Club Sadowsky!!!

[cxcxcx]

^^This is so true^^
Which brings to mind a couple of questions for the group:

1. What was your first experience with the Sadowsky sound?

Letterman, on a little black and white television with a 3” speaker. Uncle Will and Duck Dunn are the guys that made me want to play bass. Will did a few years on the show before he played a Sadowsky bass, and played basses with the onboard preamp prior to playing one. I noticed early on he was the only guy on TV talks shows whose bass could be heard. This continued on until every bassist on a late night talk show was playing a Sadowsky. I was a kid in those early days, but being close to NYC, I begged some older musicians that worked with Will to ask him what that new bass he had was. Word came back it was this guy Sadowsky off of 48th St. that was mostly involved in repairs and mods but did offer instruments under his own mark. I mowed lawns and detailed cars to get my first Sadowsky.

2. How many of us got our first exposure to it through Uncle Will on Late Night (with the World's Most Dangerous Band, then the CBS Orchestra)? I did, for sure.

See rambling essay above.

3. How did Roger, in his infinite wisdom, know how to refine and perfect this sound precisely for the real world, decades before the internet and mobile phones?

This I attribute to happy accident, because the physics for it to to happen were already in place. I’m not sure Roger himself knew how to arrive at this sound, but his clientele sure did and he didn't refine his designs in a vacuum. I'm piecing my observations together from hearing things from older players around town, endless interviews with Roger over the years, and maybe Roger himself. Memory fades after you approach a certain age.

A big part of his client base decades ago were the hardest working pros in NYC. This is when there was a thriving studio scene. He sought suggestions and drew from the collective experience of these players. This was real world experience from some of the finest players in the business, who in turn worked with some of the finest engineers and producers. These people knew their stuff and passed their observations and comments onto Roger, who had the knack of taking this intel and creating viable solutions in physical form.

Through full intent, group consensus from working pros, or influence from other early bass preamp designers or classic Fender amp designs, the Sadowsky preamp boost at 4kHz is a frequency naturally found pleasant by the human ear. We are most sensitive in the 1-5 kHz area. This allows note definition to pop through without being jarring or unnatural sounding. The 40 Hz down below warms things up nicely without being overbearing, and the resultant dip around 300 or so adds up to a tone that somehow magically sounds great in a bedroom, on a live stage, or in a studio.

Al this was arrived at years before cell phones. The audio in those handheld devices is highly processed to present what’s being captured in the best way and it can take something that sounds good and make it better. Sadoswky electronics always sounded good when captured by recording devices of all types, from the finest studio equipment to handheld cassette recorders as a result of Roger giving his clients what they wanted. The new wave of smartphone recording is simply following suit.

 

[SzunaP]

Well, this is my tribute to EVH on Metro M5-24:

 

[RNG1]

This wasn’t my first experience with the Sadowsky sound as I’ve heard Will play in the old days even in small places like the bitter end and of course SNL but I will say that when I heard this a few years ago I said to myself OK enough is enough, I know that’s the direction I want my sound to be (of course we are all going to sound different even on the same bass but I want that “something”) so what am I waiting for.

 

[kobass]

How did Roger, in his infinite wisdom, know how to refine and perfect this sound precisely for the real world, decades before the internet and mobile phones?

He's the GOAT. C'mon man!!!

 

[Vic]

Which brings to mind a couple of questions for the group:

1. What was your first experience with the Sadowsky sound?
   1. Mediocre. A buddy brought one over, only played it solo, decided it wasn't worth the money. It was only later that I borrowed one for a gig just for kicks and the light went on.
2. How many of us got our first exposure to it through Uncle Will on Late Night (with the World's Most Dangerous Band, then the CBS Orchestra)? I did, for sure.
   1. Not I. Ironically, I didn't really focus on his instrument much.
3. How did Roger, in his infinite wisdom, know how to refine and perfect this sound precisely for the real world, decades before the internet and mobile phones?
   1. This is in several of his interviews. He literally worked for years with top professionals refining his tone for performances, both live and in the studio based on a ton of artist feedback.

 

[Vic]

This wasn’t my first experience with the Sadowsky sound as I’ve heard Will play in the old days even in small places like the bitter end and of course SNL but I will say that when I heard this a few years ago I said to myself OK enough is enough, I know that’s the direction I want my sound to be (of course we are all going to sound different even on the same bass but I want that “something”) so what am I waiting for.

OMG I LOVE THIS

 

[RNG1]

I forgot to mention the main point, which is, if his bass can cut through that clear with a humongous horn section like that there must be some special sauce happening in there.

Also might be the best live drum sound I’ve ever heard.

 

[franklindayala]

My Sadowsky Precision Basses. 3TSB is a NYC and the maple is a TYO which is an incredible build.. Two amazing instruments. View attachment 4013202

Wow...

 

[Joeykun]

Everyone: Wear a black shirt.
Will: I’m going stripes!

 

[bucephylus]

This wasn’t my first experience with the Sadowsky sound as I’ve heard Will play in the old days even in small places like the bitter end and of course SNL but I will say that when I heard this a few years ago I said to myself OK enough is enough, I know that’s the direction I want my sound to be (of course we are all going to sound different even on the same bass but I want that “something”) so what am I waiting for.

