bob_atherton

I just snagged a very nearly new VS4 and I'm very pleased with it. I have a clutch of other German Sandbergs and know how good and versatile they are. The build quality on this bass is very, very near the German ones at about half the price; fantastic value. Just put a new set of my preferred DR Lo-riders 45-105 on it and playing very nicely. My only gripe is that the bass is VERY bright sounding compared to my others. Is there a simple way to tame the top end? I don't mind that the pickups are quite modern sounding, though I would have preferred a bit more of a mid punch/old school sound. Obviously have had no chance to gig yet (though vaccines are on the way.. woohoo). I imagine it should cut through the mix in a live set pretty well. Is there a simple fix here or is a question of live with it or new pickups? Any ideas? Thanks, Bob

Ander. To start with the GD is 35" scale , the NH is 34", no biggie but it does have a slightly different feel. The GD lends itself to more of a jazz fusion type playing, in my hands anyway. I used to play a bit of upright bass and I slip into that sort of vibe more often on this one. The pickups on the GD are more rounded sounding and the big difference is that the neck pickup is a J type not a P type as on the NH. I've yet to play a gig on the NH (bloody lock-down) but I can tell it will be an instrument that I will be more aggressive with. It is more of a rock bass than the GD, IMHO. I still believe that nearly all of the sound one gets is from the fingers and how one plays it so your mileage may vary quite a lot. They both look as cool as f**k though...!

Great bass. I own three Sandbergs but only really play two of them, the other is a back-up. My two go to basses are a Grand Dark 4 string in blue, like yours and a Nighthawk 4. They are both magnificent instruments and with enough difference to warrant owning them both, IMHO! The pickups on yours are excellent as are the Black Labels. I got my Nighthawk during lock-down so have not played a gig with it yet. The Grand Dark has done many gigs and the 3 band EQ is a dream to find 'that' tone on stage. Have fun with your new baby.

Just got a brand new VM4 Nighthawk with Black Label pickups. Its a really great bass. My band is rock/funk/groove and the tone from the Nighthawk just nails the sound I'm after. My other favorite Sandberg is my Grand Dark. These have the Sandberg+ pickups and they also deliver in the tone dept. Love the 3 band EQ on this one too. My TM4 with Delano's will now be a back-up. Great bass not not as good at the other two, IMHO.

+1 all the good people using MB as a back -up. I use a MB TC501 (or something like that, I think it's called) as my main gigging amp but always take my LMIII as a back up.

So Mark, what is the difference in sound between the Ninja and New York? thanks, Bob

I use and gig with 2 MB 2x10 cabs stacked vertically and they sound just great. I've tried just one cab for small gigs and rehearsals but it just doesnt have enough scale, even at low volume. I'm thinking about getting a MB 2x12 cab for these gigs and rehearsals. They make two that I'm interested in the Ninja 2x12 and the New York 2x12. Can anyone offer advice on these cabs, thanks. I use a MB head the TA500, I think it's called. Valve pre and SS power in a sort of cage thing. Sounds good to my ears anyway.

I used to use the LMIII but I too have a TTE 500 and the LMIII is now a reserve amp at gigs. I imagine the TTE 501 is very similar. Both great amps but the TTE is just greater IMHO.

Having played bass for about 45 years and played most things out there I now exclusively (well I own three of them) play USA Precision Deluxe basses. These are P/J basses that do everything I could ask. Active/passive. great fast neck. Easy to tweak tone on stage. The best ones were made after 2011 and recently discontinued. Should find a nice used one at about £800.