Best Sadowsky for Modern Country Band - ?

[mccoyra]

Bass Brethren

Alright, So after a lot of research, I have decided to join the Sadowsky family and purchase a bass for a new project with a modern country band. Since the bass will be specific to this project, it needs versatility in tone within the genre but it doesn’t need it to be a jack of all trades across genres.

So, I want the expert opinion of all you Sadowsky guys and especially those who have an appreciation for the tones of modern country. From aggressive country rock of Brantley & Jason to the soft and jazzy Rascal Flatts to the low thunder of modern 5 string ballad.

For those of you who want to say search the forums because there is lots of existing information, Rest assured I have and have read it all. It is that wealth of information that has led me to this selection. So, at this point I’m just trying to refine the specifics for the purchase. These basses are expensive. I don’t want to make an unnecessary mistake. And, if you happen to have for sale the perfect bass for this, PM me and let me know.

Thanks in advance for the help

So, here’s the opinion part

It will definitely be a 5 string Sadowsky

NYC or Metro It’s gonna be a working bass not a show piece or a studio queen. Is the graphite reinforcement & chambering worth the extra money? Is resell for NYC a lot stronger? Are there essential options that just don’t come on the Metro (fretboard, etc)

P/U Config I’m thinking P/J since Tully and a host of other country bass gods seem to prefer it and it gives some versatility. Should the P pup be standard or reversed ? Does it matter a lot ?

Body Wood Ash or Alder – I’m thinking Alder mainly because I’m thinking a rosewood fretboard

Fretboard Seems like rosewood is the choice of champions here. IS morado good enough or is the NYC upgrade to Brazilian Rosewood or ebony gonna really enhance the tone ?

Age Any significant changes over the past 10 years that preference an older build versus a new bass

Finish Nitro ??

Anything I missed. Thanks again

 

[Got2SadowskyNYC]

You are WAY over thinking this. It's a Sadowsky. They ALL are great. Get one. Or two.

If you can swing it, get the NYC and pick everything out yourself. The wait is worth it.

 

[mccoyra]

I'm very good at overthinking but it's in my nature. Also will be playing through a ToneHammer 500 with a DB112 stack just to complete the overthinking

 

[20db pad]

I've been playing a Sadowsky longer than a lot of TB members have been alive. I'd just get a Metro or NYC 5 string, P/J with standard P style, morado board, stop thinking and get playing.

Sadowsky has a 7 day return policy, so if you buy and hate what you pick out (highly doubtful), you can send it back.

 

[Chazinroch]

I have a NYC 5 string P/J. It works for anything any style.

 

[Munjibunga]

I just joined a modern country band. I auditioned with my Metro UV70. That's probably what I'll use going forward.

 

[Joebone]

Don't deeply know the music you're getting into, but having some over-think tendencies of my own, I feel your situation!

Hard to see how you go wrong with any Sadowsky P/J 5, and alder with Morado or RW definitely seems right. I've been in and around a lot of Sadowskys over the last few years, and am really getting the virtues of the Morado board as a great platform for going in different tonal directions. Ebony will probably be a bit too dry for your purposes, I suspect, and I've heard folks get great mellow sounds out of maple boards, but it doesn't seem natural.

Reverse P will give you a crisper, more centered sound on the B-string and arguably a more modern sound overall. Preferred by slappers, and I've not experienced it on Sadowsky but know and love it from exposure to various Yamahas.

You could probably do OK with single-coil J. pickups but I'd avoid the humcanceling J's for what you seek.

And of course, when you say "Modern," I immediately think of Sadowsky's dual-soapbar-down-by-the-bridge basses...which happen to be my favorite axe, and I do occasionally use these successfully when cavorting with a drunken cowboy shaman crowd I'm periodically around, but I think they are kind of amused by my bringing some of that tightness and attitude to their parade when I step out, and I have to use a soft touch and play right over the fretboard in order to sound right when just grooving. That said, the Moderns can cover that range of ground, but there seem to be a number of TBers who experiment with the modern in rock and country contexts, and return to J's or P/J.

As for chambers and graphite compared with metro construction? One of my axes is a Metro 5/24, alder/morado, which I've compared side-by-side with several NYC 5ers, old and new, and I've generally preferred this particular Metro - more uniform tone from bottom to top, killer, killer B-string, and minimal dead-spot deficit. I suspect the graphite-reinforced necks will more consistently avoid the dead-spot problem. Whether or not you prefer the sound and ergonomics of the chambered bodies is up to you - they are different, but I can't say one is better than the other, and I seem to be preferring the non-chambered bodies, but that's a subjective thing as I look for a particular, darkish timbre to the sound and prefer not to have any neck-dive whatsoever.

One thing you can get from NYC (or a metro Will Lee 5) is the 1 3/4" nut on a 5...I LOVE that on my P/J, but don't find it critical.

So, yeah, any Sadowsky P/J, metro or NY, and other than ash/maple, seems like a great place for you to start. The Will Lee 5 might also merit your attention.

Good luck!

 

[georgestrings]

I just joined a modern country band. I auditioned with my Metro UV70. That's probably what I'll use going forward.

I'm strongly considering doing the same thing - I figure my Sterling 5 HS with a rosewood board should work pretty well for starters - although I could see a Sadowsky or Lakland 5er in my future...


