Club Sadowsky (Part 28)

[Modern Growl]

Originally Posted by bonga_rascal

Cool. Thanks! I'm concerned about mids. Now a little history, of all the basses I've played I've found out that boosting the mids just a bit at around the 400z mark makes them sound fatter and IMO sit well in the mix.

Now, Roger's basses apart from the Will Lee model have no mid control but I've always been mystified as to how they're always and I mean ALWAYS sitting in the mix so well. They cut through and never have I heard a person say bad things about the way a Sadowsky sounds.

This is my only concern regarding wood choice - MIDS!

I know I'm bound to lose some mids if I go with Swamp Ash + Maple/Maple over Alder + Maple/Rosewood.

So here's basically my question, do you guys feel that getting an Alder rosewood bass will sit better in the mix than a swamp ash maple one primarily because of the amount of mids present in the bass due to wood choice ?

Thanks.

Listen to this MV4 in a mix:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLEGQ4VO4Uo

Cuts through extremely well.

Go with single coils for a more mid present sound (Humcancelling have a slight scoop to em').

[Chef]

Here's a bit better fan pic of the MV5PJ from yesterday.

[NOLA Bass]

Originally Posted by bonga_rascal

Cool. Thanks! I'm concerned about mids. Now a little history, of all the basses I've played I've found out that boosting the mids just a bit at around the 400z mark makes them sound fatter and IMO sit well in the mix.

Now, Roger's basses apart from the Will Lee model have no mid control but I've always been mystified as to how they're always and I mean ALWAYS sitting in the mix so well. They cut through and never have I heard a person say bad things about the way a Sadowsky sounds.

This is my only concern regarding wood choice - MIDS!

I know I'm bound to lose some mids if I go with Swamp Ash + Maple/Maple over Alder + Maple/Rosewood.

So here's basically my question, do you guys feel that getting an Alder rosewood bass will sit better in the mix than a swamp ash maple one primarily because of the amount of mids present in the bass due to wood choice ?

Thanks.

I have a Metro Will Lee 4 that is swamp ash/maple and a NYC V4PJ that is alder/rw. Certainly the Will Lee is s bit brighter and the PJ is a little darker w a little more in the low mids. However, they are so versatile, you can def get them closer in sound with EQ and the VTC. Plus, the Will Lee has the mid boost switch.

From personal experience, I prefer my PJ in my blues/roots/new orleans style band (range of styles from Steve Earle and Johnny Cash to The Meters). It creates a nice solid tone underneath 2 guitars and the keys. I prefer the WL in my rock and metal band. It cuts through those distorted guitars perfectly.

I used to own an alder/maple NYC with single could which was more in the middle of those two basses.


Maybe an alder Will Lee would best suit you?

However, the amazing thing about Sadowsky is that they all seem to sit so perfectly in the mix.

[BluesyCat]

For some of you who might be interested...I posted a recording with my Fender 100T amp and the PJ5 today:

The Fender Bassman 100T thread

[NOLA Bass]

Originally Posted by BluesyCat

For some of you who might be interested...I posted a recording with my Fender 100T amp and the PJ5 today:

The Fender Bassman 100T thread

Nice, how are you liking the amp?

[BluesyCat]

Originally Posted by NOLA Bass

Nice, how are you liking the amp?

Now that I can actually record with it, I LOVE it. After changing the tubes, it sounds soooooo much richer, cleaner, quieter, etc.

[nostatic]

Well, looks like I'm back in and for awhile this time. Over the years I've gone through a couple of different 5-strings (PJ and JJ) and while there were things I dug about them, I never quite bonded (mostly due to neck width I think, and some internal biases I had about 2-band preamps). Flash forward a year or two and I wanted/needed a more "vintage" looking instrument for some gigs (relative to my Foderas). I decided to pick up an RV4-HPJ (only PJs for me) and it was cool. But I didn't immediately bond with it so I ended up flipping it. As the bass gyrations continued I picked up a Fodera Emperor 5 that I similarly didn't click with (note to self - no more 19mm spaced 5s). As it turns out, the guy who bought my RV4-HPJ was having a Fodera GAS fit, and I had been thinking about the Sadowsky. A deal was done, and the HPJ was back in the house. Messed around with it in the home studio and it was nice, though it is a different beast than the Fodera 4s. Took it to its first gig on Friday and swapped between the Monarch 4 and HPJ4. For whatever reason I was having a tough time getting the Monarch to speak between the two guitars and sound guy giving me little love. Second set I switched to the HPJ and was much better off.

