"Sadowsky Modern" owners - What style of music do You play?

[basswave]

"Sadowsky Modern" owners - What style of music do You play?

Fun question, just curious.

I'm referring to have that "Modern pickup position" with the big soapbars. (The design in and off it self).

Those basses have a very distinct tone, which I can hear for Jazz, and P&W tunes.

For what application/styles do you use yours for?

I'm mostly a Stingray-ish and J bass fellow myself (for most of what I do). However I acquired again my Valenti S24FJ5 with Sadowsky modern configuration.

I love it, however it has a distinct place for what and where I would use it.

Cheers

[bobunit]

Originally Posted by basswave

"Sadowsky Modern" owners - What style of music do You play?

Fun question, just curious.

I'm referring to have that "Modern pickup position" with the big soapbars. (The design in and off it self).

Those basses have a very distinct tone, which I can hear for Jazz, and P&W tunes.

For what application/styles do you use yours for?

I'm mostly a Stingray-ish and J bass fellow myself (for most of what I do). However I acquired again my Valenti S24FJ5 with Sadowsky modern configuration.

I love it, however it has a distinct place for what and where I would use it.

Cheers

Having never played a Sadowsky, this is a great question. Btw, does the Valenti use the same pickups/pre?

[bucephylus]

I have read various posts over the years about the more "refined" tonal characteristics of this model of bass. But, my impressions from those posts were pretty much dashed after listening to this (outstanding) clip with Will Lee on bass.

"Cissy Strut" from Oz Noy's "Twisted Blues Volume 1" Album. Originally by The Meters! - YouTube

Now, that sounds perfectly cool old school to my ears.

So is this:

a) I just have bad ears?
b) Any bass can be made to sound like anything in the studio?
c) No, these basses can sound perfectly old school when the player wants it to be so?

I tend to #3 but, maybe that's just me.

[basswave]

Originally Posted by bobunit

Having never played a Sadowsky, this is a great question. Btw, does the Valenti use the same pickups/pre?

Good question...

YES its the same and sounds just like the a Sadowsky Modern,

My question is really more about what do players use that "design" for (Its not J like at all IMHO). PS I mean that in a positive way.

[basswave]

Originally Posted by bucephylus

I have read various posts over the years about the more "refined" tonal characteristics of this model of bass. But, my impressions from those posts were pretty much dashed after listening to this (outstanding) clip with Will Lee on bass.

"Cissy Strut" from Oz Noy's "Twisted Blues Volume 1" Album. Originally by The Meters! - YouTube

Now, that sounds perfectly cool old school to my ears.

So is this:

a) I just have bad ears?
b) Any bass can be made to sound like anything in the studio?
c) No, these basses can sound perfectly old school when the player wants it to be so?

I tend to #3 but, maybe that's just me.

Amen bucephylus

That has to be the most old school sounding I heard that 'design/configuration' ever.

[ExaltBass]

Originally Posted by bucephylus

I have read various posts over the years about the more "refined" tonal characteristics of this model of bass. But, my impressions from those posts were pretty much dashed after listening to this (outstanding) clip with Will Lee on bass.

"Cissy Strut" from Oz Noy's "Twisted Blues Volume 1" Album. Originally by The Meters! - YouTube

Now, that sounds perfectly cool old school to my ears.

So is this:

a) I just have bad ears?
b) Any bass can be made to sound like anything in the studio?
c) No, these basses can sound perfectly old school when the player wants it to be so?

I tend to #3 but, maybe that's just me.

I vote 'C' too! (and bought the album! - good stuff!) Thanks for sharing!

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by bucephylus

I have read various posts over the years about the more "refined" tonal characteristics of this model of bass. But, my impressions from those posts were pretty much dashed after listening to this (outstanding) clip with Will Lee on bass.

"Cissy Strut" from Oz Noy's "Twisted Blues Volume 1" Album. Originally by The Meters! - YouTube

Now, that sounds perfectly cool old school to my ears.

So is this:

a) I just have bad ears?
b) Any bass can be made to sound like anything in the studio?
c) No, these basses can sound perfectly old school when the player wants it to be so?

I tend to #3 but, maybe that's just me.

It's been my experience that basses with two humbuckers close to the bridge can usually do a nice P-bass imitation if the "neck" pickup is soloed. This is true for a Ken Smith, Cirrus, or G&L L2000/2500 too.

[millsbass5]

If I were to cop a Sadowsky,it would be the Modern 5. I just ABSOLUTELY love that pup location and modern tone that it produces. I have a few vintage and not-so-vintage basses. Two Fender J-Bass Specials,ind also 3 Fender ('61,'71 and '75) Jazz Basses. And 90% of the time,I'm running them thru my old Sadowsky clip-on preamp that I've had since dinosaurs roamed the earth. Buy far,of all the preamps that I've tried,the Sadowsky is my favorite,by far.

[B.Anderson]

jazz / latin it works really well! Although I think it sounds great in a lot of applications.
B.

[Robin Ruscio]

Originally Posted by bucephylus

I have read various posts over the years about the more "refined" tonal characteristics of this model of bass. But, my impressions from those posts were pretty much dashed after listening to this (outstanding) clip with Will Lee on bass.

"Cissy Strut" from Oz Noy's "Twisted Blues Volume 1" Album. Originally by The Meters! - YouTube

Now, that sounds perfectly cool old school to my ears.

So is this:

a) I just have bad ears?
b) Any bass can be made to sound like anything in the studio?
c) No, these basses can sound perfectly old school when the player wants it to be so?

I tend to #3 but, maybe that's just me.

Nice track, wow! I think if you listen at 2:42 you can hear the bass is a bit more bridge/nasal punchy/modern than a traditional JJ configuration. I know, cause I have the same bass but opted for those PUPs instead of the soap bars!

