Sandberg Limited Edition Hardcore Aged California VS-4 Bass, Shell Pink, Birdseye Maple Fretboard, 7.3 lbs.

Music Store Live is proud to be an official Sandberg dealer and offer up this limited edition VS4. Only 5 were made and we had to snap one up when we saw the appointments on them. It only got better once it arrived in the store. One of our techs went so far as to say that this was the best P-style bass he's ever played. This reviewer would be hard-pressed to disagree. Being a lover of all things P-bass, I have to admit that I cannot remember ever playing a bass of this style that felt this good right out of the box. The neck is simply heavenly. The 7.3 lbs weight is a huge bonus and, thanks to the ultra-lightweight Sandberg tuners and, just overall expert craftsmanship, the bass is perfectly balanced and there's no neck dive to speak of.

Sandberg basses are already very well known over in Europe and are now gaining popularity here in the U.S. for being some of the finest hand-made boutique basses available. Most of the bass players that work here at Music Store Live own at least one Sandberg. The head of our bass department owns 2, himself (and no, they don't give these to us or anything like that). We just really believe that these are some of the best basses out there that are flying a bit under the radar.

The playability is just simply off the charts. The worn-in roasted maple neck feels amazing and is a real playground for your fretting hand. It's smooth and silky and instantly feels familiar and comfortable as soon as you pick it up. The neck is pretty much a traditional J-bass neck, with that classic 1.5" nut width feel but with a bit of a flatter radius on the fretboard (which just adds to the wonderful feeling and ease of playability). The roasting process and tasteful relic leaves the neck feeling like silky smooth. The birdseye maple fretboard looks pretty darn cool, too, and the roasting process really helps to make the pearl blocks pop as they contrast nicely to the darkened maple.

Sandberg is one of the companies that has made us a believer in the relic process being for more than just looks. The thermo treatment on the body, the light sanding of the neck, the gentle wear on the parts where your arm might rest as you're plucking... It all actually does contribute to much more than simply the aesthetics of the instrument. It truly feels different and, yes, we'll say it... It's better. And, believe me, we didn't really ever expect to be in this camp, but Sandberg has made believers out of us.

This Sandberg VS-4 comes loaded with a Sandberg pickup that sounds like a slightly punchier version of a vintage p-bass pickup. The first thing you're likely to notice are the huge pole pieces on the P-style pickup. It delivers a nice oomph to the notes while still maintaining the character of a tried and true design. This is really a beautiful embodiment of a vintage instrument that can straddle the line between vintage and modern tones all in a simple and easy-to-use package. This one's 100% passive to further lean it into that old-school sonic territory, but it's going to pack a bit of an extra punch than something that was actually built in the 60's, for example.

Perfect for demanding professionals and discerning hobbyists, this limited edition VS-4 from Sandberg is one of the best p-style designs we've come across, hands down... We said this about the last limited edition VS-4 we got in and it holds true in both cases. We just simply continue to be floored and massively impressed with the quality of the Sandberg craftsmanship.

Sandberg Guitars was founded back in 1986 by Holger Stonjek and Gerd Gorzelke. Since then, they have been producing hand-made instruments at the highest quality. This bass features Sandberg's newest version of the California body shape finished in a Metallic Red color. The alder body’s previously even rear bouts now have a decidedly offset vibe. The lower horn has less mass and the cutaway is deeper. The neck pocket goes a bit deeper into the body as well to help with the transference of vibrations. Overall these will weigh a bit less than older California body shapes and will have excellent balance when worn with a strap standing up.

Music Store Live is proud to be an authorized dealer for Sandberg. This Limited Edition Hardcore Aged Reserve California VS-4 bass is 100% brand new and is being sold with a full manufacturer's warranty. Photos are of the exact bass you'll receive.