Club Sadowsky!!!

[Spidey2112]

View attachment 2973862 View attachment 2973865 I guess I should get a number..... I've traded many many basses here in TB trying all different brands and builds. I stopped trading when I acquired my Metro MV4 in classic olympic white, then decided to make the (irreversible) move to a 5-string and the MV5 became my regular player.

4 string, or not, your Oly is sweet, in its own right! Very nice!

 

[Spidey2112]

I've got 2 basses now with Sadowsky pickups and preamp and I've come to this conclusion:

The Sadowsky preamp is the ideal preamp for those players who typically love passive basses.

Every other active bass I've ever owned sounded a little "too active" and I would spend lots of time tweaking the knobs. On my Sadowsky, I always start a session by turning everything off - but still keeping the preamp activated. Then, I'll usually play with the VTC at somewhere between 0 and 10%. Then a slight bump in the bass to warm things up. Every once in a while I'll bump the treble control to get a little more sizzle on a slap tune.

Other than that, I get the most out of the Sadowsky preamp with very subtle tweaks so it ends up sounding like a great passive bass that has a bit more oomph to it. Like seasoning a filet mignon, a little goes a long way.

I've also discovered that the Sadowsky soapbars are probably my absolute favorite pickup ever.

You had me at filet mignon... .

 

[Fuzzbass]

The Sadowsky preamp is the ideal preamp for those players who typically love passive basses.

Every other active bass I've ever owned sounded a little "too active" and I would spend lots of time tweaking the knobs.

Agreed. The VTC (passive tone) is a significant part of this. Even when wide open a passive tone control will change output impedance of an active circuit so that it's more like a passive bass (assuming it's placed after the active circuit). What I really love to do is boost treble and roll back the VTC. This is NOT like adding +2 to -2 and getting zero: the active treble boost and passive treble cut behave differently. Using both can result in nice presence/attack that doesn't sound too harsh.

 

[ElMon]

Agreed. The VTC (passive tone) is a significant part of this. Even when wide open a passive tone control will change output impedance of an active circuit so that it's more like a passive bass (assuming it's placed after the active circuit). What I really love to do is boost treble and roll back the VTC. This is NOT like adding +2 to -2 and getting zero: the active treble boost and passive treble cut behave differently. Using both can result in nice presence/attack that doesn't sound too harsh.

My VTC is my 'Motown to Marcus' knob.

 

[Dave Hill]

I love the singles too, but I've played several Sadowsky Modern 5s and felt more drawn to that tone.

A couple weeks ago I found a good deal on a Valenti Modern (same body style as Sadowsky Modern) with Sadowsky soapbars and preamp so I took a chance on it and it's a great bass.

It has such a unique tone, a little more MTDish or even maybe reminiscent of a Ken Smith. But believe it or not, I can actually get a very good Pbass-like tone out of the neck pickup.

Sadowsky offers those soapbars in more of a standard 60s jazz position also. Like on this Will Lee:

View attachment 2973947

Haven't heard them in that configuration yet, but I'm going to start researching them.

I believe the MTD pickups are actually P pickups under the shell(?).

 

[Johnny21]

Are the satin series Sadowskys made on "random" (using the word loosely because the colors and specs would be set per their website) and become available for sale once it's completed?

 

[monkeyland]

My VTC is my 'Motown to Marcus' knob.

Me too. I've been rolling it down just about halfway or a little more and it takes the bass from Zing to Thump. A little bit of bass boost when it's down and it gets really thick down there. I've only had this bass for about three weeks and I've used more variety of tone than I would have for months before I got it because in the past I would just try to get a sound that worked for everything.

 

[Holdsg]

Are the satin series Sadowskys made on "random" (using the word loosely because the colors and specs would be set per their website) and become available for sale once it's completed?

you can order a Satin, but you have to select from the pallette of colors/options that are offered.

 

[ElMon]

Me too. I've been rolling it down just about halfway or a little more and it takes the bass from Zing to Thump. A little bit of bass boost when it's down and it gets really thick down there. I've only had this bass for about three weeks and I've used more variety of tone than I would have for months before I got it because in the past I would just try to get a sound that worked for everything.

