Club Sadowsky!!!

[Joeykun]

Let’s get a couple of close ups on that one!

This bass is long gone. I had a couple of 5 string Sadowsky’s but my gig for the last decade has been strictly 4 bangers (with D-tuners) so off they went! I did put singles in the cherry burst and man did that bass sound good! All my 4 strings have HC.

 

[phillipkregg]

I found it to be an issue when I still had my SR5. The tight stirng spacing, weight and the G string slipping off the finger board were all issues for me.

I have had Stingray and Bongo 5s with the same problem.

What’s crazy is that even all these years later, and after a complete redesign of the mm stingray - it still has that same dang problem.

I played one of the stingray “special” 5s not too long ago and the g-string slipping issue was even more pronounced because the frets are stainless steel.

If you look closely at the frets, you’ll see that there’s a very long taper toward the edge that starts too close to the g string. All they would have to do is make the fret end filings more steep. Wouldn’t even need to change the neck width or mess with the nut or string spacing.

 

[TimothyGroovy]

I played one of the stingray “special” 5s not too long ago and the g-string slipping issue was even more pronounced because the frets are stainless steel.

+1.

 

[cxcxcx]

I have had Stingray and Bongo 5s with the same problem.

What’s crazy is that even all these years later, and after a complete redesign of the mm stingray - it still has that same dang problem.

I played one of the stingray “special” 5s not too long ago and the g-string slipping issue was even more pronounced because the frets are stainless steel.

If you look closely at the frets, you’ll see that there’s a very long taper toward the edge that starts too close to the g string. All they would have to do is make the fret end filings more steep. Wouldn’t even need to change the neck width or mess with the nut or string spacing.

The rotten thing is that EB/MM is 100% aware of all these flaws and is completely unwilling to fix them. I guess it's a toxic combo of them thinking they have a perfect design along with the idea that not enough players complain about it to bring change about.

There was an effort at one time to release a 19mm SR5. EB said they would make one, available in one color and neck only, if X amount of people pre-ordered. Everybody said they would, and the window was open to possibly build them. Of course, everyone that said "I'll definitely buy one" was full of it, and the minimum order was not even close to being reached. Only a small handful signed up and put money on the block.

 

[Joebone]

The rotten thing is that EB/MM is 100% aware of all these flaws and is completely unwilling to fix them. I guess it's a toxic combo of them thinking they have a perfect design along with the idea that not enough players complain about it to bring change about.

There was an effort at one time to release a 19mm SR5. EB said they would make one, available in one color and neck only, if X amount of people pre-ordered. Everybody said they would, and the window was open to possibly build them. Of course, everyone that said "I'll definitely buy one" was full of it, and the minimum order was not even close to being reached. Only a small handful signed up and put money on the block.

Funny you should mention that - I was one of the advocates for this move, and was one of the "Magnificent 7" who actually placed the order. I had possession of an SR5HH with an ebony board, and it sounded GREAT. And the neck and body ergonomics were really good for me, and I'm a bigger guy, so the 10-ish pound weight was not a prob. And this particular sample did not have that splitchy G-string problem, which is an issue on many an SR. But I could not get comfortable with the 17.5mm spacing. Oh, well...Better off with Sadowsky!

 

[Fuzzbass]

Funny you should mention that - I was one of the advocates for this move, and was one of the "Magnificent 7" who actually placed the order. I had possession of an SR5HH with an ebony board, and it sounded GREAT. And the neck and body ergonomics were really good for me, and I'm a bigger guy, so the 10-ish pound weight was not a prob. And this particular sample did not have that splitchy G-string problem, which is an issue on many an SR. But I could not get comfortable with the 17.5mm spacing. Oh, well...Better off with Sadowsky!

I also placed an order for a wide SR5. I fully expected that bass not to happen, given all the conditions and lack of publicity/advertising, but I didn't want to miss out if it did happen. As you said: much better off with Sadowsky.

 

[bucephylus]

Hmmm...I quite happily gigged a gorgeous black / BEM SR5, which weighed in right at 9 pounds for probably 12 years. Completely dug that bass. Zero issues with any of the aforementioned concerns. In fact, that bass remains my model for what a great 5 string bass design looks and feels like. I think it was a ‘96. No thanks to the 19mm thing for me. Different strokes fo sho.

I ended up trading in that bass towards a Sadowsky RV4; another great bass. But, still miss that Ray.

 

[KaseOfBass]

Hmmm...I quite happily gigged a gorgeous black / BEM SR5, which weighed in right at 9 pounds for probably 12 years. Completely dug that bass. Zero issues with any of the aforementioned concerns. In fact, that bass remains my model for what a great 5 string bass design looks and feels like. I think it was a ‘96. No thanks to the 19mm thing for me. Different strokes fo sho.

I ended up trading in that bass towards a Sadowsky RV4; another great bass. But, still miss that Ray.

Werd.

I love my Sadowsky WL-5, but gigged nothing but StingRay 5 basses from 2017 to the first part of 2020 (I’ve had a total of seven now and still have an older U.S.A. SUB 5 because I like the looks of the Classic, but not the 7.5” radius on the board of those). I never had issues as described either. To me, they have one of the most comfortable neck profiles of any bass out there and the feel is great, too, since I’ll typically sand any finish off of a neck. They’re great basses that, to me, just have different ergonomics rather than flaws. Some like ‘em, some don’t. No big deal. Luckily we’ve got all kinds of options to choose from out there.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I loved my Music Man fours, except I did encounter problems with the too-tapered frets when using vibrato on the G string (shush, just shush). I realized I had to either not use vibrato on the G, or attempt classical/fretless vibrato rather than side-to-side (perpendicular to the string).

