Sandberg

Sandberg Electric Guitars — German Precision, Classic Soul

Sandberg Guitars was founded in 1986 by Holger Stonjek in Wolfsburg, Germany, in a small factory in an old farm building on the street that would give the company its name. Stonjek had trained as a piano maker before discovering his true calling in the world of stringed instruments, and the obsessive craftsmanship he developed in that training has run through every instrument Sandberg has made ever since. Today, operating from a larger facility in Braunschweig, Sandberg has grown into the second-largest manufacturer of electric basses in Germany, with a devoted following among professional players around the world.

Bass building is where Sandberg made their name, with players including Ken Taylor, longtime bassist for Bruce Springsteen and Brian May, and Ida Nielsen, bassist for Prince, choosing Sandberg instruments for some of the biggest stages in the world. But the same precision engineering, hand-shaped necks, premium tonewoods, and proprietary aging and treatment processes that define the bass lineup run through every electric guitar Sandberg makes as well. Players who know Sandberg through their basses and pick up a Sandberg guitar for the first time inevitably reach the same conclusion: the quality is identical, and the tone is extraordinary.

What Sets Sandberg Apart

Every Sandberg instrument, bass or guitar, is built by hand with individual care at each stage of production. Necks are hand-shaped. Fretwork is done by hand. Bodies are hand-contoured. Finishes are applied and aged by hand. The result is an instrument that feels like it was made specifically for the player holding it, because in many respects it was.

Sandberg's proprietary Thermo Treatment process, developed through an intensive research collaboration with the University of Dresden, slowly roasts select tonewoods to replicate the natural aging that gives vintage instruments their distinctive resonance, sustain, and tonal warmth. Their Vibration Treatment process takes this further by mechanically vibrating the wood over an extended period to open up its acoustic properties before a single note is ever played on it. These are not marketing claims. They are engineering solutions developed through rigorous research, and the results are audible from the first chord.

The aging finish options available across the guitar lineup, including Soft Aged, which mimics the natural wear of years of regular playing, and Hardcore Aged, which produces the look and feel of decades of hard road use, mean that every Sandberg can be configured to look exactly as lived-in as the player wants it to.

The Models

California ST — Sandberg's S-style guitar and the most versatile instrument in the electric guitar lineup. Available in two configurations: the California STS with three Sandberg Vintage Power single-coil pickups featuring Alnico 5 magnets and a push-push pot for special humbucker-sound wiring in the bridge position, and the California STH with an HSS configuration pairing two single coils with a Sandberg Vintage Power humbucker. Both models feature a Canadian hardrock maple bolt-on neck, swamp ash or alder body with optional rare wood tops, a Wilkinson tremolo, Kluson Locking tuners, and a 25.5-inch scale. Also available as a 27-inch baritone for players who need more weight and tension in lower tunings.

California DC — Sandberg's double-cutaway interpretation of the classic American offset solid body, fitted with two Sandberg Vintage Power single-coil pickups and a push-pull pot that engages a series wiring mode for a fatter, humbucker-adjacent tone. The Canadian hardrock maple bolt-on neck, Kluson Locking tuners, and compensation bridge give the California DC a clarity and tuning stability that makes it as reliable in the studio as it is on stage.

Florence — The most tonally rounded instrument in the Sandberg guitar lineup, built around a chambered mahogany body with a maple top, a set mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard, and two Sandberg Vintage Power humbuckers wired to independent volume controls and a shared passive tone. The 24.75-inch scale and chambered construction give the Florence a warmth, resonance, and sustain that set it apart from the bolt-on models, and Schaller M6 Backlocking tuners ensure it stays in tune through the most demanding playing. Available in matt and aged finishes.

Electra DC — Sandberg's most visually bold guitar design, bringing the aggressive aesthetic sensibility of the Forty Eight bass into the six-string electric format with an angular, eye-catching body shape that is guaranteed to turn heads. The Electra DC pairs striking looks with the same quality construction and Sandberg electronics that run through the rest of the guitar lineup, making it the natural choice for players who want something that stands out as much as it sounds great.

Forty Eight — Named after the iconic 1948 Harley-Davidson motorcycle engine, the Forty Eight guitar brings the beloved design language of Sandberg's most celebrated bass model into a six-string electric format. Its body cleverly combines the curvaceous upper bout of a Thunderbird with the angular lower bout of an Explorer, finished in Sandberg's distinctive aged and hardcore-aged options that give it the personality of an instrument that has already survived decades of hard playing. This is Sandberg's most rock and roll guitar, and it knows it.

Built Your Way

Every Sandberg guitar is available through the brand's online Configurator, which allows players to select body wood, neck profile, fretboard material, finish, hardware color, and aging level, with a real-time digital rendering that updates as each choice is made. Whether you order from existing inventory or spec out a custom build, the Sandberg experience begins the moment you start making choices and doesn't end until the guitar arrives perfectly set up and ready to play.

Browse our full selection of Sandberg electric guitars, and reach out if you'd like help navigating the configuration options or placing a custom order.