Club Sadowsky!!!

[Killens84]

I’ve had my Satin 5-21 Vintage for just over two weeks now, and I can’t put it down. It’s addicting to play. I’ve gotten adjusted to the nut and string spacing by now, and it plays like a dream. I’ve been enamored with the tone as well. It’s crazy that a bass can sound this good. I’m really liking the DR Pure Blues on the bass. They’re a great pairing. I’m looking forward to bringing this bass on gigs, whenever those start happening again

 

[Doug Parent]

I’ve had my Satin 5-21 Vintage for just over two weeks now, and I can’t put it down. It’s addicting to play. I’ve gotten adjusted to the nut and string spacing by now, and it plays like a dream. I’ve been enamored with the tone as well. It’s crazy that a bass can sound this good. I’m really liking the DR Pure Blues on the bass. They’re a great pairing. I’m looking forward to bringing this bass on gigs, whenever those start happening again View attachment 3811050

Congrats man, these are great basses.

 

[R&B]

I’m so lax on photographing my basses. I’d rather play them. Here is the stock photo of tonight’s fine selection. TYO Modern Edge in Lexus pearl white with ebony board. Roasted neck. Just ridiculously great and so fun to play.

 

[LightForce104]

I’m so lax on photographing my basses. I’d rather play them. Here is the stock photo of tonight’s fine selection. TYO Modern Edge in Lexus pearl white with ebony board. Roasted neck. Just ridiculously great and so fun to play.

View attachment 3811289

If you're ever looking to get rid of that one, I might know a guy...

 

[AngelCrusher]

I just can't get back into roundwounds after playing flats for so many years. I miss the initial transient. The Fender flats sound stellar on this bass with a Sadowsky Black Label flatwound B. Not sure where I'll find another one of these...

I currently have Cobalt flats on my NYC Verdine PJ. They sound good, but Im not totally sold. Have some dunlop flats coming and I'm deciding if I want to try them on the Sadowsky or my Fender P. The Fender P has Fender flats on it, and I may just let them stay there. Im going to track with my Verdine today and see how the Cobalts work in a mix with a 909 kick.

 

[ElMon]

I currently have Cobalt flats on my NYC Verdine PJ. They sound good, but Im not totally sold. Have some dunlop flats coming and I'm deciding if I want to try them on the Sadowsky or my Fender P. The Fender P has Fender flats on it, and I may just let them stay there. Im going to track with my Verdine today and see how the Cobalts work in a mix with a 909 kick.

If you haven't already ... D'Addario Chromes. Best B string for a flatwound IMO, as to pitch clarity and how it blends with the other strings. Pretty good amount of zing for the first 3 years on my ash/braz rw PJ5, but has mellowed nicely. Sits perfectly in the mix. Cushion from underneath while still cutting when needed.

Close second, and these are on my Olinto P5 are the LaBella Low Tension Flats. More of a rubber, TI type of feel, but the B string is amazing.

 

[AngelCrusher]

If you haven't already ... D'Addario Chromes. Best B string for a flatwound IMO, as to pitch clarity and how it blends with the other strings. Pretty good amount of zing for the first 3 years on my ash/braz rw PJ5, but has mellowed nicely. Sits perfectly in the mix. Cushion from underneath while still cutting when needed.

Close second, and these are on my Olinto P5 are the LaBella Low Tension Flats. More of a rubber, TI type of feel, but the B string is amazing.

I love me some Chromes and thats always a good option. They get bit brighter than I prefer, hence trying the Dunlops.

I have Cobalts on my L2500 and was able to do some tracks with slap bass on it that sounded good. Thats why I wanted to try cobalts on the Verdine - a touch more versatile. Main issue I am finding is the Cobalts on the Verdine are almost too bass heavy and not as clear as I want. Plus the tension is a little higher than I like. This could change over time of course, so im giving them another go this week before the Dunlops show up.

