SirMoxie

I'm curious as to the durability of the paint job.  I LOVE the Serek basses and the colors but it always looks like the paint might scratch off with just a fingernail.  Am I wrong about that and it's perhaps more durable than I think?  Enjoy it!  It's a beautiful piece.

17 hours ago, Tío said:

SirMoxie,

.......

By the way, the inventor of Moxie was from Maine which is where I'm from.

 

Hey cool, I'm from Southern NH!  If you're in the area and want to check out a TM4 with Delanos, you're welcome to stop by.

My wife is from Maine though she doesn't enjoy either Moxie or Allen's coffee brandy.  

1 hour ago, Tío said:

Cuzzie,

Are the Black Labels really that good?

I just ordered a TM4 with the stock Delano's. Alder/Rosewood/Rstd. Maple Neck

I still have time to modify my order since they are 6 months out.

I play in a small church setting and am just starting to slap. So far, no one has been offended at my attempts to play more percussively, but in reality there are only a few songs that would be conducive to slap. I often us my volume control to swell in hammered on notes to emulate a cello, so I'm looking for a bass that can do funky and mellow.

Should I stick with the Delano's of go for the Black Labels?

Anybody else want to chime in?

Thanks,

Tío 

I had the same predicament... which pickups to get in my TM4?  I went with the Delanos, trusting that what they chose to use as their stock pickups are probably based on smart decision making on their part.  I was right.  The Delanos are fantastic for pretty much any genre.  If you didn't know that the black labels existed you'd never miss them.  Are they "better"?  I don't know because I didn't get them.  But I didn't once find myself unhappy with the Delanos and wishing I had got something else.  In fact I recently put in an order for a VT4 and I'm getting the Delanos in there as well without hesitation.

I love my TM4 so much I'm getting ready to put in an order for another Sandberg.  P-based this time.

BIG PROBLEMS THOUGH!!!! 

Do I get a VT4 or a VM4?

I'd love to hear a 1:1 comparison between having the J or the HB at the bridge but alas... 

I prefer the classic look of the VT but tone is more important than anything else.

Can anyone share their experiences in comparing the two?  Pros/Cons of each?

Sandberg are *extremely* rarely seen in any shops in my part of the country so I have to buy sight-unseen...

Thanks!!

Here's a pic of my much-loved TM4:
 

Sandberg Lionel!  I haven't yet played one but if it's anything like the standard-scale Sandberg basses, it'll play like a dream.

5 hours ago, deadline said:

Lovely bass, and considering getting one. Could you please tell me how much it weights? Thanks! ❤️

8.4 lbs (3.8kg) on my rough-estimate kitchen scale.

After a 7 month wait I received my beautiful custom built TM4 yesterday and I am absolutely in love with it!  It's awesome in so many ways. Thanks to everyone on the board for answering all of my questions when I was getting ready to place my order. ❤️ 

 

On 25/06/2020 at 15:25, ntto said:

How would you describe the tone? If I’m after tune for prog / alt rock then curious to hear

A wonderful tone for prog or funk or jazz and I know some metal players like it as well.  

Check out this video. It’s a fanned fret version but I think it sounds just like the one I had. Of course I can’t play like this guy.

I had a dual-humbucker Mayones Viking for a while.  I ended up selling it because the tone didn't fit the genres I'm currently playing (alt-rock and punk) but I must agree with an earlier poster.  The craftsmanship was just impeccable.  A truly gorgeous piece of work and a dream to play on.  Fast, thin,  smooth neck... super comfortable. 

I bought a new red Kubicki X-Factor in 1991 for $1200.   Traded it for $500 credit towards a Japanese Fender Jazz reissue around 1999.  The Kubicki tone was not versatile enough (didn't cut through nearly the way the Fenders did) plus the look didn't suit me and I wanted to move to a more classic vibe.  I still play that Jazz regularly... it's a fabulous instrument that I'll be buried with... but I should have paid cash and not traded the Kubicki.  They sell for $3000 now and it would be fun to have that sound back sometimes for things like new wave covers.  Oh well!!

1 hour ago, mcnach said:

 

I play my VM4 in passive form exclusively and I'm about to remove the preamp because I much prefer it that way. I have the stock Sandberg pickup, whatever that is... and if you're looking for classic Precision, this is not it. It's lovely, but it's not the classic P sound. How much that is due to the pickup and how much to the reverse configuration, I am not entirely sure. It definitely has a Precisiony kind of sound, but it's quite different. I also have a reverse P Maruszczyk which is also Precisiony but not quite (although in that case the pickup is a tiny bit closer to the bridge, a Delano of some sort with big polepieces).

I think it would complement very well your delicious collection of classic sounding Precisions

 

 

Curious...  I hear about people removing the preamp from their instrument.  Do you gain anything by doing that?  Does it sound any different than "passive mode" would with the preamp left installed?  Or is it just that you prefer the simplicity of not accidentally using the preamp since you never do anyway?

3 hours ago, Urban Bassman said:

Just a quick pic of my new (2016) VM4.  Loving it!  

Sweet!!  How are you finding it compares to other P-Basses you've played?

