Club Sadowsky!!!

[baxter_x]

Yeah, the Ampeg SVT 4 Pro is a tried true work horse. Do you still have the DB750 you have listed in you sig? How do you like that? I've though about getting one.

I just rented it but didn't like it at all. It just sounded like the Mesa M-Pulse 600 I had for a several months. Way too vintage, I couldn't find any tone I wanted. Lacked in clarity and lows. I was also extremely noisy! The two fans sound like a plane taking off.
Really not my thing. But it might be yours, that amp is praised pretty much all the time.

Yeah, the SVT 4 pro is to me one of the best gigging amp ever made. Despite the fact I've seen it bashed many times

 

[Fuzzbass]

Well that's settled... if you aren't going to do it, I will! Metro RV5 PJ5 in Dive Bar glory!!

View attachment 1191452

YES!! Now that's more like it. And we've scrolled to the next page.

I can't top your dive bar shot, so I'll go with one from the hillbilly party I played last Sunday.

 

[Joeykun]

^^^ Hillbilly Party with a Sadowsky and Berg rig FTW!!

 

[kobass]

Beverly Hillbillies?

 

[Fuzzbass]

Kidding aside, I love the pro action shots on the previous page.

^^^ Hillbilly Party with a Sadowsky and Berg rig FTW!!

Hidden: a pair of Darkglass pedals!

 

[MMiller28]

Is that Scott Van Pelt on vocals?

 

[Holdsg]

I see that pic Ken, and I have to think, drummer is the band leader in this band.

 

[Joeykun]

So, I've been using the Sadowsky Blue Label SS strings since they were introduced 7 years or so ago. Hands down the best strings I've used. One of my Sadowsky's is tuned a half step down to Eb. I was told the Black label strings were redesigned and had a little higher tension. I thought this might be nice with the lower tuning so I'm gonna give them a try. I have shows Fri & Sat this week and Sat next week so I will post my review on how they compare with the Blues after this run.

Oh, I had to get the new shirt too!

 

[HeavyJazz]

I was hoping one would come with the bass given the scratch, but there you go... Nice shirt!

 

[gravesbass]

I run my black label 45 - 130 a full step down. The tension is great. This is on my NYC 5.

 

[BluesyCat]

So, I've been using the Sadowsky Blue Label SS strings since they were introduced 7 years or so ago. Hands down the best strings I've used. One of my Sadowsky's is tuned a half step down to Eb. I was told the Black label strings were redesigned and had a litter higher tension. I thought this might be nice with the lower tuning so I'm gonna give them a try. I have shows Fri & Sat this week and Sat next week so I will post my review on how they compare with the Blues after this run.

Oh, I had to get the new shirt too!

View attachment 1192201

Real nice (re-designed) Black Label strings... Tighter sounding B string. Punchier, more articulate tone for sure.

 

[baxter_x]

I tried the blue label once, and I loved those strings until it started sounding quite ugly pretty fast. How do the black label compare to the blue? Do they last long? I use D'addario pro steel as the remain clean and bright a very long time!

 

[Bassist30]

Pro Steels by D'Addario do sound nice on my Sadowsky. You may like Hi Beams also... I find they last long also.

 

[baxter_x]

The Hi Beams are my next try. Does it last longer than the ProSteel?
For the moment Pro Steel strings are the best I've tried yet. Especially the tapered ones!! And they are really cheap

 

[Ewo]

I've been using Dunlop Super Brights for over a year. Contrary to what the name suggests, they don't sound clangy--but they do have a nice upper mid definition that lasts pretty well.

I use the alcohol soak tube method to clean them when they die, so I get three passes out of each set.

 

[baxter_x]

Do you have to remove the strings off the bass to do this?

 

[Joeykun]

I've never had any issues with the Blue Labels. They last a long time for me. My last String change was 5/11 and they are still going strong after many shows and weekly rehearsals!

 

[Ewo]

Do you have to remove the strings off the bass to do this?

The alcohol soak? Yeah. Search for "bass string cleaning tube," and a description oughtta pop.

Essentially I keep two sets in rotation. One goes in the alcohol bath for about a week, and then hangs in the closet; the other is on the bass. I like the soak tube better than a bucket for a couple reasons: the strings don't have to be coiled, and the tube is capped. I ain't no plumber, but it's easy enough to make one, and the cost is modest.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I usually keep Elixirs on my busiest Sadowsky. They're coated and last a looooooong time. In hot/humid conditions my sweat can kill a fresh set of uncoated strings before the end of the gig, but Elixirs keep their tone through many gigs in those conditions.

Elixirs are now available in steel as well as nickel. Yes, the top end is a bit muted on Elixirs compared to uncoated strings, but less so than other coated strings I've tried. I use them for hard rock, and the slightly muted high end works especially well with overdrive/distortion, which of course adds harmonics by its nature.

Elixirs definitely won't be for everyone... heck, I pretty much just keep 'em on my busiest rock bass. Also, the coating has been reported to cause (lack of) grounding issues, but I haven't experienced those. I just have to mention them since we're talking about string life.

P.S. Flatwound strings keep their tone even longer than Elixirs. Of course unlike Elixirs they don't sound like roundwounds

 

[baxter_x]

The alcohol soak? Yeah. Search for "bass string cleaning tube," and a description oughtta pop.

Essentially I keep two sets in rotation. One goes in the alcohol bath for about a week, and then hangs in the closet; the other is on the bass. I like the soak tube better than a bucket for a couple reasons: the strings don't have to be coiled, and the tube is capped. I ain't no plumber, but it's easy enough to make one, and the cost is modest.

I was told this is not a good thing to do as when you remove strings and put it back on the bass, the harmonic at the 12th fret is not right anymore. Do you confirm? Have you ever noticed anything wrong with this?