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Club Sadowsky!!!

#36,921
bass12 said:
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).
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I'm confused. Isn't your active Sadowsky providing a hotter signal than a passive bass? why would he be thinking your level has been attenuated?
 
#36,922
bass12 said:
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).
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Show up with an american standard jazz and see what happens. If he still complains, you're golden, the guy just cant mix. If he doesn't, but the MD thinks it sounds muddy and likes your sadowsky better, you win. If it actually sounds better (be honest! every band mix is different) you eat crow and start rocking the jazz on that gig.
 
#36,924
bass12 said:
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).
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Unfortunately sound guys are always right. Even when they are dead wrong. Kind of like fighting city hall.

With this kind of character I tend to get a bad attitude. Like put your Sadowsky in passive mode, tell him he has plenty of signal, what's his problem, and then hit him with both barrels after he cranks the channel. (Edit: even better - take that passive Fender J he wants, but take a Sadowsky Outboard. Let him get his levels set with the passive bass and the Outboard disengaged. Then kick that puppy into high gear. Oh, that is the Sadowsky volume. Is it too hot for you? LOL) OK, I'll shut up...

I know, that would be immature.:hiding:
 
#36,925
Most sound guys I've run into torque my jaw.
My dream solution would be to introduce them
to my personal advisor :hiding:
 

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#36,927
bucephylus said:
Unfortunately sound guys are always right. Even when they are dead wrong. Kind of like fighting city hall.
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True, and up to this point I've been very cooperative and patient (on the outside at least). It would be a joke if the guy hadn't complained again to the band owner about my choice of basses (he seems to lump them all together as "boutiques" and would prefer a Fender).
 
#36,932
There are still a few folks who insist a Fender is the only "real" bass. I think they drive Edsels.
They fail to realize that many new Fenders have various modern pickup configurations and preamps in an effort to keep with innovation in bass technology.
 
#36,934
I've played many big Stages, Theaters, Clubs and Halls and every soundman that ever hooked up a DI to my Sadowsky was like "WOW!" And never had to do anything special to get a good sound. The bass spoke for itself.

Sounds like you are dealing with an amateur.
 
#36,936
Joeykun said:
every soundman that ever hooked up a DI to my Sadowsky was like "WOW!" And never had to do anything special to get a good sound.
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Yep, me too.

I remember one time there was the usual sound guy (who I worked with before, but he didn't remember me) and the new guy in training. I gave them my PJ5 through a REDDI and they turned it up in the house. Then the usual guy looked over at the new guy and said..."See, this is what really good bass sounds like..."
 
#36,937
Joeykun said:
I've played many big Stages, Theaters, Clubs and Halls and every soundman that ever hooked up a DI to my Sadowsky was like "WOW!" And never had to do anything special to get a good sound. The bass spoke for itself.

Sounds like you are dealing with an amateur.
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+1

As I have said before, you can be brain dead and still get a fantastic sound out of the Sadowsky bass. Brain dead.

So, they even work for me.:D
 
#36,938
Joeykun said:
I've played many big Stages, Theaters, Clubs and Halls and every soundman that ever hooked up a DI to my Sadowsky was like "WOW!" And never had to do anything special to get a good sound. The bass spoke for itself.

Sounds like you are dealing with an amateur.
Click to expand...
+1
 
#36,939
Just got back from a big Swing Dance event over at Falcon Field. about 1500 people in a hangar.

Long story short, the Sadowsky killed and the sound guy loved it.

Another typical night out with the Sadowsky.
 

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#36,940
The sound man in question was on my gig tonight. I had my Sadowsky and he didn't say a word. According to the MD (who walked out into the room) the sound was great (overall). This sound guy in question is not the worst at what he does - it's more that he's a pain and almost always has something to say about my signal. It's ridiculous that he has this attitude regarding non-Fenders but he does, in the end, get a good sound with the band. But yes, we definitely have some better sound guys on the roster. Sometimes it's just not possible to get the top guys for a given show.
 

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