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A Non-Sadowsky Owner's Informed Opinion

#142
The money paid for instruments gives diminishing returns. A $300 bass will be much better than a $150 one. A $600 bass is usually a bit better than a $300 and the $1200 will be a little better than the $600. As the price goes up the improvement in real quality get smaller and smaller.
 
#144
tommixx said:
Cheese, Cheese, Cheese.... You KNOW I love you to and I was tying to respond to another poster in my last post. However, I have to say that while I don't necessarily agree with some of the above, I do have to fall on his side and say that his OPINION is just as valid and he has just as much right to state it as you do to post the original topic. I can't see why there is so much of a problem with that. While the 2 of you have every right to disagree, you both also have every right to state your opinions, no matter how opposed they may be. I definitely fall into the category of Sadowsky fan but I am really making an effort over the last few months not to get sucked into so many threads about them that wind up getting shut down. Your above post will certainly not help keep it open. Instead of going on the defensive try to step back and be above it. Just let the other guy post his opinion. Unfortunately, it is difficult to see through a computer screen and know what the other guy is really saying but just take it at face value and don't read anything else into it. I don't think he was insulting you, I think he was a little taken back by your comment. Just my opinion and my $.02....

Peace,

T
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I wish I had read this post more carefully when Tommix first wrote it, because it is one of the wisest things I have ever read on TB. I know for a fact, I got bent out of shape over how a fellow TB'er said something instead of calming down and thinking about what he actually said. As Tommix said, we know very few people who post here personally, and we sure can't read their state of mind when writing. Under those circumstances, it makes a heck of a lot more sense to take a deep breath when mad instead of shooting back a nasty response. I hope I remember that in future discussions on TB or anyplace else for that matter.:cool:

That lesson is way more important than what kind of bass I, or anyone else likes!:)
 
#145
Dr. Cheese said:
I wish I had read this post more carefully when Tommix first wrote it, because it is one of the wisest things I have ever read on TB. I know for a fact, I got bent out of shape over how a fellow TB'er said something instead of calming down and thinking about what he actually said. As Tommix said, we know very few people who post here personally, and we sure can't read their state of mind when writing. Under those circumstances, it makes a heck of a lot more sense to take a deep breath when mad instead of shooting back a nasty response. I hope I remember that in future discussions on TB or anyplace else for that matter.:cool:

That lesson is way more important than what kind of bass I, or anyone else likes!:)
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;)

I'm glad you took it at face value and thanks for the kind words...

Peace,

T
 
#146
Dr. Cheese said:
I the know the neck of the NYC Modern I played on Saturday was sheer perfection, it was like Roger Sadowsky measured my hands in my sleep! In terms of sound, they are sweet basses. I really like the modern. I am surprised they aren't bigger among Gospel bassists because they deliver the modern tone in spades!:bassist: I also loved the slap tone on the moderns too. Personally, I felt that the MTD 535 delivered an even more powerful modern tone and was maybe a touch better constructed, but at the level of money that these basses run, the differences are more about personal taste than quality.
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The Sadowsky Modern is the one I'm interested in. Ed Friedland had a cool sound clip on his site of a Modern, it was gone the last time I looked though. I really want to try the MTD as well but I may have to play several as I understand the various wood combinations sound quite different. I'm hoping I prefer the Sadowsky, as it costs less.

I'm trying to steer our vacation plans to include Orlando so I can make a trip to Bass Central! :hyper:
 
#147
Dr. Cheese said:
What also struck me was how close my Cort GB-75 was to a Sadowsky modern in terms of sound. As Al Caldwell mentioned, my Cort did not have the subtlety of a $3,000 bass, but a change of preamp would surely put it in the ballpark. In terms of output and balls, the Cort is already even with the modern. The modern was clearly much better constructed and felt more expensive, but we are talking $600 versus $2,500 for the Metro and $4,000 for the NYC. I think 95% of players could live with a less boutique feel.
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Korean instruments suffer from a stigma but some of them are nothing to sneeze at! I have a Korean made Conklin Groove Tools 5 string that plays great and is nicely built. I almost hate to admit it but the neck is more comfortable than my Dingwall and Ken Smith. The electronics are the weak link and I think that with an upgrade, this thing would kill! I also used to own an Ibanez ATK (also made in Korea) and it was a great bass.

Dr. Cheese said:
What is also true, however, is that one can get very similar levels of performance without spending anywhere near Sadowsky money.
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I agree. If you have a bass that feels comfortable to you and has a good unplugged tone you're more than halfway there. A good electronics upgrade could put it in league with the big boys.

Disclaimer: I'm not saying boutiques aren't worth it. My Smith and Dingwall weren't cheap but I'm sure glad I own them!
 
