Due to my strict “Always two there are, a master and an apprentice”* policy, I am selling my 2016 American Standard Jazz Bass. This will then make me a fully-fledged member of the 5-string ‘Dark Side’.
This bass is a creamy looking Olympic white, with a tort pickguard and rosewood neck. Its retro look is enhanced by a ‘ding’ (pictured) which I understand arose from an argument with a cymbal in an earlier life. It was sanded smooth and does not affect playability.
It is a great bass, with a great tone and low action. It comes with a Fender hard case.
I am looking for £650. Socially-distanced collection preferred, or buyer to arrange shipping. However, I would be happy to meet up within a reasonable distance (I am based in North Essex).
Not looking for trades. Sorry!
My feedback thread is here:
https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/124316-feedback-for-heathy-steve/?tab=comments#comment-1137183
*Master Yoda. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
DOB 7 March 1969
Possible trades - MM4, Fender Elite P or J + £1500 minimum, balance dependent upon instrument offered.
Cheers.
Pictures and video added
This is a true beauty I’ve decided should be with someone else who will treasure it and play it more then I and I.
I had one of these the first time around - then Ricks, Celinder and CS basses but always hankered back to a real 60s Jazz - then this very special laid-back looking instrument came up.
Alder body with ebony fretboard and beautiful maple binding by master luthier Jimmy Moon. 'Very comfortable A' profile slim neck - slimmer than '64 CSs I've owned.
The neck is in lovely condition, has a subtle flaming and like the rest of the bass has acquired the sweetest sound, character and the authentic patina and feel only 50 years can give.
Sounds just as you would expect - an authoritative true vintage tone with a wide palette and a comfortable 9lb.
Originally sunburst - pictured, the previous owner who bought the bass new. It has all original pick ups and electronics.
He took it for a set up to a music dealer where some oik damaged the truss rod which is when Mr Moon was commissioned to make the bass unique.
The ebony fingerboard is gorgeous and as you can see is set off by the understated mother of pearl dots.
That’s it.
Stay safe, stay healthy and stay in tune.
Based near Manchester, could meet within reason, comes with substantial Fender case.
PS - I am a professional photographer - the buyer will receive a Marcus Miller poster with my compliments. https://www.william-ellis.com/
In order to avoid alienating the “traditionaly sane" members of the Basschat community; I have arranged the following advert to be compiled in two parts.
Part One will detail;
· The item for sale
· The asking price
· The option for delivery/collection
Part Two will contain;
· Mostly nonsense
· Incoherent babbling
· The ramblings of a mad man
Both parts will be void of any humour (naturally)
and absolutely no content contained within Part Two should be taking likely and can not be held against me in my forthcoming sanity plea...
Part One
Item Description
model: Sandberg California TT4 Fretless Bass Guitar
finish: 3 tone Sunburst Matt
electronics: Sandberg AlNiCo Passive Jazz Pickups
controls: Volume, Balance, Tone
hardware: Sandberg Locking Tuners & Sandberg Premium Bridge (matching black)
neck: Unmarked Fretless
fingerboard wood: Rosewood
scale: 34inch
weight: 4.4kg
case: Sandberg Padded Gig Bag
condition: Mint
price: £945
Those interested in purchasing this instrument should completely and utterly disregard any further text.
Thank you for reading.
Part Two
So basically, back when I was slightly more deluded than I am today, I purchased a number of Fretless Bass Guitars with the notion that I could master a Fretless instrument with little to no actual effort being made on my part. Needless to say, I was wrong...
Whilst it might not be “Racket-Silence" or “Brian Sturgeon-ary" to learn how to play a Fretless Bass Guitar, I will come clean right now and just admit that I am far too lazy to continue with anything that doesn't go my way immediately or pretty soon thereafter... I wouldn't go as far to say that I'm a defeatist but let me put it this way; If I flip the switch on a kettle and it ain't plugged in... the tea ain't getting made! Same goes for if ain't got no water in...
So anyway, I'm now in possession of an all-round awesome German-made Sandberg California Fretless Bass Guitar that just isn't getting played and even when it is actually getting played it's actually not getting played, it's just more or less just being held whilst I slide a finger up the D string and listen to it go “Mwahhh"... and then back down the D string to hear it go “Mwohhh"... I will sometimes repeat this three or four times before returning the gorgeous instrument to its lovely Sandberg padded case...
To be honest I'm a little miffed as the sales person who sold me the instrument told me that “Sandberg's literally play themselves". I think what they meant to have said was “Sandberg's figuratively play themselves" because, believe me, this instrument does NOT play itself. Not that I ever tried connecting it to an amp and leaving it in a stand next to my record player whilst I played it classic funky Motown tracks in the hope that it might play along... Ha, ha!! No, that'd be stoopid!!... Ha!!.. ha, ha... Actually, come to think of it, maybe I just didn't have the volume up loud enough... ... I'll try again tomorrow...
So I'm not making any promises but this instrument might actually play itself!!...
The Sandberg is a passive bass meaning that it is entirely non-violent and fully compliant. It has AlNiCo Jazz Pickups, possibly something to do with Al Pacino...
The fingerboard is Rosewood or possibly a Pau Ferro which I'm assuming is the creator of the material but it looks like Rosewood but apparently it's actually a Pau Ferro which I have no idea what a Pau Ferro is... But it might be the creator but I'm not sure... But it's actually probably Rosewood... Let's go with “Ro Ferro"
The hardware is black and all of it is, so that looks pretty cool... Err, it's also got a pickguard for those of you with really long scratchy “Nosferatu" nails or terrible “punk-like" strumming technique...
Anyway, the finish is rather interesting. That's “finish" not “Finnish" though I'm sure the Finnish are also rather interesting... but in regards to the Sandberg's body finish, this finish is actually a 3 tone matt sunburst finish which is rather close to the tobacco sunburst finish but somewhere in between that finish and the regular sunburst finish. So altogether a pretty unique looking finish...
Anyway, that's the finish!!
Oh!! If you're actually interested in the Sandberg, visiting times are daily between 08:00 - 10:00 & 16:00 - 19:00 unless specifically requested in advance (hard hats to be worn at all times).
*Edit: Enjoy the less grainy pics...
“Ooooohhh.... Look at that tasty, toasty finish & yummy, scrummy grain..."