Sandberg appreciation society

[pineweasel]

On 02/09/2024 at 11:39, LeftyJ said:

Yesterday, during one of my regular Reverb trawls, I stumbled upon a brand new lefty Sandberg Lionel at Musik Produktiv in Germany for a whopping €2300. That's almost a full €1000 more than my Lionel cost new in 2023! Now, there are some differences:

• Mine has a matte finish over ash, the one on offer has a gloss finish (not aged) over alder - Sandberg ONLY offers the matte finishes on ash, and the gloss finishes on alder;
• Mine has a plain maple headstock, the one on offer matches the body finish;
• Mine has a pau ferro fingerboard, the one on offer has maple.

Both have abalone inlays and black hardware. 

When I ran it through the configurator, it matched the price of the one offered by Musik Produktiv. I then ran mine through the configurator, and it now costs €1715 instead of the €1400 the previous owner bought it for in 2023. Wow! 

 

Is the gloss finish really THAT much more elaborate to apply that it justifies a €600-700 difference in price? 

That one is Soft Aged (the SA in the product code) hence the extra cost. You can see the aging clearly in the gallery pictures. 

[Mickeyboro]

58 minutes ago, bremen said:

Tongue-hanging-out emoticon.

 

This, or a Shuker?

 

I'm new to Sandbergs. What's this Elektra range? Is it their Squier?

It is indeed. Assembled in the east but not much different to full fat.  EDIT In my opinion of course…

Edited September 3, 2024 by Mickeyboro

[martthebass]

1 hour ago, bremen said:

Tongue-hanging-out emoticon.

 

This, or a Shuker?

 

I'm new to Sandbergs. What's this Elektra range? Is it their Squier?

I guess.

I believe the bodies/necks are produced in the far east and then put together in Germany with German hardware.

To be honest, as the price of the Electra has risen I’d be inclined to get a used German bass as they are very reasonable prices second hand.

[Mickeyboro]

2 minutes ago, martthebass said:

I guess.

I believe the bodies/necks are produced in the far east and then put together in Germany with German hardware.

Oops! Thanks for putting me right Mart. 🙏

[martthebass]

34 minutes ago, Mickeyboro said:

Oops! Thanks for putting me right Mart. 🙏

Hope I’m right on that one Mickey, can’t remember where I read that.

[martthebass]

Ah……it’s on the Sandberg website

 

 

‘The Electra Bass Serieshandselected components by chinese manufactures, assembled and designed by sandberg guitars in germany’

[Mickeyboro]

1 hour ago, martthebass said:

Ah……it’s on the Sandberg website

 

 

‘The Electra Bass Serieshandselected components by chinese manufactures, assembled and designed by sandberg guitars in germany’

I have even owned one! We got there in the end. 👍

[LeftyJ]

5 hours ago, pineweasel said:

That one is Soft Aged (the SA in the product code) hence the extra cost. You can see the aging clearly in the gallery pictures. 

 

I hadn't seen it at first, but now that you mention it I do see some small chips here and there. Because the description doesn't mention any ageing I thought it was a regular high gloss finish. Makes sense now! 

[warwickhunt]

Has anyone successfully identified a drop D tuner that is a direct replacement for the tuner on a California bass with the one screw tuners?

 

Is there a comparable tuner that will fit but maybe doesn't look exact?  Measuring the post it appears to be 12.8mm, so I'm assuming 1/2"!  

[LeftyJ]

1 hour ago, warwickhunt said:

Has anyone successfully identified a drop D tuner that is a direct replacement for the tuner on a California bass with the one screw tuners?

 

Is there a comparable tuner that will fit but maybe doesn't look exact?  Measuring the post it appears to be 12.8mm, so I'm assuming 1/2"!  

Maybe this helps 

What D-tuner is fitted to Sandberg California II TM4 Ida Nielsen ? - Repairs and Technical - Basschat

[warwickhunt]

5 minutes ago, LeftyJ said:

Maybe this helps 

What D-tuner is fitted to Sandberg California II TM4 Ida Nielsen ? - Repairs and Technical - Basschat

 

Cheers for that.    

