Sandberg Basses VM 4 Virgin White Soft Aged

VM4 Virgin White Soft Aged

The bass that built Sandberg

This is the California VM4 in Virgin White Soft Aged from Sandberg, out of Germany. It weighs 3.7 kg, so that’s pretty easy on the shoulder.

The VM4 is basically the bass that built Sandberg’s reputation. Moreover, this Virgin White Soft Aged version gives you the full VM experience with just a little vintage vibe. In fact, it feels like your own bass from the first note.

Specifically, there’s no heavy relic and no bare wood showing through. Instead, a gentle aging takes the newness off and lets you focus on playing.

Soft Aged, the sweet spot

Soft Aged sits in the middle of Sandberg’s finish range. In other words, it has more character than High Gloss, but it’s less extreme than Hardcore Aged.

The Virgin White finish has carefully applied wear marks and slight edge rounding. Furthermore, the gently aged hardware makes it look like a bass that’s been played regularly but well cared for.

I would say it’s the finish for players who want a bass with personality. However, they don’t want to explain to everyone that it came that way, right?

More than looks

The practical benefit of Soft Aged goes beyond looks. For example, the neck finish is lightly sanded, which means that there’s less lacquer grab. As a result, it feels faster and smoother under your fretting hand.

In addition, the hardware patina gives it a warm, vintage look that looks right on any stage.

Alder body

The alder body is the base of the VM sound: balanced, full-range and responsive across all frequencies. For example, there’s a natural sweetness in the midrange that keeps everything musical.

Likewise, there’s solid low end that fills out a mix. Meanwhile, there’s enough high-end clarity to cut through without being aggressive. In short, it’s a wood that works for every playing style.

Pau Ferro fretboard

The Pau Ferro fretboard sits between maple’s brightness and rosewood’s warmth. Specifically, it brings a slightly woody quality to the attack without darkening the overall sound.

Therefore it’s an honest, neutral platform that lets the VM pickup configuration do its thing.

Six-bolt maple neck

For me personally, the Canadian hard rock maple neck with its C-shape profile is one of Sandberg’s greatest strengths. In fact, it’s slim, fast and really comfortable, the kind of neck that makes you forget about technique and just play.

Furthermore, the six-bolt connection to the body gives you maximum sustain and stability. Similarly, the zero fret gives you an even response across open and fretted notes.

Works everywhere

The VM4 is the bass that works everywhere. For instance, studio sessions, pub gigs, theatre pits, function bands and rock stages are all the same to it.

The tonal range covers everything from vintage P-bass thump to modern, scooped hi-fi. In other words, that’s versatility for days. Moreover, the Soft Aged Virgin White finish fits in any context. In fact, it’s understated enough for a jazz gig and cool enough for a rock show.

What’s not to like?

At Bass Buddha, we’ve sold more VM4s than almost any other model, and there’s a reason for that. Above all, in my opinion it’s the best value in Sandberg’s lineup, with German craftsmanship and professional-grade electronics.

Finally, the Virgin White Soft Aged is a really nice take on the platform. So, what’s not to like?