Checking out Gear on 48th St. in NYC

I was in town for business until from Thursday 1/1 to Monday 1/5. Although business kept me occupied for a day and half, I had some time to be a tourist, and one of my favorite tourist activities is checking out music shops. I went to Sadowsky over in Brooklyn on 1/2, which was quite a trek. I ended up walking the last mile or two because the instructions I had from my hotel left me on 408 Jay Street, when Sadowsky's shop is on 20 Jay Street! Oh well, I had a nice aerobic workout. Too bad, the shop was closed until today when I had to catch a plane back to STL. Fortunately, I got to check out three sweet Metros at Manny's. I brought my Fender Jazz Deluxe along so I could finally do a direct a/b. I was surprised, that I actually liked the Fender's slap tone a bit more (it was more Fender like, while the Sadowsky sounded a tad too edgy for me.) I also felt my Fender's neck really felt pretty good when a/b'ed to the Sadowsky. Where the sadowsky crushed the Fender was finger style tone. It was incredibly punchy and full! It is no wonder why Sadowskys are so popular for studio work. That fingerstyle tone was absolutely perfect!

That was not it for Metros though. I was ready to leave when I saw a Seventies Style Metro hanging on the wall, and when I played that bass, I knew I had found what I was looking for! The body was a bit larger, the slap tone was perfect, and I was in love! I am seriously considering selling my Fenders and Sadowsky Preamp, and buying that Seventies style Sadowsky. I have been flirting with the idea for years, but now that I have played one, I know it is the bass for me.

I also got to check out some other cool basses too. I played a J/MM five string Godlyke bass. It is very nice looking and well made. The price of $1210 or so is great too. I just am not feeling J/MM basses anymore, and I have to admit that if I wanted a J/MM without coil switching, I could pick up a Peavey Millennium for much less while still having the same quality, just narrower string spacing. I also got to play a used Streamer Six Broadneck at Sam Ash. It is a lovely bass, but I could certainly live without one. I also played a Streamer $$ 5 at Rudy's, and I could live without it too. I was impressed with an active Custom Shop Fender Jazz four, but liked the Sadowsky just a bit more. The basses that I felt are totally underrated, however, are the Pensas! I played two at Rudy's, the newer one with 17 or 17.5 mm string spacing and Nordstrand pickups was the bomb except that it was $4,000! That bass was comfortable and had tone for days. I know many swear by 19mm spacing, but I didn't miss a beat playing it. There was an older Pensa with 19mm spacing, but a neck profile that was a bit too fat for my taste. What some luthiers don't understand, but Sadowsky and Lakland have mastered is the wide spaced neck with a thin and flat profile. Necks like that are effortless to play, IMO. The older Pensa also sounded weaker since it DiMarzios instead of those hot Nordstrands. All things considered, I think Pensa deserves more love, they are wonderful boutique Jazzes.

 

I forgot to mention that another bass that really impressed me was a KSD Six string at Rudy's. It was only $895, and I see they are made in China now. The neck on it was nice and the fret work was fine. It got a nice, Fendery sort of tone, and it has true single coils. The preamp is a step or two down from higher end basses, but I think it is a great value, and I would be proud to gig one if I were so inclined.

 

I had to check the website. Yes, it was a UV70.

 

I have owned about three or four SR5s and Peaveys over the years, so narrower string spacing is not an issue for me, but I like the wider spacing too. I guess i'm just wishy washy!

 

Are you a slim guy with dark hair? I think I remember you!

 

With the budget cuts, I don't know when I will have another business trip to the Big Apple, but I do hope to meet you one day. You are a person I truly admire. Your UV70 is simply perfect. There was nothing on that bass I would change.

 

I don't care where Pensa gets their components or wood. The basses are beautiful, sound great, and play great. $4,000 is way too much money for me, but if one can afford it, and wants it, have at it!

 

You're cool. I don't want to see a flame war either, but you are just as entitled to your opinion as any boutique Jazz lover is too.

I will say that any great bass is more than the sum of its parts, otherwise I could make a Pensa or Sadowsky too.