Spares for / Circuit Diagram for Sandberg - Electra VS4

[paddymac 2]

Hi all,

Has anyone had success in getting parts for Sandberg in the UK other than from Synergy Distribution?  There seems to be very little support for these cracking basses?!  

I need to repair an Electra VS4 that has a noise issue (not main pot as changed that already) so am probably looking for a pre-amp set.  At the very least i could do with a circuit diagram.

I'd like to keep it stock if poss and not change the electronics completely to another brand (recommendations just in case?).

Thanks in advance.

Paddy - Nottingham.

 

http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Sandberg_ELECTRA_II_Vs_Creme.html?fbclid=IwAR3XWfQlT4FmtNnRYFLDn2wot_LnTah7oX6-Qq8Drfqun4ZK85m9oBp03KY

[BassBunny 468]

Could you take a picture of the control cavity to help identify the pre-amp. Sandberg have  used Noll and Delano pre-amps in the past but fairly sure the latest ones are made by Glockenklang to Sandbergs specifications and you may get more joy from them. 

Could it be the jack socket? All the makes of pre-amp listed are very reliable as a rule.

[dannybuoy 1,271]

What kind of noise issue, could it be an earthing problem? There's a chance it could be fixed without replacing the electronics.

[paddymac 2]

Thanks both.

Bassbunny - Am going to open her up this weekend and have a good look around and take some photos.  This will help id the preamp and condition of the parts.  Never know, might see something obvious.  Will meter the socket too but given the nature of the fault, don't think it's that.

Dannyboy - The fault is there is a static noise on all the passive side regardless of pot positions.  When you pull the switching pot up to put her into passive mode, the noise is also present right up until you got to full volume then it disappears and the tone is mint.  Had a replacement main pot from Synergy but this didn't fix it.   Will have a run around with the meter to see if the things that should be earthed are.  A diagram would be great though.

Have been advised to contact Phil Docker at PMT Birmingham as he apparently has a much wider selection of spares.

We shall see!  Again, thanks for the input guys 😉 and will upload pics laters.

 

 

[Cuzzie 3,368]

Look forward to pictures and remember Sandberg are über cool and you can contact them directly- they will help sort you out

[paddymac 2]

UPDATE - FIXED!

Well, Justin at Sandberg has been a great help!  I really couldn't thank him enough for his advice regards getting to the bottom of the noise mystery with the Electra.  I took it to bits, checked all the circuitry connections, drew the diagram on a spreadsheet, took photos, did videos, the works.  

And now comes the awkward bit whereby I have to hold my hand up and say I am a massive bellend!

I thought the bass was running clean through the desk but the cabling was actually going through a ZOOM B3n pedal (purchased brand new not long ago!!) and it was this that was casing the issue!!!  After spotting this and actually going direct, the bass sounds amazing.  Lesson learned!

The B3N has gone back to Gear4music who were happy to collect and we'll see where it goes from there.

Anyways.  I've uploaded a picture of her and the circuit diagram lest it be of use to another person!

Circuit Drawing 260719.xlsx

[Cuzzie 3,368]

We’ve all done it

Glad it’s cool

[Mickyk 52]

i know this is an old thread,but i think it relates to my question about the Passive /active switch.I have the Sandberg Electra VS4. which doesn't appear to have this switch,?would anyone know why and if so which pot or switch operates the Passive mode.i have the maple fret board if that's relevant.

 

[Cuzzie 3,368]

It’s normally a push pull knob on the volume one 

[Mickyk 52]

9 hours ago, Cuzzie said:

It’s normally a push pull knob on the volume one 

Nope don't have it  ,strange,unless its seized or something ,the volume knob doesn't lift up

[Cuzzie 3,368]

Sorry if it’s me sounding dumb, but it’s defo active?

has a battery compartment and premp on its innards etc?

 

[Mickyk 52]

On 30/12/2020 at 17:24, Cuzzie said:

Sorry if it’s me sounding dumb, but it’s defo active?

has a battery compartment and premp on its innards etc?

 

Yes it's an active bass with the battery compartment on the back,but as said it doesn't have the passive option on the volume knob,maybe yours was done as a mod at some point.Be interesting if i could mod mine with passive /active switch.

Edited January 1 by Mickyk

[BassBunny 468]

29 minutes ago, Mickyk said:

Yes it's an active bass with the battery compartment on the back,but as said it doesn't have the passive option on the volume knob,maybe yours was done as a mod at some point.Be interesting if i could mod mine with passive /active switch.

How old is the bass? The one above is a fairly recent one with a Sandberg design pre-amp built by Glockenklang and definitely has the active/passive switch as part of the volume control. It is part of the design and not a mod.

Older versions used Noll and Delano pre-amps which didn't always have the active/passive option. A picture of the electronics would help.

Edited January 2 by BassBunny

[Mickyk 52]

12 minutes ago, BassBunny said:

How old is the bass? The one above is a fairly recent one with a Sandberg design pre-amp built by Glockenklang and definitely has the active/passive switch as part of the volume control. It is part of the design and not a mod.

Older versions used Noll and Delano pre-amps which didn't always have the active/passive option. A picture of the electronics would help.

Thanks for the post,i have just been digging a bit and it seems you are correct about the different Amps  used.I ve only had the Bass a couple of weeks .The seller told me the Guitar was about 3 years old.The Guitar is in very condition almost like new so little use,it would have been nice to have the option to switch from active to passive though ,might just have to live with it although it's no biggie.

[BassBunny 468]

15 hours ago, Mickyk said:

Thanks for the post,i have just been digging a bit and it seems you are correct about the different Amps  used.I ve only had the Bass a couple of weeks .The seller told me the Guitar was about 3 years old.The Guitar is in very condition almost like new so little use,it would have been nice to have the option to switch from active to passive though ,might just have to live with it although it's no biggie.

Depending on the pre-amp it could still be possible to make it active/passive.

If it's a Noll or Delano, Sandberg may just have decided not to bother. The wiring diagrams for either of these should be easily available. If you fancy putting up some pics of the control cavity it would help.

[Mickyk 52]

On 02/01/2021 at 16:34, BassBunny said:

Depending on the pre-amp it could still be possible to make it active/passive.

If it's a Noll or Delano, Sandberg may just have decided not to bother. The wiring diagrams for either of these should be easily available. If you fancy putting up some pics of the control cavity it would help.

Thanks for the reply .Yes i suppose i could take the scratch plate off to get to the cavity when i get time.All would probably be revealed.

Edited January 3 by Mickyk