Now after spending the rest of the weeked working with it I think it's a keeper. It is a different beast than the Foderas and it certainly doesn't replace them. But it is a great counterpoint and for some gigs is killer. I've surprised myself as I tend to prefer 3-band eq. But I think I finally figured out the Sadowsky preamp in my hands, and am liking the tones on tap with the PJ setup. The PJ setup in the Foderas sounds very different, though I can eq it somewhat like the Sadowsky. One nice thing about the Sadowsky is that about 30% bass boost gives really nice body without boominess. And the bridge pup has balls, giving a nice bridge tone and a great 50/50 mix sound. The VTC is also interesting in that it seems to affect the two pups differently. I like it pretty wide open on the P, but about 50% on the bridge.

Still plenty to learn, but this has reminded me one of the cardinal rules - if a bass plays well but you aren't crazy about the tone, be sure to gig it. Sometimes the basses that sound kinda harsh or meh in the bedroom/studio can kill on a gig. It still likely won't supplant the Fodera on jazz gigs as those extra frets and the particular bridge pup sound can't be beat. But I've filled a gap for some other gigs. Now just have to convince myself that I don't need a NYC version of the same bass.

running tunes tonight (trying to get off charts for more of the Steely Dan stuff)

[P. Bass]

^
Congrats on getting your bass back. Got one just like it that's an NYC. (ash/Mad rw.w/P neck).
Have fun learning some new Dan. Big fan myself & am going to re-do some overdubs from the "Everything Must Go" album as soon as I tweak my system a tad. I just pick it off the CD so I gotta keep on top of it or the fingering & phrasing gets lost w/ that stuff. Sometimes I'll write out my own version of tab as I go until I memorize it.
Would love to hear a sample of your Steely Dan w/your HPJ4 if you can post a clip of some kind at some point. Here's the only overdub I have @ present of the Dan w/the Sad' P4-PJs/flats. Kept it pretty close but put in some comfort level as well. I love their humour.
Pan @detent, VTC full up, treble boost about 30% as I recall, for the flats, & just enough comp to keep the dynamics constant.
B.
http://www.box.com/shared/yp1p6a18baqxa33bl7e5

[roadkill2309]

Lotsa PJ love on this thread these days. I haven't owned a PJ in, like 20 years or something. I may have to look at fixing that within the next couple or years...

[JimS]

A carthartic moment for me: I sold my other two Sadowsky NYC basses and this is my only remaining bass. It's perfect for the tones I love to hear through my Sadowsky SA200 and cabs. The fat punchy corpulent tones are incredible.

And unlike most of you guys I'm not gigging out playing bass. I don't need three of the world's greatest electric basses to noodle around at home. ....convincing myself I did the right thing.

[Chef]

That's super cool.
I'd love to goof off with that for a few minutes and get a feel for what it's about, I've never played anything like that!

5 way pup select switch? or...???

[Modern Growl]

Originally Posted by P. Bass

Love it!
Here's some wisdom posted elsewhere a number of years ago worth considering I think.
B.
http://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthr...etw#Post596487

Couldn't of put it better then Ed. It's true... You have to play a P & J differently and I really didn't get that till a little while ago. This is why I don't ever think I'll get a PJ. For me - the two should be disconnected. I know - I know... just my opinion though... It should either be a P or a J. I'm in the minority though, I know.

I used to play a P in my comfy J style (faster, more notes) and never bonded with it - DUH - wonder why!!!!!

Then it hit me - I've been hooked on David Holmes stuff - he did the sound tracks for the Oceans 11, 12 & 13 movies.

example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf0wLVQP6SE

^ Those grooves are all about the P. Simple, less notes, more space, but your notes better mean something. No noodling allowed. These grooves are simple yes, yet undeniable groove-funk - just great. This is the kick I've been on lately with my Fender P and just put in an NYC P-Build.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by P. Bass

Have fun learning some new Dan.

Not learning new tunes, but rather trying to memorize more of them. We've got a couple of sets of material and about a third I'm on charts. Next gig we'll do the entire Aja album along with other assorted hits. I have a tough time weaning myself from the charts for Deacon Blues, Aja, and Babylon Sisters. Just takes more 'shedding.

Video from last year (with a long-gone Nordy)

http://vimeo.com/28290874

[Vic]

Originally Posted by JimS

A carthartic moment for me: I sold my other two Sadowsky NYC basses...

