1st time playing a Sandberg

[Lozz196]

Just now, Terry M. said:

I often wonder why sustain is so important to us bassists sometimes. How long do our notes really ring out for in the average song.

Aside from rock n roll endings pretty much not at all in my case.

[Killerfridge]

1 minute ago, Terry M. said:

I often wonder why sustain is so important to us bassists sometimes. How long do our notes really ring out for in the average song.

I think it's less about wanting something to sustain forever, and more that you don't want the the decay of the note to feel noticeably short (outside of intentional muting)

[chris_b]

8 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

I often wonder why sustain is so important to us bassists sometimes. How long do our notes really ring out for in the average song.

 

IMO if a bass sustains well the rest of the note sounds better.

[Terry M.]

3 minutes ago, Killerfridge said:

I think it's less about wanting something to sustain forever, and more that you don't want the the decay of the note to feel noticeably short (outside of intentional muting)

That is true indeed but for me at least the notes I do play always ring long enough for the song. I've never really required more length to notes than is needed and muting is a big part of my playing style.

[chris_b]

duplicate. . . . !

Edited yesterday at 14:24 by chris_b

[Terry M.]

4 minutes ago, chris_b said:

 

IMO if a bass sustains well the rest of the note sounds better.

I don't disagree with this at all. I just feel sometimes like there's maybe a bit too much focus on it based on actual real life playing. There is definitely a place for it however. 

[warwickhunt]

For me it isn't so much the sustain in itself that matters but I have found that basses that lack sustain can also be muddy/indistinct in (over)tone.

[tauzero]

12 hours ago, TrevorR said:

Similarly I hate Warwick necks - I absolutely know a W is not for me before plugging it in!!!

 

There's a lesson for you right there. Warwick necks vary enormously - you may simply not have yet met the Warwick neck that suits you.

[TrevorR]

4 minutes ago, tauzero said:

 

There's a lesson for you right there. Warwick necks vary enormously - you may simply not have yet met the Warwick neck that suits you.

Fair comment, it’s been many years since I played one - itwas back when they were making very D shaped necks with pronounced shoulders to them - didn’t like that at all. That said, my Warwick-less bass life is pretty well fulfilled so there’s no great impetus to try them. There would be many other brands on my “that would be nice, not that I need one” list before I worked my way down to Warwick.

[Terry M.]

7 hours ago, tauzero said:

 

There's a lesson for you right there. Warwick necks vary enormously - you may simply not have yet met the Warwick neck that suits you.

This is very true. I think the "baseball bat" era necks were from 2000 to 2009 roughly. Ironically these are my favourite Warwick necks and I always look for used examples from this era. I have two and they're keepers.

[Terry M.]

6 hours ago, TrevorR said:

before I worked my way down to Warwick.

Try a post 2009 example and it might be that you worked your way "up" to a Warwick 😉

[TrevorR]

1 minute ago, Terry M. said:

Try a post 2009 example and it might be that you worked your way "up" to a Warwick 😉

Strangely enough, I’m still good…

 

[Terry M.]

Still try one sometime even if to make a distinction between the fatter necks and the current slimmer ones. You clearly aren't short of a bass or two 😊

You would hate my Warwicks. Not only are they from the baseball bat era they are 5 string Broadnecks. SUPER wide!!!

Edited 11 hours ago by Terry M.

[martthebass]

I've had a few Sandbergs; the first was a Ken Taylor 5, I found it a bit dead and the Delano pups on the dull side.  Second up was a Cali2 TT, this was a nice bass, lightweight and resonant but it was a matt natural finish that just felt a bit cheap in my hands.  Third up was a white Lionel VS4 (passive), this little shortscale was a revelation, loved it, sounded great in the mix, light as a feather,really well built, couldn't fault it.  I bought a second Lionel in soft aged gold, just as good as the white one and now my main gigging bass.  It's seen off shortscale competition in the form of a JMJ Mustang, G&L US Fallout and Sterling Stingray. 

[LeftyJ]

11 hours ago, TrevorR said:

Fair comment, it’s been many years since I played one - itwas back when they were making very D shaped necks with pronounced shoulders to them - didn’t like that at all. 

