Why buy a Sadowsky?

[Munjibunga]

Yep, they're expensive, but one of the things you get is fantastic customer service. Through a sequence of events centered on my own stupidity, I managed to pull the shaft clean out of the volume pot on my 25th Anniversary Modern 5-24. I was able to repair it with a little filing and some super glue, but I don't know how well it's going to hold up.

So I shot an email off to Kevin to find out how much a new pot is going to cost me, and his response was, "Are you still at the same address? I'll just ship you a new one, no charge."

Now, as I get increasingly crotchety in my old age, I have reduced tolerance for the runaround and rigamaroll. I just feel really good for having bought not only an extremely high-quality instrument, but also the no-muss, no-fuss customer service that goes with it.

So the next time you get caught in the old "are high-end basses worth it" thread, keep in mind the level of service our pals at Sadowsky and other high-end firms provide their customers. (This goes for my experiences with Jason DeSalvo, George Furlanetto, and Jerzy Drozd, too.)

Thanks Kevin.

[pacojas]

OMG Munji....

braggin' about receiving a free volume pot?!!!

(i LOL'd all over myself)

[drummer5359]

That sounds great to me. My bass playing as of yet does not warrent a high end instrument. Someday if it does, these are the things that I want to know.

Very cool.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by pacojas

OMG Munji....

braggin' about receiving a free volume pot?!!!

(i LOL'd all over myself)

Well, not exactly. I was kind of lauding Sadowsky. Bragging would be about something I had accomplished. Read the first paragraph. Maybe it's a language thing.

[enricogaletta]

Totally agree with your opinion, the Sadowsky crew shows an amazing kindness and support, in my opinion this is one big thing that make a team winner.
Cheers. Enrico
YouTube
WebSite

[carlis]

Your post actually made me wanting a NYC M5-24!

[bass12]

Huge +1. I couldn't agree more. Customer service is a big thing for me. If I'm shelling out a lot of money for a product I want to feel that, not only am I getting a great product, but also that I'm giving my money to decent people. Kevin (at Sadowsky) has never failed to impress me. No nonsense and no butt kissing, he's just up front, genuine, kind and helpful. It's that type of service that makes me want to see a company succeed.

[baba]

I remember when the old SWR in the 90's sent me a free set of casters to replace the broken one on my Goliath III. At the time I thought, "Now this is how you build customer loyalty!"

[mmbongo]

Free pot when you buy a Sadowsky? Wait...what?

[marijn van gils]

Some are still misreading the OP.
It is not about the free pot, it is about the manufacturer actually taking the time to listen to your problem, reply quick and solve the problem without any fuss, asking about your warrantly slip, etc. ... and in the end actually caring about their product and customers.

This has been also my experience with Jerzy Drozd, in contrast to some other companies...

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by marijn van gils

Some are still misreading the OP.
It is not about the free pot, it is about the manufacturer actually taking the time to listen to your problem, reply quick and solve the problem without any fuss, asking about your warrantly slip, etc. ... and in the end actually caring about their product and customers.

This has been also my experience with Jerzy Drozd, in contrast to some other companies...

Exactly. It's a kind of counterpoint to the "Are boutique basses worth it" threads. When you buy a bass from one of these builders (with very few exceptions), you're getting more than a bass. These builders care about their customers, their instruments, and their reputations.

I've met many of the boutique builders, and they are characteristically congenial, friendly folks who'll take the time to chew the fat with you, even if you don't own one of their basses. As I mentioned previously, every dealing I've had with boutique builders has been pleasant and gratifying, even when there has been an issue with one of their basses.

[hover]

The dude at Rondo sent me a new replacement knob for my chinese 70's knockoff Jazz because it was cracked.

So freakin awesome.

[carlthegroover]

I heard a "cheap" Sadowsky goes for 3,000 US dollars or something like that. Is that true? Sincerely, is one bass worth all that money?

I'm not questioning the quality/ customer service at all, but it seems like a major, major investment to me and something that requires a lot of thought, care and commitment. Maybe it's because I'm still unemployed and the price sounds astronomical at this point .

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by carlthegroover

I heard a "cheap" Sadowsky goes for 3,000 US dollars or something like that. Is that true? Sincerely, is one bass worth all that money?

I'm not questioning the quality/ customer service at all, but it seems like a major, major investment to me and something that requires a lot of thought, care and commitment. Maybe it's because I'm still unemployed and the price sounds astronomical at this point .

For an NYC Sadowsky, that would be low. Yes, it's worth it.

[carlthegroover]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Yes, it's worth it.

How so? Say you have a $4000+ Sadowsky (or whatever one costs) vs a $2000+ Fender. What's worth an additional $2000 that makes it preferrable to get a Sadowsky instead of, say, another Fender or any other premium bass (or modify the bass to your own liking... or even get a custom bass instead)? What part of that extra money is reflected in the real value of the bass, and what part is branding?

