Is there a bass guitar YouTube equivalent for Ola/Keith Merrow etc? Eventual NGD, + clip (finally)

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  • Agh @fretmeister is responsible for me not getting much sleep last night, spent most of the night looking up stuff on Sandberg.

    Have you played one or managed to directly compare it to a Fender Jazz?

    Also, with the TM4, when you split the Musicman Pickup does it make it noise cancelling in the middle position, and is it a recognisably 'Jazz' kind of tone or is it too far removed?  

    I read a review from bassplayer.com stating they thought the Jazz tones were pretty spot on but the MM tone wasn't quite there, but that would suit my preferences as I'm after a Jazz bass first and foremost.  http://cms.bassplayer.com/basses/1165/review-sandberg-california-tm-bass/47869




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  • guitarfishbayguitarfishbay Frets: 7953
    edited March 2015
    http://www.thomann.de/gb/sandberg_california_tt4_rw_tsb_passive.htm?sid=e0228b1a09f09ef6e3361e1d8c5e095b  is a pretty nice price for the more traditional passive Jazz type, though I can't find anyone who has one locally to try out first.
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  • Man, I was so enjoying having no GAS, haven't had any guitar GAS in a couple of months now...
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  • fretmeisterfretmeister Frets: 23968
    Agh @fretmeister is responsible for me not getting much sleep last night, spent most of the night looking up stuff on Sandberg.

    Have you played one or managed to directly compare it to a Fender Jazz?

    Also, with the TM4, when you split the Musicman Pickup does it make it noise cancelling in the middle position, and is it a recognisably 'Jazz' kind of tone or is it too far removed?  

    I read a review from bassplayer.com stating they thought the Jazz tones were pretty spot on but the MM tone wasn't quite there, but that would suit my preferences as I'm after a Jazz bass first and foremost.  http://cms.bassplayer.com/basses/1165/review-sandberg-california-tm-bass/47869





    I have a TM5 - the 5 string version.

    When the bucker is split it does indeed sound like a very good jazz. The EQ is very good too. The MM tone is not identical to a Stingray - but then again on a Ray the pickup is near the neck so that's not really a surprise.

    I have 12 basses. Since I got the Sandberg I only have 1 fender left (A Stuart Hamm sig model). The Fenders weren't even close.

    The way I look at Sandberg is that it is what Fender should have developed by now. Faster necks, slightly flatter fingerboard, Active and passive options on the Active model (Pull up the vol control and it goes passive).

    This is mine:

    image
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  • Thanks @fretmeister , that thing looks awesome. 

    Just on the split in between sound, is it still humbucking or does it introduce hum?  I'm fine with the bridge pickup only getting hum when split but would prefer if the Jazz middle mode was quiet.  I can't find the answer to that question easily on other forums.
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  • fretmeisterfretmeister Frets: 23968
    It's an active circuit! Quiet as a mouse in active mode.

    When in passive - dunno! I'll have to try it when I get home. I don't use it passive a great deal - unless my battery is dying!
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  • Good to know about active mode, thanks for your time on this.

    Doing a bit more research it looks like I'm going to be limited to what Sandbergs are physically in stock, as there's a 5 month wait for a new one (according to bass direct).  Not necessarily an issue but Thomann has some very nice prices on stuff that isn't in stock.
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  • fretmeisterfretmeister Frets: 23968
    On the Bass Direct website there is a little bit showing you what is on Order with them already.

    There might be something on that list that appeals - you can reserve it now.

    Bass Direct is a great shop and the owner, Mark, really knows his onions. He's had far too much of my money already!
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  • fretmeisterfretmeister Frets: 23968
    http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Sandberg_On_order.html

    That's the On Order stuff. Most of the TM series he has incoming appear to be aged finished, I love them but I'm aware they polarise opinion!

    Keep an eye on the Basschat classifieds too - you might get lucky there.
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  • guitarfishbayguitarfishbay Frets: 7953
    edited March 2015
    Cheers.

    Currently everything Sandberg on basschat is too far away with my current schedule, if it needs a full day trip it isn't going to be able to be done til next weekend at the earliest.

