or pop in a preamp into the bass like a J East, or Aguilar.

But on this, I think you have to just research what is out there and go and listen and see what your ears tell you.

Otherwise VS4 is a lovely bass

[Osiris]

I've got a VM4 with Sandberg's own pickups and would say that " ... [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]a Pbass sound but modern, similar to a jbass but punchiest. Clear cutting with the band." pretty much sums up the [/font][/color]the tone that I get with mine

What amp and cab(s) are you using? What eq setting are you using? Any effects or anything else in your signal chain?
In my experience the bass ought to be able to deliver the sound you describe without changing the pickups, but as Cuzzie says above;

[quote name='Cuzzie' timestamp='1504194363' post='3363321']

This post is a massive can of worms as no matter what anyone else says its what you ears want ... But on this, I think you have to just research what is out there and go and listen and see what your ears tell you.

Otherwise VS4 is a lovely bass
[/quote]

[Cuzzie]

Forgot to mention about change of strings can make a huge and inexpensive difference, do you play just finger style, maybe using a pick will give you a bit more edge

[Radchenko]

Thanks for your response.

I use tecamp puma 500 with barefaced compact. Really happy with them. Maybe will buy a tecamp piccolo 600.

DR sunbeams strings. Good feel. In my fender jazzbass usa Have ernie ball slinky, worst feel but more clear sound.

Other strings options?

Other pickups? Aero, nordstrand are my main thoughts.

[Cuzzie]

DR are good strings

Tecamp Puma is a good amp, but I always feel it's a little too 'polite' in that it will never push itself forward in the mix, but you have great basses, and a great cab.

Either a Preamp pedal or pick ups of your choice just may be your thing

[Radchenko]

I don't want a preamp pedal, unless will buy a gr bass pure amp 700 or something similar and sell the tecamp. then a Sadowsky preamp or radial tbone for example are good options I Think.

[Radchenko]

Maybe the Delano pc4al or the nordstrand give me the típical pbass sound with modern sounding

[dannybuoy]

Sounds like you want to add a bridge pickup?

[Radchenko]

Uumm is possible...the bridge pickup on my fender jazzbass usa make me feel happy.

But Make a hole in my bass is a tough decission

[Cuzzie]

Don't make a hole, accept a P for what it is, accept a PJ for what it is, accept a J bass for what it is and pick your fave, or have all of them

[Radchenko]

I never use a good PJ. I'm not sure that the combination of p and j pickups give me What I want, Maybe I near will be satisfied :-)

[Cuzzie]

If vou like a sandberg try the VM, it may get you want you want

[Osiris]

[quote name='Cuzzie' timestamp='1504214041' post='3363512']
DR are good strings

Tecamp Puma is a good amp, but I always feel it's a little too 'polite' in that it will never push itself forward in the mix, but you have great basses, and a great cab.

Either a Preamp pedal or pick ups of your choice just may be your thing
[/quote]

[quote name='Cuzzie' timestamp='1504592517' post='3365820']
If vou like a sandberg try the VM, it may get you want you want
[/quote]

If you think the Puma is a little too polite, it might be worth considering changing the amp, maybe?
My VM4 played on the neck pup alone punches for days and slices through the mix a treat.

[Cuzzie]

Sid definitely speaks a lot of sense

[Radchenko]

Tecamp is not a problem, great amp.
Maybe I'm the problem but I can't change :-)

A luthier can make the área from a jbass pickup and obtain something like this but in passive:

https://www.google.es/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.session.de%2Fout%2Fpictures%2Fmaster%2Fproduct%2F7%2FSandberg_Masterpiece_PJ4_Tobacco_Sunburst_6.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.session.de%2FSANDBERG-California-VT-4-Masterpiece-MN-Tobacco-SB.html&docid=3k1UB2S5mfJ2AM&tbnid=Uzed4Xohkycm0M%3A&vet=10ahUKEwiAg-nRiI_WAhVGcRQKHXo2DOsQMwiAASguMC4..i&w=1500&h=988&hl=es&client=safari&bih=928&biw=768&q=sandberg%20california%20vt%204%20bass%20sunburst&ved=0ahUKEwiAg-nRiI_WAhVGcRQKHXo2DOsQMwiAASguMC4&iact=mrc&uact=8
Or is a Bad idea!?

[Cuzzie]

If it's what you want and you are sure it's not a bad idea, however if you eventually want to sell the bass it will affect resale value as it's been altered and would not fetch the same as an unaltered VS4 or VT.

As per earlier posts it's all your own decision but base it on your ears, that goes for pick up choice as well, none of us can lead on that.

[Radchenko]

Hello.

This is the correct pickup or need a custom size?

https://www.herreraguitars.com/bajo/2108-delano-jbass-split-coil-humbucker-ferrita.html

[ead]

I swapped the Delanos for Nordys in my active/passive VS4. To my ears a much nicer tone, warmer for want of a better word.

[Cuzzie]

That's a J pick up

You have a split coil P bass or so you said

If you want to rout the guitar and add a J at the bridge making it a PJ, get any size you want and cut the hole as you see fit

[Radchenko]

My bass is like this:

http://classicandcoolguitars.co.uk/portfolio/sandberg-california-vs4-passive/

But with dots in the fingerboard, chrome knobs, chrome hipsot tuners and bridge and tortoise pickguard.

[Cuzzie]

I have a VS4 passive too

IMHO don't cut a hole in to make it a PJ or a VM use any of the suggestions made in the thread, but it's your bass to do as you choose

Edited September 10, 2017 by Cuzzie

[Radchenko]

Thanks. What do you Think about the sound of your vs4 passive please?
Change strings? I like my strings
Change amp? Maybe the head, but it's a great head
Put an active circuit? I don't like active basses
Preamp pedal? Not for me
Bridge pickup? My jbass fender usa Have a great sound Thanks to his bridge pickup, I like but I want the same with more character. But otherwise is hard to decided make a hole in my bass

Thanks.

Edited September 10, 2017 by Radchenko

[Cuzzie]

I like my VS4 passive, it's a great instrument, But I love my Sandberg MarloweDK.
What you are describing are the 2 inherent qualities of 2 very good basses.
Depending on what you play and who you play with, and what they are playing it's only you can decide what you want.

Your strings and cab are great, your head is good too, although not my favourite for powering your sound, but if you like it, don't worry.

I would do nothing, play the Jazz live mainly, have the VS4 as a back up, or you may find if doing any recording or certain types of songs it feels a bit better.

Don't knock pedals, some are really good and you don't have to spend the earth on them. A really good cheap one that I know plays well with the VS4 is a Hartke VXL, you can get them for £40 second hand and it has a DI out.

You have quality kit, enjoy them for what they are, but definitely do not put a hole in the VS4, worse case, sell it on.

Edited September 10, 2017 by Cuzzie

[Radchenko]

Thank you Very much.

What head do you Think is a good option for me?

I want the vs4 as my main bass this is my desire.