Sandberg appreciation society

[LeftyJ]

Many thanks, you were absolutely right! The key just needed to go in further. I've never encountered this before with any of my basses or guitars! 

[fretmeister]

That’s what she said! 

[fretmeister]

On 11/04/2024 at 18:53, chris_b said:

Has anyone put flats on their Sandberg?

 

If so, which flats did you use.

Ernie Ball Group flats. Stainless steel.

 

Lovely things.

[dmccombe7]

I tried Low Tension flats on my VM4 and i really liked them but they didn't really suit the music i was playing plus i found they burned my wee dainty fingers if i slid from lower frets to higher ones so decided to remove them. 

Depending on your style of playing i would certainly give them a try.

Dave

[Rollin Thunder]

On 21/04/2024 at 17:58, Rollin Thunder said:

 Well the strings seem to have settled in, warmed up a bit now, not as thin and zingey give them a reprieve until my new set of Newtone strings arrive. 

month in replaced the strings with a brand new set of Newtone platinum rounds with round cores. 

 

sounds super nice, lovely warm broke in with that bit of natural grit.

Edited May 14, 2024 by Rollin Thunder

[dmccombe7]

1 hour ago, Rollin Thunder said:

month in replaced the strings with a brand new set of Newtone platinum rounds with round cores. 

 

sounds super nice, lovely warm broke in with that bit of natural grit.

Never heard of those strings. Will need to investigate.

Dave

[Rollin Thunder]

13 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

Never heard of those strings. Will need to investigate.

Dave

British made been using them fir a few years now.

 

https://newtonestrings.com/?v=79cba1185463 

[scrumpymike]

14 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

Never heard of those strings. Will need to investigate.

Dave

Great bunch of guys but they don't make flats IIRC.

[Opticaleye]

I have 2 Sandbergs with flats on at the moment. 

 

My passive VS4 has Dunlop flats and sounds really woody. It took a while to break them in and get to that sound though.

 

One of my Umbos has the Galli Synthesis flats on and they are very similar in character to Thomastik Jazz Flats in tone and consruction but are less floppy and more even in tension. These are now my favourite flats although the Dunlops sound great on the VS4.

 

Edited May 16, 2024 by Opticaleye

[fretmeister]

1 hour ago, Opticaleye said:

I have 2 Sandbergs with flats on at the moment. 

 

My passive VS4 has Dunlop flats and sounds really woody. It took a while to break them in and get to that sound though.

 

One of my Umbos has the Galli Synthesis flats on and they are very similar in character to Thomastik Jazz Flats in tone and consruction but are less floppy and more even in tension. These are now my favourite flats although the Dunlops sound great on the VS4.

 

 

Those Galli's look interesting but I think when they say "Chrome" they probably mean a Nickel Chrome and I'm allergic to nickel.  

 

[scrumpymike]

2 hours ago, Opticaleye said:

I have 2 Sandbergs with flats on at the moment. 

 

My passive VS4 has Dunlop flats and sounds really woody. It took a while to break them in and get to that sound though.

 

One of my Umbos has the Galli Synthesis flats on and they are very similar in character to Thomastik Jazz Flats in tone and consruction but are less floppy and more even in tension. These are now my favourite flats although the Dunlops sound great on the VS4.

 

The Gallis do look interesting, particularly as a quick look at Thomann pricing suggests they are good value for money too.

[chris_b]

On 15/05/2024 at 10:56, scrumpymike said:

Great bunch of guys but they don't make flats IIRC.

 

Last year I called Newtone and asked about flats. I was very surprised to hear they don't do them!

Edited May 20, 2024 by chris_b

[dmccombe7]

Having used my Godin for the last few gigs i've done with both the Glam and punk bands i decided to go back to my VM4 as my back was aching a bit with the Godin even tho its only 0.5ibs heavier. I just love that VM4. Its so comfy to wear and the neck is an absolute dream. It just makes life easier on the road. 

