Club Sadowsky!!!

[Vic]

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.

No offense (honestly), but I think you're reading way too much into things here. I don't think Roger ever represented this kind of tone control as a Sadowsky invention/innovation.

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.

Just to add another datapoint, I've also not had any such tuning problems. FWIW, anyway.

 

[StayLow]

No offense (honestly), but I think you're reading way too much into things here. I don't think Roger ever represented this kind of tone control as a Sadowsky invention/innovation.

Just to add another datapoint, I've also not had any such tuning problems. FWIW, anyway.

What am I "reading into"?

It's great marketing, like calling garbage men "Sanitation Engineers". Take a very simple, cheap and arguably sorely-needed feature that's been in wide use for decades and give it a fancy more marketable new name.

Surely as I have, you've seen in the forums that's now what people often call a passive tone function in an active bass, even when that passive tone circuit is on other brands of basses, including ones that were already doing it before Sadowsky coined the phrase and started using it.

None of that is "reading into", it's exactly that's happened, and in case there's any confusion it is not a slag, rather it's a compliment.

 

[MikeBass]

What am I "reading into"?

It's great marketing, like calling garbage men "Sanitation Engineers". Take a very simple, cheap and arguably sorely-needed feature that's been in wide use for decades and give it a fancy more marketable new name.

Surely as I have, you've seen in the forums that's now what people often call a passive tone function in an active bass, even when that passive tone circuit is on other brands of basses, including ones that were already doing it before Sadowsky coined the phrase and started using it.

None of that is "reading into", it's exactly that's happened, and in case there's any confusion it is not a slag, rather it's a compliment.

I don't mean to pile on you, but as far as I can recall, I don't remember an active pre-amp that had a true passive tone control integrated into it. And functions when the pre is on or of . As simple as it is really.
I may be wrong, but I think Sadowsky was one of, if not the first to do it on a regular basis.

Alembic didn't, but they had an active high cut filter that responded way differently than a passive tone control. Sorta put you in the same bass park though.
Bart didn't. Neither did Aguilar for a while- and we all know the relationship Sadowsky has with those guys.
EMG sure as hell didn't! They're the "anti passive" company! LOL!!!! (at least they were!)
Duncan didn't for a long time, but I think they do now.
Carvin for a short time had a slick pre-amp that would keep the gain level no matter how much cut or boost you would do to the EQ, and I think it had a passive tone control.

 

[Vic]

What am I "reading into"?

It's great marketing, like calling garbage men "Sanitation Engineers". Take a very simple, cheap and arguably sorely-needed feature that's been in wide use for decades and give it a fancy more marketable new name.

I guess what I'd say is the "marketing" aspect you're focused on. I've never seen them "market" it that way. I always took it to simply be descriptive and nothing more. I'd think it'd be easier for someone to intuitively understand a vintage tone control as a descriptive term rather than a passive tone control.

IMHO anyway.

 

[johndough247]

Took some new pics...

"WHAAAAATTTTTT?!?!?!"

That's what I said out loud, at work in the office, the second I saw this bass! Bluesy...Bluesy...Bluesy!!! what are you doing to me?!

As comic book guy would say: Best. Bass. Ever. (that is, until mine is completed LOL)

 

[Russell Bergum]

"WHAAAAATTTTTT?!?!?!"

That's what I said out loud, at work in the office, the second I saw this bass! Bluesy...Bluesy...Bluesy!!! what are you doing to me?!

As comic book guy would say: Best. Bass. Ever. (that is, until mine is completed LOL)

Yeah, I think that belongs in the Hot Bass Hall of Fame.

 

[Vic]

Yeah, I think that belongs in the Hot Bass Hall of Fame.

Yeah, it really does.

I'm gonna' send Roger and Kevin some email suggesting it be added to:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[johndough247]

Yeah, it really does.

I'm gonna' send Roger and Kevin some email suggesting it be added to:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

OOOO!! OOO!!! THIS!!! lol

 

[StayLow]

MikeBass, regarding the Carvin preamp you're describing I say "it's about ####### time !!!". I, along with soundmen everywhere, wish all active preamps had that feature.

I personally owned two different brands of active basses that were made that way as stock long before Sadowsky did it. Surely among the couple hundreds or more other active builders there were others.

That's o/t though. I am not aware that Sadowsky ever claimed to have done it first, nor am I suggesting it. I do believe they were first to give it a new name. The effect is that it has become common use (around this small corner of bassdom anyway, where people have commonly heard of the brand), and by extension people seem to think Sadowsky came up with it first and that there's more to it than a simple passive tone rolloff.

In that latter point I disagree with Vik, because I suggest that if the name were actually more descriptive there wouldn't be so many people asking what it does and how.

Whether it was done on purpose for marketing benefit isn't my point either. It doesn't matter. The net effect has been as I've described it and in that sense it's been beneficial and clever marketing. That's my point.

