Sandberg California VM2 5-String 30th Anniversary

Traditional woods for the anniversary model

A traditional choice of wood forms the basis for the construction of the Sandberg California 30th Anniversary. Alder is used for the body, while the six-screw neck is made of maple and carries a rosewood fingerboard. Accordingly, the Sandberg California jubilee model has a balanced primary tone and crisp attack that precisely translates any groove or slap. With its slim profile, the neck lies particularly comfortably in the hand, so that nothing stands in the way of fatigue-free bass playing with modern or classical playing techniques. The anniversary inlay in the 12th fret of the fingerboard is also a visual highlight.

Powerful sound with high variability

The electric sound conversion of the Sandberg California VM2 5-string 30th Anniversary is done by two power Sandberg humbuckers in the bridge and middle position. With them, the Fivestring bass delivers a wide range of powerful power sounds on the amplifier, from rich and palpable low end punch to wiry assertiveness. In addition, both humbuckers can be split, so that traditional, bell-like clear single coil sounds significantly enhance the bass sound. In addition, the Sandberg California 30th Anniversary is equipped with an active 2-band tone control, which allows a precise adjustment of the sound character. The push/pull switch in the volume control can also be used to bypass the electronics so that the 5-string bass can also be played purely passively.

Jubilee look with chrome hardware

A harmonious contrast to the deep black finish of the Sandberg California VM2 30th Anniversary is provided by the chrome hardware. The strings are held to the body by the proven Sandberg Bridge 5, whose massive construction contributes to the strong character sound of the 5-string bass, while three-dimensionally adjustable string riders guarantee perfect adjustment of intonation and string position. On the headstock, Sandberg aluminum machine heads in open Vintage style provide a precise and long-term stable tuning. Further visual accents are set by the chrome-plated pickup caps of the two humbuckers, the chrome-plated Control Plate and the large pickguard with a fine hairline look.

30 years Sandberg

In 2016, the cult bass smithy Sandberg can already look back on 30 successful years in music business. Founded by Holger Stonjek, who still holds the reins today, and Gerd Gorzelke, the first bass workshop was located in a converted pigsty with the address "Am Sandberg 18" in Wolfsburg, to which the company name also goes back. Shortly after the company was founded, the company moved to neighbouring Braunschweig, where the basses are still manufactured today. From a small two-man business to Sandberg a medium-sized company with about 20 employees. In the course of time, more and more well-known musicians have also played instruments by Sandberg Oliver Riedel (Rammstein), Ida Nielsen (Prince), Ken Taylor (Peter Maffay) and Torsten Scholz (Beatsteaks).

The Sandberg California VM2 5-String 30th Anniversary at a glance:

• Special model for the 30th anniversary of the company, manufactured in Braunschweig, Germany
• alder body, sixfold bolted maple neck with matching headstock
• rosewood fingerboard with 30th anniversary inlay in 12th fret
• Two power Sandberg humbuckers with chromed metal caps
• Active 2-band tone control with split switch and active/passive switch
• Sandberg Bridge 5 and Sandberg Aluminum Machine Heads
• Chromed Control Plate and pickguard with Hairline
• Sandberg Gigbag included