I started with Labellas on this bass and they were awesome but just a little limited in tone. I feel like the Dunlops are the in between point that I may like. If that doesn't work, Ill go with Chromes and put the Dunlops on my Pbass. It's tough to go wrong with those!

 

[MOSCOWBASS]

This is impressive, even if it's only a living room test.....New GR bass Aerotec 2x10...22lbs!

 

[ElMon]

I love me some Chromes and thats always a good option. They get bit brighter than I prefer, hence trying the Dunlops.

I have Cobalts on my L2500 and was able to do some tracks with slap bass on it that sounded good. Thats why I wanted to try cobalts on the Verdine - a touch more versatile. Main issue I am finding is the Cobalts on the Verdine are almost too bass heavy and not as clear as I want. Plus the tension is a little higher than I like. This could change over time of course, so im giving them another go this week before the Dunlops show up.

I started with Labellas on this bass and they were awesome but just a little limited in tone. I feel like the Dunlops are the in between point that I may like. If that doesn't work, Ill go with Chromes and put the Dunlops on my Pbass. It's tough to go wrong with those!

You saved me some experimenting, based off of the above. Were the LaBellas the low-tension set? Because something about their tapered b-strings just doesn't work for me. It's like the EADG strings are stellar and the B-string is a muddy mess. Watching your Dunlop experiment closely!

Right now my go-to 'setup logic': Sadowsky PJ5 with Chromes (heavy ash/braz rw) takes care of 90% of the modern-but-still-vintage if I need it ; Olinto P5 (alder/braz rw) and Low Tension Flats with foam mute: true-blue 'Jamerson with a B', minus the actual game-changing, bass world revolutionizing talent of that particular feller.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I agree that the LaBella Low Tension flats have great string to string balance, B string included. They're also polished really smooth (doesn't matter to me, but might to some).

Other flats I've tried: Cobalts (mentioned previously), Fenders, Chromes, Dunlops, Sadowsky Blacks, Sadowsky Blues v1. On top of that, a variety of nylon tapes... usually LaBella (including a set of wild-looking limited edition ones).

They're all different in their own way. I'm not sure there were any I disliked, but the bottom line is that my ears always seem to prefer TI Jazz Flats. Took awhile for my fingers to get used to the low tension, but it was good for me to learn how to back off.

I do plan on trying the newer Sadowsky Blue Label flats, which were reformulated within the past couple years.

Caveat: I play played classic/oldies gigs fairly regularly but I'm mostly a roundwound rocker. I'm sure I swapped out some of the aforementioned flats sets before they were fully broken in (not true for TIs or Cobalts). So, take my comments with at least that one grain of salt.

 

[AngelCrusher]

You saved me some experimenting, based off of the above. Were the LaBellas the low-tension set? Because something about their tapered b-strings just doesn't work for me. It's like the EADG strings are stellar and the B-string is a muddy mess. Watching your Dunlop experiment closely!

Right now my go-to 'setup logic': Sadowsky PJ5 with Chromes (heavy ash/braz rw) takes care of 90% of the modern-but-still-vintage if I need it ; Olinto P5 (alder/braz rw) and Low Tension Flats with foam mute: true-blue 'Jamerson with a B', minus the actual game-changing, bass world revolutionizing talent of that particular feller.

I used the regular tension LaBellas. They sound great, I really love them, but I tend to lean towards the modern flats like Chromes. If the Dunlops are in the middle of those 2, I will be all set. Ill definitely let you all know how I like them.

 

[Fran Diaz]

I agree that the LaBella Low Tension flats have great string to string balance, B string included. They're also polished really smooth (doesn't matter to me, but might to some).

Other flats I've tried: Cobalts (mentioned previously), Fenders, Chromes, Dunlops, Sadowsky Blacks, Sadowsky Blues v1. On top of that, a variety of nylon tapes... usually LaBella (including a set of wild-looking limited edition ones).

