Club Sadowsky!!!

[Vic]

In my experience, with the single coil J in a PJ, you don’t get phase cancellation, you just don’t get any humbucking. Yes, that was the most typical case back in those days, but aftermarket companies like DiMarzio were making humbucking J’s, so it was a typical upgrade.

If you’re getting phase cancellation with any pickup combination, it simply means something is wired wrong.

 

[kittywithabanjo]

To make sure I understand part in bold, this is 'IF you blend both pickups, with the SC J in there'.

Part of me just wants to try it. The HC in my PJ5 does a pretty could 'Jaco thing' when I add in a chorus pedal (which gives it a bit of kick in the mids) but I've always wanted a bit more 'snot' in that tone.

I think with both on I find the mids lacking or something, hard to explain I just dont favour that sound currently, so much of all of this is how you fit into the overall sound of your band, are there keys, guitars and all that.

What I dont like someone else may love, its hard to make tone or sound statements I think as we all have such different tastes.

Right now my basic sound is that P, going into a Broughton Apex, HPF/LPF, Demeter HPB-1 800D (mids turned up to 80% which is basically a very minor mid cut), into an AudioKinesis Hathor 1203.

I would call my sound on the aggressive side of the spectrum, in my main project currently (cover band, 1 guitar) I am playing with a pick 75% of the time.

In my 2nd project (cover band, Keys, 1 guitar) Its J bass time(NYC Ash/Maple), based on the songs and how that bass interacts with the group.

 

[ElMon]

I actually like the blended sound, but I use Chrome Flats. To me I hear a low-mid kick that I love. Just not as much as the full-on P-Sound.

 

[mmbass21]

I haven't tried flats on my Sadowsky's, I just love blue label nickels.

 

[Fuzzbass]

You get phase cancellation with a single coil in the J position, on my pj ...

I recall a BP review of a Mike Lull PJ (quite a few years back) in which the reviewer observed that the J pickup was closer to the bridge than the standard Fender Jazz bridge pickup. Mike Lull (RIP) responded that the wider separation was deliberate, to reduce phasing artifacts.

Sadowsky PJ basses have the J in Fender position so clearly Roger's opinion differs from Mike's, and I would never argue with either about which is "better" because I'm sure it's just a matter of "different".

I've owned a variety of PJs and have other experience with phase such as my Keith bass that has adjacent P and MM pickups... but I'm not a techie and don't want to start a huge sidetrack. Just wanted to say that phase is a thing.

 

[ElMon]

My very-anecdotal experiences with my PJ5

1) Full P: you know ... it's like a PBass, but with that sweet Roger magic sprinkled in

2) Full J Pickup: you know ... white pants and I turn into 'Wacko Posterious'

3) Both pickups blended: I don't like the slap tone as much as a JJ setup, but I do like the low-mid kick, slightly compressed sound I get. It's a thick sound that doesn't have as much spread as the full P pickup sound. For supportive R&B/Pop, it works really well. AND ... you can vary your right hand placement and get close to either the 'P' or the 'J' sound.

4) WARNING: I've stated/repeated this way too many times ... the height of the P and J pickup relative to the strings is very particular. Too much one way or the other and it just doesn't sound right. One of the Sadowsky setup guides I have relates a set of measurements that is absolutely perfect. I've used it for non-Sadowsky PJ basses, and it always works.

 

[kittywithabanjo]

I need to check that pick up height thing out on my PJ5 and PJ6

 

[Dave Hill]

The PJ has the nasal thing going on at 50/50 blend. Is that what y’all are referring to as phasing? I’ve found it really sounds good in a mix. That said, I’m at 95/5 all the time. Some say the reverse P helps with the nasal-y 50/50 blend.

 

[Fuzzbass]

The PJ has the nasal thing going on at 50/50 blend. Is that what y’all are referring to as phasing? I’ve found it really sounds good in a mix

I think that's a fair description. On my bass with adjacent P and MM, a 50/50 blend (or even 75/25) results in that modern/nasally vibe. I prefer either pickup solo, but at least two friends who've played that bass said they liked the blended tone best.

 

[Doug Parent]

I recall a BP review of a Mike Lull PJ (quite a few years back) in which the reviewer observed that the J pickup was closer to the bridge than the standard Fender Jazz bridge pickup. Mike Lull (RIP) responded that the wider separation was deliberate, to reduce phasing artifacts.