 

Can imagine, I have two Streamers from this era and they're definitely not for everybody. My 4-string Streamer LX has a pretty narrow nut width and near the nut the back of the neck is pretty much round, but the higher up the neck you go, the flatter the back gets and the more those shoulders stand out. On my 5-string Streamer LX5 it's almost ridiculous - but it hasn't stopped me from playing it as my main bass for a few years because the tone fit my band's sound so well. I can only imagine what it must be like on @Terry M.'s Broadneck 

[warwickhunt]

14 minutes ago, martthebass said:

...Third up was a white Lionel VS4 (passive), this little shortscale was a revelation, loved it, sounded great in the mix, light as a feather,really well built, couldn't fault it.  I bought a second Lionel in soft aged gold, just as good as the white one and now my main gigging bass.  It's seen off shortscale competition in the form of a JMJ Mustang, G&L US Fallout and Sterling Stingray. 

 

Ditto!  I have to say that my Creme Lionel VS4 (active/passive) is a superb bass and when I was exclusively playing shorties it ousted my Acinonyx, Longhorn, Hofner Club and JMJ Mustang basses.  

 

I'm finding however that I've reverted back to my long scale Streamer or regular Sandberg VS for gigs and none of my shorties are getting any use, so likely time to move some on... will I still keep the Lionel 'just in case'!  LOL

[martthebass]

21 minutes ago, warwickhunt said:

 

Ditto!  I have to say that my Creme Lionel VS4 (active/passive) is a superb bass and when I was exclusively playing shorties it ousted my Acinonyx, Longhorn, Hofner Club and JMJ Mustang basses.  

 

I'm finding however that I've reverted back to my long scale Streamer or regular Sandberg VS for gigs and none of my shorties are getting any use, so likely time to move some on... will I still keep the Lionel 'just in case'!  LOL

I did get a pink Lionel VS4 from Bass Direct last year that was active/passive and I did love the punch that the active circuit gave on some stuff.  Unfortunately it had a finish problem (lacquer peel on the neck/ebony fingerboard) so it went back.  The gold soft aged one was taken in exchange but it's a standard passive.  I use my (new to me) EBMM shorty Ray for the more modern tones now. 

[fretmeister]

1 hour ago, martthebass said:

I've had a few Sandbergs; the first was a Ken Taylor 5, I found it a bit dead and the Delano pups on the dull side.  Second up was a Cali2 TT, this was a nice bass, lightweight and resonant but it was a matt natural finish that just felt a bit cheap in my hands.  Third up was a white Lionel VS4 (passive), this little shortscale was a revelation, loved it, sounded great in the mix, light as a feather,really well built, couldn't fault it.  I bought a second Lionel in soft aged gold, just as good as the white one and now my main gigging bass.  It's seen off shortscale competition in the form of a JMJ Mustang, G&L US Fallout and Sterling Stingray. 

 

 

I love my Lionel Superlight. Took me a while to decide on strings for it and I tried lots but I have settled (I think!) on Dunlop Steel Superbrights - because they are not remotely 'Superbright' despite the claims. They are like Hi Beams that have been on for 6 months but not quite as flexible. I love Ti Flats on it as well but as I have a nickel allergy I can't do that anymore, alas.

 

I did swap the pickups - it was a passive P with the Sandberg pickup. I thought that pickup was a bit too modern. Too much in the lows and didn't have that mid poke that a vintage p pickup has. So it's got an aguilar in it now, and while I was at it I had a J put in as well. I went with a 3 way switch so I can remove the J completely. I never use the J alone on it - most of the time it's just the P, but if I want a little more bite or a slap then I turn the J on as well.

 

And it weighs 5.7lb.

[martthebass]

1 hour ago, fretmeister said:

 

 

I love my Lionel Superlight. Took me a while to decide on strings for it and I tried lots but I have settled (I think!) on Dunlop Steel Superbrights - because they are not remotely 'Superbright' despite the claims. They are like Hi Beams that have been on for 6 months but not quite as flexible. I love Ti Flats on it as well but as I have a nickel allergy I can't do that anymore, alas.

