Sweeneythebass

A barnacle of bassists

Thanks 🙏 thought it would be something simple. Still I seem to have a habit of messing up simple things 😂

So NBD update! Still enjoying this bass but the knobs are probably the worst part! The stacked knobs especially the volume and tone pot are stiff and when you move one on the stack the other moves with it! I’ve never changed tone/volume knobs. Any recommendations/suggestions/dummies guide to removing/replacing?

I’ve strung er up with the flats, still lots of Zing and pop on the D and G strings 😁, smooth and mellow on the lower notes. I’m still playing with the action to get it perfect 👌

I was hunting for a back up bass and after being denied finance found a 3.7kg Sire P7 v2 on eBay. Don’t usually buy on eBay but a Sire at this weight I couldn’t resist! I’ve played it for about 35 mins and it’s unreal, so playable thanks to that 38mm nut, rolled fretboard edges and super smooth finish. Already owning a V7 which I’ve been incredibly happy with (apart from its 4.8kg weight), I’m familiar with the preamp and this one definitely feels similar. It’s strung with the factory strings which I believe are D’Addarios 100-40 NYXL super zingy to my ears (I’ve been playing flat wounds or semi flats for 3/4 years almost exclusively) lots of snap when you pop 😁! Very refreshing to a flats lover. I was gonna swap in some Dunlop flats but I’m torn, I might just keep these on! So looks wise it’s pretty cool in a vintage-modern way, 3 tone sunburst body (with some grain a poppin!), white pearloid scratchplate and maple fretboard. The maple neck also has some graining going on at the back which is cool.

https://www.dv247.com/en_GB/GBP/Sandberg-California-TM5-SL-Superlight-PF-Natural-Satin/art-BAS0010536-000 I’ve got TM5 SL gas it’s really bad

I bought a Sire V7 new in 2018 for £350 and I’ve gigged it a number of times since then. It’s easily as good as basses 2 or 3 times it’s value. The neck is great and super playable, the pre-amp is very useable but equally the passive tone is great too. As some have mentioned they can be on the heavy side mines 4.8kg (10.5lbs) but others aren’t as heavy. I’ve seen some advertised at 3.5 Kg’s. During lockdown I’ve been practicing a lot and the weight is adding up as I’ve got some upper back/shoulder stiffness. My only other gripe is the intonation went way out about 6 months ago but I’ve been able to adjust the setup to sort that out. Ive read that people have found the pickups to be ‘weak’ however I’ve not had noticed this myself. if anyone’s interested I can post up some recordings.

Yes I’ve found trying out basses in shops to be a bit hit and miss in terms of snobbery sometimes you get that snobbishness that is quite unpleasant and puts you off going back. To be honest I think to hell with your snobbery! I’m trying out this bloody bass whether or not you like the sound it’s making! For me I really like to try out a bass before purchasing because you never know. Again this is where an independent bass specialist is so important, a place where you can go and indulge fully in bassdom! 😁

I agree that having a written record of dealings is a good idea and email is fantastic for that but sometimes you will get a faster more accurate response over the phone. Not replying to an email at all as a business is poor practice but mistakes do happen and perhaps emails are not received at the other end? Anyway bassdirect is open and trading ! I know they are working on a less clunky and more up to date website. Fingers crossed it will have an accurate stock count 😁

Bass Direct are great I’ve bought a number of things from them and often pop a speculative email to Mark/team about a possible purchase. We have to remember that small independent Bass specialists are very few and far between and they simply don’t have the resources of a chain of general music shops like PMT/Andertons etc. I’d say if you don’t get a response via email give them a call and chase it up. As a bass community I feel we need to support Bass Specialist retailers.

Thanks @Cuzzie and @dmccombe7 great info

I’ve been window shopping lots of Sandberg VM’s and quite fancy one but am wondering how p-bass like is the split coil? I’m reading lots of different things about the pups