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It seems to me that a NYC Sadowsky P is quite rare and I'm not sure why that is. The ultra vintage P shaped body with just a P, no PJ. I've often thought about ordering one. I have a Fender CS P that I just love and the tone is terrific. But I hate the Fender hardware and fussing with the set-up seems archaic compared to a Roger build. So, a Sadowsky build, with the great balance, chambered body, easy set-up and intonation, expert fit and finish, pre-amp/bypass, could be the ultimate P. I can't be alone thinking this.
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Roger has said that the first few basses he made under his own name were PJ models, but the iconic image of a Sadowsky bass is a J-style platform. All the top-dog studio and broadway players used Fender J basses (when there was a studio scene) and that’s who Roger built for.
I imagine this might be tied up in the fact that Will Lee and other high profile players used a J style when a lot of eyes were on them, combined with the advertising, which always pictured a J style with a byline that said “The Sadowsky Bass”. Ricky Minor played a Sadowsky P on Leno and is a later exception. The J image was otherwise very prevalent in Sadowsky print ads in the 80s and 90s, and pretty much every bass magazine had a 1/4 page or 1/8 page spot with a J style in it every month.
I’d love to own a fully passive Sadowsky P. I love my J style Sadowskys so much that I've never sold one used, ever. It’s hard to believe that it’s so difficult to find a consistently well-executed boutique passive P bass. Some may not agree with this assertion, but I've done exhaustive research, have a lot of working bassist friends, and many industry contacts. I'm right about this. That said, I’d order a Sadowsky P sight unseen with absolutely no worries at all.
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Anecdote: back in the mid-aughts, a TBer who worked for Sadowsky at the time PM'd me that Sadowsky had decided to offer a P-style five string, adding that four (?) were well underway already, so I could probably get one of those much more quickly than the usual 8 months for an NYC. So, I called the shop and placed the order for a P-only P5*. Turned out that it took the full 8 or 9 months (it's the black one in my avatar; arrived April 2005). My hunch is that all the ones in progress had already been routed for PJ, so my build had to start from scratch.
Point being: P-only Sadowskys are rare because you and I are rare birds. PJ is more popular for all the obvious reasons (especially so for five string, out of concern for low B response). On top of that: when it comes to spendy boutiques, I suspect some P-only guys will order PJ because they're concerned about resale value. P-only is a lot more accepted for Fender and moderately-priced clones.
*I owned a Mike Lull PJ5 at the time (PJ because I bought it off the rack). Nicely built bass, but my ears didn't care for the timbre of 35" scale, and my right hand didn't care for the 18mm bridge spacing. Fortunately my Sadowsky P-only 5 turned out to be everything I was hoping for (and more!) in a P-style bass.
I would think that a passive P-dowsky would sell well, but I guess at that price point you're up against vintage instruments and some people want vintage even if it's not going to play as well.
I agree the J is probably more prevalent, but you make it sound like a P is a rarity, where I don't think that's really true. FWIW, I think there are plenty of high profile P players out there, especially if you want to factor in PJ, but even if not.
I debated (P only vs PJ) a long while, prior to ordering my black P5. Went with PJ...the first year, I was kinda wishing I’d gone P only, as I was only using the P anyway.
Then last year, I discovered some new settings (mine is vv)...using 75% P and adding some J to taste (25%+-) and have gotten really hooked on the blended tone. Obviously, happy to have a PJ now...
Then last year, I discovered some new settings (mine is vv)...using 75% P and adding some J to taste (25%+-) and have gotten really hooked on the blended tone. Obviously, happy to have a PJ now...
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My UV P is one piece solid ash and under 8.5 lbs. 
WOW!!!! Really nice, pure AWESOMENESS!!!!
That’s really nice...
I have two Metro HPJs and a Verdine 4 (PJ). They sound great and they’re super playable due to the 1.5” nut width. Yes to blending P > J for optimum tone.
I’d also welcome a Sadowsky pure P, so long as it sports a J neck. The only reason I’ve not grabbed a Sadowsky P to date is the 1.75” nut width. About 0.25” too vintage for my fingers. YMMV.
P is great and pj is a nice addition i love both basses.....
P _Alder/RW, roasted neck, Vintinquity, Nitro
PJ_Ash/Maple
anyways. I recently purchased a RSD sadowsky metro express Jj 5 string. Great bass, none of the noise problems I’ve seen on YouTube, bass feels great, sounds great, but I bought it to mod it. To start I’d like to put new pickups in the bass, preferably emg pickups, but after measuring the pickups it seems that none of the j pickups on their site fit them. Any suggestions on pickup replacements similar to the emg j pickups? (Pic for attention)
I love your photo!
There's a spacial place in my heart for little ones getting their hands on great instruments.
Japan metroline Will Lee happily in my hands now. Very pleased with it. Did the obligatory balance knob reversal so that it feels more natural to me. Nice neck, the smaller nut width is not immediately obvious but is there in a very positive yet subtle way. Really like the single coils. This is my second Sadowsky, the first was a Japan metro cherry metallic ash MV4, still probably the best playing bass I have ever owned but the tone never quite worked for me. This Will Lee really does nail the tones I like, whether or not it is the single coils I don't know. The mid boost is useful but at the moment I seem to prefer it off, I will have to play around a bit with the various options. Anyway, one very happy camper and a big thank you to George at Bass Gear Direct in Sydney.
