Club Sadowsky!!!

[ElMon]

It was pretty hilarious.

I think Sterling Ball even challenged some of the people asking for 19mm to put down deposits upfront and he would do it. Apparently not enough people did.

He offered one color/fretboard wood and was pretty hostile in general from what I remember. And his hyperbole about the ‘outrageous costs’ if retooling didn’t jive with me, having a decade dealing with machinists/manufacturing if all types. YES, some new drawings/programming etc, but he was pretty damn arrogant in response to the 19mm enthusiasts.


Which is why of course I ‘need’ a Sadowsky MM5 like ol Ken from Balmer.

 

[Fuzzbass]

It was pretty hilarious.

I think Sterling Ball even challenged some of the people asking for 19mm to put down deposits upfront and he would do it. Apparently not enough people did.

I put a deposit down on one.

Just as ElMon said, the options were extremely limited. Same as the old Model T Ford you could get any color you wanted as long as it was black. Fortunately black was my preference, otherwise I probably would have passed. Only one choice of fretboard, and fretboard is crucial for many. I believe there was an option for one or two pickups so yay for that.

This take-it-or-leave-it offer was only advertised in the EBMM forums, and after the minimum wasn't reached within the limited timeframe, Ball declared this as proof there was no demand for 19mm fivers. LOL, what a character. I'd have had respect for him if he never bothered with the whole fiasco and simply said "our 17.5mm fivers sell very well, so we've made the business decision not to tool up for 19mm spacing".

 

[WorktheWood]

Sadowsky and EB aren't custom builders. They have a number of different specs from which to choose but that's it. If you want different scale lengths, string spacing, neck shapes etc there are plenty of other builders.

I agree, Ball should've never even offered to build a 19mm.

 

[phillipkregg]

I put a deposit down on one.

Just as ElMon said, the options were extremely limited. Same as the old Model T Ford you could get any color you wanted as long as it was black. Fortunately black was my preference, otherwise I probably would have passed. Only one choice of fretboard, and fretboard is crucial for many. I believe there was an option for one or two pickups so yay for that.

This take-it-or-leave-it offer was only advertised in the EBMM forums, and after the minimum wasn't reached within the limited timeframe, Ball declared this as proof there was no demand for 19mm fivers. LOL, what a character. I'd have had respect for him if he never bothered with the whole fiasco and simply said "our 17.5mm fivers sell very well, so we've made the business decision not to tool up for 19mm spacing".

I really like Ernie Ball basses and I think they make some of the best production quality instruments out there. But having said that, I’ll never own another Music Man 5 String.

The frets in the 5 string models have an unusually long taper that starts too close to the point where you fret and if you press down just a teensy bit too hard the string veers wildly off the fretboard.

I’ve owned several of their 5s and it was commonplace on all of them. You can even find YouTube videos and other posts on TB about the issue. It’s even more pronounced in the new Special models because of the steel frets.

If that were fixed, I actually wouldn’t mind having another one. In fact Music Man is the only bass that I have ever seen exhibit this problem. What’s funny is that the Indonesian made models don’t do this. I’ve had no issues playing on the Sterling by Music Man 5s.

I was reading some materials about Sadowsky engineering not too long ago and I found out that they actually test for this on all of their instruments. I’ve never been able to make the strings slip off the edge of the fretboard on my Sadowsky, even when I try it intentionally.

 

[Sadowsky]

Cool. Any recommendation on relief at 7th fret?

I like to set my necks as straight as possible unless your right hand techniques requires relief.

 

[Sadowsky]

I know this has been asked, but I can’t find a definitive answer. If you order an NYC with 18mm spacing, does the neck taper change at all? Meaning is it just an 18mm bridge on a standard neck or is there a change in the neck dimensions?

The neck width stays the same with our narrow spaced bridges.
Roger

 

[Sadowsky]

You bought it used?

If new, I thought any NYC, including Satin, could be ordered with black hardware as desired.

If used, I was under the impression Roger will sell his "replacement" hardware for his NYC basses. Not sure how the process works or what cost might be involved, but I'd say just give them a call and ask.

We only offer black hardware on our Custom Built NYC basses. Not available on the Satins.
Roger

 

[mmbass21]

I was just checking the battery and noticed this name etched on the cavity plate. Out of sheer curiosity, wondering who this person is and not sure if they still work there?

 

[Sadowsky]

I was just checking the battery and noticed this name etched on the cavity plate. Out of sheer curiosity, wondering who this person is and not sure if they still work there?