    Looking at the bassdirect list the ones due in soonest don't suit what I'm looking for (Alder, rosewood board, JJ or MM/J).  I don't want to compromise and go Ash or maple board if I'm spending this much cash.

    I'm pretty set on something Alder bodied, maple neck with rosewood board, and capable of getting a blended tone in the ballpark of a good Jazz.

    FWIW I have actually tried out a load of bases recently in different shops, and have tried multiple examples of each model except for the Ray and Yamaha:

    Fender US Jazz
    Fender US Jazz special
    Fender US Precision
    60s Jazz, 50s P
    MIM standard J and P
    Aerodyne PJ
    Squier Jazz VM (4 and 5)
    Squier P 5 string (can't remember the model
    Ibanez SR700, and some 1XXX models
    Yamaha PJ
    Sterling Ray

    When I started playing the better Jazz basses I felt like the tone was 'right'.  The Ibanez SRs sound decent too but don't feel as good to play as the better Jazz models (IMO, I prefer a maple neck) and honestly the only bass I really have wanted to buy so far has been the US Standard Jazz.  The only reason I didn't is I would rather spend less but so far no luck in finding something I'm happy with for less.

    I kind of feel if I can't get something I love for under £500 then spending more is false economy unless it is exactly what I want (thus putting several of the mid range guitars in a no man's land where I'd rather just spend more and not feel like I've compromised).
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  • guitarfishbayguitarfishbay Frets: 7953
    edited March 2015
    Played the two Sandberg basic models in PMT. One MMM/J and one MM in the proper position. The neck profile is really nice. The U.S. Fenders (tried 2 plus a deluxe) feel cheaper in the neck and tuners. The Sandberg J has a deeper tonality vs the Fenders, a bit more weight to it. Unplugged I preferred the Fenders but the strings on the Sandbergs were older. More write up later.
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  • fretmeisterfretmeister Frets: 23968
    The basic with just the single MM pickup is a stunning instrument.

    I have a Stingray5 but I'd be very happy with the Basic instead.
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  • guitarfishbayguitarfishbay Frets: 7953
    edited March 2015
    More stream of consciousness musings, all tried through TC head and 2x12 (I think) cab, not as nice as the Mark Bass setup I was using at Richtone last week...

    Basses were
    Sandberg basic Ash maple/rosewood MM/J (e string was pretty dead)
    Sandberg basic ash maple rosewood MM
    Fender US Jazz alder maple/rosewood
    Fender US jazz alder maple/maple
    Fender US Jazz deluxe ?wood maple/rosewood


    What I've learned: I don't like bridge humbuckers or at least not for what I'm going for so I kept it split on the MM/J. I don't like the bridge pickup on my SRX500 and while the Sandberg is nicer, I'm still not convinced. So if I go Sandberg Jazz I'm going TT. Passive - US Fender sounds better in the middle position (more scooped in a pleasing way) but all other sounds were better on the Sandberg IMO, more power and a pleasing 'deep' tonality. Though a real JJ setup could improve on that even more. Sandberg rosewood fretboards seem thicker than Fender ones.

    Active, the Sandberg is way better than the U.S. deluxe Jazz I tried. That bass was farty and had less good tone than the passive standard. Sandberg sounded really good with the preamp. Seems sensibly designed (on my SRX the bass knob bloats things up too quickly for my tastes).

    Also briefly tried out the Ibanez SR1200, I think, the one with Nordstrands. Don't like the neck as much, the body is too small, and the midrange on it acoustically is weirdly honky. Plugged in it is ok, very flexible but I think I'm writing off Ibanez basses now, I prefer Fender/Sandberg.

    The Sandberg MM style basic was food for thought. Really good sounding bass. I wasn't looking for a MM and still think I want a jazz style first but I liked it. For some reason this pickup position is nice with a HB, less of whichever mids frequency bugs me when the pickup is closer to the bridge. Nice EQ, quite a few sounds in it.

    Negatives - both Sandbergs are in B stock condition, plenty of dings and one was missing the battery cover. So even at the price I think I'll pass because for not much more I can get a California TT from Thomann.

