svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
- 4,741
- Disclosures
- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
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Has anyone here dropped Sadowsky pickups into a 4 string Squier? I'm considering modifying my active Squier but I know not all Jazz style pickups will fit the Squiers.
No, what's wrong is taking a $5000+ bass that you love on a flight only to have it destroyed in transit.
That's fine if the airline personnel allow you to do that, but on the majority of flights I have taken my bass on carry-on has not been an option.
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Yes, this is an interesting development. Two years ago Congress passed explicit Federal legislation governing carry on musical instruments. The law was pretty clear that if the musician carried on an instrument and room in the overhead was available at the time of boarding, the airline was required to allow the carry on. Seems simple, yes?
However, from what I am hearing, the airlines seem to have found a loophole; and I suspect it is some kind of Homeland Security based nonsense or something, as though your bass is a threat to the airline or something. The reason the airlines do not want the instruments on board is that they are trying to maximize the number of rollerboards that go in the overhead. This is because, with the exception of Southwest, most airlines are maximizing profits by carrying freight, including dangerous chemical goods, in the baggage hold. So, they have a business interest in minimizing checked luggage. It seems the musician is the loser in the equation.
Yes, and even if that legislation was being respected in the U.S., it doesn't help much when flying in Canada or Europe. I've flown with my bass quite a bit over the past couple of years and each time I boarded a plane I was reminded of just how little space there is now for anything besides the usual small pieces of carry-on (and, of course, everyone travels with those mini roller-suitcases now and those take up a lot of space).
I've got a set of 4 string HCs in my Squier VM 77 Jazz, straight replacement, same size. Goes great with the drop - in preamp... sounds fantastic. Though lately I've thought about routing it out for a set of Nordy big singles for a little less "polite" tone.
There was a guy that did just that in my hometown when I was growing up. He had a canary yellow 69 Pinto with a blower and huge tires on the back. On the side there was a small painting of a rubber chicken that was running with a dust cloud behind him and the words "The Little Chicken". He out run everything, including the police. He was practically a legend.
It's all in the application.
Thanks - that's a big help. I already have the Sadowsky preamp ready to go in and figured I might as well pair it with some Sadowsky pickups.
My recent experience has been that southwest airlines is more accepting of the instruments on board than the other airlines. If you buy the pre-boarding upgrade for $12.50, you go to the head of the line. You have priority boarding, and if there is space in the overhead compartment and your bass fits, you should be good to go. On the other airlines, where there is not much in the way of priority boarding, they are more difficult and letting you keep your bass in the overhead. I would however definitely fly with a hardshell TSA lock case rather than a gig bag in case they forced me to gate check the instrument. I had to do that on my last flight with United. United however does tag the instrument for special handling, so that it does not go through the conveyor belts at the receiving airport. It is basically hand carried off the plane to the baggage claim area with the other oversized items like golf clubs.
Agreed re Southwest and priority. If your gig bag is not ginormous and you aren't foolish in boarding, it works. My success rate with gig bags is high enough that I go that route rather than using a bass safe or golf club bag or some such thing, although I've done that as well. But I do use gig bags (Protec, Sadowsky) that are protective enough so that if I get called out and have to gate check, I have a good chance of survival. AND, I usually have one axe that is a notch below my best, for travel purposes.
I have not studied this, but recall reading that the legislation stated it would be implemented through the FAA issuing interpretive rules within two years after the legislation passed through Congress and was signed by the President. But the two-year period has passed without the implementing rules having been drafted and promulgated through the CFR. Which suggests that the airline lobbyists frustrated the law by getting the FAA to drag its butt and never implementing the rules. I'm shocked….shocked!
Sigh…yet another day at the sausage factory.
To add just a little to the conversation about flying with basses:
High quality gig bags also tend to have high quality straps, handles, and stitching. I take all my bags (iGig) to my cobbler and have all the joints between handles and bag reinforced. Then when I fly, I have a sturdy steel hook I use to hang my bass upright in the coat closet the front of the plane. This is safer, and rarely requires me to deal with the overhead situation.
High quality gig bags also tend to have high quality straps, handles, and stitching. I take all my bags (iGig) to my cobbler and have all the joints between handles and bag reinforced. Then when I fly, I have a sturdy steel hook I use to hang my bass upright in the coat closet the front of the plane. This is safer, and rarely requires me to deal with the overhead situation.
