Sandberg California Grand Dark - Precision German Engineering Like No Other - LowEndLobster Review

Looking to snag one of these basses? Use my Reverb affiliate link!- reverb.grsm.io/lowendlobster
EDIT: Price was based off of Thomann's listing, it appears these may be a bit pricier at near 2600 USD - YMMV! Rating still stands as the build quality here is phenomenal!
Hey everyone! Today we're reviewing our FIRST Sandberg bass! The California Grand Dark! Big thanks to Rob L for lending me this instrument for review. Sandberg is putting Fender USA to shame with the California Series. Featuring a 35" scale neck on this four string, in house electronics and hardware, AND a Darkglass Tone Capsule preamp- The Sandberg California Grand Dark is making precision German engineering available to the masses! Let's check this bass out!
This bass and all my other basses with rounds are strung with SIT Foundation Nickel Plated Stainless Steel 45-105(125) unless otherwise noted. Check them out at sitstrings.com/
Info on my signal chain, setup and more: • FAQ: My Signal Chain, ...
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[@jrbbassmusic6749]

Sandberg are the best all round; tone, price, playability, build quality - I have a TM5 & TM4 and will never look back!

[@nanoluciani]

Sandberg is one of the brands on my radar since I saw their VM4 basses, definitely love their tone! Awesome video, Lobster!

[@ghostrider2ification]

Thank you, Rob, for sharing this beauty with us.

[@DannoDemo]

Wow, thank you greatly for the review and some good tonal playing (as always). I've been eyeing Sandberg for awhile, and really have been wondering about the Darkglass with this sort of setup.

[@VmShpman82]

Salutations Crustaceans. I was surprised to only see a battery compartment in the back. I like the machine heads. Good range. Sounds nice. Thanks for the presentation.

[@Bassguitarvideo]

Great review! You mentioned the lack of a passive tone control. That may be specific to the Darkglass preamp, because the regular Sandberg California models (the TM, VM, VS models) have a Noll preamp with passive tone control. The way it works is that the treble control in passive mode becomes a passive tone control from 12 o'clock downwards. Very handy when the battery is dead ;-)

[@davidvitale9338]

What an incredible sounding bass - in all permutations! I've watched this 4 times. I can't believe how good it sounds!

[@stushwartz]

Sounds awesome 👌. Great work my friend

[@grizelda4526]

Very cool! Fantastic sounds. It seems Sandberg is a company that’s really putting in some effort.

[@MadMagicPaul]

I’ve had 3. All amazing. My main bass is a Sandberg California II TT4 Superlight. It’s only 6.5lb and it sounds brilliant.

[@dominicrossitto5890]

Nice sounding tones on this bass, on all settings. The one word that comes to mind when I hear this bass is "clarity".

[@tracychappell2029]

I love this bass! I bought a used Sandberg Electra California TT 4 string bass and it's the first one I reach for every time. Beautiful tone! It even plays out fairly loud, clear and pretty unplugged.

[@aldito7586]

That's a real nice clear sounding bass !!!

[@latonyahemingway3752]

My Sandberg Ida 5 is one of the best basses I’ve ever owned. You are so correct , a step up on quality from Fender. Sandberg and Ernie Ball MusicMan build boutique level basses . Even better than Fender Custom Shop.

[@mountaindont34ify]

Man the clarity is unreal! How is that amount of clarity possible with a humbucker wow! This bass could cut through any style music live or recording. Sure wouldn't want to to play this live with that boat anchor weight though! Probably a fantastic studio bass!!

[@Below-Average_Joe]

I’m glad you reviewed a Sandberg! I have been a Sandberg fan a while although I have never owned one. Please review their TM-5 (split pickup & humbucker bass.) They also have a new bass with the humbucker in the Stingray position that deserves a deep dive from you too.

[@apieceofgarbage7301]

Oh this is such a good bass, it basically has what I love about a jazz bass and what I love about a stingray. Definitely considering this one.

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Saw lots of them at the Sandberg stand London bass guitar show

[@GearStuffandThings]

played a Sandberg for the first time today and Im floored

[@williamcarpenter4353]

They are amazing basses Lobster