Sadowsky flats/guages/tension

**Chef** · #1 06-28-2009, 12:41 PM

To anyone who has tried the 40-100-125 vs the 45-105/130T sets of sadowsky flats:
are the 40's noticably lesser tension?

I have the 45-130T on my 51P-5 reissue, and they're just a little stiffer than I'd really like...tolerable tho. If the lighter gauge are a little less tension, but not floppy like TI's, I might like the lesser gauge more.

Love the way they sound!

thx-alan

jasper383 · #2 06-28-2009, 07:37 PM

I have tried the 40-125 set (currently on my Gary Willis Ibanez fretless 5) and they are not as loose as the TIs, which I have also had. No other flat is as loose as the TIs.

The closest I can think of them tension-wise and sound-wise would be the light Chromes (40-95 maybe?).

The Sadowskys are my favorite flats. Interesting that they are (maybe rumored to be) made by La Bella, as they are really different from La Bellas.

kirkm24 · #3 06-28-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasper383

I have tried the 40-125 set (currently on my Gary Willis Ibanez fretless 5) and they are not as loose as the TIs, which I have also had. No other flat is as loose as the TIs.

The closest I can think of them tension-wise and sound-wise would be the light Chromes (40-95 maybe?).

The Sadowskys are my favorite flats. Interesting that they are (maybe rumored to be) made by La Bella, as they are really different from La Bellas.

They are made by La Bella. I too have used both gauges and the 40 set is a little less tension but not too much. Definitely not TI floppy.

**Chef** · #4 06-28-2009, 08:31 PM

If they're made by LaBella, they're pretty custom.
I'm very familiar with the LaBella flats, and these aren't similar. The guages are different, the tension is different, the outer finish is different; and the sound is very different.

I'd put the Sadowsky's closer to Chromes than to the LaBella Deep Talkin'; but all three are fairly different from each other.

The LaBella *are* the Motown P-Bass sound. I use the 760FL lights, and while not stiff, they're not loose either. Fairly bootom heavy, bright when new, last forever.
The Chromes have "a more paper-y" top end, and their own sound. They're lighter tension than the LaBellas and Sad's, by my recollection anyway. I think they're a better choice for guys who like rounds and think they want flats

I really liked them on my Reverend 5L, but not much else.
The Sadowskys have a lot of clarity, harmonic content, and articulation. If you want thud; you're gonna have trim some tone, and add some bass...at least as percieved by me on my single coil precision. I like them a lot tho!

The 045 Sadowsky set feel stiffer than the LaBella Lights, which are .043...so, perhpas the .040 Sad's would suit me better.

JansenW · #5 06-28-2009, 09:27 PM

I have the 45's on my Sad RVPJ5. The tension and sound is perfect for me. I also wonder what the 40's would be like (especially with my RPJ configuration).

If you get to try out the 40's, let us know what you think of them.

**Chef** · #6 06-28-2009, 09:30 PM

will do

babaseen · #7 06-28-2009, 10:20 PM

I recently switched from LaBella 760 (45-105) to the Sadowsky (40-100) on my P bass. I love the LaBella (had them on for three years) and also made a short term switch to TI's but the tension ruled those out forever (never say never). I went with the lighter gauge Sad's recently for the playability as the 45-105 LaBella's had the killer tone (classic Motown thud once broken in) but I wanted that sound with the ability to solo with a bit more ease. I like the articluation and the tension. Seems to be working for me so far, going on three months.

**Chef** · #8 06-28-2009, 10:24 PM

So...similar tension b/t the LaBella 45-104 and Sad 40-100?

the labella are actually .043-.104

babaseen · #9 06-29-2009, 12:42 PM

Yes, IMHO...the tension between the 760FL and Sads (40-100) are similar...with the 760s slightly higher due to gauge difference.

and yes...thanks for the assist the 760FL is the 43 -104 set
(760FS is 45-105 set)

**Chef** · #10 06-29-2009, 01:10 PM

very good; thx

One Drop · #11 06-29-2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

If they're made by LaBella, they're pretty custom.
I'm very familiar with the LaBella flats, and these aren't similar. The guages are different, the tension is different, the outer finish is different; and the sound is very different.

I'd put the Sadowsky's closer to Chromes than to the LaBella Deep Talkin'; but all three are fairly different from each other.

The LaBella *are* the Motown P-Bass sound. I use the 760FL lights, and while not stiff, they're not loose either. Fairly bootom heavy, bright when new, last forever.
The Chromes have "a more paper-y" top end, and their own sound. They're lighter tension than the LaBellas and Sad's, by my recollection anyway. I think they're a better choice for guys who like rounds and think they want flats

I really liked them on my Reverend 5L, but not much else.
The Sadowskys have a lot of clarity, harmonic content, and articulation. If you want thud; you're gonna have trim some tone, and add some bass...at least as percieved by me on my single coil precision. I like them a lot tho!

The 045 Sadowsky set feel stiffer than the LaBella Lights, which are .043...so, perhpas the .040 Sad's would suit me better.

They are designed by Sadowsky, made by Labella.

I have been playing them for a few years now, and loving them. I swear they keep sounding better, but I think they have in fact just settled in and are now consistently delightful.

I do hear the essential LaBella flats voicing, but as you say, with less thump, and more growl. They aren't high-mids brighter like the Chromes are but to me clearer and more growly than the Labellas in similar gauge. This makes them a modern take on a classic flat, something like his basses are meant to be, too.

**Chef** · #12 06-29-2009, 02:07 PM

I'd buy that description...well done.

kirkm24 · #13 06-29-2009, 03:48 PM

I love the Sadowsky flats! I replaced a set of EB Slinky Nickel rounds with these and tonally there really wasn't much difference at all surprisingly. They sounded like the nickel rounds but without the clank, finger noise and maybe a hair less overall bite. These are not your father's flat wounds! You can slap with them and they sound virtually the same as nickel rounds when slapped.

I like these strings so much, I am seriously considering putting them on my 5 string as well.

One Drop · #14 06-30-2009, 01:31 PM

I was pleasantly surprised how popular they are with studio bassists, judging from the great thread somewhere else here (sorry, I don't remember in which exact forum).