Still plenty vintage sounding for my taste. Seems like it could be a pretty versatile axe, and maybe do jazz and contemporary music a little more easily than the bass with single coils.

[bucephylus]

Yup, I don't own one of these, but that track completely turned around my perception of that model. If I was going to pick up a Sadowsky 5, I would certainly consider it.

Guess we should be able to trust Roger by now to make basses that work.

[basswave]

Originally Posted by Robin Ruscio

Nice track, wow! I think if you listen at 2:42 you can hear the bass is a bit more bridge/nasal punchy/modern than a traditional JJ configuration. I know, cause I have the same bass but opted for those PUPs instead of the soap bars!

Still plenty vintage sounding for my taste. Seems like it could be a pretty versatile axe, and maybe do jazz and contemporary music a little more easily than the bass with single coils.

Intresting...

I'm wondering if Will just paned to the neck pickup on that recording (or mostly to that pickup).

[RickC]

As the owner of one of these, it sounds to me like the balance dialed slightly towards the neck. At least that's how I'd approach that tone. Coincidently also my favorite setting on that bass.

/rick

[B.Anderson]

I'm not sure who this guy is but it is a good example of the versatility of the instrument.

Audio Preview - Sadowsky M5-24 demo [HQ] - YouTube

B.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by bucephylus

Yup, I don't own one of these, but that track completely turned around my perception of that model. If I was going to pick up a Sadowsky 5, I would certainly consider it.

Guess we should be able to trust Roger by now to make basses that work.

Per the comments above, when you solo or blend toward the neck pickup, the Modern does a suprisingly good P Bass imitation. When both pickups are blended evenly, you get a sort of 'Ken Smith' burp as the inherent tone (that sort of 'lot of space between the notes sort of low mid burp).

Nice basses for what they are. I tired of mine after a while, but it sure 'worked' in pretty much any situation. I just prefer the wider, more open tone of the J pickup position in Roger's Vintage model.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by KJung

Per the comments above, when you solo or blend toward the neck pickup, the Modern does a suprisingly good P Bass imitation. When both pickups are blended evenly, you get a sort of 'Ken Smith' burp as the inherent tone (that sort of 'lot of space between the notes sort of low mid burp).

Nice basses for what they are. I tired of mine after a while, but it sure 'worked' in pretty much any situation. I just prefer the wider, more open tone of the J pickup position in Roger's Vintage model.

Ken, look me up on my school's website and send me a e-mail some time. BTW, I did check out Zeb's show back in October. It was some great fusion!

[Joebone]

I've used a Metro (morado/alder) 5-24 as my main axe for several years, although I've now been flirting with a very punchy Stingray 5HH with an ebony board, and recently splurged on an NYC 5-24 with morado/alder and a P/J configuration, which I string with TI jazz flats. Each 5-24 is a dream to play, and what I really love about them is that there is so much songfulness when I'm soloing...I feel like a horn player (well, heck, I was a trombonist for all of those years...), and can also emulate some fretless mwah and attitude.

I've used the Metro very happily in various jazz and latin contexts, and a bit less happily when performing with a group of singer-guitarists, where there is no drum and I've been wanting more of an old-school thump (which is where that SR5HH has caught my fancy, although I far prefer the ergonomics of the 5-24). It's recently dawned on me that if I boost both treble and bass on the active tone controls to about 60-70%, and also back off the mids on my amp, then I can get both 5-24's to thump a good bit more. I also need to back off both volume knobs (I'm set up V/V rather than V/Pan), and favor the neck pickup a bit to get there, but I'm dying for my next gig with the girls so I can test my thump theory on the job rather than in my practice room.

I don't play rock, so can't opine if this works well in that context...I think it could, if the amp is not too sterile sounding. These might make great basses for speed metal - very articulate, lot's of attitude.

Am at work so not gonna listen to the Noy/Lee/Fig/Medeski/McDonald jam until tonight, but based on a quick glance, it looks like Will Lee is parked next to a big old Ampeg, so perhaps that provides a chunk of the old-school sound.

And what kind of fingerboard is on Lee's 5-24? Is there more thump to be had with a wood/board combination other than alder/morado?

And then, the final frontier...subbing Nordstrand big singles for the soapbars on my Metro, which is something I've been thinking about...

[Joebone]

Originally Posted by bucephylus

I have read various posts over the years about the more "refined" tonal characteristics of this model of bass. But, my impressions from those posts were pretty much dashed after listening to this (outstanding) clip with Will Lee on bass.

"Cissy Strut" from Oz Noy's "Twisted Blues Volume 1" Album. Originally by The Meters! - YouTube

Now, that sounds perfectly cool old school to my ears.

So is this:

a) I just have bad ears?
b) Any bass can be made to sound like anything in the studio?
c) No, these basses can sound perfectly old school when the player wants it to be so?

I tend to #3 but, maybe that's just me.

Well, I've now heard the clip over good headphones, and I can't say I agree this is an old-school bass tone. Mind you, I dig it a lot, and I think the axe could be eq'ed to be more old-school still, but at the end of the day it's too dry and articulate (mind you, characteristics I like) to qualify as old school. Just cruising some other Oz Noy Youtube postings, check out the p-bass sound about 2-minutes in, or even Will Lee's playing on a J earlier in the sequence:

Oz Noy "Twisted Blues Volume 1" Jan. 6-8 w Stevie Ray Vaughan's Double Trouble Rhythm Section - YouTube

That, to me, is more old-school: fat, purring, not a lot of high-end, with a punch that is blunt rather than incisive.

[JimS]

Everything.

[Couvy]

We have one at work, and it's pretty versatile with Sadowsky flats on it. I had a harder time getting along with it when it had rounds on, but it could still cover a lot of ground.