- georgestrings

 

[mccoyra]

How different is the tone from the uv70 vs rv5-pj ?

 

[hsech]

Why are you getting a bass for one specific project? That sounds like what you tell your wife to justify an expensive purchase. JUST KIDDING. I would think any Sadowsky would be good for all your projects or bands.

 

[Chazinroch]

Saw a country band (nationally known, but forgot the name) open for George Jones. Bass player killed with a Gibson T-Bird. Goes to show you, it's not the bass, nor the amp or stings. It's the player. I always cringe when I see what's the best (amp, bass, strings etc.) for (metal, blues, jazz, rock country etc.). I believe you can make any combination work with any style. Maybe those purple pointy basses look strange for certain gigs but 99.9% of non-bass playing audience members will not know the difference.

 

[two fingers]

I did a quick search of the Sadowsky artists who play country. Most play modern country. As far as models go they are all over the place. As stated before, I don't think you can go wrong. I play modern country all the time with either a Fender Roscoe Beck Sig V, a Jazz, or a Pbass. All seem to work equally well. It's about your playing. And with the other gear you have, and the quality of Sadowsky basses, you'll be more then fine either way.

 

[Jim Carr]

Sadowsky NYC 5-string P/J, alder/rosewood OR a Jazz swamp ash/maple like Swine's:

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

Don't deeply know the music you're getting into, but having some over-think tendencies of my own, I feel your situation!

Hard to see how you go wrong with any Sadowsky P/J 5, and alder with Morado or RW definitely seems right. I've been in and around a lot of Sadowskys over the last few years, and am really getting the virtues of the Morado board as a great platform for going in different tonal directions. Ebony will probably be a bit too dry for your purposes, I suspect, and I've heard folks get great mellow sounds out of maple boards, but it doesn't seem natural.

Reverse P will give you a crisper, more centered sound on the B-string and arguably a more modern sound overall. Preferred by slappers, and I've not experienced it on Sadowsky but know and love it from exposure to various Yamahas.

You could probably do OK with single-coil J. pickups but I'd avoid the humcanceling J's for what you seek.

And of course, when you say "Modern," I immediately think of Sadowsky's dual-soapbar-down-by-the-bridge basses...which happen to be my favorite axe, and I do occasionally use these successfully when cavorting with a drunken cowboy shaman crowd I'm periodically around, but I think they are kind of amused by my bringing some of that tightness and attitude to their parade when I step out, and I have to use a soft touch and play right over the fretboard in order to sound right when just grooving. That said, the Moderns can cover that range of ground, but there seem to be a number of TBers who experiment with the modern in rock and country contexts, and return to J's or P/J.

As for chambers and graphite compared with metro construction? One of my axes is a Metro 5/24, alder/morado, which I've compared side-by-side with several NYC 5ers, old and new, and I've generally preferred this particular Metro - more uniform tone from bottom to top, killer, killer B-string, and minimal dead-spot deficit. I suspect the graphite-reinforced necks will more consistently avoid the dead-spot problem. Whether or not you prefer the sound and ergonomics of the chambered bodies is up to you - they are different, but I can't say one is better than the other, and I seem to be preferring the non-chambered bodies, but that's a subjective thing as I look for a particular, darkish timbre to the sound and prefer not to have any neck-dive whatsoever.

One thing you can get from NYC (or a metro Will Lee 5) is the 1 3/4" nut on a 5...I LOVE that on my P/J, but don't find it critical.

So, yeah, any Sadowsky P/J, metro or NY, and other than ash/maple, seems like a great place for you to start. The Will Lee 5 might also merit your attention.

Good luck!

I'm curious. Why should he avoid the hum cancelling J PUPs ?

 

[Joebone]

IMO, midrange dip, and not as much growl as can get from single coils or P/J. Others may feel otherwise...

 

[zortation]

Play a bunch and see which one grabs you

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Here's one that Tully is selling, if it's still available.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/fs-nyc-pj5-sadowsky-936137/

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

IMO, midrange dip, and not as much growl as can get from single coils or P/J. Others may feel otherwise...

Sorry ...it was a loaded question. I gig a metro 5 with the hum cancelling (h-c) pups.

While I acknowledge that they certainly don't growl like the single coils, I don't believe that's necessarily a disadvantage in country music.

When I play country, I want my bass to sound warm and smooth, and I think the h-c pups are just fine in that regard.

To each his own I guess

 

[mccoyra]

Thanks Guys for all of the input. I saw Tully play last night at a sold out Sanford stadium concert. His tone is very nice. Strong and present. Cuts through the mix like I have never seen especially in a big band in stadium

 

[Joebone]

Sorry ...it was a loaded question. I gig a metro 5 with the hum cancelling (h-c) pups.

While I acknowledge that they certainly don't growl like the single coils, I don't believe that's necessarily a disadvantage in country music.

When I play country, I want my bass to sound warm and smooth, and I think the h-c pups are just fine in that regard.

To each his own I guess

Indeed!

I'm genuinely curious about how close you can take your hc pickups toward that growly, slappy upright sound that seems to work well on old-school country, emulating upright hitting on downbeats. No doubt the hc will do warm and smooth, but given the OP's query, I thought he might also be looking for a broader range of attitude...

There are a million stories in the naked city...