Took some new pics...
I love that bass every time I see it. If I ever went 'fancy schmancy' again, this spec would be IT, in either trans red or trans blue. Beautiful instrument in every way... probably my favorite Sadowsky of all time
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I love that bass every time I see it. If I ever went 'fancy schmancy' again, this spec would be IT, in either trans red or trans blue. Beautiful instrument in every way... probably my favorite Sadowsky of all time
After seeing yours and Rickey Minor's bass, I had to get one and its almost ready. I doubt I will have as nice of a BE pattern on mine.
Kevin sent me this last week.
Cool! Twinsies!
...Ok, a little late checking in but here I am...
... I never get tired posting y treesome, so bear with me...
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... and now for a quilt / birdseye overkill
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Beautiful! Post some closeups so we can really see the trio!
- Apr 3, 2003
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- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Hey guys just wondering if the VLE of Markbass heads is the same thing as Sadowsky VTC? I will have a Sadowsky coming soon and pretty much it doesn't have a VTC and It kinda makes me think of adding a VTC onto it.. Thanks guys!
The VLE and VTC do have similar goals (reduce the amount of highs relative to the rest of the signal), but they do so in different fashion. The VLE is basically a variable low-pass filter, and as I understand it, the VTC is a passive tone "bleed" which takes away more highs as you open it up.
While their goals are similar, they do sound different to my ear. That being said, the VLE may do the trick for you, and it's certainly worth experimenting with before you add a VTC to your Sadowsky.
Tom.
Thanks Tom! The thing is I don't like the VLE if you go past 9 o'clock it sounds like you are covering your cabinet with a blanket..
Even more than that. It also affects the mid response. This is a huge difference between the VLE and a typical VTC/PTC. This is the main reason I like to have a VTC/PTC as well as typical active controls... and the VLE is even yet again different from those.
The main thing to keep in mind is, as Tom said, at a very general level, their main purpose is to cut highs. But they really do it in differing ways. If you really want to be more strict about chopping off highs without affecting the rest of your sound, the VLE is the best solution. Otherwise, if you want a more traditional/classic effect on your sound, the VTC is the only way to get there.Hey guys just wondering if the VLE of Markbass heads is the same thing as Sadowsky VTC? I will have a Sadowsky coming soon and pretty much it doesn't have a VTC and It kinda makes me think of adding a VTC onto it.. Thanks guys!
I've seen people comment on the VLE as a "front control for the tweeter in the cab". I think that's a good way to think about it.
Hey guys just wondering if the VLE of Markbass heads is the same thing as Sadowsky VTC? I will have a Sadowsky coming soon and pretty much it doesn't have a VTC and It kinda makes me think of adding a VTC onto it.. Thanks guys!
I play an F1. To my ear, the VLE control is not at all like the VTC tonally. There may be a few tones in there that crossover, but they are definitely different animals.
The Sadowsky VTC is VERY simple conceptually. It has a cool name and all, but it is really nothing more than a passive tone control. It's the same thing you have on any passive bass. That's not discounting it's brilliance or value in any way, I'm just sayin' "it ain't rocket surgery."
I don't think I would have a Sadowsky without it. First of all, it makes the basses fully functional in passive mode. Most designs leave you few options in passive mode. The VTC allows your Sadowsky to behave mostly like any other passive bass when the preamp is bypassed.
Then, of course, there is the interactivity of the VTC with the active treble boost. While the VTC is simply a passive tone control and functions just as one did 50 years ago, it remains in the circuit even when the bass is in active mode. What this offers is a very pleasing interaction between the two controls. While the treble boost is voiced well, it can be, like most any treble boost, a bit shrill and piercing with certain combinations, but using the VTC, you can somewhat "round-off" the edges of the treble. The end result is a very bright and brilliant tone that is not too harsh or piercing. I don't know of anything else that I have ever played that works quite like it.
If I owned a Sadowsky without the VTC, I would be ordering it the next business day. It does require some soldering skills to do it yourself, but the circuit itself is actually pretty straight forward. I figured it out, I am am not that bright!
Chef
In Memoriam
Chasarms:
totally concur. I love having the VTC on a Sadowsky, and wouldn't be without it.
Also, there is indeed great synergy to be had in combining the Vintage Tone Control and active treble boost. I use that combination a lot.
totally concur. I love having the VTC on a Sadowsky, and wouldn't be without it.
Also, there is indeed great synergy to be had in combining the Vintage Tone Control and active treble boost. I use that combination a lot.
+2
I totally agree with Chasarms and Chef. VTC is essential on a Sadowsky, especially if you play with roundwounds.
VTC works great in conjunction with the tone boost.
Sometimes, I wish I still were an EE so I could bring my bass in to work and get it on the test bench to see how things change on the spectrum analyzer when tweaking the tone boost and VTC.
I sometimes will use the VLE on my LMII to take the edge off a tweeter.
TimothyGroovy
Commercial User
- Aug 3, 2000
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- Owner: Uni•Sound Endorsing Artist: Sadowsky Guitars, Olinto Bass, LaBella Strings
TimothyGroovy
Commercial User
- Aug 3, 2000
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- 2,097
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- Owner: Uni•Sound Endorsing Artist: Sadowsky Guitars, Olinto Bass, LaBella Strings
+3
VTC is absolutely plays the big part of my Sadowsky bass tone! For me, Tone control is even far more important than the Bass/Tre boost.
Mmmmm, look at how tight that neck pocket is. The stuff dreamy tone is made of.
+1 Two different circuits to get to a very similar place.
To the OP, here is a clip, part of which compares the VTC to the VLE. Not identical, but pretty close. Unless you do a lot of changing on the fly, there would be no need to retrofit your bass with a VTC if you have a Markbass head with the VLE.
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The VLE/VTC comparison starts at the 3 minute mark.
It's really clever, and ballsy, to rename a common PTC (passive tone control) as a VTC. Sadowsky wasn't even first to implement it this way.
Does anyone else find their strings catching under the string bar at the headstock? Mine often do, and it makes tuning and staying in tune a real fuss.
Does anyone else find their strings catching under the string bar at the headstock? Mine often do, and it makes tuning and staying in tune a real fuss.
I think that is why Sadowsky calls it a 'vintage' tone control... i.e., it is an older design tone control versus the active circuit. I don't think Roger ever said it was new or different.
Regarding string bar, I use roundwound strings and have never experienced this issue. Something doesn't seem right there.
- Nov 4, 2003
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Considering that the basses are a "modern" take on the Jazz bass loaded with active pre-amps, it doesn't seem "ballsy", just really what it is.
I'm yet to encounter a tuning issue on any that I have owned. And every 4 string was loaded with a HipShot D-Tuner and had no problems there either.
They have always been rock solid for staying in tune. For me anyway.
Never heard of anyone else having this issue, but I guess some could.
