Club Sadowsky!!!

[Big String]

Thanks Joker. I'm little 'scared' to try the ebony as I've never played that wood (sadly). I trust everyone's interpetation and respect their choices. I still feel more comfortable going with a maple board and solid ash body. I'm spec'in one out soon. All the 5's that I've ever played, (which isn't too many) I always preferred the maple as it seems to have more clarity and eveness to my ears. I love rosewood but prefer that board on 4 strings and guitars (strat).

Ken's "orange bomber" is keeping me awake at night....
Might see a twin to that one in the near future....
(edit: wonder how a black/white/black pickguard would look with the orange ?) White is my #1 choice.
Could end up as a 59' bursty. so many choices.

Last year we had a sit in drummer who had a gorgeous set of maple drums in trans orange... that got me going right there .. hmmm the chrome/orange is killer and unique.

 

[peterpalmieri]

nice,

FYI, a friend of mine who subs from time to time in terence blanchard's group uses an ash/maple modern 5, and one piece is literally just a droning low B, where time and again, the sadowsky modern proves its one of the best 34" scale low B's ever.

Are all the moderns 34" scale?

 

[tommixx]

Are all the moderns 34" scale?

All Sadowskys are 34" scale...

Peace,

T

 

[peterpalmieri]

All Sadowskys are 34" scale...

Peace,

T

You know for some reason I thought the Modern was a 35" scale, not sure why...

 

[Marcus]

I was watching the Annual NHK Red & White New Years Special with my wife (this is the big year end varity program from Japan. My wife is Japanese BTW) All the hot Pop and Traditional artists were there and it was over 4 hours long. A really good show if you are into the Japanese music scene.

Anyways, one of the artists comes out for thier turn playing when I notice the bass is was tearing thru the mix. Of course they never showed the bass player yet. But, his tone was very pronounced. Sure enough, they show the bass player and he is playing a Sadowsky Modern 24/5. One of the older ones with the bypass switch. It had a maple neck as well.

His playing was fantastic and the tone was amazing. It was so much more in the mix than the other bands. I said to my wife "Yup, thats the Sadowsky tone there!" she gave me a look like what ever. But, I was enjoying it.

It got me thinking about this instrument. I love the JJ tone that I get from my 4 and 5 banger but, man the sound of that 24/5 was immpressive.

Speaking of popular Japanese music, what is going on there at the moment? Last I checked, Gazette became very popular. Happy new year, Joey

 

[Vic]

That particular bass had EMG pickups, instead of Sadowskys. Im not sure what sound difference this would make, but I imagine they would bring some sort of 'electronic' bite to the table.

They do. They are much more "modern" sounding than even their own "vintage" style pickups and also Roger's... even his HC. I really like EMG pickups in some circumstances, and of course John's tone is amazing, especially for slap, but I think you can hear a bit of a defficiency in his tone when he moves to fingerstyle (like on his "Jamerson style" vid). Still sounds great, but IMHO not as great as it would with SC's. I'd love to hear that same bass with him with the SC's in it. I bet it'd have more growl and grind.

I had those same EMG's in a Fender fretless and really didn't like them at all. I'd never put a set in a Sadowsky, personally.

 

[Vic]

...I notice the bass is was tearing thru the mix.
...
...and he is playing a Sadowsky Modern 24/5. One of the older ones with the bypass switch. It had a maple neck as well.

His playing was fantastic and the tone was amazing. It was so much more in the mix than the other bands. I said to my wife "Yup, thats the Sadowsky tone there!" she gave me a look like what ever. But, I was enjoying it.

It got me thinking about this instrument. I love the JJ tone that I get from my 4 and 5 banger but, man the sound of that 24/5 was immpressive.

Then it was probably also from the EMG pickup genre. The current models have SD pickups, and will not quite sound the same as that bass. IMHO, the newer pickups are a bit more aggressive, and slice mixes even easier. HOWEVER, with as much grunt as these basses already have with their pickup location, I've often thought of trying some EMG's just to see if I might like them better. I spoke to Rob about it at the shop and he talked me out of it tho.

 

[Vic]

You know for some reason I thought the Modern was a 35" scale, not sure why...