They're all different in their own way. I'm not sure there were any I disliked, but the bottom line is that my ears always seem to prefer TI Jazz Flats. Took awhile for my fingers to get used to the low tension, but it was good for me to learn how to back off.

I do plan on trying the newer Sadowsky Blue Label flats, which were reformulated within the past couple years.

Caveat: I play played classic/oldies gigs fairly regularly but I'm mostly a roundwound rocker. I'm sure I swapped out some of the aforementioned flats sets before they were fully broken in (not true for TIs or Cobalts). So, take my comments with at least that one grain of salt.

Sadowsky Blues v1. Is there a v2? Differences?

 

[gustobassman]

I love the Sadowsky Blue Label flats on my Verdine 5. Perfect match. I think they are the V2 as I got them last year. Everyone that has played that bass has complemented how "smooth they are" and balanced. I use the lighter set, 40-125. Great for reggae BTW...

 

[Fuzzbass]

Sadowsky Blues v1. Is there a v2? Differences?

I have not tried blue flats v2. I believe @kevk recommended them to me, pinging him.

 

[ElMon]

I love the Sadowsky Blue Label flats on my Verdine 5. Perfect match. I think they are the V2 as I got them last year. Everyone that has played that bass has complemented how "smooth they are" and balanced. I use the lighter set, 40-125. Great for reggae BTW...

The low-tension LaBellas really turned my head around about light gauge flatwounds. The Sadowsky flats I tried didn't really do it for me, and I'm wondering if this was the reason. Chromes are still my 'goldilocks' flats, but now you got me thinking. After all, what else am I going to spend my 'essential employee' earnings on? Rent? TP? Psssssssssssshhhhh.

 

[ElMon]

This is impressive, even if it's only a living room test.....New GR bass Aerotec 2x10...22lbs!View attachment 3814711

If those cabs sound great and somehow don't float away mid-set, they might be onto something there.

 

[therealting]

Chromes sound great - here’s a track I did with them recently. Ok, it’s a Dingwall P, but it has a Sadowsky pre in it. Tracked into a Noble.

 

[ElMon]

Chromes sound great - here’s a track I did with them recently. Ok, it’s a Dingwall P, but it has a Sadowsky pre in it. Tracked into a Noble.

NICE. I've put a Sadowsky Pre in all kinds of basses that convention probably would poo-poo. MTDs (I was excommunicated for that one), Warwicks, Modulus, Roscoe/etc. It's like the Garlic Salt of tonal enhancement. It doesn't seem like it would be 'the thing' and yet makes everything taste better.

 

[gustobassman]

The low-tension LaBellas really turned my head around about light gauge flatwounds. The Sadowsky flats I tried didn't really do it for me, and I'm wondering if this was the reason. Chromes are still my 'goldilocks' flats, but now you got me thinking. After all, what else am I going to spend my 'essential employee' earnings on? Rent? TP? Psssssssssssshhhhh.

I forget who it was I asked, but it was suggested to me to use a lighter gauge for flats than what you normally use for rounds. I had zero experience with flats before I tried the Blue Labels and so far using the lighter gauge seems to be the ticket as far as I can tell. It's almost the same feeling on the hands as my preferred rounds.

I can't see myself playing a heavier gauge of flats. The tension on the light gauge Blue Labels is just about perfect for my style. Anything heavier would be too stiff I would imagine.

 

[therealting]

NICE. I've put a Sadowsky Pre in all kinds of basses that convention probably would poo-poo. MTDs (I was excommunicated for that one), Warwicks, Modulus, Roscoe/etc. It's like the Garlic Salt of tonal enhancement. It doesn't seem like it would be 'the thing' and yet makes everything taste better.

Agreed. I actually don’t use it much for EQ - I do all that on the Noble, which sounds similar but has a richness to it that the Sadowsky doesn’t have (it bloody should for what it cost). It’s handy to have under my fingers when needed though!