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Club Sadowsky!!!

#46,841
bucephylus said:
I would just add that the Cherry Bomb was a mighty fine bass; but, I ultimately decided that the 19mm neck taper wasn’t my thing. As I’ve explained before (and keep getting torched for), my issue with that neck is not the string spacing. No problem there. It’s just the additional 1/4” of neck width at the heel makes the bass feel NOT like a Jazz Bass.

Jimmy Coppolo is now offering the 18mm taper as an option on his basses. I ended up spec’ing an MTD with a 17.5mm taper and 1 3/4” nut. That’s a perfect taper for me, and feels way more Jazz Bass. But, Roger is pretty much fixed on the 19mm taper; which unfortunately takes a Sadowsky 5 off the table for me.
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Much like you, I wish Roger would offer tighter string spacing, or at least an adjustable bridge. Once I went to a tighter spacing it was hard to go back to 19mm, especially on a 5 string. Oh well, maybe in the near future, I mean, whoever thought that I’d see a single cut Sadowsky??
 
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#46,843
bassdudepat said:
I’ve been hovering for quite some time on pulling the trigger on a Sadowsky. Not settled on an exact model yet but the only thing that’s been stopping me is not having 17.5-18mm bridge spacing.
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Playing comfort is the most important feature for me, so I get it. Loved Music Man basses when I played fours, but I now play 5 string and hate the narrow spacing of the MM fivers. So, that's why I go with Sadowsky and other manufacturers who offer 19mm or 20mm spacing.

It's expensive to tool up to accommodate everyone's playing preference -- even a huge manufacturer like EBMM is unwilling to do that (I was part of a group that tried to pester persuade them into offering a 19mm fiver). Fortunately, we bassists have plenty of options these days: if one manufacturer won't provide what we want, then it's usually pretty easy to find another who will.
 
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#46,845
bucephylus said:
I would just add that the Cherry Bomb was a mighty fine bass; but, I ultimately decided that the 19mm neck taper wasn’t my thing. As I’ve explained before (and keep getting torched for), my issue with that neck is not the string spacing. No problem there. It’s just the additional 1/4” of neck width at the heel makes the bass feel NOT like a Jazz Bass.

Jimmy Coppolo is now offering the 18mm taper as an option on his basses. I ended up spec’ing an MTD with a 17.5mm taper and 1 3/4” nut. That’s a perfect taper for me, and feels way more Jazz Bass. But, Roger is pretty much fixed on the 19mm taper; which unfortunately takes a Sadowsky 5 off the table for me.
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The 19mm taper neck just feels all around natural and perfect for me.
 
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#46,847
deepestend said:
Guys, just an FYI, we do offer 18mm spacing as an option on custom NYC builds. Email carl at Sadowsky for more info.
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I very much understand that you offer an 18mm bridge. The string spacing is NOT my issue. I can play the 19mm spacing just fine.

My issue is the extra girth of the neck at the heel, which to me makes the bass feel like a P Bass vs. J Bass. That extra heft on the strap just doesn’t feel Jazz Bass. Nothing against P Basses. Started with one way back and still like them for what they do. It’s just that when I look for Jazz Bass feel in a 5 string instrument, I’m looking for that slim neck feel. FWIW, Fender’s Marcus Miller Jazz Bass 5 neck profile absolutely nailed it. So, it can be done. Of course, Fender stupidly junked that design; but, what do you expect?
 
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#46,848
Besides spacing, nut width is another factor that people should take in consideration as well, this is why I preferred 1-3/4" nut width along with narrower taper along + 19mm spacing, this is my perfect 5 strings, fits my hands nicely.
 
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#46,849
If I had my druthers all my basses would have necks with asymmetric profiles, but those are rare, and despite that nitpick I think the Sadowsky profile is awesome. I agree, it's not the slimmest neck out there, but to me that's a great thing. Different strokes.

bucephylus said:
Fender’s Marcus Miller Jazz Bass 5 neck profile absolutely nailed it. So, it can be done. Of course, Fender stupidly junked that design; but, what do you expect?
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Marcus Miller sigs are now built by Sire, have you tried one? FWIW, all I know about them is that a buddy of mine LOVES his.
 
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#46,851
Fuzzbass said:
If I had my druthers all my basses would have necks with asymmetric profiles, but those are rare, and despite that nitpick I think the Sadowsky profile is awesome. I agree, it's not the slimmest neck out there, but to me that's a great thing. Different strokes.



Marcus Miller sigs are now built by Sire, have you tried one? FWIW, all I know about them is that a buddy of mine LOVES his.
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Thanks Ken, and Happy New Year!

Yeah, I just ended up putting together a Fender Parts Bass with, of course, the awesome Sadowsky preamp. That’s essential. The result is a pretty good bass, good enough for the cat playing it.

E4DC0238-2CAB-4D85-AF03-B4D047BB0EA6.jpeg


Oh, and completely agree about the asymmetric neck profile. That was a significant part of my decision to go MTD when the Cherry Bomb turned out not to be my thing.
 
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#46,855
MAJOR METAL said:
Personally, the feel and dimensions of the Sadowsky 5 string bass neck is what's kept them in my hands for the past 15 years. I've never played another 5 string bass neck that fit my hand better than a Sadowsky.
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I agree. Not a comment on anyone else's preferences, as everyone's hands are different, but my NYC P-soap 5 has the best 5-string neck I've ever played. I played a 4-string for many years and along the way tried a lot of 5 string basses and owned several with different scale lengths and string spacing. I could never bond with them. My current bass has the 1.75" nut and 20 frets - I love it.

Sadowsky-Vintage5-P-Soap-1.jpg
 
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#46,856
danclaro said:
I agree. Not a comment on anyone else's preferences, as everyone's hands are different, but my NYC P-soap 5 has the best 5-string neck I've ever played. I played a 4-string for many years and along the way tried a lot of 5 string basses and owned several with different scale lengths and string spacing. I could never bond with them. My current bass has the 1.75" nut and 20 frets - I love it.

View attachment 3269994
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Plus it's so light that it floats in space! :D
 
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#46,858
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#46,859
Fuzzbass said:
Marcus Miller sigs are now built by Sire, have you tried one? FWIW, all I know about them is that a buddy of mine LOVES his.
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I have a V7 alder/rosewood 5 string. Plays great and sits in a mix very well with the MM Sire preamp. It was my main player..., until I got a Sadowsky, that is. Other than having blocks on the fret board, it's nice looking too IMO. Phone pics. I staggered the pole pieces.
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Sadly, She's getting zero play time now.

20181011_122455.jpg

:hyper:..., :bassist:
 
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