Sandberg California II SL TM 4 TB PF

Super Light!

Following a neck injury I sought a quality light weight bass. My previous bass a Mayones BE4 (swamp ash body & mahogany neck) weighed 3.6 Kg ..this Sandberg bass weighs only 2.8Kg..a major difference on a long gig. I was worried that the very light body timber Pawlonia plus light European Maple neck would produce a bass with little resonance or timbre of its own. Whether it's the wood or the Sandberg Black label pickups(or the combination) I am not sure, but I am getting a really solid, fruity sound from this bass so no worries at all. I play finger style with occasional plectrum work...all styles (except metal) and the bass does a fine job on everything. This is the first instrument I have owned that has been "plecked"... a process that perfectly levels the frets and allows for minimal string clearance and a fantastic smooth, easy playing feel, I didn't realise what a difference this can make...and the beautifully finished slim neck also helps a lot. I initially tried several different sets of strings to check the difference in both sound and feel I could achieve but I then reverted to the original Sandberg suppled set of 40-100 stainless steel strings...you will find that their punch and brightness couples beautifully with the natural balance of the light timbers.(Sandberg obviously know what they are doing!) I am very pleased with this super light weight instrument that sounds (and feels) even better than I had hoped. Highly recommended!