How so? Say you have a $4000+ Sadowsky (or whatever one costs) vs a $2000+ Fender. What's worth an additional $2000 that makes it preferrable to get a Sadowsky instead of, say, another Fender or any other premium bass (or modify the bass to your own liking... or even get a custom bass instead)? What part of that extra money is reflected in the real value of the bass, and what part is branding?
I own Alembics, Gibsons, Fenders, Peaveys, Rickenbackers, a Pedulla, a Lakland, a Parker (not the PB series), a Martin, an Ovation, a vintage Guild, a Godin (A4), and yes, a Sadowsky, as well as three Fenders (two from the '70s, and one from the 90s). Thought I'd throw that out there to offer a bit of perspective before I comment. And no, I'm not bragging - I acquired these instruments over many years - I'm not independently wealthy. Some were expensive, others less so.
What's worth an additional $2000 that makes it preferable to get a Sadowsky or another Fender/premium bass? What is the real value, and what part is branding?
As to what's worth the extra $2000 as regards a Sadowsky instrument, I would offer this - it is very light (even compared to my "lighter" 90s Fender Jazz Bass Deluxe Fretless), it is very quiet (the shielding on my Sadowsky is better than that of my '90s fretless Fender, and that of the 2005 Fender Jazz Bass Deluxe fretted that I used to own), it comes with a light but very protective case, and it has been (for me at least) problem free since I've owned it (four years). Neck pocket is tight (Fender is much better in this respect lately), the finish is impeccable, and it has design features I really like (the truss rod adjustment wheel at the end of the fingerboard). They also offer a 7 day return policy (with some conditions, granted) that I don't see Fender offering. Finally, I went to the Sadowsky "factory" when in NYC in late 2007. I had the opportunity to play a bunch of Sadowskys through what seemed like 20 different amps in their showroom. I was just a regular schlub, there for a week or so, but I was treated like I was the most important person in the world by Roger and his staff. They took me into the showroom, and let me play around with what they had (and believe me, I did). I didn't leave with an instrument that day, but later, after I returned home, I purchased the Sadowsky I still have today (a vintage 4, in Black Pearl with a rosewood board). That I returned home and bought that bass AFTER I'd left speaks volumes to me.
I own a custom Alembic Series II John Entwistle Replica, the only one of it's kind in the world to my knowledge (other than the originals, of course). What makes it worth it to me? The neck is to my specifications, as is the placing of the controls and body shape. The pickups are placed where I want them, and the sharps/flats on the fingerboard inlays (the note for note inlays, in mother of pearl) are in sterling silver wire (they look better than the mother of pearl on the original JE basses). I had input during the build process. And it is infinitely lighter than the previous Entwistle "Spyder" basses that Alembic made (one of which I owned). It took four years to make this bass (a lot of different reasons which I won't go into here), but it is exactly as I wanted it, and it is worth every penny to me. What part of the extra money I paid is reflected in the actual value (to me)? Neck the way I wanted it, body the way I wanted it, inlays the way I wanted them, pickup/control placement the way I wanted it, body woods/neck woods the way I wanted them. In the end, I got the bass of my dreams. That's where the value of extra expense lies if you ask me.
What is the real value (of any bass, regardless of cost)? Only you can answer that question. I have basses that cost me less than $500, one that cost $16K, and everything in between. Only you can answer the question as to whether any bass is worth the cost.
What part is branding? I don't know. I never thought Sadowskys were all that different from Fenders until I played them through several different amplifiers at Roger's shop in Brooklyn. I figured they were Fender clones, and that they'd sound just like my '73 Jazz Bass, or my '76 Precision. Boy, was I wrong - they are different sounding. And I hate to say this, as it is almost cliche on TB, but they really do cut through the mix. I know this from experience having used my '73 Jazz and the Sadowsky on the same gig. There is a reason that a lot of folks like (or don't like) Sadowskys. As a brand, they have a reputation for "cutting through the mix." Whether you agree with that reputation is, of course, your choice. I'm guessing that part of their success as a brand is due to that perception, right or wrong. In my experience, that perception is spot on.
Fenders, on the other hand, have the reputation of being easy for engineers in the recording studio to record, or to use live. Fender over the years has advertised/branded their instruments to take advantage of this belief. I'd submit that this branding tactic isn't as sacrosanct as it once was. Too many bassists are using lots of basses other than Fender in the studio today (think Victor Wooten, Stanley Clarke, Lee Sklar, David Hungate, Nathan East, etc.). I've recorded using my Sadowsky, and it recorded just as well as any Fender I've owned over the years. Engineers like things they're familiar with (Fenders) as opposed to anything they're not familiar with. This, I think, has as much to do with the "mystique" surrounding Fenders as anything else. The truth is there are any number of marques that will do as well or better than a Fender, and that's OK. I'm glad we have so many choices as bassists. Growing up in the late '70s, I can tell you from experience that it wasn't always that way.
Alan
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