Sandberg Basses California Ida Nielsen 4

California Ida Nielsen 4

Prince didn’t pick bassists lightly. When Ida Nielsen became the bass player for the New Power Generation, she needed an instrument that could handle everything from razor-sharp funk slaps to deep, grooving pocket playing – and look extraordinary doing it. This is the bass Sandberg built for her, and it’s one of the most striking instruments to ever leave the Braunschweig workshop.

Designed by a Funk Icon

The Ida Nielsen Signature isn’t just a standard TM4 with a fancy pickguard. Ida traveled to Sandberg’s workshop in Braunschweig and worked directly with Holger Stonjek to spec out every detail – pickup positioning, neck profile, electronics, hardware, even the placement of the thumb rest between the pickups. The result is a bass purpose-built for the demands of a world-class funk and groove player.

The Asian silk pickguard with its intricate gold-on-black floral pattern is the most immediately striking feature, but it’s far from the only special touch. Gold hardware throughout, including a D-tuner on the E string for instant drop-D access. A thumb rest perfectly positioned between the pickups for players who anchor there. Fluorescent side dots that glow on dark stages. And Sandberg’s vibration treatment, which gives this brand new bass the resonance and response of an instrument that’s been played for years.

The European alder body provides the balanced, punchy foundation that funk bass demands. There’s a natural tightness in the low end and a present, slightly aggressive midrange that makes slap technique pop and fingerstyle lines cut through a full band. Alder doesn’t over-color the sound – it’s honest, direct, and responsive to dynamics.

The birdseye maple fretboard is the secret weapon for this style of playing. Maple is the brightest, snappiest fretboard wood available – it adds a glassy, percussive top end to every note that makes slaps crack and pops sing. The birdseye figuring isn’t just beautiful to look at – it indicates a density in the wood grain that adds even more articulation and focus. Combined with the black block inlays, the neck looks as premium as it plays.

The Canadian Hard Rock maple neck is fast, stable, and comfortable. The Soft Aged treatment on the black finish gives the body a subtle worn-in look without the heavy relic of Sandberg’s Hardcore or Masterpiece lines – just enough to take the newness off and make it feel like an instrument you’ve been playing for years.

Black Label Electronics – Built for Funk

The pickup configuration is Sandberg’s Black Label TM set: a T-style single-coil in the middle position and an M-style humbucker at the bridge. This is a hotter, more aggressive pickup set than Sandberg’s standard offerings, chosen specifically by Ida for its ability to deliver both pristine clean tones and powerful, in-your-face attack.

The single-coil delivers the transparent, articulate tone that jazz bass players crave – perfect for fingerstyle grooves and melodic playing. The bridge humbucker adds serious muscle – thick, punchy, and commanding, with the kind of low-end authority that makes slap bass sound massive. Blend both together and you get a rich, complex voice that covers an enormous range of territory.

The Sandberg 2-band EQ preamp with push-pull active/passive switching gives you the tools to shape your sound on the fly. In active mode, boost the treble for extra slap bite or add bass for deeper grooves. Pull the volume knob for passive mode and the treble becomes a tone control – instant vintage warmth for those moments when the song calls for something more restrained. The D-tuner on the E string lets you drop to D instantly, opening up a whole extra octave of low-end possibilities without interrupting your flow.

The Ida Nielsen Signature is a bass with personality. The combination of the black Soft Aged finish, gold hardware, and that incredible Asian silk pickguard creates a visual impact that’s impossible to ignore on stage. But underneath the looks is a seriously capable instrument built to the exacting standards of one of the world’s most demanding funk bassists.

Whether you’re a slap player looking for the ultimate funk machine, a groove player who needs an instrument that responds to every nuance of your touch, or simply someone who appreciates a bass that looks and sounds like nothing else – this is it. German craftsmanship meets Danish funk royalty, available at Bass Buddha.