Nope. As I recall, he's never made a 35" scale bass, and every time I've seen him asked, has said he has no plans to.

 

[KJung]

Then it was probably also from the EMG pickup genre. The current models have SD pickups, and will not quite sound the same as that bass. IMHO, the newer pickups are a bit more aggressive, and slice mixes even easier. HOWEVER, with as much grunt as these basses already have with their pickup location, I've often thought of trying some EMG's just to see if I might like them better. I spoke to Rob about it at the shop and he talked me out of it tho.

I recently played an older EMG loaded Modern, and to my ear, the EMG's are quite similar to the current Seymours.. much more similar than different. I assume it was the Sadowsky pre, but they are MUCH warmer and fatter sounding than those pickups in other basses (like the Modulus, etc.).

Same thing to my ear with the older EMG loaded J's versus the current HC's... not identical, but much closer than you would think, given the sound of the EMG's in other instruments. I wonder if Roger had a tweak done on them. Who knows? Moot point now!

 

[Vic]

Thanks Joker. I'm little 'scared' to try the ebony as I've never played that wood (sadly). I trust everyone's interpetation and respect their choices. I still feel more comfortable going with a maple board and solid ash body. I'm spec'in one out soon. All the 5's that I've ever played, (which isn't too many) I always preferred the maple as it seems to have more clarity and eveness to my ears. I love rosewood but prefer that board on 4 strings and guitars (strat).

While I personally like ebony as a fingerboard wood, and would even like it on a Sadowsky J, IMHO, for what I THINK I know about you, I'd say yeah, stick with the ash body and maple neck. If I can ever make it up to one of your gigs, I'll bring my MV5 with the SC's. I think it'd make you smile... maybe while you wait on yours.

 

[Vic]

I recently played an older EMG loaded Modern, and to my ear, the EMG's are quite similar to the current Seymours.. much more similar than different. I assume it was the Sadowsky pre, but they are MUCH warmer and fatter sounding than those pickups in other basses (like the Modulus, etc.).

Same thing to my ear with the older EMG loaded J's versus the current HC's... not identical, but much closer than you would think, given the sound of the EMG's in other instruments. I wonder if Roger had a tweak done on them. Who knows? Moot point now!

That would make sense per what Rob told me. I also wonder if they were custom for Roger, because yeah, to sound more similar to the current SD's, I'd think they'd have to be customized a bit (which is certainly plausible).

 

[KJung]

That would make sense per what Rob told me. I also wonder if they were custom for Roger, because yeah, to sound more similar to the current SD's, I'd think they'd have to be customized a bit (which is certainly plausible).

+1 Since I typically hate the EMG soapbars with a passion, I was suprised how warm and 'unclinical' those pickups sounded in the Modern I recently played.

 

[Big String]

While I personally like ebony as a fingerboard wood, and would even like it on a Sadowsky J, IMHO, for what I THINK I know about you, I'd say yeah, stick with the ash body and maple neck. If I can ever make it up to one of your gigs, I'll bring my MV5 with the SC's. I think it'd make you smile... maybe while you wait on yours.

Soundz like a plan. I had no plans on ever getting another 5'r but after visiting the Shop over the Holidays and playing a few NYC's I really like sticking with the 34" scale, works for me.

 

[KJung]

Soundz like a plan. I had no plans on ever getting another 5'r but after visiting the Shop over the Holidays and playing a few NYC's I really like sticking with the 34" scale, works for me.

+1 I believe Roger has it totally figured out. All that the extra little 1" increase in scale length gets you IMO and IME is a little bit more finger fatigue. As long as you have a well designed, well executed STIFF neck like the Sadowsky basses (and Alleva's), the 34" B string sounds FANTASTIC... tight feeling, articulate and as big sounding as you want it to be.

I also agree with Joker and others when they talk about the B string on the Modern. It is just HUGE sounding, but still tight. I've kind of moved away from that more MTD type "BIG" B string tone, but if you dig that 'watch out, he's GOING TO THE B STRING' sort of monster tone, the Modern is among the best in the business to my ear. I assume those big soapbars crammed close to the bridge, along with Roger's wonderfully stiff neck construction combines for that otherworldly sort of response. It really is something!

