DBerriff Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 Tomorrow I am off to Manchester to try a Sandberg Cali. II VT 4. I gigged a 5 string Mike Lull for a couple of years but I want to return to the (relative) simplicity of 4 strings and a P pickup. So, is there anything I should know about contemporary Sandbergs before I head up the M62 to try a couple out? They look terrific on paper. I am just looking for a few anecdotes to take my mind off fhe anticipation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 I've had 3 Bergs. All were excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBerriff Posted March 15, 2017 Author Share Posted March 15, 2017 All I have seen is positive comments. It is looking good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudpup Posted March 15, 2017 Share Posted March 15, 2017 (edited) I love my old style PM4...... Sublime neck and very versatile - old school fender in passive mode and modern grunt in active Edited March 15, 2017 by Mudpup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I have a Cali II passive TT (J bass). Excellent Jazz clone with a great neck although note that it's not super skinny. Just ordered a VS (P bass) with custom paint job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBerriff Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 I don't need super skinny. I find the profile to be more important. Thank you for the positive feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBerriff Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 Tried it. Spot on. Bought it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudpup Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 [quote name='DBerriff' timestamp='1489666940' post='3258758'] Tried it. Spot on. Bought it. [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBerriff Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 I wandered into a well known music store in Liverpool this pm and was taken aback by the current price of well known USA basses. They seem to have caught up with and then overtaken some of the "boutique" makes. So now you can buy a hand-finished bass with German engineering and pay less for it than the mass-produced original. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Agreed I have a MarloweDK and it is the beans. Same can be said for G&L too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBerriff Posted March 23, 2017 Author Share Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) As a practical 4 string the California V ticks all the boxes for me. The workmanship is top-notch too. I like it so much I have ordered a fretless twin with an ebony fingerboard. Perhaps Sandberg has upped their game over the last few years, but my experience is that for less than the cost of a certain mass-produced USA model you now get something crafted, largely by hand, in Germany that easily stands up to comparison in the quality stakes. Playability and sound are right up there with the best of the genre, too. Well, I'm happy. I will post a picture if I can find a moment when our grandchildren have not taken over the house. Edited March 23, 2017 by DBerriff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Just our of interest, why didn't you go for a Lull P4 (their simply/passive Precision)? Just fancied a change? Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) I bought a Sandberg Cali II VS5 yesterday as it happens. I've owned a Sandberg in the past but this is lighter, much lighter. The neck on mine is shallow and really nicely finished with very dark rosewood and a nicely vintage looking finish to the rear. The 2 band EQ with passive tone sounds great both active and passive and I'm loving it. Mine has a Delano pickup and I think a Glockenklang pre. I do think they have upped their game. The hardware and construction are shouting quality at me. It's 'soft aged' too, something I've never been a huge fan of (that's an understatement) but the 'worn in' paintwork with steam punk hardware really works. Maybe knowing it's new helps? I'd not want a heavy relic however. I'm chuffed to pieces with mine.... Edited March 23, 2017 by GreeneKing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBerriff Posted March 23, 2017 Author Share Posted March 23, 2017 [quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1490281679' post='3263925'] Just our of interest, why didn't you go for a Lull P4 (their simply/passive Precision)? Just fancied a change? Si [/quote] I almost did on a number of occasions but I think the quality gap has closed and I don't know what the Lull would give me that the Sandberg does not. I find the P/J Delanos are a bit better balanced than the Nordstrands on my Lull PJ5. The active circuit allows for a bit of bass boost on the bridge pickup which gives me a sound I want without needing to touch my amp. My requirements have changed and most of my gigs now are on upright. When switching I find it easier to stick to 4 strings. I have been using a G&L Tribute JB2 but I wanted that "P" sound, and this is where it has all ended up. Part of this decision was a realisation that Drew really is closing down his business in Manchester, and that the fact that he had the exact configuration I wanted