Lakland JO4 + Sadowsky single coils

KNURRR · #1 06-30-2010, 06:26 AM

Hey guys,

do you think i will get a good result with Sadowsky single coil pickups in my Lakland Skyline JO4, if i'm looking for "the" sadowsky tone? (yes, money is an issue... that's why i think of modding ;-))

Best thing would be to come close as possible to this tone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWmWx...eature=related) without spending over 200-500$

Thank you for your opinion!

Cheers,
Phil

narud · #2 06-30-2010, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KNURRR

Hey guys,

do you think i will get a good result with Sadowsky single coil pickups in my Lakland Skyline JO4, if i'm looking for "the" sadowsky tone? (yes, money is an issue... that's why i think of modding ;-))

Best thing would be to come close as possible to this tone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWmWx...eature=related) without spending over 200-500$

Thank you for your opinion!

Cheers,
Phil

you need the sad humcancellers for that sound

20db pad · #3 06-30-2010, 09:56 AM

Agreed on the Sadowsky humcancellers - they are smoother and a little more mid-scooped than singles.

The sort of tone as heard in the clip is helped along immensely by a Sadowsky preamp.

Chasarms · #4 06-30-2010, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 20db pad

. . . The sort of tone as heard in the clip is helped along immensely by a Sadowsky preamp.

Indeed.

I would suggest you would get closer to that with your existing PUs and a Sadowsky preamp than by simply changing the the PUs.

The pickups that Lakland uses in the Skyline JOs are excellent. I don't think it would be a significant variance for what the Sadowsky PUs would cost.

BuffaloBass · #5 06-30-2010, 11:13 AM

I was going to say that if I wanted one of my AERO-equipped basses to have that "smooth clean" Saddie sound, I'm use a Saddie preamp without a doubt. I beleive it is teh key to that sound.

narud · #6 06-30-2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasarms

Indeed.

I would suggest you would get closer to that with your existing PUs and a Sadowsky preamp than by simply changing the the PUs.

The pickups that Lakland uses in the Skyline JOs are excellent. I don't think it would be a significant variance for what the Sadowsky PUs would cost.

they are excellent pickups, but they sound like single coils. an outboard pre isnt going to make a bass with singles sound like a bass with humcancelling pickups.

KNURRR · #7 06-30-2010, 12:26 PM

I really appreciate your comments!

The Sadowsky outboard preamp would be indeed worth considering, because of owing a second bass aswell. Anyway installing the humcancelling Sadowsky PUs on the JO4 sounds essential to me.

Be it that i acquire both, the PUs and the pre, how close do you think will i get to the basic tone im looking for? Can you estimate what will be common and what not?

Chasarms · #8 06-30-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by narud

they are excellent pickups, but they sound like single coils. an outboard pre isnt going to make a bass with singles sound like a bass with humcancelling pickups.

Agreed.

Although I do think you could "scoop" them out a bit on the EQ and add the Sadowsky preamp and be much closer to that tone than the Sadowsky DCs with no pre. Of course, if the OP wants to swap both, I guess that's even closer.

20db pad · #9 06-30-2010, 02:09 PM

I think you'd be very happy with the Sadowsky humbuckers and the Sadowsky pre.

Chasarms · #10 06-30-2010, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KNURRR

. . .Be it that i acquire both, the PUs and the pre, how close do you think will i get to the basic tone im looking for? Can you estimate what will be common and what not?

It's hard to say. You'll be in the ball park. I have played a couple of "non-Sadowsky" basses with Sadowsky electronics, they had kinda the same thing going. I will say though that I had a nice JO5 for bit. It was great, but it was heavy and not nearly as resonant as my Sadowsky which would come through in the overall tone. Of course, it was also a 35" bass which has a marginal impact on the sound as well.

FWIW, for what you are going to spend, you are not too far from selling the JO and picking up a used Metro, which while a bit more expensive to the short term, is probably a more cost-effective plan, as you will not get any more money for the JO with the Sadowsky PUs in it if you want or need to sell.

narud · #11 06-30-2010, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasarms

It's hard to say. You'll be in the ball park. I have played a couple of "non-Sadowsky" basses with Sadowsky electronics, they had kinda the same thing going. I will say though that I had a nice JO5 for bit. It was great, but it was heavy and not nearly as resonant as my Sadowsky which would come through in the overall tone. Of course, it was also a 35" bass which has a marginal impact on the sound as well.

