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Club Sadowsky!!!

#3,621
Craig Garfinkel said:
Just checked my bass, and I gotta readjust my 50% bass boost claim. :o

Didn't realize it went quite that far around. It's more like 25-30%.

And about the VTC...counterclockwise is the way you turn the VTC to roll off the highs, so fully clockwise is "off". That's where it almost always stays for me. Could easily live without it altogether, but nice to have it just in case.
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That makes a bit more sense. I can't imagine using more than 25% bass boost on that pre in any situation.

As most, I run my Sadowsky pre with just a touch of bass boost (10 to 20%), and use the VTC on occasion to roll off the very top of the high end (for example, if I'm doing a more 'straight ahead' gig, or playing out of a particularly articulate rig.

Even though I love a bright, somewhat sizzly tone, I've never used the treble boost, since these basses have SO much going on up top.

In the zillions of posts I've read on VTC use (or not), it seems to me there is a high correlation between use and type of amplification. Those with, for example, more vintage rigs (tube amps and cabs with no tweeters), or even rigs that tend to mimic that tone (Aguilar, some of the Mesa hybrids) do not seem to value the VTC. This is because, IMO, their rigs don't particularly have a pronounced top end. Those of us who use more transparent, full range rigs that have the capability of a lot of high end zing tend to appreciate the VTC in some situations in small amounts to 'soften' the lower treble attack and upper treble zing.

Without string and rig context, the VTC question is rather meaningless IMO.
 
#3,622
KJung said:
That makes a bit more sense. I can't imagine using more than 25% bass boost on that pre in any situation.

As most, I run my Sadowsky pre with just a touch of bass boost (10 to 20%), and use the VTC on occasion to roll off the very top of the high end (for example, if I'm doing a more 'straight ahead' gig, or playing out of a particularly articulate rig.

Even though I love a bright, somewhat sizzly tone, I've never used the treble boost, since these basses have SO much going on up top.

In the zillions of posts I've read on VTC use (or not), it seems to me there is a high correlation between use and type of amplification. Those with, for example, more vintage rigs (tube amps and cabs with no tweeters), or even rigs that tend to mimic that tone (Aguilar, some of the Mesa hybrids) do not seem to value the VTC. This is because, IMO, their rigs don't particularly have a pronounced top end. Those of us who use more transparent, full range rigs that have the capability of a lot of high end zing tend to appreciate the VTC in some situations in small amounts to 'soften' the lower treble attack and upper treble zing.

Without string and rig context, the VTC question is rather meaningless IMO.
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Agreed again! Good points all Ken....

Peace,

T
 
#3,623
My basic settings are with the bass and treble knobs turned off and with the VTC wide open on my ash/maple UV70. That is my basic settings though and I'll sometimes turn down the VTC when I have new strings, its a soft song and I want o limit the zing. At other times I'll boost the bass or treble. Basically, I'll use whatever the room requires.

A good combination which I have found is to boost the treble knob quite severely (as in about 50%) and then roll down on the VTC. This seems to cop a more vintage tone
 
#3,624
KJung said:
In the zillions of posts I've read on VTC use (or not), it seems to me there is a high correlation between use and type of amplification. Those with, for example, more vintage rigs (tube amps and cabs with no tweeters), or even rigs that tend to mimic that tone (Aguilar, some of the Mesa hybrids) do not seem to value the VTC. This is because, IMO, their rigs don't particularly have a pronounced top end. Those of us who use more transparent, full range rigs that have the capability of a lot of high end zing tend to appreciate the VTC in some situations in small amounts to 'soften' the lower treble attack and upper treble zing.

Without string and rig context, the VTC question is rather meaningless IMO.
Click to expand...

Good observation. I'm an Aggie guy (AG500), and usually keep the treble flat with perhaps a little boost and the bright switch engaged.

I still never have the Sadowsky pre set with the treble flat. I likes me some sizzle.

This is why I really love the Treble and Bass only, and no mid control, of the Sadowsky pre. I like serious booty down low and sizzle up on top, and I don't want to futz around tweaking mids. To my ears too much mid boost is where the mud lives, especially how the bass sits in the band mix, live or studio.

