Sandberg Basses SL TM5 Matte 3-Tone Sunburst (Super Light Weight)

SL TM5 Matte 3-Tone Sunburst (Super Light Weight)

A five-string bass that weighs less than most four-strings. The Sandberg California SL TM5 SuperLight in 3-Tone Sunburst proves that you don’t have to sacrifice tone, power, or a commanding low B to save your back and shoulders. This is a full-scale, full-voiced five-string that happens to weigh next to nothing.

SuperLight – Paulownia Changes Everything

The SuperLight series is built around Paulownia – one of the lightest tonewoods available. It’s a wood that most players haven’t encountered before, but once you pick up a SuperLight bass, you’ll understand immediately why Sandberg chose it. Paulownia delivers a balanced, full-range tone that sits somewhere between basswood and alder in character. There’s warmth in the low end, clarity in the mids, and enough top-end definition to keep things articulate. The sustain is surprisingly good for such a lightweight wood, and the overall voice has a natural, organic quality that responds beautifully to dynamics.

On a five-string, the weight advantage is even more dramatic than on a four. Five-string basses are typically heavier instruments, and a three-hour gig with a heavy fiver hanging off your shoulder can be genuinely exhausting. The SL TM5 eliminates that problem entirely – you’ll forget you’re wearing it, and your playing will be better for it.

Pau Ferro and Maple – Balanced and Defined

The maple neck with its C-shape profile is fast, stable, and comfortable. Six bolts connect it to the Paulownia body for maximum sustain and vibration transfer. The Pau Ferro fretboard adds a tonal character that sits right between maple’s brightness and rosewood’s warmth – balanced, slightly woody, and articulate without being harsh. On a five-string SuperLight, that tonal balance is important. Pau Ferro ensures the low B speaks with clarity and definition rather than getting lost in the warmth of the lighter body wood.

The Tobacco Sunburst finish in matte looks classic and timeless – the dark edges fading into a warm brown center, with the natural wood grain visible through the burst. The matte finish means zero lacquer grab on the neck – just smooth, fast wood under your fretting hand.

Black Label Electronics – No Compromise

The SL TM5 carries Sandberg’s Black Label pickup set: a J-style single-coil in the neck position and a M-style humbucker at the bridge with a split switch. These are serious, professional-grade pickups – the same ones found in Sandberg’s higher-tier models.

The neck single-coil delivers transparent, focused clarity with classic jazz bass character. The bridge humbucker brings thickness, power, and growl. Engage the split switch to tap the humbucker into single-coil mode for an even wider palette of tones. The Sandberg 2-band EQ preamp with push-pull active/passive switching gives you everything from vintage passive warmth to modern active precision – all controlled by a simple, intuitive layout.

The low B string on the SL TM5 is tight, defined, and musical. The combination of the 34″ scale, the Paulownia body’s natural resonance, and the Black Label pickups’ articulate response means the fifth string isn’t just there for show – it’s a fully integrated part of the instrument’s voice.

Five Strings, No Fatigue

This is the bass for five-string players who’ve been putting up with heavy instruments because they thought there was no alternative. The SuperLight TM5 delivers every ounce of tone and versatility you’d expect from a German-made Sandberg, at a fraction of the weight. Session players, touring musicians, players with back issues, or anyone who values comfort alongside performance – this is your bass.

At Bass Buddha, the SuperLight series represents one of Sandberg’s smartest innovations. It’s not a gimmick, it’s not a compromise, and it’s not just for players with bad backs. It’s a genuinely better playing experience for everyone.