Note: my Music Man experience is decades old. My faves were an '83 Cutlass I and '89 EB Sabre, and I sold both in the early '00s when I realized I was a 5-string guy.

 

[number six]

Time to stop this thread-jacking.
I have a Sadowsky (not MusicMan) NYC PJ4 pickguard in Pearl that didn't get sold with the bass 6-7 years ago.
I only have J's now so I've tried selling it for a nominal amount on the Bay but no takers.
I'm in Australia, so probably a limited audience over here.
Any (polite) suggestions please?

 

[monkeyland]

Time to stop this thread-jacking.
I have a Sadowsky (not MusicMan) NYC PJ4 pickguard in Pearl that didn't get sold with the bass 6-7 years ago.
I only have J's now so I've tried selling it for a nominal amount on the Bay but no takers.
I'm in Australia, so probably a limited audience over here.
Any (polite) suggestions please?

buy another NYC PJ4? I mean...you wouldn't want that nice pick guard to go to waste now would you?

 

[RNG1]

So I’m almost finished with this funky/jazzy album and the mij metro express I picked up on this site is now my absolute go to. This thing sounds so much better than anything else I have that cost 3x as much. . In fact I’m not sure I’ve picked up anything else I have since I got it other than a kala uke bass I used on a tune for a more organic/upright kinda tune. The Sadowsky just has so much tone that is instantly there and just so easy to have it sit right in the mix. However I’ve had a thing for a modern since I played one in the Sadowsky shop like a year ago and I did a dangerous thing this morning for some reason and went on the site and was thinking maybe I should support my favorite small business and saw this: I don’t play a 5 but if this was a 4 I don’t think I could have possibly resisted....

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

So I’m almost finished with this funky/jazzy album and the mij metro express I picked up on this site is now my absolute go to. This thing sounds so much better than anything else I have that cost 3x as much. . In fact I’m not sure I’ve picked up anything else I have since I got it other than a kala uke bass I used on a tune for a more organic/upright kinda tune. The Sadowsky just has so much tone that is instantly there and just so easy to have it sit right in the mix. However I’ve had a thing for a modern since I played one in the Sadowsky shop like a year ago and I did a dangerous thing this morning for some reason and went on the site and was thinking maybe I should support my favorite small business and saw this: I don’t play a 5 but if this was a 4 I don’t think I could have possibly resisted....
View attachment 3900466

That bass is Fiya!!

 

[Sadowsky]

Admiring that VW5, and also noticing that Metro pickguards are on sale, makes me wonder: Has anyone here tried routing a standard MV5 or RV5 and converting it to a PJ configuration since PJ5 Metros are pretty hard to come by? (I haven't actually looked under the pickguard yet, but I assume it's not already routed for the P option in the neck position...)

The big problem with this is that the J rout is so much deeper than a P rout. To do it right, you need to plug the J rout before you do the P. That is why we do not offer a multiple or universal rout so you can switch between the two with 2 different pickguards.

Roger

 

[Sadowsky]

Rolls eyes, It's what you are used to. Every other Bass Manufacturer, don't get me wrong I love Roger, has the pan forward (front PU) back (Rear PU) it's intuitive.

I don't believe this statement to be correct. I think Alembic, Zon and a few others do it the "correct" way too! . Every few years I poll players and dealers and it always ends up at 50-50.

 

[Sadowsky]

Speaking of the blend knob (and I use it a lot), it would be great to have a little more nuance. Questions for the group: 1: Are the pots audio or linear taper? - and - 2: Would changing one type for the other make a noticeable difference?

We use a linear blend pot which provides a better taper. All other pots are audio taper.

 

[Sadowsky]

Sadowsky sighting!
We did this very quickly to support a virtual event presented by Ottawa Business Journal and the Ottawa Board of Trade. Loads of fun and great to be playing again after the COVID lay-off.


Cheers,
LR

You and your bass sound awesome! The other dudes are good too!

 

[Sadowsky]

I’ve been looking online for the Sadowsky/ Warwick German made basses. The Sadowsky site makes no mention of them, they have some remaining MIJ metro express basses for sale in addition to their nyc custom basses. The Warwick site has no mention of them. I have seen some Warwick/Sadowsky MetroLine basses for sale on Reverb. Do these basses exist anywhere online ? It’s kind of strange that there is no website for these.

Warwick expects to begin shipping basses in early August.

Roger

 

[mikezimmerman]

Thanks for the explanation!

The big problem with this is that the J rout is so much deeper than a P rout. To do it right, you need to plug the J rout before you do the P. That is why we do not offer a multiple or universal rout so you can switch between the two with 2 different pickguards.

Roger

 

[PeckBass]

Speaking of the blend knob (and I use it a lot), it would be great to have a little more nuance. Questions for the group: 1: Are the pots audio or linear taper? - and - 2: Would changing one type for the other make a noticeable difference?

Move that blend knob the smallest amount you can do and you’ll find a lot of nuance there. To the left and the right just off of the center spot I’ve been able to find that exact in between space you can find with the traditional VVT setup. If you listen in a quiet room and you go just off-center a tiny bit you can hear the overtones change. And I mean a tiny tiny bit! Cheers from Nyc everyone. Long live Sadowsky guitars!!