As always, different strokes for different folks.
 
#3,625
Bass Collector said:
btw Craig, I was thinking your "50% boost" claim was very optimistic? 50% bass boost on my basses through the DB750 / GS412 or DB810 would liquify people I'm thinking? :)
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Yup...which is why I qualified my answer. I was surprised to find when I checked the full sweep of the bass knob that it rotates pretty close to 360 degrees. Wow, but that be a lotta boostablility. :eek:
 
#3,626
bikeplate said:
Hi

Well, if I wore a cowbay hat like that on stage, Id def. roll my VTC off. Damn straight!!!!!

Rob
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bikeplate said:
HI

Hey Craig. If you have a day off this week, we could meet somewhere. Try to get ourselves a couple groovy hats like Mike. Maybe that way our VTC's would be relevant. What do u think?

Rob
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Craig Garfinkel said:
LOL! I actually have a "Shady Brady" (exact one pictured below)...but I'm not quite cool enough to pull off actually wearing it on a gig...like Mike does so effortlessly.

shadybrady.jpg
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You guys can bite me.......:hiding:

At least I can wear a hat like that and be OK with laying down a wide azz country groove (if there is such a thing really:hmm:)
 
#3,629
Craig Garfinkel said:
Good observation. I'm an Aggie guy (AG500), and usually keep the treble flat with perhaps a little boost and the bright switch engaged.

I still never have the Sadowsky pre set with the treble flat. I likes me some sizzle.

This is why I really love the Treble and Bass only, and no mid control, of the Sadowsky pre. I like serious booty down low and sizzle up on top, and I don't want to futz around tweaking mids. To my ears too much mid boost is where the mud lives, especially how the bass sits in the band mix, live or studio.

As always, different strokes for different folks.
Click to expand...

Agreed!

I tend to have my bass at 30-40% and my treble at 10-20%. NEVER flat.

VTC? I can live without it. I have VTC on my Metro 5er but not on my two 4 strings (an older NYC and a recent Metro). I tend to have VTC either completely rolled off or on MAYBE 10-20%.
 
#3,632
Craig Garfinkel said:
Just checked my bass, and I gotta readjust my 50% bass boost claim. :o

Didn't realize it went quite that far around. It's more like 25-30%.

And about the VTC...counterclockwise is the way you turn the VTC to roll off the highs, so fully clockwise is "off". That's where it almost always stays for me. Could easily live without it altogether, but nice to have it just in case.
Click to expand...

oh well,

i still use my boost pretty aggressively, and maybe its cause i'm also using sadowsky nickels, but things never get overly zingy, but rather sweeter and more articulate to cut thru the extra fatten boost i use, too.

what's interesting is that, in all the random recordings i have of the gigs i've done, thru a PA, the wallop of the preamp seems to do every mix right. has that weighty heft NO OTHER preamp has yet to give me. you hand me a countryman DI, i'll send you a thick, fat bass to the board. i'm sure the soundman is usually more than happy to ablige. ;)

as for the VTC's, they dont get any use on my JJ-5's. its nice to have, but again, its like my sadowsky nickels are like my "auto-VTC".

BUT, the only time i actually used my VTC was when i had my *PJ-5's*. when i'd solo my p-pickup, i always go for a darker saadiq/jamerson-esque vibe. i might be overly waxing sadowsky poetic, but i really liked the "voicing" of the VTC for that use. it would juuuuuuuuuust roll off enough of the harsher bits of the p-pickup yet still be barky to give me what i wanted.
 
#3,633
Craig Garfinkel said:
Good observation. I'm an Aggie guy (AG500), and usually keep the treble flat with perhaps a little boost and the bright switch engaged.

I still never have the Sadowsky pre set with the treble flat. I likes me some sizzle.

This is why I really love the Treble and Bass only, and no mid control, of the Sadowsky pre. I like serious booty down low and sizzle up on top, and I don't want to futz around tweaking mids. To my ears too much mid boost is where the mud lives, especially how the bass sits in the band mix, live or studio.

As always, different strokes for different folks.
Click to expand...