FWIW, for what you are going to spend, you are not too far from selling the JO and picking up a used Metro, which while a bit more expensive to the short term, is probably a more cost-effective plan, as you will not get any more money for the JO with the Sadowsky PUs in it if you want or need to sell.

good point on the weight. youll need a lighter one combined with the guts to get you that hollowish modern scooped sound. i personally prefer the sound of heavier ash, but that sure isnt the sadowsky sound.

KNURRR · #12 07-01-2010, 07:22 AM

Hm yes. I suspected that, but i can't anticipate how big the influence of the weight is. I mean my JO4 is (at least i think so) a lightweight with her 7,5 lbs, but it is non chambered swamp ash.

Could the Result be similar to the sound of a Fender MarcusMiller maybe?! (When i'm right informed than this model isn't chambered, real heavy and uses the Sadowsky onboard preamp).

With regards,
Phil

Chasarms · #13 07-01-2010, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KNURRR

Hm yes. I suspected that, but i can't anticipate how big the influence of the weight is. I mean my JO4 is (at least i think so) a lightweight with her 7,5 lbs, but it is non chambered swamp ash.

Could the Result be similar to the sound of a Fender MarcusMiller maybe?! (When i'm right informed than this model isn't chambered, real heavy and uses the Sadowsky onboard preamp).

With regards,
Phil

The effect of the chambering on the tone is subtle at best. There are as many Sadowskys out there that are not chambered as there ones that are. My Sad NYC PJ wieghs a shade over 8 pounds and is not chambered. It is ash also.

7.5 pounds is pretty light. If you go with Sadowsky electronics, it will likely turn out well.

It'll be interesting to see if you will be able to get the Sadowky preamp and a battery in the standard jazz cavity of the JO.

KNURRR · #14 07-01-2010, 08:12 AM

I tend to buy the outboard preamp for avoiding cavity issues. ;-)
Furthermore i can use it with my JO5 also.

I guess soundwise there is no big difference between the on and outboard preamp.

Chasarms · #15 07-01-2010, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KNURRR

I tend to buy the outboard preamp for avoiding cavity issues. ;-)
Furthermore i can use it with my JO5 also.

I guess soundwise there is no big difference between the on and outboard preamp.

Not really. Plus the OB makes a KILLER DI for both live and recording applications.

narud · #16 07-01-2010, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KNURRR

I tend to buy the outboard preamp for avoiding cavity issues. ;-)
Furthermore i can use it with my JO5 also.

I guess soundwise there is no big difference between the on and outboard preamp.

theoretically no, realistically yes. i posted some clips in a thread i started a while back with the same bass running an alleva coppolo pre wired onboard and then again mounted in a stompbox. the differences are clearly audible.

KNURRR · #17 07-01-2010, 09:11 AM

Hm okay i see. And this is also true for the Sadowsky preamps?

Chasarms · #18 07-01-2010, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by narud

theoretically no, realistically yes. i posted some clips in a thread i started a while back with the same bass running an alleva coppolo pre wired onboard and then again mounted in a stompbox. the differences are clearly audible.

I have a Sadowsky NYC, and I also have one of the OB Sadowsky preamps. You can plug the bass into the OB and set two controls to the same positions and A/B all day with the OB bypass and the push/pull on the bass. I've done it.

The differences are VERY subtle. As I understand it, the electronics of the two are the same. The only varience would be the changes in PU output and/or impedence caused by the two jacks and the instrument cable.

Saluki · #19 07-01-2010, 09:21 AM

I agree that you can get some great tones out of your JO4 with the sadowsky pre installed and for that tone on the video probably the HCs. You might also onsider the affect of the body woods on the tone as well. In the video the bas is most likely a chambered alder with RW board and you JO will be ash body with either a maple or RW board. Just other variables to consider.

rojo412 · #20 07-01-2010, 12:03 PM

FWIW, I made a Squier sound like a Sadowsky with the Humcancelling PUs and an Aguilar OBP3...
However, in passive mode, it still sounded Sadowskish, so it's all about the pickups if you ask me. The Pre just adds some "tone fondling."

The word on the street is that Dimarzio Ultra Jazz pickups will also do that tone. Never tried, but I hear a lot of stories.