Hey Sadowsky fans,
I am a proud owner of a gorgeous Modern 24-5 with Big Splits. I love Sadowsky's work, and if I could afford another one I would've ordered a NYC PJ5. However the price is more than I can afford and I'm also a huge fan of Mike Kinal's work, and I have a J/MM bass he made me a few years ago that is tied with the Sadowksy I own for my favorite bass. Kinal does fantastic work and his prices are more reasonable than many other luthiers with half the experience or skill.
Kinal is building me a new bass, a PJ 5-string with 24 frets. I am spec'ing it similar to my Sadowsky, but with some features I like so much about Kinal and other brands as well. I'm very curious about the pickup placement and need some input.
Sadowsky places the J pup in the 60s position while many other PJ basses have the J closer to the 70s position, giving some spread to the pups. For those of you that have the 24-fret Sadowsky PJ5, do you feel that the 60s J pup location produces an overly pinched sound? What about a reversed P pickup with the 60s J--does it lose it's vintage P sound? Does the reverse P make the treble coil too close to the fingerboard to slap and pop comfortably? Has anyone compared a PJ with the J in the 70s vs. 60s locations? What config gives the most similar tone to a jazz bass when blended together but with a precision neck pickup sound when soloed? Lastly, someone at Nordstrand told me Sadowsky uses the NP5/NJ5S set. Does anyone know if there is some sort of customized wind that is used on the Sadowksys? I will need this info in order to make these decisions before the pickups are routed.
I would appreciate all the input you can give. I do love Sadowsky basses!!! Mine is not for sale! Thanks for your help guys.
I am a proud owner of a gorgeous Modern 24-5 with Big Splits. I love Sadowsky's work, and if I could afford another one I would've ordered a NYC PJ5. However the price is more than I can afford and I'm also a huge fan of Mike Kinal's work, and I have a J/MM bass he made me a few years ago that is tied with the Sadowksy I own for my favorite bass. Kinal does fantastic work and his prices are more reasonable than many other luthiers with half the experience or skill.
Kinal is building me a new bass, a PJ 5-string with 24 frets. I am spec'ing it similar to my Sadowsky, but with some features I like so much about Kinal and other brands as well. I'm very curious about the pickup placement and need some input.
Sadowsky places the J pup in the 60s position while many other PJ basses have the J closer to the 70s position, giving some spread to the pups. For those of you that have the 24-fret Sadowsky PJ5, do you feel that the 60s J pup location produces an overly pinched sound? What about a reversed P pickup with the 60s J--does it lose it's vintage P sound? Does the reverse P make the treble coil too close to the fingerboard to slap and pop comfortably? Has anyone compared a PJ with the J in the 70s vs. 60s locations? What config gives the most similar tone to a jazz bass when blended together but with a precision neck pickup sound when soloed? Lastly, someone at Nordstrand told me Sadowsky uses the NP5/NJ5S set. Does anyone know if there is some sort of customized wind that is used on the Sadowksys? I will need this info in order to make these decisions before the pickups are routed.
I would appreciate all the input you can give. I do love Sadowsky basses!!! Mine is not for sale! Thanks for your help guys.
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I have had some great PJs including a sadowsky 5 and a lakland USA. Those both have 60s spacing and the sadowsky was universal routed so I tried it both normal and reverse. I LOVE the blend sound of the half of those basses where the neck coil is farther from the J. FAT authoritative punchy and articulate. I hate the sound of the closer coil ... Nasal, filtery, and so completely different than the other strings.
With my spector NS2, i actually really like the reverse section on the lower strings. Not sure if thats placement or if its the different build and goals that make it work.
My obsession that I really should act on is talking to roger about doing a bass with a soap-in-P-position plus an HC J in 60s position. I think that would rock.
With my spector NS2, i actually really like the reverse section on the lower strings. Not sure if thats placement or if its the different build and goals that make it work.
My obsession that I really should act on is talking to roger about doing a bass with a soap-in-P-position plus an HC J in 60s position. I think that would rock.
So are you saying that when you reversed the P pup on the Sadowsky you didn't like the bass strings when blended? I get that with the treble strings...but did it have a negative effect on the bass strings as well? One solution could be to have the J in the 70s position, many builders do that. However I like a 60s J better...my concern is when they are blended though.
