Thanks Steve. This does seem to be a special one. I'm very, very pleased with it.. the look, the feel and especially the tone. Sometimes all the parts just 'come together' in a special way.
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Thanks Steve. This does seem to be a special one. I'm very, very pleased with it.. the look, the feel and especially the tone. Sometimes all the parts just 'come together' in a special way.
I have a solid swamp ash Standard 4.....tips the scale at only 7.5 lbs!
I guess there was more lighter wood available back in 1988! I recall Roger mentioning something about the wood seemed to be getting heavier in that video interview.
The NYC Sadowsky's are typically very light, due to the 'weight reduction'. The fact that this one was in that 'magic' spot of 8.5-9 pounds (i.e., still very light and comfortable, but also with some heft and authority) was what really sparked my interest in this particular instrument.
I enjoy my routed, very lightweight RV5 also, but this is a TOTALLY different thing
PS The 'heavier wood' comment made by Roger a while back, if I remember correctly, was made regarding Alder.
The NYC Sadowsky's are typically very light, due to the 'weight reduction'. The fact that this one was in that 'magic' spot of 8.5-9 pounds (i.e., still very light and comfortable, but also with some heft and authority) was what really sparked my interest in this particular instrument.
I enjoy my routed, very lightweight RV5 also, but this is a TOTALLY different thing
PS The 'heavier wood' comment made by Roger a while back, if I remember correctly, was made regarding Alder.
Mine is solid through and through. No chambering.....
+1... ash comes in many different densities and weights. I definitely prefer a little more heft to the MV's. The really light ones (routed or not) do not really do it for me... IMO there.
The NYC Sadowsky's are typically very light, due to the 'weight reduction'. The fact that this one was in that 'magic' spot of 8.5-9 pounds (i.e., still very light and comfortable, but also with some heft and authority) was what really sparked my interest in this particular instrument.
I enjoy my routed, very lightweight RV5 also, but this is a TOTALLY different thing
Curious if you will develop, or if you may have already developed a preference for your new Ash/Maple Sadowsky MV5 over your Alder RV5? I realize they are different animals due to body wood and fingerboard differences as well as having single coil J PU's in your MV5 versus the humcancelling J's in the RV5.
One thing I've learned when I owned two basses of essentially the same model (with small variations), by the same builder is that I clearly developed a preference for one over the other. But when that was the case, my two basses were largely more identical, so they covered essentially the same ground.
Your MV5 and RV5 are similar, but I would expect cover different sonic terrain.
My 9.2 pound MS5 with SC's has completely cured any GAS I had before. I really can't imagine ANYTHING sounding as good as it in the mix. I'm done.....no more basses for me.
HI
I dont know if my heavier basses sound better or just different. I LOVE my 7.35lb 24/4. That being said, my new ash/maple 5er is 8.4lbs and sounds awesome, too. My hybrid and nyc JJ4 are 8.5lbs. My fretless, im guessing, is about 8lbs. I think the only chambered bass I have is the 24/4. Its the best bass for my back and gets most of my gigs. Ive got a feeling, though, this new 5er is gonna get alot of action
What a great neck and feel it has
Rob
I dont know if my heavier basses sound better or just different. I LOVE my 7.35lb 24/4. That being said, my new ash/maple 5er is 8.4lbs and sounds awesome, too. My hybrid and nyc JJ4 are 8.5lbs. My fretless, im guessing, is about 8lbs. I think the only chambered bass I have is the 24/4. Its the best bass for my back and gets most of my gigs. Ive got a feeling, though, this new 5er is gonna get alot of action
What a great neck and feel it has
Rob
Hey Rob,
I had a VERY lightweight Modern (ash/ebony) for a while, and that bass sounded great. It is only the lightweight ash J style instruments that didn't really do it for me personally.
+1... I think the primary difference is the single coil pickup thing. My RV5 is very aggressive, but with the standard HC, it has a little bit more of the hi fi thing going. It is very lightweight, but still sounds quite fat and full (I assume this is the RW and Alder construction that tents to be a little fatter down low and less upper mid present than the MV's in general, especially the light ones).
Both sound great, and both sound very different from my beloved Alleva, so it's a nice range of different J tones, from very, very passive and vintage (Alleva), to quite modern but not 'over the top (Sadowsky), to totally 'on steroid' craziness (Celinder Update).
I'm digging the new Sadowsky a lot, and it kind of sits between the Alleva and Celinder... more aggressive and active and 'modern' than the Alleva, but more mid punchy and grindy than the very extended (lows and highs) Celinder. I like them all!
Sure looks to me like it might be 'bye-bye' heavy, heavy, heavy Celinder. (not to discount it's incredibly wonderful sonic magic) hehe
Your experience echo's and confirms the direction I've been going. I am fairly certain aside from the Alleva I have on order, my next bass is going to be a NYC Sadowsky MV5 JJ with single coils. I'd try a Metro, but I really want to hold out for the sub 9lb weight factor. The idea of an 8lb - 8.5 lb Jazz bass like a Sadowsky is just too tempting to resist. Must find the one I love, or place an order. Thanks Ken! You are an expensive friend to have. But I love you anyway man!
I'm planning on keeping the Celinder, but that's a violation of my 'if it doesn't get on a gig in a year, it's out the door' rule. It's just such a unique and special instrument that it seems to be my one 'collectors' piece.However, +1... can't see myself with that boat anchor around my shoulder any more at this point, although I did it for many, many gigs over the past few years.
K
PS Many of the Metro MV's are lighter than the NYC I have... it's just hard to order one with a specific weight spec.
Really? I don't think I've heard of a sub 9 lb Metro. Hmmm. I should check with Kevin, Rob, Roger et all. Thanks
+1... the Metro MV5 that I ordered about a year ago was very light... and hence sounded very thin and clacky with the standard HC pickups. It also hummed like crazy, even though when I sent it back, the Sadowsky team said it was behaving 'normally'. I really hated that bass. No Metro's for me
It's the alder ones that seem quite a bit heavier than the routed NYC's, as a general rule.
Joeykun
pronounced ジョーイくん
- Jun 22, 2007
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+1 I bought a MS5 last year that too was very light and sounded thin to me. I sold that and bought a NYC Standard 5 that sounds better to my ears. Although the Metro played fantastic and the construction was top notch the sound was different to me than the NYC ones.
Nothing against Metros they are still a Sadowsky and a fantastic bass. I can't wait to see the PJ 5's due out later this year!
Wait, they're making metro PJ 5's? I won't have to shell out the 4 or 5 grand for a NYC model? That would be fantastic news!
.
My UV70 5 is 9.5 lbs and kicks like a mule! My RV5 is 8.5lbs with plenty of "ummph.
In general I do agree that light basses (less than 8.5 lbs) seem to thin out sonically.
