A few weeks ago, I posted the following ...
* I started with a Lakland JO5 w/J-Retro
* I bought a set of Nordstrand P/J pups
* Ordered an OEM pickguard from Jeannies
* Took the whole thing to my luthier and held my breath
I picked it up yesterday and I could not be more satisfied. This is EXACTLY what I was looking for! To quote my buddy, Marcus Alan, This bass delivers!!!
Understanding that my JO is a Skyline and not quite up to the build quality of a NYC Sadowsky, it cost me less than half of what the P/J Sad would have cost and I am not convinced that the extra goodness of the Sad would have been worth the extra money in this case. (Don't get me wrong -- I love my Sadowsky and am soon to own another. If there had been a Metro in this configuration, I probably would have bought it.)
With this bass, the sum of the parts come together to create something that is greater than the whole. The famous Lakland B-String, the J-Retro, and the Nordstrand Pickups work together beautifully in this bass and I couldn't be more pleased!!!
Kudos go out to Jay Lewis at Blueberryhill Bass who talked me through the pickup choice as well as Carey Nordstrand for knowing how to make a humcancelling J (as well as a 5-string P) pup that sounds awesome!
This bass is one of those "If you had to pick one and only one bass to take to a gig that you don't know WHAT the set list may be" basses. I can't imagine a situation where this bass wouldn't aquit itself beautifully.
I found the beef -- and it's quite tasty!
I didn't really want to spend $3000 for a used NYC Sadowsky (although I thought long & hard about it) so I did my reasearch, trusted my instincts, and had something customized.Folks -
I have been tweaking/refining/changing/updating my collection lately and have been largely successful but there is a sound/tone that i hear in my head that I cannot find.
My single favorite bass is my Reggie Hamilton Signature 4-string. Something about that tone is "right" ... Jazz growl but the P pickup allws me to dial in a certain "thickness" (someone else described it as BEEF) that I love the sound of. I want this same sound in a 5-string but haven't been able to find it.
... I want that thick, punchy, tone that's not boomy/thuddy. I've come to the (perhaps incorrect) conclusion that the P/J configuration is what makes this possible.
Trying to find an active 5-string P/J is turning out to be a chore. I know that the Yamaha BB615 offers this but truthfully, I've gotten spoiled by the higher build quality of my Laklands. I also know that the Yamaha preamp, while good, is not the best of breed and I am looking for a no-compromise gift for myself.
The only basses that I know of that fit what I want from a tone and quality standpoint are a Fender Reggie Hamilton V and a Sadowsky P/J 5. The Fender is an option but I don't particularly care for the Fender 5-string neck.
I'm interested in the thoughts of the Sadowsky-ites as well as those who may have other suggestions. I won't say that this is a "cost-no-object" scenario, but I am prepared to sell some basses ... to partially fund this particular aquisition.
* I started with a Lakland JO5 w/J-Retro
* I bought a set of Nordstrand P/J pups
* Ordered an OEM pickguard from Jeannies
* Took the whole thing to my luthier and held my breath
I picked it up yesterday and I could not be more satisfied. This is EXACTLY what I was looking for! To quote my buddy, Marcus Alan, This bass delivers!!!
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Understanding that my JO is a Skyline and not quite up to the build quality of a NYC Sadowsky, it cost me less than half of what the P/J Sad would have cost and I am not convinced that the extra goodness of the Sad would have been worth the extra money in this case. (Don't get me wrong -- I love my Sadowsky and am soon to own another. If there had been a Metro in this configuration, I probably would have bought it.)
With this bass, the sum of the parts come together to create something that is greater than the whole. The famous Lakland B-String, the J-Retro, and the Nordstrand Pickups work together beautifully in this bass and I couldn't be more pleased!!!
Kudos go out to Jay Lewis at Blueberryhill Bass who talked me through the pickup choice as well as Carey Nordstrand for knowing how to make a humcancelling J (as well as a 5-string P) pup that sounds awesome!
This bass is one of those "If you had to pick one and only one bass to take to a gig that you don't know WHAT the set list may be" basses. I can't imagine a situation where this bass wouldn't aquit itself beautifully.
I found the beef -- and it's quite tasty!
Congrat's mate, looks excellent!
