Club Sadowsky!!!

[shai-ga]

I will make another two identical ramps for a 4-string, with the same wood blank.
Each is constructed out of two bookmatched pieces.
Please PM me if you want one.
Usually I don't build stuff for people other than myself, and I'm not a ramp user (so far) but this was a fun build!

Sketch in millimeters: (thickness is 10mm at the top)

 

[Nenor]

A friend asked me this week to build him a ramp for his Sadowsky.
I had two wax sealed Asian ebony boards, so the final product was ready in 2 days.
Never actually used this wood for anything to this point, but it turned out really nice, with a Pau-Ferro look and an Ebony texture and feel. After dry polishing it to 12000 grit with micro-mesh pads, and setting it overnight with beeswax\carnauba wax on top, happy to show you the result:

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The price was $75.

I'm the owner of the bass in discussion. @shai-ga did a great job making this ramp for me so I take the opportunity to thank him again, in public. A cool cat too, he is.
The ramp has changed the overall feel of the bass significantly. Low action and light touch is the key here. Not so much for the digging-in type of player but if you're into it I highly recommend.

 

[ShawnG]

I'm the owner of the bass in discussion. @shai-ga did a great job making this ramp for me so I take the opportunity to thank him again, in public. A cool cat too, he is.
The ramp has changed the overall feel of the bass significantly. Low action and light touch is the key here. Not so much for the digging-in type of player but if you're into it I highly recommend.

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the purpose/benefit of playing with a ramp?

 

[monkeyland]

I'm the owner of the bass in discussion. @shai-ga did a great job making this ramp for me so I take the opportunity to thank him again, in public. A cool cat too, he is.
The ramp has changed the overall feel of the bass significantly. Low action and light touch is the key here. Not so much for the digging-in type of player but if you're into it I highly recommend.

how do you like those big blade pickups? Can you compare to stock?

 

[Nenor]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the purpose/benefit of playing with a ramp?

It kind of forces you to play with a lighter touch. It's like having a dig-in stopper/limiter. You pluck in a more gentle, even way. Great for developing fast (or classical type) plucking technique. OTOH dynamic range is narrowed.

how do you like those big blade pickups? Can you compare to stock?

The stock pickups are great but I wanted to try singles. Since I changed to the 19mm optional bridge those seemed appealing with the blade poles. These are the W&W, powerful single coils, focused low-mids with strong low-hi's presence. Great for fingerstyle. The stocks are more wide range sounding, perhaps better for slap, and of course totally quiet.

 

[Holdsg]

I've had the warm and wooly jazz blades in 2 (non-Sad) basses now. They are fantastic sounding. Full range. Fat output.

Here's a live demo, in case anyone is interested in how they sound in a band setting.

 

[Nenor]

Here's the bass with the j-blades in a jazz setting.



Sorry, no bass solo... Just walking

 

[kobass]

@Ronen Nice playing!

 

[Nenor]

@Ronen Nice playing!

Thanks!

 

[Chef]

Great band, great bass, and I love the Blades.
I put "warm and woolly" in one bass and am likely to put "clean and clear" in another.
Which are those?

 

[Nenor]

Great band, great bass, and I love the Blades.
I put "warm and woolly" in one bass and am likely to put "clean and clear" in another.
Which are those?

Thanks. Those are the "warm &woolly". I was debating and decided to go towards the warmer side. The C&C sound as equally good, slightly different flavor.

 

[600 Ohms]

Here's the view from my office, as of this afternoon. So many options, I'm positively drunk with power!!

Many thanks to Roger and Ellis who were both great in talking me through this transformation, and for first class work performed. I absolutely love it.

This bass started life with a 70s position pickup, but how great to choose. You can have the bite and extra forwardness of the 70's position, or take the smoother, sweeter (more canceled) upper midrange of the 60s. I also feel an ever so slightly beefier bottom end in the 60's. Rock with a pick? 70s for extra cut. Fingerstyle? Depends, especially if you're favoring the bridge pickup. Slap? Really depends. It's both subtle and un-subtle. A shift of midrange emphasis that makes a big difference.

I worried that what I got back wasn't going to sound like what I gave up, but I worried for nothing. The Metro's style of HC pickups are nicely compatible with the Super-J, and in 70s mode, I'm hearing the same tone I had before, perhaps with tiny differences I can't really identify on first blush. I'm really surprised, actually. If you're thinking about it, I recommend it. Rad.

 

[Killens84]

Here's the view from my office, as of this afternoon. So many options, I'm positively drunk with power!!

View attachment 4093172

Many thanks to Roger and Ellis who were both great in talking me through this transformation, and for first class work performed. I absolutely love it.

This bass started life with a 70s position pickup, but how great to choose. You can have the bite and extra forwardness of the 70's position, or take the smoother, sweeter (more canceled) upper midrange of the 60s. I also feel an ever so slightly beefier bottom end in the 60's. Rock with a pick? 70s for extra cut. Fingerstyle? Depends, especially if you're favoring the bridge pickup. Slap? Really depends. It's both subtle and un-subtle. A shift of midrange emphasis that makes a big difference.

I worried that what I got back wasn't going to sound like what gave up, but I worried for nothing. The Metro's style of HC pickups are nicely compatible with the Super-J, and in 70s mode, I'm hearing the same tone I had before, perhaps with tiny differences I can't really identify on first blush. I'm really surprised, actually. If you're thinking about it, I recommend it. Rad.

What color is that? I love it.

 

[600 Ohms]

What color is that? I love it.

Dark LPB. It's even better in person.

 

[puff father]

40" of snow outside so I'm not going anywhere today. Lucky for me I have this to keep me company. I couldn't ask for a better JB companion.

 

[BassmusM6674]

40" of snow outside so I'm not going anywhere today. Lucky for me I have this to keep me company. I couldn't ask for a better JB companion.
View attachment 4093627

40" of snow?

 

[puff father]

40" of snow?

 

[Dave Hill]

40" of snow outside so I'm not going anywhere today. Lucky for me I have this to keep me company. I couldn't ask for a better JB companion.
View attachment 4093627

Beautiful and rare Alder/Maple Metro 4!

 

[Bassdudeman]

Looks like Swamp Ash to me, FWIW.
I have it's 5 string cousin.

 

[Woodchuck]

This just showed up today. Great tone and setup. My only gripe is the hum in the jazz pick up, which will be switched out, but overall, this bass is definitely a keeper. Sadly, this is not a true family picture. I have 6 basses and 4 guitar stands. The Valenti was one of the basses that didn't make the picture. Oh, and shout out to The Bass Place in Arizona!