A stunning experience AKA first time playing a Sadowsky

[barginkov]

After 30 yea rs of playing every bass out there. I bought my first sadowsky metro 5 years ago . I loved everything about that bass. .in fact loved it so much I sold every other bass I had and bought 4 more ,

 

[Mr_O'B]

After 30 yea rs of playing every bass out there. I bought my first sadowsky metro 5 years ago . I loved everything about that bass. .in fact loved it so much I sold every other bass I had and bought 4 more ,

Nice

 

[baxter_x]

Nice

Well, one picture would have been enough

 

[Mr_O'B]

Well, one picture would have been enough

He probably made a mistake, but I don't mine looking at nice basses.

 

[baxter_x]

Neither!

 

[basspipe]

With Sadowsky, it's more than the outstanding pickups and electronics. It's the wood. Properly seasoned wood makes a world of a difference, so simply dropping in a new preamp and pickups won't necessarily get
you what you heard when you played the Sadowsky. I bought my Sadowsky NYC J with single coil pickups and flat wounds in 1998 and never looked back. With exception to a proper example of a 60's Fender P Bass I can't imagine wanting to play anything else.

 

[ric426]

I've owned more than my share of basses including several Sadowskys, and they were definitely above the norm. Of all the basses I've parted with, the one I still kick myself for selling is a Lake Placid Blue RV-4, serial number M278. There wasn't anything that really stood out over other Metros, but everything about it just felt right to me. If I ever come across it again, I'd practically sell a kidney to buy it back.

 

[barginkov]

Well, one picture would have been enough

Sorry I must have hit post reply too many times

 

[Michael Dempsey]

FWIW, you can add the Sadowsky preamp and pickups to your Fender. Pat Wilkins will do an excellent job at VERY reasonable cost. You will get a lot of what you noted, depending on the subject Fender.

OTOH, if you were to acquire a Metro at reasonable rates on the used market here, that could also give you what you are looking for at fairly reasonable cost. GL

 

[Michael Dempsey]

I put an Audere preamp and Babicz bridge in my 96 US jazz(w/Lollar pickups). I get religious whenever i play it. Good point though,some mods to a good Fender can get you close without geting a divorce.

 

[SteveC]

I've owned s couple Sadowsky basses - an RV4 and MV5. I loved the 4. I didn't care for the 5's B string. What you found in Sadowsky, I have found in Roscoe. Best B string ever and a neck that feels like an extension of my hand.

 

[Burwabit]

I was blown away both the first and last time I played a Sadowsky. First time was Jan 2015 with a Will Lee Metro 4. Last time was earlier this week at practice, and still I'm enamored with the sound and feel. It's a level or two above the build quality and tone of the MIA Deluxe Fenders I owned previously. I particularly love the necks on my 5 strings.

Sometimes a Sadowsky sounds a little harsh a home. But, it's always perfect in the mix. Purrs like a kitty!!!

Alas, I'm trying to slim down my habit from 4 to 3. Somebody help me!

 

[Kevinlane]

Does anyone know if Roger does 18mm string spacing?
I just recently made an Atelier Z m265 my main bass (after almost 20 yrs of Stingray5's ) - Anyway, after getting used to 18mm, I'm loving it!
But after playing a few Sadowsky 5's, 19mm just seems too much of a stretch for me to get comfy with.
NYC's are my goal - just hope I can get that 18mm spacimg.

Yes, 18mm is available on NYC models.
I have, BTW bought the 18mm bridge and put it on my Metro. It fits perfect. Woudl probably depend on the year of the Metro and the year of the bridge

 

[bucephylus]

Yes, 18mm is available on NYC models.
I have, BTW bought the 18mm bridge and put it on my Metro. It fits perfect. Woudl probably depend on the year of the Metro and the year of the bridge

But, folks should be aware that the 18mm option is a bridge only change. The neck width at the heel is the same as on the 19 mm instruments; or ca. 4mm wider than an 18 mm calibrated neck width would have.

If the string spacing is mostly a left hand concern, then the 1 3/4" nut width is an excellent choice.

 

[baxter_x]

Alas, I'm trying to slim down my habit from 4 to 3. Somebody help me!

What's your adress and when do you leave on holidays?

 

[hombass]

I run the A/V at a local church and the bass player for the contemporary band walked in today with a brand new, natural finish, Sadowsky Metro MV5. After the service was over we played it a bit, and since I had my Mesa Subway rig in the car thats what we used(the bass runs direct only for the service). That might eventually prove to have been an expensive decision on my part.

I own some pretty decent instruments, American J, American P, MM Stingray, but wow was this a whole other world. And rightfully so with the price difference, but I'm kind of still in awe of what I heard. Obviously the bass played super smooth and was super light and balanced, but the E string on this thing was like nothing I've ever heard. Super deep, vet defined. At first I questioned whether it was tuned to pitch because it kind of sounded like an E thats been dropped a step, but it was definitely tuned. It just had so much fundamental and weight to all of the notes.

I really like my current jazz bass a lot. I installed an Aguilar OBP-1 in it a couple of years ago and it's been my number one for a while now, but after hearing THAT coming out of MY amp, I might have to start saving for an MV4.

Definitely hard to find a bass that doesnt sound exceptional when played through a mesa!!! Lool walkabout scout replaced my other 7 bass amps very quickly after i bought it!

 

[JonKim]

I've owned more than my share of basses including several Sadowskys, and they were definitely above the norm. Of all the basses I've parted with, the one I still kick myself for selling is a Lake Placid Blue RV-4, serial number M278. There wasn't anything that really stood out over other Metros, but everything about it just felt right to me. If I ever come across it again, I'd practically sell a kidney to buy it back.

Pretty sure I owned that bass at one point last year. I can find out who owns it for you now. They are on the forums.

I have to say it was by far one of the best sounding basses I ever owned. Had that sadowsky thing going on with abbot of darkness which was different from most of the ash/maple combos I've owned.

 

[ric426]

Pretty sure I owned that bass at one point last year. I can find out who owns it for you now. They are on the forums.

Wow, I'd really appreciate that!

 

[kesslari]

Had that sadowsky thing going on with abbot of darkness which was different from most of the ash/maple combos I've owned.

"Abbot of Darkness" sounds like a death metal band...

 

[ale29]

The first Sadowsky I tried was an UV70, and it was around 1 year and a half ago. Quite heavy, but the neck was magic. I had some money to buy my first high end instrument and I knew that the search was over when I tried it (preferred it to Fender CS, Dingwall, FBass...). However, I thought I needed a 5 string, so I bought an MV5 on the internet without ever trying it before buying.
This was a mistake, because I ended up liking it less than I thought.
After actually trying my share of Sadowskys in local shops, I ended up with this RS4 which feels really great to me. I have no desire to change it, which says something since i'm a compulsive bass-flipper.

Bottom line is: Sadowskys are really great instruments, but I suggest to always try before buying.