Sandberg VM5 Aged Cream, Maple

There's something special about a bass that looks like it's already played a thousand gigs before it's even left the shop, and this Sandberg California VM5 in Aged Cream nails that vibe perfectly. Hand-aged in Sandberg's Braunschweig workshop, the Vintage Cream finish has the warm, lived-in character of a well-loved vintage instrument, paired with a maple fretboard for a classic look that's hard to beat.

But don't let the vintage looks fool you. Under the hood, the VM5 is a thoroughly modern five-string. The alder body delivers the balanced, punchy, rounded tone that has defined great basses for decades, while the six-bolt Canadian hard rock maple neck gives it a rock-solid neck joint and excellent sustain. The maple fretboard adds snap and clarity to every note, and Sandberg's beautifully finished, comfortable neck profile makes it easy to get around, even if you're new to five-string.

The real magic is in the pickup pairing. A Sandberg P-style split coil in the neck position gives you that thick, fat, unmistakable Precision thump, while the Sandberg power humbucker at the bridge brings MM-style growl, punch and aggression. Blend between them and you've got everything from deep, old-school pocket tones to modern slap and cutting fingerstyle, all with a tight, focused low B that stays clear in a band mix. The Sandberg 2-band active preamp gives you plenty of tonal shaping, and if you prefer a more organic sound (or your battery dies mid-set), flick to passive mode and you've still got a great-sounding bass with a passive tone control.

Retro looks, modern versatility, and German build quality. If you've been chasing one bass that can do it all and look this good doing it, come in and plug this one in.

Body Wood: Alder
Neck: 6-bolt Canadian hardrock maple
Fretboard: Maple
Scale Length: Standard 34"
Frets: 22 frets
Nut/Zero Fret Width: 45 mm
Fingerboard Radius: 14"

Electronics

Pickups: Sandberg P and MM humbucker
Preamp: Sandberg 2-band active/passive preamp
Controls: Master Volume (Push/Pull for Active/Passive), Pickup Blend (or Balance), Bass, Treble

Hardware & Miscellaneous

Bridge: Sandberg custom 3D bridge
String Spacing: 18 mm to 19.5 mm (adjustable at the bridge)