Awesome. Good for Will and the BRBB for covering that. All Will needed there was a big old 360 to complete the soundstage.

 

[ElMon]

Will Lee through the tiny TV speakers was what did for me as well.

Yes, it's 'in the hands', but if your hands are filled with a Sadowsky, you've got a lot of help.

Also, I've been doing pickup gigs/sitting in/jam sessions and notice that every crappy, barely-adequate amp just sounds tremendous. I really think it's my Sadowsky. My hands aren't that great.

 

[57pbass]

Will Lee through the tiny TV speakers was what did for me as well.

Yes, it's 'in the hands', but if your hands are filled with a Sadowsky, you've got a lot of help.

Also, I've been doing pickup gigs/sitting in/jam sessions and notice that every crappy, barely-adequate amp just sounds tremendous. I really think it's my Sadowsky. My hands aren't that great.

I remember reading an article about Will Lee discussing this very topic. I might not be 100% accurate so bear with me. He was on a flight back from Japan and he was discussing his fascination with the bass reproduction coming through on a small transistor radio. Moving forward this sound and result was always a goal of his. I remember him using a sub harmonic processor that allowed him to achieve this goal.. please chime in if you can add to this.

 

[RNG1]

I remember reading an article about Will Lee discussing this very topic. I might not be 100% accurate so bear with me. He was on a flight back from Japan and he was discussing his fascination with the bass reproduction coming through on a small transistor radio. Moving forward this sound and result was always a goal of his. I remember him using a sub harmonic processor that allowed him to achieve this goal.. please chime in if you can add to this.

Maybe Sub harmonic processor is code for Sadowsky preamp

 

[Jamarvic]

Will Lee through the tiny TV speakers was what did for me as well.

Yes, it's 'in the hands', but if your hands are filled with a Sadowsky, you've got a lot of help.

Also, I've been doing pickup gigs/sitting in/jam sessions and notice that every crappy, barely-adequate amp just sounds tremendous. I really think it's my Sadowsky. My hands aren't that great.

I would record Late Night on my vcr, which was connected to the stereo via the aux inputs so I could feel the bass, I loved the intro to the show!

 

[Littlewing6283]

^^This is so true^^
Which brings to mind a couple of questions for the group:
1. What was your first experience with the Sadowsky sound?

Believe it or not this forum. Kept on seeing all the Sadowsky love and dabbled my toes. I nabbed my first one and the light bulb came on. Other showed up after the first, ehhehehehehe

2. How many of us got our first exposure to it through Uncle Will on Late Night (with the World's Most Dangerous Band, then the CBS Orchestra)? I did, for sure.

Ironically I was likely exposed without being aware as I used to watch late night frequently.

3. How did Roger, in his infinite wisdom, know how to refine and perfect this sound precisely for the real world, decades before the internet and mobile phones?

1 word....Sorcery

 

[RNG1]

I would record Late Night on my vcr, which was connected to the stereo via the aux inputs so I could feel the bass, I loved the intro to the show!

Nice that was the hifi way of doing it!
I had my crappy little cassette recorder I would just hold by the tv speaker. Actually that may have been in the older days when the theme of Barney Miller changed my life forever.

 

[number six]

Just for a change . . . never heard of Will Lee when I bought my first NYC in 2006.
I didn't get on with a Fodera Monarch so looked online for something more Fender'ish but better.
Talkbass raved about them so I ordered one before ever seeing or playing one.
So you guys basically.

 

[600 Ohms]

Hey SUPER-J Pickup owners: I know there are a few of you here with this beast:

I'm very close to pulling the trigger on having one installed. I've heard the two Alex Rodriguez examples on YT, which do a good job of showing the differences. Any rants or raves? What version of the neck pickup do you have installed, and did you pick one that you thought blended the best? I have the non-stacked HCs installed at the moment.

I doubt I would regret the change in the look of the bass, cause my finish is Dark Lake Placid, and it would mostly fade into the background. Would love a testimonial from anyone who has a bass with one of these in, of any kind. Thank you in advance!

 

[Fuzzbass]

Nice that was the hifi way of doing it!
I had my crappy little cassette recorder I would just hold by the tv speaker. Actually that may have been in the older days when the theme of Barney Miller changed my life forever.

HA, me too! I used my cassette with mic to record all kinds of music from TV and radio. Below is an example of one of my favorite captures: Edgar Winter on the In Concert TV show, 1972. This performance featured Ronnie Montrose on guitar... which was a thrill, but I have to say that Edgar's vocal riffing tops Ronnie here. Anyway, I played the cassette until it broke.



Sucks that it's out of sync, but it's a badass rendition.

Edit: sync depends on which device/app I use (shrug)

 

[Fuzzbass]

P. S. I first heard of Sadowsky via Uncle Will, but didn't put one on my wish list until I played a friend's PJ4, and didn't pull the trigger until 2004 when Nino V tipped me that a P-body Sadowsky was definitely going to be a thing.