at a very fair price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBerriff Posted March 23, 2017 Author Share Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) [quote name='GreeneKing' timestamp='1490283354' post='3263943'] I bought a Sandberg Cali II VS5 yesterday as it happens. I've owned a Sandberg in the past but this is lighter, much lighter. The neck on mine is shallow and really nicely finished with very dark rosewood and a nicely vintage looking finish to the rear. The 2 band EQ with passive tone sounds great both active and passive and I'm loving it. Mine has a Delano pickup and I think a Glockenklang pre. I do think they have upped their game. The hardware and construction are shouting quality at me. It's 'soft aged' too, something I've never been a huge fan of (that's an understatement) but the 'worn in' paintwork with steam punk hardware really works. Maybe knowing it's new helps? I'd not want a heavy relic however. I'm chuffed to pieces with mine.... [/quote] Yes, same here - chuffed to pieces. The passive sound is a bonus and a really fine one at that. Quick-change battery and sensible tone-control sensitivity for the active side makes it all very useable. I like the matt finish on the body and it should stand up well to the odd knock. [url="https://flic.kr/p/T9ijYN"][/url][url="https://flic.kr/p/T9ijYN"]Sandberg California II VT4[/url] by [url="https://www.flickr.com/photos/berriff/"]David Jones[/url], on Flickr I asked Drew last year for a quote on a VS with, by coincidence, the exact same spec as this except for the fingerboard dots. That is when he told me he was getting this in. By the time it arrived I needed an upright and bought an NXT off him. But the nagging feeling that this was "my" bass would not go away, and now you all know the end result. Edited March 23, 2017 by DBerriff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBerriff Posted March 23, 2017 Author Share Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) [url="https://flic.kr/p/T1uh2X"][/url][url="https://flic.kr/p/T1uh2X"]Sandberg California II VT4[/url] by [url="https://www.flickr.com/photos/berriff/"]David Jones[/url], on Flickr The neck looks quite a bit darker in the flesh. Edited March 23, 2017 by DBerriff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Very nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevvo66 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) Very nice , I really can see me selling all my basses one day and just having a berg , I have the Korean made one it's nice but it's not the real thing and that colour is lovely 👍 Edited March 23, 2017 by kevvo66 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameronJ Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 That's a thing of real beauty. Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mep Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Had a quick play with one at the LBGS recently. Felt fantastic. Didn't get to plug it in though looks gorgeous too. Could easily fancy one myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Beautiful bass I someone had bought my double bass in time it would have been mine 😆 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBerriff Posted March 25, 2017 Author Share Posted March 25, 2017 A pleasant surprise is how good the Delano pickups are. I think they must be JMVC 4 FE/M2 in bridge position, and PMVC 4 FE/M2 in neck position, judging by the single J poles. Active or passive they manage the trick of sounding warm and clear at the same time. This is all totally subjective of course but I particularly like the J in the bridge position. A touch of bass boost on the active setting and there is no need to touch the amp. The balance between P and J is pretty good too. The next move is to try it with the big band. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBerriff Posted March 25, 2017 Author Share Posted March 25, 2017 [quote name='artisan' timestamp='1490345874' post='3264409'] Beautiful bass I someone had bought my double bass in time it would have been mine [/quote] Sorry about that but I cracked as the stock at the Great British Bass Lounge is disappearing quite quickly. You could still order one and have it built to your exact specification. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisan Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 [quote name='DBerriff' timestamp='1490478580' post='3265471'] Sorry about that but I cracked as the stock at the Great British Bass Lounge is disappearing quite quickly. You could still order one and have it built to your exact specification. [/quote] Lol It looks beautiful but I can't do anything until I shift the DB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afterimage Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 [quote name='DBerriff' timestamp='1489685263' post='3259004'] I wandered into a well known music store in Liverpool this pm and was taken aback by the current price of well known USA basses. They seem to have caught up with and then overtaken some of the "boutique" makes. So now you can buy a hand-finished bass with German engineering and pay less for it than the mass-produced original. [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.