+1!!

funny, but i used to live and die on a gig thinking i needed a low mids option on my basses, but the sad preamp opened my eyes.

the preamp helped me realize i was always tweaking my sound to be overly lower middy! my old sound was like a bad combo platter of kick drum like punch and an overgrown baritone guitar. the focus was too much lower mids and midrange, and not on making the lower end feel good.

but now, i sit far lower on the spectrum, and yet have this thick juicy juicy supporting feel for the band that doesnt get in the way of the kick drum, nor the middle registers of the guitars that would muddy up the mix.

also, without cluttering the mids too much, the preamp gives plenty of room for guitars, pianos, hammonds, and yes, even the random harpischord, while also giving me this real fat thick yet articulate presence in the lower end, and be something other than just a rafter rattler. all the while, the sadowsky trebs let me be plenty acticulate for peeps to tell that i'm using a jazz bass thru the most ridiculous of mixes. again, NO OTHER preamp has done that for me.

make no mistake, i still understand that mids and lower mids are still helpful for the bassist battling that wannabe metal guitar guy who loves that 4x12 stack, but doesnt understand the amount of off axis lower end it radiates, or the overzealous left hand of a busy keyboard player who needs to cover your range and then some, but all in all, the sadowsky pre is helping me realize what "sitting in the mix" really means.
 
#3,634
Hey guys...can anyone shed some light on the front to back profile of the Sdowsky 5 string neck? One of my favorite 5 string necks is the F Bass neck - can anyone let me know how different the Sadowsky neck is from the F Bass neck and if whether or not Roger will perhaps make a thinner neck if requested? I have read that some feel the Sadowsky neck is on the chunky side which is not ideal for me...any insight would be greatly appreciated.

I am thinking about putting a deposit down very soon.

Thanks - Mark
 
#3,635
west*coast*bass said:
Hey guys...can anyone shed some light on the front to back profile of the Sdowsky 5 string neck? One of my favorite 5 string necks is the F Bass neck - can anyone let me know how different the Sadowsky neck is from the F Bass neck and if whether or not Roger will perhaps make a thinner neck if requested? I have read that some feel the Sadowsky neck is on the chunky side which is not ideal for me...any insight would be greatly appreciated.

I am thinking about putting a deposit down very soon.

Thanks - Mark
Click to expand...

I have no experience with F Basses, and I'm a 4 string player but the 5 string Sadowsky necks I've played (I owned an MV5 and have played a Modern 5-24) where not chunky at all; they felt thinner than my 4-string Sadowskys. For me, the best feeling necks of any 5-string I have ever played.

You should also know that if you buy a NYC they can shape the neck to your liking.
 
#3,638
west*coast*bass said:
Hey guys...can anyone shed some light on the front to back profile of the Sdowsky 5 string neck? One of my favorite 5 string necks is the F Bass neck - can anyone let me know how different the Sadowsky neck is from the F Bass neck and if whether or not Roger will perhaps make a thinner neck if requested? I have read that some feel the Sadowsky neck is on the chunky side which is not ideal for me...any insight would be greatly appreciated.

I am thinking about putting a deposit down very soon.

Thanks - Mark
Click to expand...

I owned both for a few (honestly...what bass HAVEN'T I owne at least two of!!LOL!)
Anyway, personally the last thing I would say about the Sadowsky 5 neck is that it is chunky.
Chunky compared to maybe an Ibanez skinny azz neck maybe, but to everything else, it's not.
HAve you played any US Laklands?? VERY close to those, and the F Bas is in that same family if I recall.

I don't think you'll have any issues switching back and forth between the F Bass and the Sadowsky in terms of neck profiles.
Actually you will have one major issue now that I think of it. You'll wonder why you don't switch more often and why all that dust is collecting on your F Bass;)
 
#3,639
I've had both an F and a Sadowsky....the Sadowsky neck was definately wider and thicker, but was by no means uncomfortable. But like you, westcoast, the F profile is my favorite. Just one of the many reasons I've been playing the heck out of my F for the past 5 years, and the Sadowsky is gone, gone, gone (it was collecting a lot of dust).
 

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