DiMarzio Ultra Jazz vs Sadowsky SC

bassnyc1 · #1 08-01-2010, 10:11 AM

Hi all,

Bit nervous about posting in the pickups and electronics section; I'm pretty clueless when it comes to this. Okay, here goes:

I want to replace the pickups on my Fender jazz. I love the Sadowsky sound but cannot afford one of his basses (YET!) so I thought that if I put his SC Jazz pickups in my Fender, I may get close. My Jazz bass is a CIJ JB 75 reissue (one of the models you can only buy in Japan) It's a natural finished ash body with a maple fretboard, bound and blocked. I hope to get a growly tone from new pickups since the stock ones are kinda weak and undefined. I know I might not get close to that tone because of the woods used for this particular bass but I'd like to try. I heard Sadowsky pickups are basically tweaked versions of DiMarzio ultra jazz pickups but they're more expensive so which do you think I should go for?

All replies welcome and Thank You.

bassnyc1 · #2 08-02-2010, 12:38 AM

Bump?

Chasarms · #3 08-03-2010, 08:03 PM

The "Sadowsky" tone is more defined by the Sadowsky preamp than the pickups. If you are truly interested in the "Sadowsky" sound, I would start with a Sadowsky outboard preamp. They are totally non-invasive and sound amazingly similar to the inboard Sadowsky pre. I would expect it to work fairly well with the stock pickups. But if you are still in tweak mode, you might try swapping the PUs. FWIW, Sadowsky now uses Nordstrand pickups.

The outboard also doubles as a kickin' DI.

depalm · #4 08-03-2010, 08:52 PM

Sadowsky uses Nordstrand on all his basses?

Chasarms · #5 08-03-2010, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by depalm

Sadowsky uses Nordstrand on all his basses?

For all of his "vintage" profile basses, he is using Nordstrand for all five string configurations. He may be using other vendors for 4 string applications. I really don't know, but I would expect Nordstrand. Carey's stuff is as good as it gets.

I don't know the source for the Sadowsky soapbar on the modern 24s. It was Seymour Duncan for the longest time.

Fran Diaz · #6 08-04-2010, 07:57 AM

I think that we shouldn't talk about Nordstrand, SD or Dimarzio pickups when the pickup itself reads "Sadowsky". Those companies build the pickups following Roger's specs and tone goals so trying to go with a somewhat similar pickup fron those brands might not give you the expected results.

Roger sells his preamps and pickups direct so why not buying the real deal from him?

Rano Bass · #7 08-04-2010, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasarms

The "Sadowsky" tone is more defined by the Sadowsky preamp than the pickups. If you are truly interested in the "Sadowsky" sound, I would start with a Sadowsky outboard preamp.

What he said.
Leave the stock pickups for now and add an outboard Sadowsky preamp.
I used a japanese Fender with an older model Sadowsky outboard preamp for sometime and loved the sound.