Club Sadowsky!!!

[Fuzzbass]

Never had an issue with neck dive on my Sadowskys, and I've used a bunch of different straps with 'em. Maybe it's because I don't use those slippery nylon "seat belt" straps.

The straps I use include Sadowsky leather and Sadowsky cotton (I got the wide one). I recommend both!

I also own a Sadowsky NeoStrap that I bought many years ago. I still have it, it's really comfortable and doesn't slip, but I never gig it because I find the elasticity disconcerting (unstable). I think I read that the current NeoStrap is less stretchy.

 

[monkeyland]

I personally prefer the Gruv Gear solo strap neo. It’s got just enough stretch to be comfy, keeps the bass in place, and isn’t so wide that it gets hot.

 

[mmbass21]

I didn't mean to cause a stir by mentioning a very dirty phrase on TB. I've had a few neck heavy basses and like some have said you rarely have both hands off the bass so it's not as big a deal. Having a lighter bass is very important to me at this point. The only exception I've run across is the D'Angelico Excel which doesn't have a body contour so that sharp edge digging into my right arm becomes unbearable after about 30min.

With that said I will never mention that dirty phrase on here again...

 

[bucephylus]

For straps, I mainly use Levy’s PM31, PM32, and MSS2S. All VERY comfortable, sufficiently grippy, and classy. My NYC 4-24 weighs in around 7 3/4 lbs; and standing there playing it feels like standing there and breathing.

 

[ElMon]

I've had neck issues with every Sadowsky I've ever owned, regardless of weight.









It sounds so damn good that I end up tilting my head back at a weird angle, with an egregious bass-face plastered on my mug at all the choice, thick bass tones coming out of my speaker cabs.

Next day I have a crick in my neck.

 

[Dave Hill]

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Roger

Safe for nitro-finished necks?

 

[gustobassman]

Minotaur straps from Greece are exceptional. Very worth looking at if you haven't checked them out. They work great with my Sadowsky basses.

 

[mmbass21]

Safe for nitro-finished necks?

If Roger recommends them I'd most certainly say yes since they put nitro on their necks and that's what he told me to try instead of luminlay side dots.

 

[danclaro]

I didn't mean to cause a stir by mentioning a very dirty phrase on TB. I've had a few neck heavy basses and like some have said you rarely have both hands off the bass so it's not as big a deal. Having a lighter bass is very important to me at this point. The only exception I've run across is the D'Angelico Excel which doesn't have a body contour so that sharp edge digging into my right arm becomes unbearable after about 30min.

With that said I will never mention that dirty phrase on here again...

I don't think you should be sorry to bring it up. As Roger says, neck dive happens with Fender-style basses. I've had a Sadowsky with neck dive. Yes, it was only noticeable when I was sitting down. So I didn't really practice at home with that bass. If I did, I would wear a strap. I have a few straps, including a NeoStrap that's been my go-to for a long time and a wide leather strap with a suede backing. The bass did have the old style tuners, a chunky neck and a very light body. At gigs and rehearsals it felt perfect in every way. I got lots of compliments on the tone and it really did make the band sound good. That said, I've had around 5 Sadowskys over the years and that's the only one that had the dive. My current Sadowsky has no dive at all. It's nice and light and balanced and sounds awesome. Love it.

 

[mmbass21]

I don't think you should be sorry to bring it up. As Roger says, neck dive happens with Fender-style basses. I've had a Sadowsky with neck dive. Yes, it was only noticeable when I was sitting down. So I didn't really practice at home with that bass. If I did, I would wear a strap. I have a few straps, including a NeoStrap that's been my go-to for a long time and a wide leather strap with a suede backing. The bass did have the old style tuners, a chunky neck and a very light body. At gigs and rehearsals it felt perfect in every way. I got lots of compliments on the tone and it really did make the band sound good. That said, I've had around 5 Sadowskys over the years and that's the only one that had the dive. My current Sadowsky has no dive at all. It's nice and light and balanced and sounds awesome. Love it.

I haven't had a problem but hopefully it wasn't the black quilt PJ that I own now. I know you used to own it.

 

[BassmusM6674]

For straps, I mainly use Levy’s PM31, PM32, and MSS2S. All VERY comfortable, sufficiently grippy, and classy. My NYC 4-24 weighs in around 7 3/4 lbs; and standing there playing it feels like standing there and breathing.

View attachment 3480395

The PM32 strap has been my favorite strap and all I used for quite a while. I have at least 4 still. I do have a Neo strap I bought used, now as well...

 

[Bassist30]

The body is usually light in weight on a sadowsky so there must be some kind of neck dive.

 

[phillipkregg]

The body is usually light in weight on a sadowsky so there must be some kind of neck dive.

Well, I can’t speak for everyone’s experience, but I’ve played dozens of Sadowsky basses and I’ve owned three.

All of them were very lightweight and had zero neck dive.

 

[soflbass]

The RV4 I own is a pinch over 8 lbs. No neck dive; balances perfectly.

 

[k0brakai]

Using a RV4 for almost a year now, no neck dive either on my side.

 

[number six]

I personally use the Sadowsky cotton straps. I like a lighter strap and I think that it has just the right amount of "pull" on my shirt to fight neck dive. At one point, I bought a few of the "seatbelt" material straps from a pretty good company that come in great colors and feel really nice-- the only problem is that they are too slick and slip too much. I've cycled through many straps since and personally really like the simpler cotton ones.

Well I'd love to try the wide cotton straps but the shipping from NYC to Oz requires a bank loan . . .

 

[lgrankin]

I've had great success with the Sad Neo strap over the last 10 years or so. I have 2 of them and use them on a variety of instruments. I also have a couple of Mono straps that work really well.

Cheers,
LR

 

[Spidey2112]

MV4, with a leather Levi 4" strap, suede back...

... that bass isn't going anywhere.

 

[gustobassman]

Brought the Modern 5 to a punk gig last night. She's in good hands @ElMon - fear not . We happened to be the, ahem, "elder" of the bands on the bill - I was approached by some "young 'uns" after the set who had many compliments about my tone. This was my favorite interaction and thought I would share...

"Man, that bass sounds great, like an Ibanez! Is that an Ibanez? It looks like an Ibanez I used to own..."

I replied "no, its a Sadowsky" and wait for it......

Silence. Crickets chirping. Deer in headlights. He rambled on about love for Ibanez and I just kept nodding along and smiling as I packed up my stuff. Great conversation.

@Sadowsky I know its a lot to take in, but someone in a dive bar thinks your basses sound as good as Ibanez. You hit the big time. Chalk that up as a win!

 

[ElMon]

Brought the Modern 5 to a punk gig last night. She's in good hands @ElMon - fear not . We happened to be the, ahem, "elder" of the bands on the bill - I was approached by some "young 'uns" after the set who had many compliments about my tone. This was my favorite interaction and thought I would share...

"Man, that bass sounds great, like an Ibanez! Is that an Ibanez? It looks like an Ibanez I used to own..."

I replied "no, its a Sadowsky" and wait for it......

Silence. Crickets chirping. Deer in headlights. He rambled on about love for Ibanez and I just kept nodding along and smiling as I packed up my stuff. Great conversation.

@Sadowsky I know its a lot to take in, but someone in a dive bar thinks your basses sound as good as Ibanez. You hit the big time. Chalk that up as a win!


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