Bass with Soft Aged finish, Delano pickups and active 2-band EQ
4-string electric bass, made in Germany
Cream-coloured soft aged finish with light artificial playing marks
Bolt-On construction with 34" long scale length (864 mm)
Alder body
Six-ply maple neck
22-fret rosewood fingerboard with side dots
C-neck profile
One Delano JMVC pickup in center position
One Delano MCFE pickup in bridge position
Split switch for splitting the humbucker
Active 2-band tone control with active/passive switch in push/pull tone control
Sandberg Bridge 4
Sandberg Machine Heads
Including SandbergBass gig bag
Traditionally built E-Bass with artificially aged Finish and Delano pickups
With the Sandberg California TM4 RW CremeSoft Aged, the iconic Brunswick-based bass forge presents a bass built from time-tested woods, featuring pickups from Delano and an active 2-band tone control to deliver a versatile sound spectrum with a perceptible vintage note. Besides the alder body, Sandberg relies on a six-ply maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, while Sandberghardware completes the four-string. The lovingly detailed soft-aged finish also gives the impression of a frequently played, yet devotedly cared for instrument.
The Sandberg California TM4 RW Creme Soft Aged is a versatile electric bass with comfortable playing characteristics.
Six screws guarantee a secure connection between the maple neck and alder body of the Sandberg California TM4.
Construction with proven woods
With the construction of the California TM4 SoftAged the bass builders from Sandberg follow classic specifications and manufacture the body from alder, while the neck is made from maple and features a rosewood fingerboard. Combined with the six-way bolt-on construction, this combination delivers a powerful old-school sound with crisp attack and evenly decaying sustain. The pleasantly flat "C" neck profile also ensures a high level of playing comfort, allowing fatigue-free grooves to come out of the fingers even after hours of playing E-Bass.
Two Delano pickups and the active 2-band tone control elicit a versatile sound from the bass amp.
Delano pickups for versatile sounds
The electric sound conversion is done by Delano pickups, which give the four-stringer a wide sound spectrum with unmistakable vintage nuances. The Delano MCFE humbucker installed at the bridge convinces with its assertive power sound that makes every note palpable in the pit of the stomach, while the Delano JMVC pickup in the middle position delivers a warm low end with a pleasant old-school feel. The sound spectrum is extended by the split switch, which can be used to split the humbucker into a brilliant single coil. The active 2-band tone control also allows the precise adjustment of the sound character.
Sandberg machine heads in aged-nickel finish keep the California TM4 securely in tune.
Hardware from Sandberg
The equipment of the California TM4 RW CremeSoftAgedE-Bass is completed by indestructible in-house hardware. The bridge is a Sandberg Bridge 4, which supports the even sound of the bass guitar thanks to its solid construction. In addition, thanks to three-dimensional adjustability, the bridge ensures perfect adjustment of intonation, string action and spacing. At the headstock, the strings run over the zero fret nut to the Sandberg Tuners, which guarantee precise and long-lasting tuning of the E-Bass.
I needed a backup bass for my trusty Fender Jazz. After reading researching the instruments on-line and never having played one I took a chance and bought the Sandberg California TM4. I've played 100's of basses over the years and have never found an instrument that I would regard as superior to the Fender Jazz range - until now. The Sandberg ticks all the boxes: fast neck, warm sound, great electronics, perfect weight distribution (same weight as the Fender but feels lighter). I really cannot fault it except to say the stock strings do the instrument no justice. I am now the happy owner of two Sandberg Californian's and have sold my Fender Jazz as it just cannot compete with the Sandbergs.
Craftsmanship
Operation
Sound
Optic
Price/Performance
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(This review is from the same product in color Creme)
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