...unlike most of you guys I'm not gigging out playing bass. I don't need three of the world's greatest electric basses to noodle around at home. ....convincing myself I did the right thing.

IMHO, you did. Sadowsky basses need to be played.

[Vic]

Originally Posted by Modern Growl

...I've been hooked on David Holmes stuff - he did the sound tracks for the Oceans 11, 12 & 13 movies.

example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf0wLVQP6SE

^ Those grooves are all about the P. Simple, less notes, more space, but your notes better mean something. No noodling allowed. These grooves are simple yes, yet undeniable groove-funk - just great. This is the kick I've been on lately with my Fender P and just put in an NYC P-Build.

Great playing, but WAY WAY WAY too overcompressed. That may have been a deliberate "effect" in the studio (I assume it was), but not at all my thing. Takes away too much of the punch... way too choked for my tastes. Let that P breathe a little more... PLEASE!

[Modern Growl]

Originally Posted by Vic

Great playing, but WAY WAY WAY too overcompressed. That may have been a deliberate "effect" in the studio (I assume it was), but not at all my thing. Takes away too much of the punch... way too choked for my tastes. Let that P breathe a little more... PLEASE!

Yeah, probably a bit over produced/compressed, but it was the baselines what what I was talking about though. Great "P Bass" lines.

Your right, it doesn't punch enough at all... but a fun, groovy line. The entire soundtrack is like that - just great P grooves.

[Vic]

Originally Posted by Modern Growl

Yeah, probably a bit over produced/compressed, but it was the baselines what what I was talking about though. Great "P Bass" lines.

Your right, it doesn't punch enough at all... but a fun, groovy line. The entire soundtrack is like that - just great P grooves.

Oh yeah, I got yer point, and I definitely agree.

And I'm sure the final product is exactly what somebody wanted. You don't pay that kinda' money and not get exactly what you ask for.

Just wouldn't have been my personal choice, knowing how much punchier a P can sound.

P. Bass,
Yeah, that Friedland post from '03 was perfect. I never saw that before. Thanks for posting it!

[P. Bass]

Originally Posted by Modern Growl

Couldn't of put it better then Ed. It's true... You have to play a P & J differently and I really didn't get that till a little while ago..... just put in an NYC P-Build.

What exactly have you ordered? There's a couple P4s "in stock" that are gems as well.
B.

Originally Posted by nostatic

Not learning new tunes, but rather trying to memorize more of them. We've got a couple of sets of material and about a third I'm on charts. Next gig we'll do the entire Aja album along with other assorted hits. I have a tough time weaning myself from the charts for Deacon Blues, Aja, and Babylon Sisters. Just takes more 'shedding.

Video from last year (with a long-gone Nordy)

http://vimeo.com/28290874

Thanks for posting that vid. Anytime for the Dan!
Speaking of which - I just remembered I had THIS from awhile back. All you other guys & gals gotta forgive me here if you're not fans. It's a S.D. cover band here in Toronto that is comprised of session players & guys from other bands who do this gig once a month @ 2 venues. The sax player & bass player are good friends of mine since the early '80s. We used to share a house & would spend a lot of time talking about music & their time @ Humber. The drummer who was subbing this night is Mark Kelso who is the head of the percussion dept. @ Humber College school of music in T.O.
I recorded this w/my little LS10 recorder that I use for the overdubs. It's Jan 29,2009 live @The Orbit Room in Toronto. The song is "AJA" & the drum solo near the end is unreal. I remember all the guys in the band turned around to watch him do his magic.
B.
http://www.box.com/shared/9f0acef31edcffaed72e

Originally Posted by Vic

P. Bass,
Yeah, that Friedland post from '03 was perfect. I never saw that before. Thanks for posting it!

My pleasure. Sometimes a post like that is worth a bookmark.
B.

[Modern Growl]

Originally Posted by P. Bass

What exactly have you ordered? There's a couple P4s "in stock" that are gems as well.

I saw their stock, but wanted an Ash/Maple combo P with a special 1 5/8th nut width.

[P. Bass]

Originally Posted by Modern Growl

I saw their stock, but wanted an Ash/Maple combo P with a special 1 5/8th nut width.

My 2002 Fender P has a 1-5/8 nut & it's a fine feel. I just seem to resonate w/ 1-3/4" & that wider string spacing feel for a P.
It's similar to how Strat players like that same thing compared to - say a Tele's spacing I guess.
B.