What do you recommend for a warm fat sound ? I know the natural answer might seem to be alder/rosewood but some of the best tones I've heard on a Sadowsky have been on a Swamp Ash/Maple bass.
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What do you recommend for a warm fat sound ? I know the natural answer might seem to be alder/rosewood but some of the best tones I've heard on a Sadowsky have been on a Swamp Ash/Maple bass.
My PJ4 is ash/maple and I find it to be plenty fat and warm with the Sadowsky flats but I also can get brighter/ more agresive tones if I use roundwound strings.
It's funny you know. I got into the whole 6 string bass thing, tuned by 5 string E-C, changed pickups, preamps and after all of that I've realised that nothing beats a solid 4 string jazz bass. And Sadowsky IMHO has carried on where Leo Fender left off and refined the jazz bass to a point where it's a must have. Simple as that. I've looked at bass players across various genres and all of them seem to have at least one Sadowsky in their arsnal. There's a reason for it, Roger's basses kick butt. Plain and simple.
I asked about the wood combination because as far as my knowledge of wood goes, Swamp Ash/Maple should produce a bright tone. But one interesting thing Roger's done is place the pickups in the 60's position. Will Lee is probably my favorite bass player right now and he uses this wood combination quite a bit and he just kciks butt man. I know a lot has to do with his fingers, but still, I do think the Swamp Ash/Maple combo has a lot to do with it and now so does his mid boost.
I asked about the wood combination because as far as my knowledge of wood goes, Swamp Ash/Maple should produce a bright tone. But one interesting thing Roger's done is place the pickups in the 60's position. Will Lee is probably my favorite bass player right now and he uses this wood combination quite a bit and he just kciks butt man. I know a lot has to do with his fingers, but still, I do think the Swamp Ash/Maple combo has a lot to do with it and now so does his mid boost.
my 3rd Sadowsky - UV70 mmmmm
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Oh WOW.... that is beyond gorgeous!!!!
For me, the pickups have to be in the 60's location for Ash/Maple. If they are in the 70's location then Alder/Maple is it.
Either of those two combos are magic to me!
Classically beautiful and inspiring.
My tastes are changing and I'm thinking of selling my NY maple topped J bass and getting one of those UV 70 Metros.
- Feb 3, 2005
- 7,331
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- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Bergantino Audio Systems and GHS Strings
yuujin said:
Same here. I have an ash/maple Will Lee and an alder/rw pj. The alder/rw is def more vintage sounding (rounder, warmer, etc). That ash/maple Will Lee has a lot more bite and attack to it.
Chef
In Memoriam
- Feb 3, 2005
- 7,331
- 10,198
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Bergantino Audio Systems and GHS Strings
Chef said:
Absolutely. I can tell you the passive mode on the P is so diff than the J.
As a side note, my old NYC was alder/maple w sc pu's. Def a little darker/warmer than the Will Lee but not as much as the alder rw pj for sure.
vibhas_2310 said:
Indeed, both are still delicious though.
I wouldn't use one in a pie though.
I called up Roger today and asked him about woods. He said that while Will Lee used to play a lot of basses with the Swamp Ash/Maple combination, he has lately started using and liking Alder/Rosewood basses. I think it'll be quite interesting to hear the mid boost on an alder/rosewood bass.
Had the pleasure of seeing the Oz Noy Trio tonight @ The Rex here in T.O. My 1st time seeing Will Lee play live. (not to forget the other half of the groove - Anton Fig.)....Yikes!!!
Got some separate face time w/both of them, which was a real treat as well. The Rex is a nice intimate Jazz & Blues club where I've seen a lot of music over the years & where the acoustics is pretty accommodating.
Will played his alder/rosewood signature J4 Sad' through a Walter Woods head & a 4-10 Mark Bass cab. He told me he brought the head w/him & borrowed the cab. (got the impression he wasn't very excited about that part of the rig). He said he's in a "rosewood phase" at the moment, which is fine with me.
The mid boost seemed very effective at "punch" & sounded real tight. I personally like a bit more hi fi. For me, it's like a lot of 4-10 cabs - I find them a bit too "offensive" to be musical.(an 8-10 is another ball game). The same applies to mid boost IMO.
Even got to hear Will sing "8 Days A Week". Too cool! He told me the "Fab Faux" gigs almost every week. Check this out if you haven't already. The Fab Faux - Abbey Road Side 2 (mostly) on Vimeo
Ran into a number of bass players that came for the ride. Ya gotta love the bass player fraternity. Reminds me of the story Charlie Hayden tells of the opening night at a NY jazz club where he was playing w/Ornette Coleman at the onset of the free jazz movement. It apparently got around in the jazz community that something was happening that shouldn't be missed. Charlie said that he was uncovering his upright as they were setting up & looked up to see nothing but bass players from one end of the bar to the other. He said he freaked & just closed his eyes while playing the whole night. LOL.
Here's a couple of pics I took. I'm very disappointed that all the zoomed in shots came out w/blurred movement. I was too busy listening to pay mind to the camera. Oh well- next year.
B.
Got some separate face time w/both of them, which was a real treat as well. The Rex is a nice intimate Jazz & Blues club where I've seen a lot of music over the years & where the acoustics is pretty accommodating.
Will played his alder/rosewood signature J4 Sad' through a Walter Woods head & a 4-10 Mark Bass cab. He told me he brought the head w/him & borrowed the cab. (got the impression he wasn't very excited about that part of the rig). He said he's in a "rosewood phase" at the moment, which is fine with me.
The mid boost seemed very effective at "punch" & sounded real tight. I personally like a bit more hi fi. For me, it's like a lot of 4-10 cabs - I find them a bit too "offensive" to be musical.(an 8-10 is another ball game). The same applies to mid boost IMO.
Even got to hear Will sing "8 Days A Week". Too cool! He told me the "Fab Faux" gigs almost every week. Check this out if you haven't already. The Fab Faux - Abbey Road Side 2 (mostly) on Vimeo
Ran into a number of bass players that came for the ride. Ya gotta love the bass player fraternity. Reminds me of the story Charlie Hayden tells of the opening night at a NY jazz club where he was playing w/Ornette Coleman at the onset of the free jazz movement. It apparently got around in the jazz community that something was happening that shouldn't be missed. Charlie said that he was uncovering his upright as they were setting up & looked up to see nothing but bass players from one end of the bar to the other. He said he freaked & just closed his eyes while playing the whole night. LOL.
Here's a couple of pics I took. I'm very disappointed that all the zoomed in shots came out w/blurred movement. I was too busy listening to pay mind to the camera. Oh well- next year.
B.
