Sadowsky vs Mike Lull

[Spencer!]

The PLEK machine definitely makes a difference - my M4V was a used, pre-PLEK bass with some wear on the frets, and after I had Mike run it through the PLEK, the fret job was up there with any Sadowsky or other high end brand. There are guys out there doing better fret jobs by hand than the PLEK can do (see Dave Segal), but not many.

[Jim C]

In my youth I worked in a machine shop.
There are guys that can take a Brdgeport milling machine and make art; there are others that hack through material and make crap.

Same thing would be true with a Plek machine; I could see disaster with an untrained operator and the ulimate in precission with a master.
Ther is no way a guy with a hand file can hold tolerances to the 3rd decimal place like any good precission machine tool.
That also doesn't meen that the Plek is the best for all palyers.

[pickles]

I was not blown away by the plekd bass I tried FWIW.

Sadowskys rule.

[lowstrung5]

I've played and owned both. I've personally dealt with both Roger, Mike, and their crews. I can safely say both basses and luthiers are at the top of their game. I'm firmly in the Lull camp in the end. Just personal preference. Try as many of each if you can. You might not agree with any of our collective opinions.......ands thats perfectly O.K.

[SolarMan]

All of the local bands I have seen in the last 9 months the bassist has either played 1) Fender, 2) Rickenbacker, or 3) Lakland

I have yet to hear a Lull or Sadowsky in action.

[burk48237]

Sadowsky v. Lull

Both men offer excellent workmanship, are known for their set-ups and offer excellent customer service. Neither take the stand offish attitude of a a couple of the high end luthiers I've delt with. They both seem to treat the guy working a couple of bar band gigs with the same respect they treat some arena rock star.

With J-Style basses, To me it comes down to this, Lull offers a lot of pre-amp pick up combinations and some of them may get closer to a Fender tone, but because of this variety there isn't really a "Lull sound". Basically when you buy a Lull you're buying a custom HQ take on a Fender J with the tone you want depending on the Pick-up/pre-amp/wood combo.

With a Sadowsky J bass you are getting Rogers proven take on a J Bass. The amazing thing to me about Sadowsky J basses is how consistent they sound. Even wood changes seem to be more subtile. The sound is in the combination of construction/set-up/ and the unique pre-amp/pick-up selection. Sadowsky basses have the Sadowsky sound, and they deliver it across the whole fingerboard, evenly with no dead spots. If it works for you (it does for me), there is no other alternative. And in band situations, I find them very hard to beat. IMO

[bass12]

Originally Posted by burk48237

Sadowsky v. Lull

Both men offer excellent workmanship, are known for their set-ups and offer excellent customer service. Neither take the stand offish attitude of a a couple of the high end luthiers I've delt with. They both seem to treat the guy working a couple of bar band gigs with the same respect they treat some arena rock star.

With J-Style basses, To me it comes down to this, Lull offers a lot of pre-amp pick up combinations and some of them may get closer to a Fender tone, but because of this variety there isn't really a "Lull sound". Basically when you buy a Lull you're buying a custom HQ take on a Fender J with the tone you want depending on the Pick-up/pre-amp/wood combo.

With a Sadowsky J bass you are getting Rogers proven take on a J Bass. The amazing thing to me about Sadowsky J basses is how consistent they sound. Even wood changes seem to be more subtile. The sound is in the combination of construction/set-up/ and the unique pre-amp/pick-up selection. Sadowsky basses have the Sadowsky sound, and they deliver it across the whole fingerboard, evenly with no dead spots. If it works for you (it does for me), there is no other alternative. And in band situations, I find them very hard to beat. IMO

I agree with everything above except the highlighted portion.

[lousybassplayer]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I think the target on Sadowsky's back is mainly a TB phenomenon. In the real world, bassists play lots of instruments, and Sadowsky is just one of many fine options.

Agreed, if not TB than similar places and circles. Most people would be hard pressed to tell you what type of bass the Sadowsky in question was designed after, let alone anything about the brand. I have heard a person who knew a smidgen about guitars ask why a player (think it may have been Newsted, don't recall the conversation that well) was playing that thing when for the money he makes he could buy a real Fender.

[Calaverasgrande]

Originally Posted by SolarMan

All of the local bands I have seen in the last 9 months the bassist has either played 1) Fender, 2) Rickenbacker, or 3) Lakland

I have yet to hear a Lull or Sadowsky in action.

Fender and Lakland are pretty much mass produced instruments. Ricks aren't but there are a lot of used Ricks out there.

