Sounds like you should experiment with different strings. Have you tried the Black Label Sadowsky strings? They felt pretty stiff, to me--but everybody's got personal preferences.
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Sounds like you should experiment with different strings. Have you tried the Black Label Sadowsky strings? They felt pretty stiff, to me--but everybody's got personal preferences.
What kinds of strings have you tried? Regardless, any bass that I wasn't happy with (and I did have a Sadowsky whose B was never as taut as I wanted it) in the way you describe would likely not stay with me for very long.
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What are you comparing its playability to? Could you name other instruments that you own and feel "right" to you?
Enough tension? You could always tune up a half step (or more) and add a D-tuner or something.
I know that's probably a ridiculous response but other than trying a different brand of strings, that's all I got!
I know that's probably a ridiculous response but other than trying a different brand of strings, that's all I got!
Try our Black Label strings....they are designed to have higher tension than our Blue Label.
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The "Clementine" has landed. As always, no pics, no bass so pics below. Preliminary assessment is that it is what I hoped - sounds like a P-bass with a very bad attitude, and is as light as my Rob Allens. Beautiful rosewood fingerboard, which I think helps tame the edginess to just the right amount. Sunday will be the first gig with it. When I opened the gig bag, I actually wasn't crazy about the color as it seemed more bronze than orange, but it was mostly the lighting in my office. It matches the shirt I'm wearing fairly well. Orange is in my regular clothing rotation...
I have Fender jazz and an old Squier. The left hand feels nicest on the MV4 but plucking with the right hand it feels like chicken wire. No consistency in string vibration from note to note. If no one else has experienced the same then I must have bought a lemon. Sounds great just not all that great to play.
Wow- the grain on the neck and fingerboard is really nice!The "Clementine" has landed. As always, no pics, no bass so pics below. Preliminary assessment is that it is what I hoped - sounds like a P-bass with a very bad attitude, and is as light as my Rob Allens. Beautiful rosewood fingerboard, which I think helps tame the edginess to just the right amount. Sunday will be the first gig with it. When I opened the gig bag, I actually wasn't crazy about the color as it seemed more bronze than orange, but it was mostly the lighting in my office. It matches the shirt I'm wearing fairly well. Orange is in my regular clothing rotation...
Yeah, very nice piece of rosewood. All my other basses are natural wood finish so this one is an outlier (other than the fingerboard) but that is part of the reason for getting it. It's definitely a quirky look with the figured fingerboard and the satin orange finish. I think it will pop under stage lights well. Right now just finding the tones and sweet spots in it. Did a quick initial setup and have it close to the way I like it. I usually run nickel 40-100 so the stock strings are heavier than I'm used to but I want to see what these sound and feel like. I just put TI flats on my Fodera fretless and have nylon tape wounds on the Rob Allens so string tension on my various basses is all over the place at the moment. I thought the 20mm bridge spacing might give me some issues but its working fine, and if anything begs to be slapped (which is good as I'm not much of a slap player and gives me an excuse to woodshed on that). It'll probably end up with nickel 40-100s, though flats on this bass could be interesting as well. Something about a strong fundamental with the pickups biased to the bridge that could be really nasty (in a good way).
Thanks Roger. It's a little expensive ordering them from Canada but will keep it in mind.
I played at one of the festivals in Duncan last July. I love Vancouver Island. Anyway, too far away for me to be able to help with your strings! You could always check with Jason from BassStringsOnline. He usually carries Sadowsky.
I visited there when I was 8 years old (geez, almost 50 years ago). I still remember it vividly - beautiful place. I also remember drinking too much tea with sugar at a Chinese restaurant and throwing up on the bunk bed in the camper (was a family vacation).
Ahh, memories...
Funny how the throw-up stories seem to stay with us for ever... :***:
I had the same problem with a different make , I also tried many different strings, but the ernie ball cobalt really added the perfect tension and great sound
It's a Master Grade Koa top on Alder, Master Grade Amazon Rosewood board with Black Perloid Blocks, 8.2 lbs. And sounds killer. Plays like a Dream with Sadowsky Blues, but I often use low tension Dunlop Super Bright Nickel Wounds, sometimes I prefer that feel. Absolutely my favorite bass in the whole world, ever.
All this going about about the modern! Not helping my gas, been really close to pulling trigger on modern 5 satin,, white with rosewood....
Dang it I want one
Dang it I want one
