Terry M.

If you're after low tension also include DR Sunbeams (nickel) or Highbeams (steel) in your search. They're round core.

I've never heard of Martin Mendez or the band Opeth. So he was playing a signature Fender Marcus Miller jazz bass back then?

This is so true. I'm seeing used Lakland Skyline 55-01's for nearly a grand now and used Fender American Deluxe basses hovering around the £1.6k mark.

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.

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.

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

It's like a very pronounced stand-off between sellers and buyers but someone has to give in eventually. I think the lower end of the market is experiencing a golden age with regards to pound for pound performance which might not be helping matters.

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!!!

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

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.

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.

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.

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've literally just left there. I didn't play any Sandbergs though 😊 Would love a Sadowsky one day based on what I've played in stores in the past including Guitar Guitar Epsom.

Totally agree on the looks and feel aspect but it's the sound aspect I'm not too sure about. Especially when preamps are involved as they all colour the sound differently. Not to mention amplification with different sized drivers,tweeters etc. Ironically I'm a huge Warwick fan 😊

I have to admit to not fully understanding this as the instrument was designed to be plugged in. I've heard it said before however and I'm not suggesting there's nothing to it. Just my understanding.

In my experience of both owning them and playing them in stores I can say that sometimes I experience a feeling of sterility. They are clearly well engineered but sometimes weirdly that can lead to a disconnection. This is only my opinion of course.

That makes sense to me. I've picked up many an "amazing" bass in stores with shoddy setups and couldn't put them back on the wall fast enough 👍

In my experience a bass that feels uninspiring to noodle on will feel that way regardless of being amped or not. What do you feel was missing or was it just the general vibe?

Wait till you play one of the German made ones. There's a Sandberg Appreciation Society thread on here started in 2018 by GisserD and still going strong 😉

I thought the Am Pro ii also had graphite rods.

That butterscotch colour though 🤤

https://www.fairdealmusic.co.uk/collections/bass-guitars/products/fender-jazz-bass-v-with-s-1-switch-in-sunburst-used I literally tried this bass from this Birmingham based retailer and I tell you this, when I activated the S-1 switch I almost bought it on the spot the series sound that came from it. I'm still thinking about it.

I literally bought two of these yesterday...from my Local Tesco Express!!! Spooky 😂 My wife bought me one of those bike multi-tool units from Decathlon of all places. It literally lives in my gig bag. It covers most eventualities I think.