That was Alex Picca! He moved on several years ago.

 

[mmbass21]

That was Alex Picca! He moved on several years ago.

Thank you. Pretty cool being dated on Halloween and it's a translucent black finish.

 

[600 Ohms]

I like to set my necks as straight as possible unless your right hand techniques requires relief.

Hi Roger.
I have your recently-published setup specs for the action and pickup heights. Can you tell us your preferred relief measurement for NYC and Metros? I own the tools (18" straight edge, feeler gauges, etc) and would like to know the shop spec for this... or could it actually be by feel?

 

[Sadowsky]

Hi Roger.
I have your recently-published setup specs for the action and pickup heights. Can you tell us your preferred relief measurement for NYC and Metros? I own the tools (18" straight edge, feeler gauges, etc) and would like to know the shop spec for this... or could it actually be by feel?

I don't have specs for relief. I have always gone for a straight neck. If you have a heavier right hand touch, you may need to add a bit of relief as necessary to eliminate buzzing in the first position.
Roger

 

[600 Ohms]

I don't have specs for relief. I have always gone for a straight neck. If you have a heavier right hand touch, you may need to add a bit of relief as necessary to eliminate buzzing in the first position.
Roger

Fair enough. I like it straight and play with not much force. Glad yours can get that straight.

 

[Mark Ambler]

Anyone with ‘wrist issues’ (broken wrist 20 years ago, etc) find the Will Lee 5 string neck less stressful than the standard nut width? Unfortunately I’m unable to try one as I’m in the Uk, and Sadowskys aren’t that available here, let alone the WL 5. TIA.

 

[R&B]

All right...who bought the in-stock NYC Ultra Vintage 4 in Honey finish with BnB maple neck?

Thank you! Saved me from myself.

 

[number six]

That was Alex Picca! He moved on several years ago.

I have an original "Lisa Hahn" signature on my NYC J5. Must be worth a fortune these days. eBay soon perhaps.

 

[BluesyCat]

Anyone with ‘wrist issues’ (broken wrist 20 years ago, etc) find the Will Lee 5 string neck less stressful than the standard nut width? Unfortunately I’m unable to try one as I’m in the Uk, and Sadowskys aren’t that available here, let alone the WL 5. TIA.

I have a “fresh” break and reset. I’m now 1 year and 4 months into the healing process after 2 surgeries. I have a NYC JJ4, NYC PJ5, and a Metro HPJ4. I don’t experience any issues with playing any of them other than I swell up after about 30 minutes just from the movement and bending of the wrist to play. 20 years huh? Wow. I still don’t have 100% feeling in my hand but I can play. Not cleanly but I can play enough to satisfy the desire to keep it up and not give up.

 

[Mark Ambler]

I have a “fresh” break and reset. I’m now 1 year and 4 months into the healing process after 2 surgeries. I have a NYC JJ4, NYC PJ5, and a Metro HPJ4. I don’t experience any issues with playing any of them other than I swell up after about 30 minutes just from the movement and bending of the wrist to play. 20 years huh? Wow. I still don’t have 100% feeling in my hand but I can play. Not cleanly but I can play enough to satisfy the desire to keep it up and not give up.

My wrist injury needed a metal piece screwed to the bones to hold it together. Had I not been a musician, they wouldn’t have bothered so much, they said. Playing at the bottom of the neck causes the most stress, due to the angle, and a slim Jazz width neck is easier on my wrist than a Precision, so I guess I’ve answered my own question. I currently use a Warwick LX5 Broadneck, and am wondering how the Sadowsky neck profile compares.

 

[chris_b]

My wrist injury needed a metal piece screwed to the bones to hold it together. Had I not been a musician, they wouldn’t have bothered so much, they said. Playing at the bottom of the neck causes the most stress, due to the angle, and a slim Jazz width neck is easier on my wrist than a Precision, so I guess I’ve answered my own question. I currently use a Warwick LX5 Broadneck, and am wondering how the Sadowsky neck profile compares.

By the "bottom" of the neck I assume you mean down by the nut? If that is right then maybe you should be looking at shorter scale basses, like 32" or even 30"? Or basses that hang differently on the strap. If the bass sits more upright then the neck is moved closer to you and the bend and stretch on your (I'm assuming) left wrist is lessened. After 20 years I'm sure you've already been through all the permutations.

Good luck with finding the right bass.

 

[TimothyGroovy]

Just did this video to demo my go-to Recording Sadowsky NYC 5 Strings! Enjoy guys!