• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Club Sadowsky!!!

#36,161
KJung said:
IMO, that is not due to the preamp (bypass is bypass... no impact), but rather (I believe) due to Roger's voicing of his pickups to work optimally with the preamp (I assume some sort of underwinding or whatever). That is why Roger (based on a number of posts through the years) views his preamp bypass as more of a 'safety' feature than a tonal option.

It is another reason why Sadowksy's sound like they do, and don't move much toward a classic Fender passive tonality in passive mode IMO and IME.
Click to expand...

My Lull doesn't have Sadowsky pickups in it and the sound changed considerably (in passive mode) when I installed the Sadowsky pre.
 
#36,162
bass12 said:
My Lull doesn't have Sadowsky pickups in it and the sound changed considerably (in passive mode) when I installed the Sadowsky pre.
Click to expand...

Something seems wrong then. A bypass has very little circuitry left in the signal chain (just the switch). I would get that checked out for sure, assuming your ears aren't playing tricks on you.

Edit: One thing that might have happened is if you used the entire 'prewired' sort of thing with the new pots, the pot capacitance value (or whatever that is.... 250k, 500k, etc.) might be quite different from what you had. If you are noticing either more or less upper treble than you used to have, that probably is due to the pot values of the master volume, etc. being different than what you had originally. Easy to swap those pots out if you don't like what it did to your passive tone.
 
#36,164
KJung said:
Something seems wrong then. A bypass has very little circuitry left in the signal chain (just the switch). I would get that checked out for sure, assuming your ears aren't playing tricks on you.

Edit: One thing that might have happened is if you used the entire 'prewired' sort of thing with the new pots, the pot capacitance value (or whatever that is.... 250k, 500k, etc.) might be quite different from what you had. If you are noticing either more or less upper treble than you used to have, that probably is due to the pot values of the master volume, etc. being different than what you had originally. Easy to swap those pots out if you don't like what it did to your passive tone.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't change anything sound-wise. The bass was previously equipped with an Aguilar OB-3 and, while it sounded fine on its own, it disappeared in the mix. With the Sadowsky pre the bass sits perfectly - passive or active.
 
#36,165
Doug Parent said:
Interesting I didn't take that into account. I think I'll toss an NTMB in my passive bass and see how it sounds flat.
Click to expand...

NTMBs actually have a built in voice thats actually a bit dark IME. The best example of buffering was the lane poor 2x1 buffer i had in a bass with passive tone controls behind it. So it just buffered the pickups. Sounded huge!

When you buffer its like the VTC turning the other way, you remove some impedance and capacitance from the circuit.
 
#36,166
I have put an order for a Sadowsky Spec'd Single Coil 5's, so excited :hyper:

When I suggest them to make me a set of underwind NJ5 pickups (less wiring) the guys at Nordstrand flat out said 'No' and told me that will only make the sound more aggressive as the high frequencies will be much more present that way. So, I guess Roger's Pickups arent made that way either.

And I also agreed that Roger has sucesfully made a perfect combination of pickups and preamp, I worked in a Sadowsky Distributor a few years back, a friend bought a set of Sadowky HC and a J Retro preamp from me, and install them to his Mexican Fender. But the sound is not quite there, then he bought the Sadowsky preamp and wow... It changes everything, the same guy bought another set of the Sadowsky preamp and install them on his 2012 American Deluxe Fender with the N3 Pickups, and it also work wonderfully

So I guess Roger's Preamp can work wonderfully with a lot of different Pickups, a lot of people I know have install them with success. And I agree that it's a very BIG factor on the 'Sadowsky Sound'. But for the Sadowsky Pickups ,IMO they need a Sadowsky Preamp to be able to really shine, not any preamp will do, but again, back to each persons need/taste.

And again, on the whole Fender vs Sadowsky thing, it's funny for me, coz they look almost the same (my MV5 and '78 Jazz), both sounds like Jazz Basses (of course), but everytime I play the Sadowsky I was like "I miss the 'thuddy' thump my Fender has", but everytime I play the Fender, I'm like "Damn, why can't this thing cut through and just 'stay there' like my MV5" :rollno::D

That being said, I'm happy to have both
 
#36,167
antontanzil said:
I have put an order for a Sadowsky Spec'd Single Coil 5's, so excited :hyper:

When I suggest them to make me a set of underwind NJ5 pickups (less wiring) the guys at Nordstrand flat out said 'No' and told me that will only make the sound more aggressive as the high frequencies will be much more present that way. So, I guess Roger's Pickups arent made that way either.

And I also agreed that Roger has sucesfully made a perfect combination of pickups and preamp, I worked in a Sadowsky Distributor a few years back, a friend bought a set of Sadowky HC and a J Retro preamp from me, and install them to his Mexican Fender. But the sound is not quite there, then he bought the Sadowsky preamp and wow... It changes everything, the same guy bought another set of the Sadowsky preamp and install them on his 2012 American Deluxe Fender with the N3 Pickups, and it also work wonderfully

So I guess Roger's Preamp can work wonderfully with a lot of different Pickups, a lot of people I know have install them with success. And I agree that it's a very BIG factor on the 'Sadowsky Sound'. But for the Sadowsky Pickups ,IMO they need a Sadowsky Preamp to be able to really shine, not any preamp will do, but again, back to each persons need/taste.

And again, on the whole Fender vs Sadowsky thing, it's funny for me, coz they look almost the same (my MV5 and '78 Jazz), both sounds like Jazz Basses (of course), but everytime I play the Sadowsky I was like "I miss the 'thuddy' thump my Fender has", but everytime I play the Fender, I'm like "Damn, why can't this thing cut through and just 'stay there' like my MV5" :rollno::D

That being said, I'm happy to have both
Click to expand...

I hear you. That's why you need a Sadowsky PJ! Cuts AND thumps!
 
#36,169
Luckydog said:
I hear you. That's why you need a Sadowsky PJ! Cuts AND thumps!
Click to expand...

+1

Chambered Alder p/j + Dalbergia Negra fb =
000_0016.jpg
 
#36,173
Man I am so glad I did not let GAS get the best of me and sell my 99 Sadowsky standard ash/ maple sweet 5 . I almost did but was in its place going to get another Sad 4 string . I had not been playing the 5 for quite some time and landed in this fun band and this baby is the one for this group . So thrilled to be playing it again , just works great with this music. And as I sit here in the early morning practicing tunes for a different singer song righter type gig with my Sadowsky 4 string P bass with the flats I just realize how fortunate I am to own these 2 basses . Covering mucho ground . Here is a short clip of a gig from the other night we always start our set with a improv warm up jam
 
#36,174
craigb43 said:
Man I am so glad I did not let GAS get the best of me and sell my 99 Sadowsky standard ash/ maple sweet 5. I almost did...
Here is a short clip of a gig from the other night we always start our set with a improv warm up jam
Click to expand...
Groovy, and yeah, good call not selling that bass! :)
 
#36,180
So im picking up my first Sadowsky this week. Im already thinking that I want to trade out the HC for the SC. Do the singles get the more classic jazz sound or is there not much of a difference? Ive read both. Also, what strings do you guys use on yours? IM looking to not get a too hifi sound, my bass will be ash and maple. I was thinking about the black label nickels.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back