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Club Sadowsky!!!

#23,461
hey all

i had a few questions about sadowskys and i figured here would be the best place to ask them

What other brand would you say sadowskys play/feel like (fenders, EBMM, ibanez etc.)

And since these basses are all privately made, how would you go about 'trying' a sadowsky to see if you liked it? Did all of you just take a leap of faith and get one online?

thanks!:hyper:
 
#23,463
johndough247 said:
Question guys and gals:

I love this bass, I really do (Buckeye burl top/Ash/maple Reverse PJ5)...light as a feather, gorgeous, plays like butter once I got the setup figured out and the sound works great under most circumstances...BUT I miss having a mids control :hiding:

There just seems to be not as much low mid punch in there as I'd like, boosting the bass helps somewhat but it's voiced low (which is fine, it IS bass boost afterall), so IME if I boost only a little, its not enough to get the frequencies i'm after (based on a gig last night, among others, it's somewhere between 300 - 550 Hz)...if I boost a lot, well...it's too much boom, not enough definition.

So on to my question: I know the Will Lee mid-boost switch is not an option outside of that model, so i'm wondering is it possible to drop a mid frequency boost/cut (either a switch or an actual knob) into a pre-existing preamp wiring?
Click to expand...


I find the PJ5 config to be one of the most lowmid forward of Roger's designs and find this curious. What rig are you using?

For myself I did find that the alder/rw setup works better for me, and does indeed have a little bit more of a lowmid kick to it than does the ash/maple. Very subtle difference really, but there all the same.
 
#23,464
ElMon said:
I find the PJ5 config to be one of the most lowmid forward of Roger's designs and find this curious. What rig are you using?

For myself I did find that the alder/rw setup works better for me, and does indeed have a little bit more of a lowmid kick to it than does the ash/maple. Very subtle difference really, but there all the same.
Click to expand...

Yeah I figured the alder/rosewood would have more low mids than the ash/maple basses. I think the chambering also plays a factor in taking some of the mids away from the instrument.
 
#23,465
DrewGK said:
hey all

i had a few questions about sadowskys and i figured here would be the best place to ask them

And since these basses are all privately made, how would you go about 'trying' a sadowsky to see if you liked it? Did all of you just take a leap of faith and get one online?

thanks!:hyper:
Click to expand...

We sell everything on 7 day approval...

Roger
 
#23,466
DrewGK said:
hey all

i had a few questions about sadowskys and i figured here would be the best place to ask them

What other brand would you say sadowskys play/feel like (fenders, EBMM, ibanez etc.)

And since these basses are all privately made, how would you go about 'trying' a sadowsky to see if you liked it? Did all of you just take a leap of faith and get one online?

thanks!:hyper:
Click to expand...

Okay, I'll bite....
IMO...Sadowsky's play/feel like the one of the best basses you've ever, ever had in your hands. They're tight. They feel like a million bucks. They don't feel like anything else that I have played (Lakland, Modulus, Fender Custom Shop, Warwick). A few years ago, I was looking for something new. I was done with the brands I had owned. I wanted something top notch that was within my budget. Then I started following the Sadowsky threads and I took that leap of faith and I custom ordered mine and I will never regret it. Worth every penny. I don't gig - I am a hobbyist/home recorder.

I am currently saving to buy a 5-string P/J or P. As soon as I can, I will buy one. Then I'm done - my collection will be complete. :bassist:
 
#23,468
DrewGK said:
hey all



And since these basses are all privately made, how would you go about 'trying' a sadowsky to see if you liked it? Did all of you just take a leap of faith and get one online?

thanks!:hyper:
Click to expand...

I had been following the threads on Sadowsky's for a couple of years and trolling the classifieds on TB. Always heard plenty of praise for Sadowsky as a company, as well as an excellent bass. Finally took a leap of faith and bought a UV70 5 string (Alder/Rosewood) from TBer Elmon....

Needless to say, I get compliments on it's look and Tone... Love it !!! Now looking to get a 5 string PJ down the road.
 
#23,474
johndough247 said:
Lesson of the day: ALWAYS pack your portabag with the thickest pedals you own LOL...then again, I never leave a bass lying down in any spot where a vehicle can conceivably drive...ehh, just in case though.

It was a Portabag right (he did say gig bag)? If it was then that's a big +1000 for how solid that case is!
Click to expand...

Actually, the gig bag was standing up, leaning against the side of the truck. When I backed up, it must have fallen over and in-between the front and rear axles, and sadly run over by the driver's side front wheel. No matter how you cut it, it was a careless act of stupidity to have not put it into the truck before I became distracted with friends and cell phones. Additionally, the case was sadly a cheap Road Runner gig bag that night, and not my more robust bag. I'm not sure any gig bag would have fared better though, and I believe the Aguilar pedal really did take the brunt of the force. Regardless, the fact that my Sadowsky was even playable during the next night's gig is amazing and a true blessing, and I have full confidence that if anyone can fix what might be ailing my #233, I know Roger and his crew are more than up to the task.
 