 

I did swap the pickups - it was a passive P with the Sandberg pickup. I thought that pickup was a bit too modern. Too much in the lows and didn't have that mid poke that a vintage p pickup has. So it's got an aguilar in it now, and while I was at it I had a J put in as well. I went with a 3 way switch so I can remove the J completely. I never use the J alone on it - most of the time it's just the P, but if I want a little more bite or a slap then I turn the J on as well.

 

And it weighs 5.7lb.

 

I've heard a few people recommend changing the standard VS4 Pups and I fully expected to go down that route,  However I decided to try the bass out on a few gigs first and to be honest I found I prefer the more modern tone to a vintage P type.  I agree though, if you're expecting a standard Lionel to sound like a vintage P type then you'll be disappointed.

 

All 3 alder bodied Lionels that have been through my hands have been 7.5lbs, I gather the Ash bodied ones (usually have a matt/satin finish with visible grain lines) are about a pound heavier.

[Terry M.]

2 hours ago, LeftyJ said:

I can only imagine what it must be like on @Terry M.'s Broadneck 

Almost wide enough to accommodate a light aircraft landing on it 😂

[Terry M.]

1 hour ago, fretmeister said:

 

 

I love my Lionel Superlight. Took me a while to decide on strings for it and I tried lots but I have settled (I think!) on Dunlop Steel Superbrights - because they are not remotely 'Superbright' despite the claims. They are like Hi Beams that have been on for 6 months but not quite as flexible. 

Agree. I use Superbrights and wonder why they're called that. Interesting what you say about the Hi Beam comparison as I personally found Superbrights more flexible and easier to push about. As I'm sure you already know they have a hex core but it's super thin. Did you use a like for like gauge on each brand? I use 40-120 on them.

[fretmeister]

Yes - 45-105 for me.

[fretmeister]

8 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

Yes - 45-105 for me.

Doh!

 

On my long scales I have 45-105.

 

I've just remembered that on my Lionel I have Dunlop Standard Stainless Rounds at 50-110. They don't do a Superbright 50-100. The core is a little thicker and I think that works better on the short scale and they sound very similar to the Superbrights. I did compare it to Hi Beams 50-110.

 

I tend to like a slightly heavier or stiffer gauge as I have a really really low action so I need some stiffness to stop it clanking too much when I dig in.

 

I've got a different shorty for plectrum playing with a higher action.

[Terry M.]

4 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

Doh!

 

On my long scales I have 45-105.

 

I've just remembered that on my Lionel I have Dunlop Standard Stainless Rounds at 50-110. They don't do a Superbright 50-100. The core is a little thicker and I think that works better on the short scale and they sound very similar to the Superbrights. I did compare it to Hi Beams 50-110.

 

I tend to like a slightly heavier or stiffer gauge as I have a really really low action so I need some stiffness to stop it clanking too much when I dig in.

 

I've got a different shorty for plectrum playing with a higher action.

Ah got you. Then yes the roundcore Highbeams should indeed feel more flexible than the standard hex core Dunlops. Would be interesting if you were able to compare but as you say there is no Superbright in a similar gauge. I play with a really low action too but as mentioned earlier I use the lightest gauges I can find as I play with a very light touch. 

[stewblack]

On 02/03/2025 at 07:49, oldslapper said:

In a studio yesterday. I noticed a Sandberg hanging on the wall, black with maple board, active P, 2 band less expensive Electra series. 
Asked the artist if they minded if I used a different bass to the ones I brought, and they were fine. 
Well I have to say, I loved it, despite the poor set up. Very comfy and well made neck and even though I’m  not normally a fan of active basses, the 2 band eq was very useable. Although I ended up keeping t&b on centre indents. 
Sounded great recorded too. 
 

I now have gas for Sandberg but have absolutely no money. Don’t see many come up for sale on here, but I may be keeping an eye out. 
Sandberg, lovely surprise. 
 

I love my Electra. A real cut above the average bass