Cuzzie

Sandberg have a whole P pup with M humbucker, it’s called their VM bass. IMO if you don’t have your MM pick up in exactly the same spot as a Ray, you won’t get a Ray sound. In addition if you don’t have their pre-amp then again you won’t get the sound, doesn’t mean it’s bad, you just won’t get that particular nasal Ray sounding vibe

The thing is with a graphite neck, even if put on a pristine bass it’s always going to age differently to the wood. As it ages from whatever starting point the bass is, it will give a beautiful contrast

PJB bass cub, only 100w but you can get extension cabinets or DI out

I know you said no pedals, but........the new Trickfish Trilobite seems the nuts and I have spoken at length with someone who uses it, and they are gushing https://www.trickfishamps.com/pedals/trilobite/ Failing that how about the Tech21 dUg Ultrabass 1000. There is of course their VT1000 or 1969 or their old Landmark 300 or 600 which I believe one of which was for sale recently either on here of FB

Amazing, looks the bees knees. I can second how helpful Rob and Dawn are as well at Status can’t wait for the final review with the band in anger

Remember though the European Maple is lighter than the usual Canadian Hardrock, and also there are lightweigt aluminium tuners

Also there is a dealer in Coventry, nonidea on prices but worth a shout Cant remember the name sorry

Yep pretty sire they are humbuckers

I have tried all 4 black labels are up there! Old Sandberg - more vintage Hauessel - vintage plus thump in mids Delano - hi fi Black label - a great mash of all the above gross generalisation of course but about right

Good luck and I hope it’s legedary, sure it will be. I been passive until this one, but went for modern slightly mid backward Seymour Duncan APB-1 pick ups. Hoping the Graphite will cling on to those mids and harmonics with a bit of distortion applied, I have not disappointed yet. Cant wait to see yours. Think I also must say a big thumbs up to Dawn and Rob, great people to deal with and a great product. FYI for those that are interested in Graphite but may not like the logo, they are looking to pop it on the back of the headstock instead if you desire. Drive safe

Yes, yes and yes, those black labels are very good

@hiram.k.hackenbacker just read this whole thread, poor you, but great responses from all the chaos in BC here. So today is the day for the Status Flea?! I am going to selflessly promote a Fender/Status mash up I put together as a first time into guitar tinkering drilling holes from scratch and the like (Scary stuff!) and confidently say I bet yours will sound awesome, I like mine.

@HazBeen cool thing about their control plates/pickguards no matter the colour (as in if its not silver, it’s the same colour as the rest of the pickguard) is that they all are removable at that junction with the knobs making changing electronics a dream not having to remove the whole plate. This is for all their variants Its the little things you add all together that make it a well thought out bass across the range But I suppose it suits the new shape better

Yassssss Queen Yasssss

Sandberg are not really offering high gloss finishes any more regardless of density, although I am sure if a customer wants they will do it. Played it - no neck dive and bloody brilliant a well balanced, full and punchy sounding bass with excellent snappy attack and glorious sustain.

@martthebass I wouldn’t worry about Cedar too much they have built garden fences, sheds, garage doors and ships out of it for years. Pretty sure it can stand grubby hands and a spilt drink

Couldn’t agree more with its varied useage profile

@ead Fender make a poor mans Sandberg (the engine is running, quick get in!)

@Muzz well they had to learn from Japan how to make a decent bass with the JV’s, maybe they should learn from Ze Germans too

@Muzz Sandberg has been going for 32years Is that long enough to say the bass may have had some mojo imparted?

With @fretmeister on this seems to be one of those irrational hatreds. Aged finish bad, a bass looking exactly the same but 30yrs old and been in a few shows - mojo. An innocent chip in the paint of a bass and apparently it’s not cared for and may not play well and needs £500 off the asking price. I can’t stand turdburst, think Warwick’s look like a bass which a child has drawn with a chubby crayon of a still life melted wax candle, but some people love em. Markbass look like a swarm of bumblebees have plopped in a daffodil. What do we think about Sandblasting leaving tactile cavities? Fender done this and Fender do custom shop ageing, they don’t seem to get hammered as much for it? I tend not to slam them, horses for courses

Sorry about that, i’d had a bad day at the office, but you were über polite

@MikanHannille scour the usual places like Bax, Thomann, Musik Productiv, Bass Direct butbthere is a new distributor in Coventry as well I hear

Dunno about Shuker. Is it chambered or something of the like?

But they also produce beauties like this less than 3kg, punchy loud and clear. It’s a great playing and sounding bass