I live down the road!  If I had any interest in 5 strings I’d be tempted to take a look! I’ve never heard of these.

1 minute ago, Cuzzie said:

They of course have exotics for woods and tops etc. But standard is Alder, and loads of fingerboard options 

It will probably say on your email order confirmation?

Yeah, one would think!  I ordered through Music Store Live and only saw it listed as a "custom order" on their invoice.  Didn't include all of the details but they've been very accommodating.  I'll ask the rep there and let you know what I hear back.  

Does anyone know what the body wood is these days for a gloss finish TM4?  I placed a custom order a couple of months ago and didn't specify a wood type.  I figure they know what they're doing and it's all good but I wonder what it'll be?  Ash perhaps?

Also wondering if anyone out there has a TM with the 3-band EQ (not the Grand Dark) rather than the standard 2-band with the Delanos?  I ordered mine with the 3-band because I want the mid control but haven't seen any out there with it.

6 hours ago, Jobustiggins said:

Hello folks, I have been playing sandberg and been a sandberg artist now for a while and have tried a few pick up variations in them. I have an Ida signature 4 and 5, and TM and VM 4 and 5’s. I get my Ida last and it’s the first time I tried the black labels and they blew me away. The Delano’s or the sandberg bid pole piece are good pick ups IMO. They are paired with the Glockenlang design sandberg pre amps. I will agree with them being more “hi fi” but I would not say dead. There is a certain sterility and glassiness to the sound on one level but loads of “punch” and authority and you can sit in a good place in the mix. 
However, I agree with Cuzzie, the Black labels are something else! Amazing pick ups. I have changed all mine to Black labels. For me they are the perfect balance of everything I want from a pick up. It has transformed my Basses. So much so that I get random folks and bass players alike asking me how I get my tone and commenting on how great my Basses sound. I have been playing the same bases for ages and all that changed is the pickups. Contact sandberg direct for where to buy them. The folks there are very helpful.

I have played and used many pickups and combinations over the years in many Basses. DiMarzio’s (all of them), Hausell (P and MM), MEC, Seymour Duncan (various), Nordstrand (various), Aguilar (MM, P and J), Delano’s, Bartolini and all the stock fender/Musicman (the list goes on) and pre amp combos from all those companies. My target sound is punchy, clear from low to high, authoritative, leaning around 7 on the scale if vintage is 1 and  modern is 10, and strong so here  my favourite 3 pickups from each category  that help me achieve that sound:

P bass: Dimarzio Will Power, Sandberg black label, Seymour QP

Jazz Bass: Dimarzio Ultra Jazz, Aguilar hum cancelling, Sandberg black labels

MM: Sandberg black labels, Nordstrand BBM, Delano FE

 

Pre amp: Sandberg Glock designed, Aguilar OBP 1,2 or 3, Sadowsky

 

so basically, out of all the pick ups I have tried I Highly recommend the black labels. In combination with the sand/glock pre amp you have a versatility but most of all a really solid and satisfying bass tone straight out of the box. These are a triumph in the bass pick up world and I think if more people tried them they would go straight to the top of their list as well. And at a cost of around 90 euro per pickup they are a steal.

 

happy hunting 

Great info, thanks!  Might you have any audio or video demonstrating the Black Label tone you get?  I already played an order for a TM4 with Delanos but am considering upgrading to the Black Labels.

2 minutes ago, Cuzzie said:

It’s an easy fix if that’s what you want by adding a stacked knob from someone like Noll electronics  the 3 band are  normally custom so they may be scarce.....

Yeah I was considering a custom order.... but not sure if it's worth it or not and wanted to know if it would affect the appearance or tone significantly.

Has anyone got a TM4 (or VM4) with the 3-band EQ?  Any thoughts on whether it's worth the extra cost?  I know that's all a matter of perspective to some degree.  Does it add an extra knob or does one of the 4 knobs become stacked?

17 minutes ago, Cuzzie said:

Played both

Fantastic basses with their own flavours but pure quality

Any thoughts on differences between them?  They have a similar pickup configuration...

Any Ida Nielsen signature or Grand Dark owners here?  Anyone ever play one?  I've been considering a Sandberg and have been wondering about these models in particular...  Thanks!!

4 hours ago, Chopthebass said:

Ha ha! Yes it is a crap name! God knows why they came up with that. Maybe in Poland it means something else! It is super lush though.

 

I'm not 100% sure but I thought I remembered reading that it was named after a luthier who worked (or works) there with the last name Jabba.

It's beautiful!  Enjoy it!  Would love to hear how you think it compares to other J basses you've owned/played.

I look forward to reading your review of the Vigier and maybe hearing some demos!!

4 minutes ago, 4000 said:

Whoa! That looks great! I take it it’s a wenge neck?

Do you mind me asking what sort of price range? No problem if you’d sooner not say.

Yes!  The neck is 5-ply wenge and maple.  Really smooth! 

It's no secret what these sell for online so I don't mind sharing.  It's around $3k US.  I had to sell off a bunch of other gear to get it.  One nice thing about accumulating too much stuff over many years... you can sell it off when you finally want something special!