    Now I need to find out if the basics and Californias have similar necks (I really liked the basic neck) and see what my options are stock wise and price wise, and if I want to sell the things that are nearest the chopping block to plug the hole such a bass would make. Hmmmm...
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  • Sandbergs were heavier than the Fenders but ash can sometimes be heavy. I've had heavy ash guitars in the past. The weight was fine though.
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  • Dave_McDave_Mc Frets: 2329
    edited March 2015
    I remember looking up about those sandbergs (I haven't tried them) a few weeks ago... I think delano (who supplies a lot of their pickups) does a sort of MM/J hybrid pickup. Never tried it (it might be mediocre for both MM and Jazz tones for all I know :)) ), but if that's what you want, it might be worth a look.

    http://www.delano.de/products.html?&cHash=9f97ffcf75&tx_smtdelano_pi1[cat]=1&tx_smtdelano_pi1[series]=8&tx_smtdelano_pi1[strings]=5&tx_smtdelano_pi1[system]=9

    EDIT: Should have read further >:D<  Yeah if the Jazz is what you want, then get it. And yeah I agree with your philosophy on price- if you can get something which is almost right for a big saving, then that might be worthwhile. If you're paying almost as much as what you really want, you might as well get what you really want- not doing so is a false economy, as you said.
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  • Yeah the Delano MM/J pickup was in the bridge of one of the ones I tried.  I preferred it split to be honest.  There is just something about bridge humbuckers that I instantly want to remove when it comes to bass tones, I just don't get on with it.  Though when a humbucker is in the MM position it seems to sound much nicer.

    I've found a couple of  Sandberg California TT4 possibles for a good price (less than the ones at PMT!).  Need to sleep on it.
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  • guitarfishbayguitarfishbay Frets: 7953
    edited March 2015
    There really aren't many TT4 alder bodied, maple/rosewood, Delano JJ pickup and active EQ 4 string basses in stock ready to buy in Europe. I know because I went through the entire stockists list on the Sandberg site for countries using the Euro (exchange rate is good right now). Not sure if I should consider compromising on fretboard, I don't dislike maple but I prefer rosewood.

    There are some with Haussel pickups but I've got no idea what they're like. There is more choice with the bridge humbucker, inc 5 strings, but TBH I want the JJ setup and prefer playing 4 strings, but my 35 inch 5 string bass experience is limited to a Peavey Cirrus BXP 5 which is 'ok'.

    @fretmeister what is the neck size like on your 5? I really liked the profile on the basic 4s I tried but they were moderately big (noticeably bigger than the Ibanez SR necks anyway). I get the feeling it is going to be quite a handful?
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  • What I mean is the TT4s I've found in stock with the right spec are either the wrong colour for my tastes, or are in colours I like but are hard core aged models which cost more and I resent paying more for less finish on my bass. But they actually look well 'aged'.
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  • Dave_McDave_Mc Frets: 2329
    edited March 2015
    Not sure how much help it is but I tried some Hauessel (guitar) humbuckers in a Nik Huber and IIRC they were pretty good. I think they have a good rep- that's for guitar, though, not bass. EDIT: To clarify- not saying they have a bad rep for bass, just saying I haven't read anything about their bass pickups.

    I reckon you shouldn't settle on the fretboard wood either. Of course, depends on how long it'll be until you find one in stock.
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  • fretmeisterfretmeister Frets: 23968


    @fretmeister what is the neck size like on your 5? I really liked the profile on the basic 4s I tried but they were moderately big (noticeably bigger than the Ibanez SR necks anyway). I get the feeling it is going to be quite a handful?

    5 strings vary so much that I would definitely say you have to try it personally.

    I've been playing for almost 30 years now and it took me over 20 years to find a 5 string that I liked - then 3 came along all at once and I bought them.

    My Sandberg 5 is less chunky than a Fender, but the neck is not as thin as a Marleaux, and also not as narrow as a Stingray.

    Most people can cope with 99% of 4 string neck profiles but on a 5 that idea goes out the window.

    Things like string spacing at the bridge become an issue on a 5 string too. Some basses have a whopping 20mm spacing on a 5 string, whereas the Stingray5 is only 16.5mm. So the difference across the entire playing area is an extra 1.4cm. If you've got small hands, that is massive!


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