Rob MacKillop Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 Bought new from Bass Direct, it arrived this evening. I did not expect it to be so good - I don't why I thought that - but it is really an incredible bass for the money: £1300. I swapped the steel strings for La Bella Deep Talking black nylon tapes, and they fit perfectly. Everything about this bass reeks of quality. The hardware is all very good, and the setup could not be bettered. Superb fingerboard, best I've had on a fretless. I did wonder if a 30" string length would provide a good fretless sound, but it most certainly does. One dislike: described as "faded red", but turns out be more pink-red. I might consider changing that, though it's a big hassle to do so. But I'll definitely be keeping it. Full name: Sandberg California II V84 Lionel Candy Apple Red "Soft Core Aged" - quite a mouthful. Pictured next to my theorbo...😎 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 Looks nice, what wood is the fingerboard, it’s very pale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob MacKillop Posted June 21, 2021 Author Share Posted June 21, 2021 Pau Ferro. Here's where I bought it, with some info: https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Sandberg_VS4_Lionel_SCA.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob MacKillop Posted June 21, 2021 Author Share Posted June 21, 2021 Pau Ferro is often described as being tonally between ebony and rosewood, and is very smooth to the touch, which is what you want for a fretless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloke_zero Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 Nice - unusual but harmonious looking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob MacKillop Posted June 23, 2021 Author Share Posted June 23, 2021 Yes, I know what you mean. I absolutely love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted June 24, 2021 Share Posted June 24, 2021 My 1990 SR5 had a Pau Ferro 'board. A superb choice. Tough, smooth and spot-on tonally. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob MacKillop Posted June 24, 2021 Author Share Posted June 24, 2021 Agreed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted June 24, 2021 Share Posted June 24, 2021 My Fender Urge 2 has the pau ferro board. It's a nice wood! Lovey bass. I really must try a Lionel. I've never had a 30 scale bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob MacKillop Posted June 24, 2021 Author Share Posted June 24, 2021 I have to admit the 30” scale makes it great to run around on. It’s just joyful to play. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan63 Posted April 13, 2023 Share Posted April 13, 2023 (edited) Holy thread resurrection 🙃 I posted a wanted ad for a fretless 4 string 30" earlier in the week and Alain, aka ead sent me a link to this very bass on Ebay, which I hadn't seen of course; took me about 5 minutes to look at the pics, find this very thread, think a bit and press buy it now😍 Had a good exchange with Rob on Ebay and he wrapped it in enough bubble wrap to cover a michelin man so Parcelforce didn't damage it and it arrived this morning as promised So nice, so very, very nice. I am no longer sad at selling the Status necked Jazz back to three, as I had a noodle on that over the weekend before packing it and had some remorse. All gone now, 30" is where I am at now Bass is slightly more light aged than when Rob bought it which I am happy about, I don't have to worry about marking it so it will be out of its case and ready to play a lot. I might even get slightly proficient 😀 Edited April 13, 2023 by Aidan63 spelling 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan63 Posted April 13, 2023 Share Posted April 13, 2023 Also worth noting Rob is a multi-instrumentalist, and has a lot of YT content Robb MacKillop on YT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob MacKillop Posted April 13, 2023 Author Share Posted April 13, 2023 Cheers, Aidan. Glad you like it! Play it to death! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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