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I'd love to hear how this sounds like. This is the pickup layout that Will Lee is currently using. How would you say the pickups sound blended?
I'm going to have to post some samples as I have been asked about this before.
I have to take a little credit for this configuration. When I first inquired about doing this Roger said he would build it but would not offer a trail period, normally 7 days, as no one had ever requested one like it before. Shortly thereafter, he built a couple, posted them on the In Stock page and they sold fairly quickly. Then Roger said he would honor the 7 day trial as he saw it was a marketable option. I'm paraphrasing here and these are not direct quotes but that the jist of it.
I'm thrilled to hear that Will Lee is using it on one of his basses.
I have to take a little credit for this configuration. When I first inquired about doing this Roger said he would build it but would not offer a trail period, normally 7 days, as no one had ever requested one like it before. Shortly thereafter, he built a couple, posted them on the In Stock page and they sold fairly quickly. Then Roger said he would honor the 7 day trial as he saw it was a marketable option. I'm paraphrasing here and these are not direct quotes but that the jist of it.
I'm thrilled to hear that Will Lee is using it on one of his basses.
You sure about that? In watching the Late Show I haven't seen him use anything other than the white jazz he's been using for a while now that's loaded with soapbars in 60s J positions.
Will probably leaves that one on the set. I'm sure he owns several more including at least one 5 string. I haven't seen his P/Soap. That wasn't my post.
I'd like some feedback on this. Most of the sound guys I regularly work with have no trouble with any of the basses I play on a gig (MTD 535, Sadowsky Jazz Standard, Lull M5V with Sadowsky preamp) but there's one guy in particular who always seems to complain about something regarding the bass. My signal is always clean and sounds fine through my in-ears (and to the rest of the guys on stage). I can understand that some sound guys are not big on full-range soapbar-equipped basses (like the 535) but a Sadowsky Jazz? Anyway, this sound guy seems to think that only a Fender would be appropriate for the job. I'd love to be able to come back at him with some facts about how a Sadowsky is designed to work well in a mix. Even better would be a printout of testimonials from sound engineers and others in the industry. I wouldn't be so bothered if this dope hadn't complained to the band owner about my choice of basses but it's really bugging me.
Unfortunately, you can't fix stupid, incompetence, prejudice, or all of the above.
It's been my experience, working with MANY production groups in MANY venues with MANY different configurations of FOH equipment that a Sadowsky pretty much takes the same type of processing as any Fender J bass for those who are sticklers for that, and it works perfectly fine. This is specifically by design as Roger made a big part of his business in serving professional musicians dealing with this exact objection over the years.
Unfortunately, it's probably going to boil down to whomever has greater tolerance for the other between you and this tool. I guarantee you the audience is not suffering at all.
FWIW
I guess that was one of my questions - can you treat a Sadowsky like a Fender in these situations and expect similar results in terms, not so much of timbre, but of where it will "sit in the mix". I know where I stand on all of this but I wanted some feedback so that I feel a bit more secure when dealing with this guy. The main problem is this idiot going and whining to the band owner about my choice of basses!
At least in my experience, absolutely... the only difference being, again, at least in my experience and going by ALL (bar none) the feedback I've gotten, "better".
Get a static cling (removable) headstock shaped decal that covers over Sadowsky and says "Fender Jazz Bass"...
You: "Ok, you win, I got a Fender"
Tool: "Awesome... waaaait a minute...."
You: "Hey, gotta run, just wanted to let you know"
Tool: "ok, thanks for being cool about it... this one definitely sounds better, see, I told you..."
You: "Yeah, I know, you're right..."
lol
You: "Ok, you win, I got a Fender"
Tool: "Awesome... waaaait a minute...."
You: "Hey, gotta run, just wanted to let you know"
Tool: "ok, thanks for being cool about it... this one definitely sounds better, see, I told you..."
You: "Yeah, I know, you're right..."
lol
+1 to Vic's response
Your problem is your sound guy is listening with his eyes. I would not bother trying to convince him otherwise. He is obviously an "expert."
The other way to address this is to get a Fender Jazz Deluxe and put the Sadowsky preamp in it. Works every time with these types.
The one thing about the Sadowsky that can freak out the uninitiated sound guy is that the output level is much higher. Most competent sound guys can handle that with the input pad, if necessary; but, you will run into one every now and then who just can't get it. I guess that's what the volume knob on the bass is for.
It's actually funny - this guy will sometimes walk over (this is with any of my active basses) and ask if there's a pad engaged on the D.I. because he wants more volume. Honestly though, it's less about convincing the sound guy (most of the guys in the rhythm section recognize that he's deficient) than it is about being able to demonstrate to the band owner and MD (although the MD trusts me) that the problem isn't my bass. All the other sound guys are fine - it's just this one. The only reason it's an issue is that the band owner can be obsessive and it's annoying being put on the spot pretty much every time this guy does the sound for the band (which, thankfully, is not all the time).+1 to Vic's response
Your problem is your sound guy is listening with his eyes. I would not bother trying to convince him otherwise. He is obviously an "expert."
The other way to address this is to get a Fender Jazz Deluxe and put the Sadowsky preamp in it. Works every time with these types.
The one thing about the Sadowsky that can freak out the uninitiated sound guy is that the output level is much higher. Most competent sound guys can handle that with the input pad, if necessary; but, you will run into one every now and then who just can't get it. I guess that's what the volume knob on the bass is for.