Something about the tone-knob rolled all the way off with the treble/bass boosted a bit, soloing the P Pickup (I have PJ5). Simply devastating, and it cuts any mix I put it in.

 

[Sadowsky]

I love the singles too, but I've played several Sadowsky Modern 5s and felt more drawn to that tone.

A couple weeks ago I found a good deal on a Valenti Modern (same body style as Sadowsky Modern) with Sadowsky soapbars and preamp so I took a chance on it and it's a great bass.

It has such a unique tone, a little more MTDish or even maybe reminiscent of a Ken Smith. But believe it or not, I can actually get a very good Pbass-like tone out of the neck pickup.

Sadowsky offers those soapbars in more of a standard 60s jazz position also. Like on this Will Lee:

View attachment 2973947

Haven't heard them in that configuration yet, but I'm going to start researching them.

The key regarding tone with our soapbars is the location. On our 24 fret models, the pickups are placed closer to the bridge, so they have a tighter, punchier more mid-forward tone. When placed in normal J locations, they sound more like a big, fat J bass. Pickup locations often have a greater effect than the actual pickup itself.

Roger

 

[ElMon]

Me too. I've been rolling it down just about halfway or a little more and it takes the bass from Zing to Thump. A little bit of bass boost when it's down and it gets really thick down there. I've only had this bass for about three weeks and I've used more variety of tone than I would have for months before I got it because in the past I would just try to get a sound that worked for everything.

That face in your avatar ... that's the face I get everytime a new drummer/guitar player/keyboard player hears my PJ5.

 

[monkeyland]

That face in your avatar ... that's the face I get everytime a new drummer/guitar player/keyboard player hears my PJ5.

 

[jibass]

I expect i am in the minority but i have found i love using my RS4 in passive mode and i even pulled the battery so i can leave it plugged in and not worry about drain. I find the Sadowsky J pickups fuller and richer sounding than those of other makers, and the pickups, blend and VTC/passive tone control give me all the tonal variation and control that i need. To be honest, the power and capabilities of active mode scare me

My VTC is my 'Motown to Marcus' knob.

 

[ElMon]

I expect i am in the minority but i have found i love using my RS4 in passive mode and i even pulled the battery so i can leave it plugged in and not worry about drain. I find the Sadowsky J pickups fuller and richer sounding than those of other makers, and the pickups, blend and VTC/passive tone control give me all the tonal variation and control that i need. To be honest, the power and capabilities of active mode scare me

Interesting that you mention this. My heavy-ash-body, braz-rosewood PJ5 has so much bass baked in to the tone, that in some venues the only way to tame it is to click it in passive mode and cut on the amp. Good problem to have.

Active mode is indeed the tonal .50-caliber.

 

[jibass]

Indeed! Plus i've found that simplicity works best for me. Too many controls and options (on bass or amp) nut me up and truly i don't need that kind of tonal variety for the kinds of playing i do.

Interesting that you mention this. My heavy-ash-body, braz-rosewood PJ5 has so much bass baked in to the tone, that in some venues the only way to tame it is to click it in passive mode and cut on the amp. Good problem to have.

Active mode is indeed the tonal .50-caliber.

 

[projectapollo]

Are the satin series Sadowskys made on "random" (using the word loosely because the colors and specs would be set per their website) and become available for sale once it's completed?

Is the ordering time really like 10 months on a Satin?

 

[gustobassman]

Is the ordering time really like 10 months on a Satin?

When I ordered my Satin it was estimated 6 months.
Its due sometime this month.

Reg NYC was 8-10 at the time.

 

[kobass]

I recently ordered a Satin and was told it would be about six months.

 

[Johnny21]

I have a MetroExpress on reserve. The two month wait is killing me, I don't think I can do the 6-10 month wait for the NYC version.

 

[Sadowsky]

I have a MetroExpress on reserve. The two month wait is killing me, I don't think I can do the 6-10 month wait for the NYC version.