 

However, I'll need to read it 3 times because it still seems as clear as mud!  LOL 

[Highfox]

I'm back in the Sandberg camp with a California VS4 Superlight.

Pics follow tomorrow.

[TrevorR]

On 14/05/2024 at 19:57, dmccombe7 said:

Never heard of those strings. Will need to investigate.

Dave

 

On 15/05/2024 at 09:49, Rollin Thunder said:

British made been using them fir a few years now.

 

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

They have been around as a brand since the very early 90s. Have used them for all my acoustic guitar needs since back then. Originally there were a one man band company owned by a guy called Malcolm Newton (hence the name). When he retired about a decade ago he passed it on to the current owners who have carried on the same high quality, hand wound, small company, good service ethos. Both my Wals are currently wearing Newtones… great strings.

[TrevorR]

Well, I guess that I’m the society’s newest member… or at least I will be when I pick up my new VM4 from the shop on Friday. I tried this hardcore aged Marley Blue bass before Christmas, having been wondering about the P/H pickup layout and was very very taken with it. I’m not a relic fan but this seemed to be a bit more restrained than some of their hardcore jobs. And really quite good looking and authentically done. Having tried it out and reconfirmed all my Sandberg prejudices (I’ve never played one I didn’t love the look, feel and sound of) I thought I’d work up my ideal config (not that different - different blue, no relic, dots rather than blocks, pearl scratch plate) and look into ordering one. Then I discovered just how long the lead times are… yikes!  Not quite Wal levels but 18-24 months is a long time. Anyway, having loved this bass when I tried it out before, I checked whether it was still available. It was and the price was no different from the configuration that I’d worked out. So that sealed the deal.

 

Can’t wait to get my mitts on it and give it a proper, in depth going over at home and at our next jam night on Monday. Very happy bunny!!!

 

 
 

 

 

Edited January 8 by TrevorR
Typos mostly.

[Mickeyboro]

Where did you spot this beauty?

[TrevorR]

1 hour ago, Mickeyboro said:

Where did you spot this beauty?

It was in Wunjo’s in Denmark Street. Fluke really. I had a work meeting near Holborn and arrived very early.  So, of course, got off the tube at Tottenham Court Road and had a quick browse in Denmark Street. Saw it hanging up in their bass basement and couldn’t resist having a tinkle, especially as it had the Precision plus Music Man pickup arrangement that I’d been mulling over…
 

Page has gone now but…

 

Edited January 8 by TrevorR
Link was dead

[Mickeyboro]

I have similar, with the larger Precision style body. 

 

[TrevorR]

Ooooh, is that Candy Apple Red? Looks lovely! Is it a bit older? I recall something about Sandberg having to tweak their body shapes a few years ago on the back of some Fender corporate prodding.

[Mickeyboro]

1 hour ago, TrevorR said:

Ooooh, is that Candy Apple Red? Looks lovely! Is it a bit older? I recall something about Sandberg having to tweak their body shapes a few years ago on the back of some Fender corporate prodding.

You are spot on. I believe it may be 2011. I prefer the slightly bigger body, being a big bloke, but its not  all that different.  
I envy your blocks though!

Edited January 8 by Mickeyboro

[TrevorR]

2 hours ago, Mickeyboro said:

I envy your blocks though!

No need to get personal about it! 😉🤣🤣🤣

 

Funny thing is, I’ve never been a big fan. They dooooo look cool though.

[Chopthebass]

Anyone else own a 48?

I acquired a heavy relic one. Looks great and sounds huge, but not getting on with the comfort under my right forearm. Shame because it’s plekd, and has a super low action! 
 

[BasslyDrawnBoy]

Hi. I’m about to purchase a VM4 second hand. Can anyone confirm what’s the expected “case candy” for these basses? Thanks!

[mcnach]

23 minutes ago, BasslyDrawnBoy said:

Hi. I’m about to purchase a VM4 second hand. Can anyone confirm what’s the expected “case candy” for these basses? Thanks!

 

The usual: gigbag, allen keys for truss rod and saddles... I think that was it, plus paperwork. Nothing special. I wouldn't care about that.