Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Sandberg California 2....TT4/TM4.. opinions


ebenezer

Recommended Posts

I should also mention that as soon as my Lionel is here I'm planning on ordering another Sandberg too.

 

Probably a Central (the new stingray inspired one) but maybe a VS4 (P bass)

 

Sandberg use the same neck for their P and J types. I love that as it's my favourite neck shape anyway. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had three Cali 2 Superlights (two TM4s and one TT4) and ended up moving them on because as nice as they were for weight, body shape/size, neck profile, hardware stability and indeed sound, I just couldn't get used to how they felt in my hand as a result of how the frets were fitted. They all had whatever the opposite of fret sprout is, and it must have been intentional rather than a defect as all three of them were exactly the same irrespective of fretboard material. I couldn't make myself ignore it, as much as I wanted to, so would advise that you make sure it either doesn't apply or doesn't bother you.

 

frets_sm.jpg.652082c6998ffa8a5f807363b1ece436.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Brilliant basses, supremely made, great customer services

 

Just know what you want.

 

Active vs passive 

If active - which pre-amp, standard 2 band or 3 band or a different one (Darkglass)

Passive - which pick ups they off, Delano, sandberg, sandberg black label, Haüssel’s 

Which neck - for example the MarloweDK is a different neck profile

 

once you got it sorted - bass for life

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 21/10/2022 at 16:22, Ed_S said:

I had three Cali 2 Superlights (two TM4s and one TT4) and ended up moving them on because as nice as they were for weight, body shape/size, neck profile, hardware stability and indeed sound, I just couldn't get used to how they felt in my hand as a result of how the frets were fitted. They all had whatever the opposite of fret sprout is, and it must have been intentional rather than a defect as all three of them were exactly the same irrespective of fretboard material. I couldn't make myself ignore it, as much as I wanted to, so would advise that you make sure it either doesn't apply or doesn't bother you.

 

frets_sm.jpg.652082c6998ffa8a5f807363b1ece436.jpg

I've got a TM5 and a TT5, both  super light.

Are you talking about the feeling on the side of the fingerbord where you can feel fret slot ?

 

Both of my basses have it but i t is a bit more pronounced on the TM5. I've contacted Sandberg about it but never get any answer.

In fact, I've never get any answer to the different mails I sent to Sandberg. A bit diapointing.

 

Away from that, two brilliant basses.

;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 minutes ago, Shiveringbass said:

I've got a TM5 and a TT5, both  super light.

Are you talking about the feeling on the side of the fingerbord where you can feel fret slot ?

 

Both of my basses have it but i t is a bit more pronounced on the TM5. I've contacted Sandberg about it but never get any answer.

In fact, I've never get any answer to the different mails I sent to Sandberg. A bit diapointing.

 

Away from that, two brilliant basses.

;)

 

Yup, exactly that!

 

I tried really hard to persuade myself that I was ok with it because, as you rightly say, aside from that they're great. I considered trying to fill the ends of the slots myself, but over the enforced break from gigging I ended up going back to playing 5s so the Sandberg 4s were sold before I could make a mess and reduce their value! Probably for the best... :) 

 

Shame about the lack of email response - not ideal.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, Ed_S said:

 

Yup, exactly that!

 

I tried really hard to persuade myself that I was ok with it because, as you rightly say, aside from that they're great. I considered trying to fill the ends of the slots myself, but over the enforced break from gigging I ended up going back to playing 5s so the Sandberg 4s were sold before I could make a mess and reduce their value! Probably for the best... :) 

 

Shame about the lack of email response - not ideal.

I sometimes encountered the reverse situation where the fingerboard was shrinking making the fret noticable from the side.

 

But with my TM5, it was the first time I could feel the fret slots. I originaly thougt it was unintended but my TT5 has the same thing.

In the end, I decided that they were too good instruments to let them go for such a detail that I can even feel when I'm playing.

 

Could it be the PLEK process ?  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As far as I remember the PLEK process doesn’t do anything around the edges - it makes sure the frets are levelled on the board and are all accurate.

 

For the peeps that had problems on email were other avenues tried to contact, ringing, Instagram etc?

 

I’ve never had a problem

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Shiveringbass said:

I sometimes encountered the reverse situation where the fingerboard was shrinking making the fret noticable from the side.

 

But with my TM5, it was the first time I could feel the fret slots. I originaly thougt it was unintended but my TT5 has the same thing.

In the end, I decided that they were too good instruments to let them go for such a detail that I can even feel when I'm playing.

 

Could it be the PLEK process ?  

 

Yeah, actual fret sprout due to board shrinkage I've got the tools and ability to deal with - the reverse was a new one on me too. Sadly I could feel it quite clearly when I was playing.

 

The only commonality between my basses was that they were all early cedar body super-lights, made before they switched to paulownia.

 

2 hours ago, Cuzzie said:

As far as I remember the PLEK process doesn’t do anything around the edges - it makes sure the frets are levelled on the board and are all accurate.

 

For the peeps that had problems on email were other avenues tried to contact, ringing, Instagram etc?

 

I’ve never had a problem

 

I never actually tried to contact Sandberg about the issue since all evidence pointed to it not being a manufacturing defect on just one neck, and by the time I'd stopped trying to convince myself to keep them as they were, I no longer needed them anyway.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

Tiny blob of superglue and then sanded would have sorted that, and been invisible.

 

That was where I would have gone had I kept them - I actually even bought the glue, precision applicator tips and micromesh pads to do the job. I still don't get why they were like that in the first place, though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

No idea. I’ve seen short tang frets before but usually short enough so the slot doesn’t reach the edge of the fretboard at all, to make it invisible.

 

Are you in a particularly humid place where the wood could have expanded a bit?

 

Nah, just standard UK conditions - humidity in the house is usually about 50% relative. All three basses arrived like it and never flinched one way or the other while they were here as best I could ever tell. One maple and two pau ferro boards with the same 'feature' as well, so not just one type of wood. But yeah, I think it's going to be one of those little mysteries. I wouldn't be put off buying another Sandberg, but I'd want to check it first to make sure it wasn't similarly afflicted.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 hours ago, fretmeister said:

No idea. I’ve seen short tang frets before but usually short enough so the slot doesn’t reach the edge of the fretboard at all, to make it invisible.

 

Are you in a particularly humid place where the wood could have expanded a bit?

As far as I am concerned (two ultra light) with the same "issue", the fingerboard of my TM5 (norway maple) has expended a bit making the thing more noticable.

I don't live in a particularly humid region. Should it be the case, a wood specialiste told me one day taht a fingerboard that shrink or extend usualy mean a wood that has not been dried enough. This problem can't be put on buyer's responsability like Sandberg try to do it.

The shop where I bought my bass, Music Store, simply refused to take it into warranty arguing that Sandberg will not take it and that it was probably my fault, storing the instrument in bad conditions.

  ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
16 hours ago, ebenezer said:

Listening to the clips on YouTube I feel I prefer the TT rather than the TM.... even with the humbucker in single coil mode, it doesn't quite get lovely tone of the TT 4, near, but no cigar!

 

I agree. I'm not a fan of bridge humbuckers in most cases.

 

Moved forward a bit like a Stingray - lovely. But no further back.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...