[HaMMerHeD]

I once emailed Dunlop, asking where I could buy two dual-design strap lock buttons...just the buttons, strap-side locking mechanism not included. The lady who answered the email asked me for my address and sent me four strap buttons, a few bags of various kinds of picks, some velcro cable ties, and a bunch of stickers.

[HunterBrodt]

Originally Posted by carlthegroover

How so? Say you have a $4000+ Sadowsky (or whatever one costs) vs a $2000+ Fender. What's worth an additional $2000 that makes it preferrable to get a Sadowsky instead of, say, another Fender or any other premium bass (or modify the bass to your own liking... or even get a custom bass instead)? What part of that extra money is reflected in the real value of the bass, and what part is branding?

It's not going to be 50% better... It might only be 15%. Even though I'm not really an electric player I have had this experience in the db world. Only on my side of things were talking about $5000 vs$9000 or $14,000 vs 20,000.

But yes better instruments are most defiantly worth the extra money when you plan on using it for thousands of hours. If you used a $4000 sadowsky for 5000 hours that would make it 75 cents an hour. Worth it.... I think so

[bass12]

Originally Posted by carlthegroover

How so? Say you have a $4000+ Sadowsky (or whatever one costs) vs a $2000+ Fender. What's worth an additional $2000 that makes it preferrable to get a Sadowsky instead of, say, another Fender or any other premium bass (or modify the bass to your own liking... or even get a custom bass instead)? What part of that extra money is reflected in the real value of the bass, and what part is branding?

The answer to your initial question of "is it worth it" is not a simple "yes" or "no". It really depends on the individual and what he or she values. In terms of sound, I'd say that's mostly subjective. Sadowskys have a sound that a lot of people would die for and it's the same with Fenders. In terms of build quality it's unlikely, in my opinion, that you'll find any Fender that has been as carefully and impeccably built as a Sadowsky. Now, whether that extra attention regarding the builds is of importance to you is something only you can decide for yourself. Some other reasons some folks might feel it is "worth it" to spend the extra money on a Sadowsky:

- Reputation. The Sadowsky brand has a rock solid reputation. No "up" or "down" periods production-wise - total consistency in the quality of the products. The same cannot be said of Fender (or numerous other instrument manufacturers). There's a certain peace of mind that is maintained when you are dealing with a company that has such an outstanding track record.

- Customer service. For some people this is not a big deal and for others it is. After having a terrible experience with Warwick some years back I now place a significant amount of store by how well a company treats its customers. I've dealt with Sadowsky on several occasions and each time I felt like a genuinely valued customer whose best interests were of importance to the company. If I have a concern I know the guys at Sadowsky will have my back.

- The existence of small, independently run businesses. Now, more than ever, I feel like I want to support small businesses. To me it's important that companies like Sadowsky are out there. What's more, I value artisans and am prepared to pay more for their services.

- Status/the notion of being part of an "elite few". There's no denying that a lot of people enjoy owning something that is not necessarily attainable by everyone. There are also people who simply enjoy owning/playing something that relatively few people own/play. Rarity can certainly add to the "preciousness" of an item and Sadowskys are relatively rare (certainly in comparison to Fenders).

- That feeling you get the first time you play a Sadowsky on stage in a band setting; it really is priceless.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by bass12

The answer to your initial question of "is it worth it" is not a simple "yes" or "no". It really depends on the individual and what he or she values. In terms of sound, I'd say that's mostly subjective. Sadowskys have a sound that a lot of people would die for and it's the same with Fenders. In terms of build quality it's unlikely, in my opinion, that you'll find any Fender that has been as carefully and impeccably built as a Sadowsky. Now, whether that extra attention regarding the builds is of importance to you is something only you can decide for yourself. Some other reasons some folks might feel it is "worth it" to spend the extra money on a Sadowsky:

- Reputation. The Sadowsky brand has a rock solid reputation. No "up" or "down" periods production-wise - total consistency in the quality of the products. The same cannot be said of Fender (or numerous other instrument manufacturers). There's a certain peace of mind that is maintained when you are dealing with a company that has such an outstanding track record.

- Customer service. For some people this is not a big deal and for others it is. After having a terrible experience with Warwick some years back I now place a significant amount of store by how well a company treats its customers. I've dealt with Sadowsky on several occasions and each time I felt like a genuinely valued customer whose best interests were of importance to the company. If I have a concern I know the guys at Sadowsky will have my back.

- The existence of small, independently run businesses. Now, more than ever, I feel like I want to support small businesses. To me it's important that companies like Sadowsky are out there. What's more, I value artisans and am prepared to pay more for their services.

- Status/the notion of being part of an "elite few". There's no denying that a lot of people enjoy owning something that is not necessarily attainable by everyone. There are also people who simply enjoy owning/playing something that relatively few people own/play. Rarity can certainly add to the "preciousness" of an item and Sadowskys are relatively rare (certainly in comparison to Fenders).

- That feeling you get the first time you play a Sadowsky on stage in a band setting; it really is priceless.

That pretty much covers it.