Love the tone from the Godin tho, it has that warm P sound with the J pick up giving it a nice bite but if the weight's going to be a problem i'll be sticking to my Sandbergs.

Pity the Sandberg didn't have the Godin tone and i could possibly have the perfect bass. 

Before anyone suggests it i'm not someone that changes pick ups on a bass altho i have considered it with the VM4. Its probably just me that notices the difference in tone anyways. Audience won't spot it.

Dave

[Bonin-in-the boneyard]

My custom fretless 

[ezbass]

On 20/05/2024 at 17:59, dmccombe7 said:

Pity the Sandberg didn't have the Godin tone and i could possibly have the perfect bass. 

Before anyone suggests it i'm not someone that changes pick ups on a bass altho i have considered it with the VM4. Its probably just me that notices the difference in tone anyways. Audience won't spot it.

Ah, but it will niggle you and it could hinder your performance. I had a Basic VM, it played great and although it sounded fine, there was something characterless about it and I eventually moved it on. Thinking back, a change of electronics was probably the correct way forward (I forget what I did next, it certainly didn’t stick). I be tempted to go Nordstrand, Carey’s products seem to have bags of character and tone.

[Mickeyboro]

I use my VM when I need a variety of possibilities - especially in venues I am unfamiliar with. It’s the only active I own. If it had the character of my Fenders it wouldn’t be so useful.

[scrumpymike]

2 hours ago, Mickeyboro said:

I use my VM when I need a variety of possibilities - especially in venues I am unfamiliar with. It’s the only active I own. If it had the character of my Fenders it wouldn’t be so useful.

Good point well made! I have yet to find a bass that offers big tonal versatility and also nails that definitive P-bass vibe. My Andy Rogers custom (re-bodied Fender Rascal) comes as close as makes no difference. Closer than my Cali ll SL TM 4 Short but the Sandy brings other stuff to the party. In my experience, unless you're playing stuff that only needs a tonal 'one-trick pony', you're always looking at some kind of compromise. I'm loving what the active Sandy does in my classic rock covers band.

[dmccombe7]

4 hours ago, Mickeyboro said:

I use my VM when I need a variety of possibilities - especially in venues I am unfamiliar with. It’s the only active I own. If it had the character of my Fenders it wouldn’t be so useful.

Think that kind of sums it up for me. I know if i take my VM4 i'll have a bass that will get me close to what i want and need. Its very adaptable for all venues.

I'm always more comfortable taking my VM4.

Dave

Edited May 26, 2024 by dmccombe7

[Quilly]

So I did some surgery on my 2010 California VS, removed all the active electronics, replaced it with decent pots a new scratch plate , copper shielding, new caps and Lollar overwounds (total active to passive conversion basically) Different beast altogether now, it did leave a bit of a hole in the back where the battery used to be but as the cavity is nicely varnished inside I’m not too bothered. Can’t put this bass down, loads of character. 

[Aidan63]

just needs a lid for your stash

[Reggaebass]

36 minutes ago, Quilly said:

it did leave a bit of a hole in the back where the battery used to be

Nice job, couldn’t you just put a cover over the compartment or a battery box just to fill the hole 

[scrumpymike]

A bold move that, Quilly - well done 👏

[scrumpymike]

1 hour ago, Quilly said:

 ... it did leave a bit of a hole in the back where the battery used to be but as the cavity is nicely varnished inside I’m not too bothered.

If lightening the body by stripping the active stuff out has left you with a touch of neck dive, you can just fill the cavity with lead 😄

[Quilly]

51 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

Nice job, couldn’t you just put a cover over the compartment or a battery box just to fill the hole 

I suppose I could but I kinda like the bare bones look...its like when Malcolm young had the one Pup in his Gretsch and let the others blank. ... I know weird.       

[Quilly]

16 minutes ago, scrumpymike said:

If lightening the body by stripping the active stuff out has left you with a touch of neck dive, you can just fill the cavity with lead 😄

To be honest I think the old fashioned pots and capacitor weighed more than the onboard preamp !