Sandberg celebrates its 35 anniversary with special-edition California Supreme bass

Sandberg California bass
(Image credit: Sandberg)

We’ve seen some eye-catching new bass guitars from Sandberg in the past few months, including signature models for Victor Brandt and Opeth’s Martín Méndez.

Now the German company has unveiled a new model to celebrate its 35th anniversary, the California Supreme.

The new version of Sandberg’s flagship bass design boasts a hand-selected curly maple top, matching headstock and noble oval inlay. 

There’s also a six-bolt European maple neck fortified with Sandberg’s "Thermo Treatment," which roasts the wood in a thermal oven for several days for increased playability, tone and stability.

Pickups are Delano X-Tenders, and electronics are an active Sandberg three-band system with bass, mid, treble and balance controls, as well as a push/pull volume knob that selects between active and passive. In passive mode, the EQ's treble control acts as a passive treble blend.

Other specs include a 22-fret ebony fingerboard with oval inlays and "glow-in-the-dark" side dots, as well as a tailpiece, knobs, solid bridge and Sandberg Super Light tuners made of stiff aircraft aluminum. 

The 35th Anniversary California Supreme is available in Blueburst, Honeyburst and Redburst with a high-gloss finish.

For more information, head to Sandberg Guitars.

Richard Bienstock

Rich is the co-author of the best-selling Nöthin' But a Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion. He is also a recording and performing musician, and a former editor of Guitar World magazine and executive editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine. He has authored several additional books, among them Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, the companion to the documentary of the same name.