#148
Bass Viking said:
Korean instruments suffer from a stigma but some of them are nothing to sneeze at! I have a Korean made Conklin Groove Tools 5 string that plays great and is nicely built. I almost hate to admit it but the neck is more comfortable than my Dingwall and Ken Smith. The electronics are the weak link and I think that with an upgrade, this thing would kill! I also used to own an Ibanez ATK (also made in Korea) and it was a great bass.
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Korea is the new Japan...
 
#149
I think a lot of very insightful statements have been made about the psyche of buyers, and the business practices of companies. I think that it's valuable for all people to consider what they're paying for. All things being equal, would a bass with equal parts and build quality, Brand X, be worth as much as one with a Prestigious name?

I know that I don't know nearly as much about all this bass stuff as a lot of you tb'ers. But could someone tell me the think that makes a Sadowsky sound like a Sadowsky. In every discussion I've read about these guitars people praise its tone as being somehow unique. I have never had the opportunity to play one, and in looking at most of the specs given on their website I can't seem to see anything there that is totally unique.

Theoretically you could mass produce a bass in the same configuration and to the same specs. Am I right?
 
#152
Dr Illing said:
I think a lot of very insightful statements have been made about the psyche of buyers, and the business practices of companies. I think that it's valuable for all people to consider what they're paying for. All things being equal, would a bass with equal parts and build quality, Brand X, be worth as much as one with a Prestigious name?

I know that I don't know nearly as much about all this bass stuff as a lot of you tb'ers. But could someone tell me the think that makes a Sadowsky sound like a Sadowsky. In every discussion I've read about these guitars people praise its tone as being somehow unique. I have never had the opportunity to play one, and in looking at most of the specs given on their website I can't seem to see anything there that is totally unique.

Theoretically you could mass produce a bass in the same configuration and to the same specs. Am I right?
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This is an interesting question. I'll take a stab at it since I recently built myself a J-style with the complete Sadowsky electronics package.
For a while, I'd become increasingly inspired by what I'd seen and heard from the Sadowsky players on TV and in recordings, and wanted to fill a hole in my collection for a "modern vintage" jazz bass style instrument.

Why'd I do the build rather than simply buy a Sadowsky? Simply for the pleasure of doing it myself. I used a Warmoth body - flamed bubinga over mahogany, and a maple neck with a bound & blocked maple fingerboard. (PLEASE NOTE - Sadowsky does NOT USE WARMOTH!). But my goal in building this bass was to approximate the Sadowsky "vibe" --- that is, taking the classic Jazz bass design and pumping into it every damn last ounce of 1) construction perfection, 2) quality control, 3) top-notch components and 4) attention to detail, to produce myself a Super-J.

At the heart of this bass is the Sadowsky preamp, VTC, and the Sadowsky HC pickups (I believe this setup is standard on the Modern line). Punchy and warm, with lots of presence and USEFUL tone control. Too many basses seem to have EQs that simply become unusable within a few notches of flat - either too boomy, muddy on the bass end, or too crackly and harsh on the treble. The proprietary Sadowsky preamp, on the other hand, seems to be much more musical, clean and each note has amazing clarity.

Is my bass a genuine-article Sadowsky that is worth the same coin to a buyer? Probably not! But as far as my bass is concerned, the Sadowsky components I've built into it make it sound that much better.

Lonnybass
 
#154
I believe there is too much made over sound and tone. Its certainly important, but good, similar tones can be made with many instruments. The musician is the major factor, in my opinion.

That said, some of us enjoy the quality of the well-built instrument. I am probably "average" with regards to my musical talent. Nothing special. And my instruments can't make me play better. I sound just fine playing a MIM Jazz, which in reality is a pretty good bass. But I have greater enjoyment holding and playing one of the finer instruments. Its hard to explain without sounding snobbish.
 
#155
HAWKINS said:
I believe there is too much made over sound and tone. Its certainly important, but good, similar tones can be made with many instruments. The musician is the major factor, in my opinion.

That said, some of us enjoy the quality of the well-built instrument. I am probably "average" with regards to my musical talent. Nothing special. And my instruments can't make me play better. I sound just fine playing a MIM Jazz, which in reality is a pretty good bass. But I have greater enjoyment holding and playing one of the finer instruments. Its hard to explain without sounding snobbish.
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I don't think you sound snobbish at all. We all appreciate quality. My point was that in terms of sound, my Cort was very competitive with much more expensive basses. Saying that does not mean my bass has the build quality of a boutique.
 
#156
HAWKINS said:
I believe there is too much made over sound and tone. Its certainly important, but good, similar tones can be made with many instruments. The musician is the major factor, in my opinion.
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I mostly agree with you. In many live shows the bass just sounds like.....a bass, no matter what it is. You certainly notice how good the player is though. Having said that, I have an incredible sounding main bass that I love but, unfortunately, most audience members wouldn't know it's sound from cheapie.
 

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