 

[Vic]

+1 I believe Roger has it totally figured out. ... As long as you have a well designed, well executed STIFF neck like the Sadowsky basses (and Alleva's), the 34" B string sounds FANTASTIC... tight feeling, articulate and as big sounding as you want it to be.

BIG +1

I've kind of moved away from that more MTD type "BIG" B string tone, but if you dig that 'watch out, he's GOING TO THE B STRING' sort of monster tone

LOL!

While we differ on classifying the MTD this way, (I hear them more balanced than you do), and I don't mind 35" scale instruments, I'm totally with you on this as well. I had this problem more with the Roscoes I've owned, and I'm never going back. I just LOVE how "balanced" these basses are from top to bottom. The D and especially G strings don't "die in the mix", they come through strong, and the B string sounds like a natural extension to the E on the low end (to paraphrase what you've said before on this topic). Great stuff!

 

[west*coast*bass]

i mentioned this many times before, but yea, its my favorite wood combo. heck, i've got two basses in it!!!

the ash is punchy with a nice fundamental, and compared to the alder bodied sadowskys i've had, it feels more responsive and quick. the ebony like Vic mentioned has a nice "ping" ontop for slap. nicer to my ear than the "clack" of maple, which isnt a bad thing, just different.

FYI, my inspiration of this wood combo was from a demo bass in the shop that was used to show off the fretboard lights feature roger was offering at the time, and i just could NOT get over how awesome that bass sounded and felt. my 59 burst is literally exactly like that bass, exception of the lights.

Thanks Joker!

 

[ted burik]

oh ok,

thought he swapped out the HC's for the SC's in the video. but nice!

Whoops, I meant SC pups! Craig was very clear that he used SC pups on the videos and definitely prefers them. I've decided SC will be the way to go. Sorry about the mix up!

 

[tombowlus]

+1 Since I typically hate the EMG soapbars with a passion, I was suprised how warm and 'unclinical' those pickups sounded in the Modern I recently played.

My guess is that the pickup locations have a lot to do with that.

 

[jokerjkny]

Thanks Joker. I'm little 'scared' to try the ebony as I've never played that wood (sadly). I trust everyone's interpetation and respect their choices. I still feel more comfortable going with a maple board and solid ash body. I'm spec'in one out soon. All the 5's that I've ever played, (which isn't too many) I always preferred the maple as it seems to have more clarity and eveness to my ears. I love rosewood but prefer that board on 4 strings and guitars (strat).

Ken's "orange bomber" is keeping me awake at night....
Might see a twin to that one in the near future....
(edit: wonder how a black/white/black pickguard would look with the orange ?) White is my #1 choice.
Could end up as a 59' bursty. so many choices.

Last year we had a sit in drummer who had a gorgeous set of maple drums in trans orange... that got me going right there .. hmmm the chrome/orange is killer and unique.

well,

as much i too respect and heed many opinions on this board, best to stick to the sounds you know. again, i too wrote off ebony, but then i heard that bass, which made me a believer. but until you can hear it, see it, taste it with your own senses, best to trust your own instincts.

 

[ShowKing]

I was watching the Annual NHK Red & White New Years Special with my wife (this is the big year end varity program from Japan. My wife is Japanese BTW) All the hot Pop and Traditional artists were there and it was over 4 hours long. A really good show if you are into the Japanese music scene.

Anyways, one of the artists comes out for thier turn playing when I notice the bass is was tearing thru the mix. Of course they never showed the bass player yet. But, his tone was very pronounced. Sure enough, they show the bass player and he is playing a Sadowsky Modern 24/5. One of the older ones with the bypass switch. It had a maple neck as well.

His playing was fantastic and the tone was amazing. It was so much more in the mix than the other bands. I said to my wife "Yup, thats the Sadowsky tone there!" she gave me a look like what ever. But, I was enjoying it.

It got me thinking about this instrument. I love the JJ tone that I get from my 4 and 5 banger but, man the sound of that 24/5 was immpressive.

I'm pretty sure that in that show all the bands imitated in sync to the recording and only the singer was live