[Calaverasgrande]

Originally Posted by Jim C

In my youth I worked in a machine shop.
There are guys that can take a Brdgeport milling machine and make art; there are others that hack through material and make crap.

Same thing would be true with a Plek machine; I could see disaster with an untrained operator and the ulimate in precission with a master.
Ther is no way a guy with a hand file can hold tolerances to the 3rd decimal place like any good precission machine tool.
That also doesn't meen that the Plek is the best for all palyers.

Well there is a lot more to fret dressing than just making them even and being sure none of them buzz.
There are also ergonomics and playing style to take into account. some players like a little fret grind/buzz to be evident, but in a controlled way.

[LeonD]

Originally Posted by SolarMan

All of the local bands I have seen in the last 9 months the bassist has either played 1) Fender, 2) Rickenbacker, or 3) Lakland

I have yet to hear a Lull or Sadowsky in action.

I was playing this past Saturday in Lincoln, RI ....

with both my Sadowsky and Lull.

You're just in the wrong place.

But I do agree, in the basic working bar, Fenders reign.

[lousybassplayer]

Originally Posted by LeonD

I was playing this past Saturday in Lincoln, RI ....

Rhode Island. The last word in classy bass culture.

But I digress. Sadowsky and Lull at the same venue, eh? Which ones did you choose for which songs (if they are ones we know) sounds etc. What type of stuff were you playing?

I find it's easier to compare and contrast if I hear some practical reasons why someone would choose one or the other and in what setting.

[LeonD]

It was a duo with singer/acoustic guitar and bass. We do "interpreted" covers ranging from the 70's to current.

I started off with the Sadowsky Will Lee figuring that with just two of us, I'd have a lot of sonic space to cover. Unfortunately, the guitarist just got a new guitar that was having some "low end issues". Booming bass to say the least. Once I realized this, I moved over to the Lull P4 that can cut thru any sonic mess.

Ideally, I'll use the Sad for more modern, driving songs and the Lull for more traditional songs. In reality, either bass could cover the entire gig with no problem.

On a paying gig, I like to have a backup bass with me. And either bass gets a little pissy if it has to spend the whole night in a gig bag in the corner.

[lousybassplayer]

Just noticed your Lull is a P, which would probably cause it to be used when you dont use the Sad for reasons having nothing to do with manufacturer. Still good insight from someone who not only has but regularly uses both.

Boy, to bring a Sadowsky it a gig with a Lull as my "backup". I can honestly say that is a luxury I'd like to have.

[Luckydog]

Originally Posted by scotch

I know Lull is known for its fret work (plek and all...), but the last 3 new ones I played had so-so frets. Good for production standards, but just didnt seem to have the kind of perfect end bevelling and rounding that I see in Sadowskys. (Im not a Sad fan boy either, for the record!) Surprising. A Nashville colleague bought one direct from Lull & sold it a week later. ?

I want to be wowed, but so far- so-so. I'll keep trying them though! :-)

Wow! Dude you have some serious credentials! Just so you know, I and a singer songwriter cover your sixpence hit. Nice!

[LeonD]

Originally Posted by lousybassplayer

Boy, to bring a Sadowsky it a gig with a Lull as my "backup". I can honestly say that is a luxury I'd like to have.

That's what happens when you decide to move a bunch of OK basses for one or two keepers.

And to make things even more different, the Lull is strung with three year old TI flats while the Sad has new stainless Sadowsky strings.

Let's just say I like when there's a "noticeable" difference between my basses.

[AMJBASS]

One thing I really dig about Sadowsky is how fat the G sounds all the way up the fingerboard. There are a lot of jazz basses out there that thin out, but the Sadowsky pre adds a thickness to the tone that is very consistant across the range.

[Jim C]

Originally Posted by Calaverasgrande

Well there is a lot more to fret dressing than just making them even and being sure none of them buzz.
There are also ergonomics and playing style to take into account. some players like a little fret grind/buzz to be evident, but in a controlled way.

Very true, and from what I've read this can be programmed in.
Not sure what the PLEK crowning capabilities are though

[roadkill2309]

Originally Posted by Calaverasgrande

Fender and Lakland are pretty much mass produced instruments. Ricks aren't but there are a lot of used Ricks out there.

Lakland Skylines are essentially mass-produced. The US basses are definitely not.

[Calaverasgrande]

Originally Posted by roadkill2309

Lakland Skylines are essentially mass-produced. The US basses are definitely not.

Yeah, and the US made Laklands are easily as much as NYC Sadowsky.