"Passive" itself is not an exciting word, while "vintage" is very appealing to musicians. Especially if you say Vintage Tone Control as three drawn-out words with delay and a monster truck rally voice.

 

[Chasarms]

. . . Are those modern-series 5-string necks flatter, and/or smaller in some dimension? Do they have a flatter radius? . . .

There is no question. The 24 fret neck definitely has a flatter feel. I prefer it SO much more than any other neck I have ever played -- even the other Sadowskys.

This has led me to the thought that if ( probably when) I actually custom spec my own Sadowsky, it will have that neck no matter what else I am on the mood for at the time.

If I could order today, I probably would do another fully modern 24 with a natural quilt top on alder (rw fb) but with either SC or HCs in 60s positioning.

 

[Vic]

In that latter point I disagree with Vik, because I suggest that if the name were actually more descriptive there wouldn't be so many people asking what it does and how.

Whether it was done on purpose for marketing benefit isn't my point either. It doesn't matter. The net effect has been as I've described it and in that sense it's been beneficial and clever marketing. That's my point.

"Passive" itself is not an exciting word, while "vintage" is very appealing to musicians. Especially if you say Vintage Tone Control as three drawn-out words with delay and a monster truck rally voice.

That's cool... we can agree to disagree.

I bet you had a field day with Fender's "Grease Bucket" tone control

 

[MikeBass]

MikeBass, regarding the Carvin preamp you're describing I say "it's about ####### time !!!". I, along with soundmen everywhere, wish all active preamps had that feature.

I personally owned two different brands of active basses that were made that way as stock long before Sadowsky did it. Surely among the couple hundreds or more other active builders there were others.

That's o/t though. I am not aware that Sadowsky ever claimed to have done it first, nor am I suggesting it. I do believe they were first to give it a new name. The effect is that it has become common use (around this small corner of bassdom anyway, where people have commonly heard of the brand), and by extension people seem to think Sadowsky came up with it first and that there's more to it than a simple passive tone rolloff.

In that latter point I disagree with Vik, because I suggest that if the name were actually more descriptive there wouldn't be so many people asking what it does and how.

Whether it was done on purpose for marketing benefit isn't my point either. It doesn't matter. The net effect has been as I've described it and in that sense it's been beneficial and clever marketing. That's my point.

"Passive" itself is not an exciting word, while "vintage" is very appealing to musicians. Especially if you say Vintage Tone Control as three drawn-out words with delay and a monster truck rally voice.

Yeah, that Carvin pre-amp was a long time ago.
Idea seems good on paper, but I guess it didn't really take off as I only remember hearing about it for a VERY short time.

 

[kuma9]

Hey Folks, just wanted to let you all know that I want to trade my Vintage 5 NYC (alder body) for a Standard 5 NYC (ash body). All the info is posted in the classifieds. Here she is:

 

[NOLA Bass]

Well, I am definitely switching my Will Lee order to a PJ NYC. Just going round and round which body to go with, the smaller dinky j body or trad P body. I always find the P looking a little "off" on the smaller J body and pg. Yet, that small body is quite comfy! I think the P looks a little more normal without the pg, but know you are talking total different look! Aaaggghhh!!! decisions........

 

[Vic]

Well, I am definitely switching my Will Lee order to a PJ NYC. Just going round and round which body to go with, the smaller dinky j body or trad P body. I always find the P looking a little "off" on the smaller J body and pg. Yet, that small body is quite comfy! I think the P looks a little more normal without the pg, but know you are talking total different look! Aaaggghhh!!! decisions........

I vote dinky J. Besides, you just got done saying in this post (if you read your own words) you like it best.

 

[NOLA Bass]

I vote dinky J. Besides, you just got done saying in this post (if you read your own words) you like it best.

I know I know, it is just the look of the PJ.

 

[Chef]

I've never been a fan of PJ, on a P body.
Of course, this is about 99% aesthetics, and thus just personal choice, so, ymmv, etc.

 

[EagleMoon]

Say Pat, What are all those little ridges on your strings?
B.

Wibbley-Wobbley Timey -Wimey Raxacoricofallapatorius conductors.

 

[cripula]

Well, I am definitely switching my Will Lee order to a PJ NYC. Just going round and round which body to go with, the smaller dinky j body or trad P body. I always find the P looking a little "off" on the smaller J body and pg. Yet, that small body is quite comfy! I think the P looks a little more normal without the pg, but know you are talking total different look! Aaaggghhh!!! decisions........

It took me a while to come around to the dinky J body, especially with a P/J.
But come around I did, now I think they're sexy as all get out.
I love my small J bodied P/J. It immediately felt like home as soon as I played it.

 

[bikeplate]

HI

Wow Crip. Another lame PJ. Where'd u get that? They let you outta Canada with that color?

Rob