I remember reading that somewhere and agree with Mike Lull on this one. And I think there's a Wilkins PJ where the J pickup is placed much closer to the P for the same reason, to work around the phasing issue that seems rob the "P" of some beef. Many years ago I had a P bass with a Hi-A soapbar pickup (Hi-A before it was changed to Bartolini) and that soapbar was bumped up against the bridge with no room to spare. I put a Bart "P" in that same bass and it was the best sounding bass I was stupid enough to sell.

 

[Dave Hill]

I think that the E/A position of the P is pretty close to a Jazz neck pu, which would make sense as at 50/50, it’s the D&G strings that have the nasally sound.

 

[danclaro]

I think that the E/A position of the P is pretty close to a Jazz neck pu, which would make sense as at 50/50, it’s the D&G strings that have the nasally sound.

Always! I find with my P-Soap that that the blend works best. I never run the blend knob down the middle, but rather start with full P and blend in some of the Soapbar to bring some mid-scoop to the sound.

 

[Holdsg]

Always! I find with my P-Soap that that the blend works best. I never run the blend knob down the middle, but rather start with full P and blend in some of the Soapbar to bring some mid-scoop to the sound.

pretty much how I do it with my 2 Verdines (4 and 5er)

 

[Mark Hughes]

Did a Facebook livestream set last night. Went pretty well I think. The Sadowsky sounded mean! Preamp on, a little boost of bass, and little more treble, and VTC rolled back to about half. Origin Effects Compact Bass compressor and VTBass DI to give an amp feel. We were all on in-ear monitors, no amps, Roland electric drums. We ran into our Soundcraft desk, and sent a Stereo feed into a Focusrite USB interface into the Mac.
It felt a bit strange to get in the same room as other people after more than two months, kind of like seeing your cousin in the school holidays, takes a little bit of time to reconnect in some ways. But overall it was a great experience.

 

[5StringPocket]

I remember reading that somewhere and agree with Mike Lull on this one. And I think there's a Wilkins PJ where the J pickup is placed much closer to the P for the same reason, to work around the phasing issue that seems rob the "P" of some beef. Many years ago I had a P bass with a Hi-A soapbar pickup (Hi-A before it was changed to Bartolini) and that soapbar was bumped up against the bridge with no room to spare. I put a Bart "P" in that same bass and it was the best sounding bass I was stupid enough to sell.

The Dingwall PJ also has the J closer to the P for the same reasons - more beef and less nasal.

 

[Darren Lipper]

My 2011 Sadowsky PJ is still my favorite recording bass. It has an even, traditional P bass tone with the P pickup on... Slightly cleaner, and meatier with the bass boosted. I’ve been playing it mainly these days with a pick and Sadowsky blue label flatwounds for a clean Carol Kaye-ish type sound. And the neck feels incredible!!!

 

[GregC]

Well...wow! I never thought I would end up with one of these beauties, but here I am. It sounds as clear--and yet lush--as I remembered, even with the tweeterless Ampeg 210AV. It's a really undervalued cab, but the tone is definitely old-school. Eventually I plan to put a Berg of some sort underneath. Nothing as large as the NV610 I used to own, though--my favorite cab ever, but the size made it impractical.
Many thanks to @R&B for alerting me to this and for his sage advice. Also, I owe a debt to @tombowlus for his detailed reviews and information regarding this amp. (And I've surely bent his ear via PM over the years about this and other heads.) Sorry for the bad phone pic.

 

[SCT1422]

One of the best Tube heads I've ever heard...

 

[Clark Westfield]

Well...wow! I never thought I would end up with one of these beauties, but here I am. It sounds as clear--and yet lush--as I remembered, even with the tweeterless Ampeg 210AV. It's a really undervalued cab, but the tone is definitely old-school. Eventually I plan to put a Berg of some sort underneath. Nothing as large as the NV610 I used to own, though--my favorite cab ever, but the size made it impractical.
Many thanks to @R&B for alerting me to this and for his sage advice. Also, I owe a debt to @tombowlus for his detailed reviews and information regarding this amp. (And I've surely bent his ear via PM over the years about this and other heads.) Sorry for the bad phone pic.
View attachment 3839465

That’s a great amp you have there!

Now get it off the chair before the Holy Grail of amps takes a spill!
;0)

 

[ElMon]

View attachment 3839444 My 2011 Sadowsky PJ is still my favorite recording bass. It has an even, traditional P bass tone with the P pickup on... Slightly cleaner, and meatier with the bass boosted. I’ve been playing it mainly these days with a pick and Sadowsky blue label flatwounds for a clean Carol Kaye-ish type sound. And the neck feels incredible!!!

Proper shirt for that bass too.