#23,475
Musicfreak1988 said:
Hi Roger,

I got your letter about exporting Brazilian rosewood. I read that Madagascar or amazon rosewood are the most suitable replacements. What's your opinion on both. I really like the look, feel and tone of Braz., and I never even heard of amazon rosewood...

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Amazon Rosewood is Dalbergia Spruceana. Brazilian Rosewood is Dalbergia Nigra. The woods are very similar. I will soon be posting photos on my site comparing Madagascar, Brazilian and Amazon. The all have similar cosmetics, feel and tone. If you like Brazilian, you will like the Amazon.

Roger
 
#23,476
rodneyat said:
If it's a newer Sadowsky P/J. It has the Nordstrand P pickup. Which is pretty "middy". IMO
Click to expand...

It is a new 2011 NYC Sadowsky PJ, the pickup says sadowsky, don't know who made them specifically. I'm not saying it's a mid scooped sound, not at all. I'm saying the mids seem to be voiced in a way (or has greater emphasis of certain frequencies) that doesn't cut the way I want it to (playing fingerstyle for neo-soul/gospel type stuff, to give some reference).

ElMon said:
I find the PJ5 config to be one of the most lowmid forward of Roger's designs and find this curious. What rig are you using?

For myself I did find that the alder/rw setup works better for me, and does indeed have a little bit more of a lowmid kick to it than does the ash/maple. Very subtle difference really, but there all the same.
Click to expand...

Note that the P pickup is reversed, not standard, if i'm not mistaken I think your PJ was standard config ElMon?

I've used a few different amps, and with all I had to boost the mids (or low mids if that was an option) to get exactly what i wanted (the bass as-is sounds cool, but it's like 80% of the way to where I want it to be:

*Behringer BX4210A (450W 2x10 combo)
*SWR LA-15 combo
*Gallien-Krueger 800RB through SWR 4x10 Goliath III
*SWR SM-900 through SWR 4x10 Goliath III
Also played straight into a Mackie mixer to the house last night...same sound.

I'm gonna try some experimentation with different strings (leaning towards nickels) to see if that changes things. I know most if not all are pretty satisfied with their Sadowsky(s), but I'm still curious as to the feasibility of adding that mid sweep (John East's Mid Sweep 01 Module in case you missed it), and where in the signal path would you insert this.
 
#23,477
johndough247 said:
It is a new 2011 NYC Sadowsky PJ, the pickup says sadowsky, don't know who made them specifically. I'm not saying it's a mid scooped sound, not at all. I'm saying the mids seem to be voiced in a way (or has greater emphasis of certain frequencies) that doesn't cut the way I want it to (playing fingerstyle for neo-soul/gospel type stuff, to give some reference).



Note that the P pickup is reversed, not standard, if i'm not mistaken I think your PJ was standard config ElMon?

I've used a few different amps, and with all I had to boost the mids (or low mids if that was an option) to get exactly what i wanted (the bass as-is sounds cool, but it's like 80% of the way to where I want it to be:

*Behringer BX4210A (450W 2x10 combo)
*SWR LA-15 combo
*Gallien-Krueger 800RB through SWR 4x10 Goliath III
*SWR SM-900 through SWR 4x10 Goliath III
Also played straight into a Mackie mixer to the house last night...same sound.

I'm gonna try some experimentation with different strings (leaning towards nickels) to see if that changes things. I know most if not all are pretty satisfied with their Sadowsky(s), but I'm still curious as to the feasibility of adding that mid sweep (John East's Mid Sweep 01 Module in case you missed it), and where in the signal path would you insert this.
Click to expand...

Mine's standard config and again I do find that the alder/rw PJ5's have a more lowmid-forward tone built in, to my ears anyways. Either way, if it's not completely nailing that 'tone in your head' then I understand. I wish I could say it was the amps that you're using, but IME a Sadowsky bass can sound amazing thru just about ANY kind of amp.

Didn't know that the East Mid Sweep was something that could be added to an existing pre. Interesting.....
 
#23,479
sadowskybasstrioandstack.jpg




Sadowsky SA200 full stack and to the right is a Kern IP-777 preamp -> Crown K2 amp-> EA VL210 cab.
The J bass is spectacular carmel burst but my crappy camera make it's look like cherry burst.

Sadowsky_quilt_jazz_4.jpg





I'm leaving my six Sadowsky guitars out of this one.
 

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