[abngourmet]

Originally Posted by carlthegroover

How so? Say you have a $4000+ Sadowsky (or whatever one costs) vs a $2000+ Fender. What's worth an additional $2000 that makes it preferrable to get a Sadowsky instead of, say, another Fender or any other premium bass (or modify the bass to your own liking... or even get a custom bass instead)? What part of that extra money is reflected in the real value of the bass, and what part is branding?

I own Alembics, Gibsons, Fenders, Peaveys, Rickenbackers, a Pedulla, a Lakland, a Parker (not the PB series), a Martin, an Ovation, a vintage Guild, a Godin (A4), and yes, a Sadowsky, as well as three Fenders (two from the '70s, and one from the 90s). Thought I'd throw that out there to offer a bit of perspective before I comment. And no, I'm not bragging - I acquired these instruments over many years - I'm not independently wealthy. Some were expensive, others less so.

What's worth an additional $2000 that makes it preferable to get a Sadowsky or another Fender/premium bass? What is the real value, and what part is branding?

As to what's worth the extra $2000 as regards a Sadowsky instrument, I would offer this - it is very light (even compared to my "lighter" 90s Fender Jazz Bass Deluxe Fretless), it is very quiet (the shielding on my Sadowsky is better than that of my '90s fretless Fender, and that of the 2005 Fender Jazz Bass Deluxe fretted that I used to own), it comes with a light but very protective case, and it has been (for me at least) problem free since I've owned it (four years). Neck pocket is tight (Fender is much better in this respect lately), the finish is impeccable, and it has design features I really like (the truss rod adjustment wheel at the end of the fingerboard). They also offer a 7 day return policy (with some conditions, granted) that I don't see Fender offering. Finally, I went to the Sadowsky "factory" when in NYC in late 2007. I had the opportunity to play a bunch of Sadowskys through what seemed like 20 different amps in their showroom. I was just a regular schlub, there for a week or so, but I was treated like I was the most important person in the world by Roger and his staff. They took me into the showroom, and let me play around with what they had (and believe me, I did). I didn't leave with an instrument that day, but later, after I returned home, I purchased the Sadowsky I still have today (a vintage 4, in Black Pearl with a rosewood board). That I returned home and bought that bass AFTER I'd left speaks volumes to me.

I own a custom Alembic Series II John Entwistle Replica, the only one of it's kind in the world to my knowledge (other than the originals, of course). What makes it worth it to me? The neck is to my specifications, as is the placing of the controls and body shape. The pickups are placed where I want them, and the sharps/flats on the fingerboard inlays (the note for note inlays, in mother of pearl) are in sterling silver wire (they look better than the mother of pearl on the original JE basses). I had input during the build process. And it is infinitely lighter than the previous Entwistle "Spyder" basses that Alembic made (one of which I owned). It took four years to make this bass (a lot of different reasons which I won't go into here), but it is exactly as I wanted it, and it is worth every penny to me. What part of the extra money I paid is reflected in the actual value (to me)? Neck the way I wanted it, body the way I wanted it, inlays the way I wanted them, pickup/control placement the way I wanted it, body woods/neck woods the way I wanted them. In the end, I got the bass of my dreams. That's where the value of extra expense lies if you ask me.

What is the real value (of any bass, regardless of cost)? Only you can answer that question. I have basses that cost me less than $500, one that cost $16K, and everything in between. Only you can answer the question as to whether any bass is worth the cost.

What part is branding? I don't know. I never thought Sadowskys were all that different from Fenders until I played them through several different amplifiers at Roger's shop in Brooklyn. I figured they were Fender clones, and that they'd sound just like my '73 Jazz Bass, or my '76 Precision. Boy, was I wrong - they are different sounding. And I hate to say this, as it is almost cliche on TB, but they really do cut through the mix. I know this from experience having used my '73 Jazz and the Sadowsky on the same gig. There is a reason that a lot of folks like (or don't like) Sadowskys. As a brand, they have a reputation for "cutting through the mix." Whether you agree with that reputation is, of course, your choice. I'm guessing that part of their success as a brand is due to that perception, right or wrong. In my experience, that perception is spot on.

Fenders, on the other hand, have the reputation of being easy for engineers in the recording studio to record, or to use live. Fender over the years has advertised/branded their instruments to take advantage of this belief. I'd submit that this branding tactic isn't as sacrosanct as it once was. Too many bassists are using lots of basses other than Fender in the studio today (think Victor Wooten, Stanley Clarke, Lee Sklar, David Hungate, Nathan East, etc.). I've recorded using my Sadowsky, and it recorded just as well as any Fender I've owned over the years. Engineers like things they're familiar with (Fenders) as opposed to anything they're not familiar with. This, I think, has as much to do with the "mystique" surrounding Fenders as anything else. The truth is there are any number of marques that will do as well or better than a Fender, and that's OK. I'm glad we have so many choices as bassists. Growing up in the late '70s, I can tell you from experience that it wasn't always that way.

Alan