Musicman20

You could order a P / MM style bass. Sandberg do something similar with the VM, but the MM pup isn't in the correct sweetspot.

I've used the Pro 3 a fair few times and to be brutally honest, it sounds quite good but needs the gain maxing (ignore the usual clip light) and a very 'punchy' sealed cab to shine. The best Ampeg (apart from thr big CL/VR) on the market at the moment is the 7 Pro, but there is yet another Revision ( D ) coming soon. 1000 watts. Alternatively get an Orange Bass Terror 500 which has a lot of power...more than advertised.

I tried the LMTube, LM3 and LMTube800. The LM3 was the best option, for me. Simple solid state clarity and warmth.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1347118759' post='1797163'] Ok then Gareth I thought you were addressing it at Sandberg, as for Thomann also I have to defend them as they have a switchboard for customer service which if you call from UK it is answered immediately in English, I guess they can tell on their phone screen by the dialing code of the caller, so they reply in English, when I bought my Promethean amp from them, it came with an European cattle lead type and I told them look you knew I was in UK when I bought it, how come you sent me the european lead, they said no worries we will have one sent to you in the next 3 days and it did come on time. [/quote] Sounds good to me!

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1347049334' post='1796540'] The moral of the story always remains: don't knock it til you try it! The way I see, you started this thread declaring the following: [b]Sandberg Basses... "I think I've caught the bug on these" ...[/b] Then when we all chipped in with our individual experience with them [size=4](personally I only tried a few but other people who actually own them gave you some extremely positive review points on them) and yet you've managed to dig around for negative points and horror stories, regardless of the positive comments, and... what I don't understand is if you had heard about those horror stories before you started the thread then why styarting a thread saying you've caught the bug on them, it's inconsistent, ain't it? [/size] [size=4]Bah... ? [/size] [/quote] Ay?! This was about Thomann, nothing to do with Sandberg. I haven't looked for anythng negative, I just remember a few threads, one from Nigel on here, saying how bad the Thomann return service was. I think you've headed down the wrong path on this one....I wouldn't for one second doubt Sandberg. I have no reason to. This thread was to simply create some discussion on the relicing, the different styles and sounds of pups, etc. After all the messing about I've had, I definitely haven't got time for that. My work is far too busy for me to be taking time off for pickups/deliveries. Anyway, this isn't about my bad experiences, I want this to be a fun experience!!!

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1347048251' post='1796520'] But... but... but... if I remember rightly, it was [i][b]YOU[/b][/i] that told us [i][b]HORRIBLE STORIES [/b][/i]in the past related to your [b][i]SHOCKING[/i][/b] experience with EBMM basses, what with your new bass received with a neck swapped from another one from Strings and Things, and the other one with the neck pocket out of line and I am sure there were more I can't remember right now. Oh and previously what about your other negative experience with Bass Merchant in Colchester, with basses ordered and paid and never received? I tell you Gareth we've read about more [b][sub]horrible[/sub] [sup]stories[/sup][/b] from you than from headlines in the [color=#ff0000][i][b]News on Sunday[/b][/i] [/color]or [color=#ff0000][i][b]The Sun[/b][/i][/color] [/quote] To summarise that, it was one EBMM Ray HH which I found out was actually not how it left the factory, and nothing to do with BM chaps. There was a mistake in ordering and in the end, they put what neck I wanted on a body they had in the UK. Apparently that will never happen again, after the problems it caused. It shouldn't have happened. All is forgiven when the actual bass I ordered turned up a month later and I got it through GAK, and got about £200 knocked off it and a few spare guards...so in the end they did the right thing and S&T since have been totally on the ball. I've barely bought a thing since then as I'm very paranoid about what goes on behind closed doors before a customer gets it. I've seen shops selling 2005 Bongos for full price recently (not any of the specialists) and found out they got them cheap and wanted to make more profit whilst selling very old stock with dead strings and probably a coating on the chrome etc. Anyway, I'm now ready to try test the water with Sandberg. I'd still get another Musicman but I don't need anymore haha! Despite the heavy relic I like the Marlowe DK!

Never buy anything that doesn't catch you aesthetically! Life is to short

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1347020143' post='1796073'] So buy it from Thomann then! [/quote] Im a bit worried about their customer service to be honest...only because of a few horror stories.

I'm trying to get a bass on order now. Not sure what I'm going to go for but I'm checking the stock. If the Marlowe DK was available in the UK close to the Thomann price I think I'd pounce. After researching around for something that isn't a Fender/Musicman bass, I think I've found something different, but still retaining the classic styling, etc. Also, they aren't stupidly expensive. I was set on looking at a Sadowsky Metro but I can't bring myself to spend £2K on a bass that doesn't absolutely 'wow' me.

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1346966826' post='1795578'] For your consideration, just in at Bass Direct.... [/quote] I like it but I'm not 100% sold on relic basses...but I could be swayed.

This guy on the other hand...its not his bass line, but his playing on every vid makes me jealous! Just a very solid and energetic player. His Sandberg is a TM but with the pups the other way round! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLTKdWIgG5A

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1346958150' post='1795399'] Probably because his playing is, like so many other young players nowadays, a load of sound and fury signifying nothing, to coin a phrase. Is it just me whose heart sinks every time one of these guys launches into another rapid fire sixteenth note double-thump with plucked double -stops slap routine followed by the obligatory sub-Jaco fingerfunk routine ? It's superficially impressive to the uninitiated but is easier than you would think to learn how to do and mostly useless in the real world of bass playing. On the subject of these Sandberg basses, I would love to have a go on one-they look really good to me and somthing I have noticed about the sound even on Youtube videos of them is that, like a lot of other super-Fender designs, they seem to have a much more extended treble than the Fenders they are derived from. The only thing that bothers me about them is the single large polepieces on the Precision pickups and the abscence of fingerboard dots , it just looks wierd and wrong to me. [/quote] Agree...it come across pretentious to me. I think you can order dots if you want them, and blocks/binding.

Come to think of it, even if I had a really high level of disposable income, I wouldn't spend £2799 on a bass/guitar. I'd buy one nice one at around £1600-1800 and get a nice Tag watch or blow it on a holiday.

The Electra bass is fine value but I don't need a passive P style bass. On another note, the guy who does those videos seems to grind my gears for no apparent reason. He is FANTASTIC on bass, no doubt, but something bugs me about the videos....silly really.

[quote name='jaydentaku' timestamp='1346934526' post='1794978'] Looks like an adjustable spanner [/quote] Lol That is some craftsmanship on that bass. Definitely not to my tastes though.

Long waiting lists! Looks like early 2013 before they have any availability...

[quote name='tommorichards' timestamp='1346891354' post='1794657'] I notice a lot of people here are choosing bound necks. Why doesnt the current bass market reflect that? [/quote] I think the only guys that do, non custom, are Sandberg and Lakland.

Synergy Distribution have very good direct prices on them...close to Thomann!

Dave that DJ5 PJ is still a looker!

I think I've caught the bug on these. They seem like a Fender upgrade at better prices. Can anyone comment on the VM vs the VT 'P' style basses, and any information on the TM? Cheers

I'd send it back...I'd be shocked if they went back to the older grey finish as it flaked quite badly. Is it kinda chalky and mid-grey? If so, definitely old stock.

Well that was quite fun. I'm quite tempted to use it for any possibly custom build....maybe even Sandberg could make what I'm looking for... Do you have to register to get the image?