Sandberg Basses Nighthawk Plus TM5 Copper

Sandberg California Nighthawk Plus TM5 Cooper

The Nighthawk Plus is Sandberg’s answer for players who need more. More output, more tonal flexibility, more visual presence. Where the standard California TM series delivers classic J-bass-inspired tones, the Nighthawk Plus takes that foundation and pushes it into modern territory with Black Label pickups, a 3-band EQ with a coil split switch, and a blacked-out aesthetic that means business. Built by hand in Braunschweig, Germany, with the same meticulous attention to detail that defines every Sandberg – but with an attitude that’s entirely its own.

The Copper matte finish is striking. It’s a warm, metallic tone that catches the light beautifully against the all-black hardware, black aluminium pickguard, and matched black headstock. It’s an instrument that looks as modern and purposeful as it sounds.

Alder and Ebony – Built for Clarity

The alder body provides the balanced, full-range foundation that the Nighthawk’s aggressive electronics need. Alder doesn’t color the sound too heavily in any direction – it gives you honest lows, a musical midrange, and clear highs that let the pickups and preamp do their thing without interference.

The ebony fretboard is the key ingredient that separates the Nighthawk from more traditional Sandberg models. Ebony is the densest, hardest fretboard wood available – it’s fast, glass-smooth under your fingers, and adds a focused, snappy attack with crystalline high-end definition. Every note pops with precision and clarity, whether you’re playing fingerstyle, slapping, or attacking with a pick. On a five-string bass, that articulation is especially welcome on the low B, where lesser fretboard woods can let things get woolly.

The Canadian Hard Rock maple neck with its C-shape profile is stable, fast, and familiar. The six-bolt connection to the body maximizes sustain and vibration transfer, and the luminlay side dots glow in the dark – a detail that matters more than you’d think on a dimly lit stage.

Black Label Electronics – The Heart of the Nighthawk

This is where the Nighthawk Plus earns the “Plus.” The Black Label pickup set consists of a single-coil in the neck position and a Power Humbucker at the bridge – both designed to be hotter, more articulate, and more aggressive than Sandberg’s standard pickups.

The single-coil delivers a tight, transparent tone with serious clarity and definition. The bridge humbucker is pure muscle – thick, barky, and commanding, with the kind of midrange presence that lets you cut through a wall of distorted guitars without breaking a sweat. Blend both pickups and you get a focused, slightly scooped tone that sits perfectly in any modern band context.

But the real trick is the 3-band Black Label preamp with its split switch. The three-band EQ gives you independent control over bass, mid, and treble – far more surgical than the standard 2-band found on other Sandberg models. The split switch lets you tap the humbucker into single-coil mode, effectively giving you a whole second set of tones. Go from full-fat humbucker growl to single-coil transparency with the flick of a switch. Pull the volume knob up and you’re in passive mode, where the treble control becomes a traditional tone knob. The versatility here is genuinely impressive – this bass can do vintage thump, modern hi-fi, aggressive rock, and everything in between.

The Nighthawk Plus TM5 is built for the working musician who refuses to compromise. The 34″ scale keeps the five-string low B tight and defined, the ergonomic California body shape balances perfectly on a strap, and the matte finish on the neck means zero friction under your fretting hand. The black Sandberg hardware – bridge and aluminium tuners – is lightweight, precise, and built to last.

Whether you’re laying down heavy grooves in a rock band, cutting through a gospel mix, tapping out modern funk lines, or recording in the studio, the Nighthawk Plus has you covered. It’s the most versatile bass in Sandberg’s lineup, and the Copper finish makes it one of the most visually distinctive too. German craftsmanship, Black Label electronics, and a price point that undercuts comparable boutique competitors significantly.