Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Yeah that sounds pretty good and mine were done about 4 yrs ago, way back....when gas was cheap
thanks, I can send a higher res your way if you want to keep it for future reference.
Now you just have to keep buying a new bass every 6 months. You know -- for science.
I'll do my best. Would you mind telling my wife about this little experiment?
Just to say that my Ultra-Vintage CAO Sadowsky with single-coils has officially been declared my #1 bass. I have thoughts of selling everything else and keeping just it.
Well, it's been a week since my new bass arrived (the lefty one; there are some pics a few pages back). Here's a little review, based on my initial thoughts and one-week experience with the bass...
When I took the softcase out of the box, I almost thought they'd forgotten to put the bass in there! It was so light!
Once unpacked, my initial thoughts were that the construction and attention to detail was impeccable. I also liked the fact that they put some goodies in the case too. When I opened the case, I also noticed a strange smell. It smells new, I thought, but it turned out to be the smell of the brazilian rosewood. It smells almost chocolate-like
.
After playing it a little bit at home I began to notice it suffered a little bit from neck dive if I was sitting on my chair with the bass on my lap, but nothing too serious and when standing, I didn't notice it anymore. Also, I was wondering why Sadowsky doesn't use a battery flip-cover-system, so that when you have to replace the battery, you don't have to take the whole control plate off... Not that I'm going to replace my battery once a week, but I was just wondering. Maybe it's an option. Maybe they would've done it if I would've asked it, I don't know. But, overall, I was and am more than happy!
Then, the first rehearsals and gigs... Although the bass sounded very good through my pair of headphones, during playing through a big(ger) bass amp, it really came alive. This was also the moment where I noticed how powerful and useful the onboard EQ and active/passive pot is!
Two days ago, I was called for a replacement for a gig. I'd asked if there was a bass amp, they said yes. Once I was there, there was no bass amp. Luckily, there was a PA system with monitors.
I did play through PA only on some occasions, but my basses turned out to sound dull, or over EQ'd or way too harsh. When I plugged in my Sadowsky, without preamp in between, only a Behringer D.I., man, what a sound!
I played a few notes and the keyboard player immediately commented on how nice the sound of the bass was. I've got compliments on my sound sometimes before, but never after playing only a few notes, without a proper bass amp!
I admit, I only have the bass for a week and I guess this is still the honeymoon-period, but tonight I have to play again and I don't have to think about which bass I'm taking with me! I guess I better start saving for the next one already!!
When I took the softcase out of the box, I almost thought they'd forgotten to put the bass in there! It was so light!
Once unpacked, my initial thoughts were that the construction and attention to detail was impeccable. I also liked the fact that they put some goodies in the case too. When I opened the case, I also noticed a strange smell. It smells new, I thought, but it turned out to be the smell of the brazilian rosewood. It smells almost chocolate-like
.After playing it a little bit at home I began to notice it suffered a little bit from neck dive if I was sitting on my chair with the bass on my lap, but nothing too serious and when standing, I didn't notice it anymore. Also, I was wondering why Sadowsky doesn't use a battery flip-cover-system, so that when you have to replace the battery, you don't have to take the whole control plate off... Not that I'm going to replace my battery once a week, but I was just wondering. Maybe it's an option. Maybe they would've done it if I would've asked it, I don't know. But, overall, I was and am more than happy!
Then, the first rehearsals and gigs... Although the bass sounded very good through my pair of headphones, during playing through a big(ger) bass amp, it really came alive. This was also the moment where I noticed how powerful and useful the onboard EQ and active/passive pot is!
Two days ago, I was called for a replacement for a gig. I'd asked if there was a bass amp, they said yes. Once I was there, there was no bass amp. Luckily, there was a PA system with monitors.
I did play through PA only on some occasions, but my basses turned out to sound dull, or over EQ'd or way too harsh. When I plugged in my Sadowsky, without preamp in between, only a Behringer D.I., man, what a sound!
I played a few notes and the keyboard player immediately commented on how nice the sound of the bass was. I've got compliments on my sound sometimes before, but never after playing only a few notes, without a proper bass amp!
I admit, I only have the bass for a week and I guess this is still the honeymoon-period, but tonight I have to play again and I don't have to think about which bass I'm taking with me! I guess I better start saving for the next one already!!
Well, it's been a week since my new bass arrived (the lefty one; there are some pics a few pages back). Here's a little review, based on my initial thoughts and one-week experience with the bass...
When I took the softcase out of the box, I almost thought they'd forgotten to put the bass in there! It was so light!
Once unpacked, my initial thoughts were that the construction and attention to detail was impeccable. I also liked the fact that they put some goodies in the case too. When I opened the case, I also noticed a strange smell. It smells new, I thought, but it turned out to be the smell of the brazilian rosewood. It smells almost chocolate-like
After playing it a little bit at home I began to notice it suffered a little bit from neck dive if I was sitting on my chair with the bass on my lap, but nothing too serious and when standing, I didn't notice it anymore. Also, I was wondering why Sadowsky doesn't use a battery flip-cover-system, so that when you have to replace the battery, you don't have to take the whole control plate off... Not that I'm going to replace my battery once a week, but I was just wondering. Maybe it's an option. Maybe they would've done it if I would've asked it, I don't know. But, overall, I was and am more than happy!
Then, the first rehearsals and gigs... Although the bass sounded very good through my pair of headphones, during playing through a big(ger) bass amp, it really came alive. This was also the moment where I noticed how powerful and useful the onboard EQ and active/passive pot is!
Two days ago, I was called for a replacement for a gig. I'd asked if there was a bass amp, they said yes. Once I was there, there was no bass amp. Luckily, there was a PA system with monitors.
I did play through PA only on some occasions, but my basses turned out to sound dull, or over EQ'd or way too harsh. When I plugged in my Sadowsky, without preamp in between, only a Behringer D.I., man, what a sound!
I played a few notes and the keyboard player immediately commented on how nice the sound of the bass was. I've got compliments on my sound sometimes before, but never after playing only a few notes, without a proper bass amp!
I admit, I only have the bass for a week and I guess this is still the honeymoon-period, but tonight I have to play again and I don't have to think about which bass I'm taking with me! I guess I better start saving for the next one already!!
A few thoughts,
Regarding the battery compartment, based on a long experience with plastic pop-ups, IMO you should be thankful that Sadowsky doesn't use those cheap plastic things. The wires eventually ALWAYS get disconnected - most likely at the worst possible moment... It just happened to one of my students with a MM stingray before a show.
Opening the back cover (with steel inserts on the NYC) once in 8-12 months is really not a burden. I actually do it just for fun to enjoy the view
BTW, the separate battery cavity is very cool and keeps everything neat and clean looking. It's a great design.
About the sound and feel. I have all kinds of gigs in different styles and formats so before going out I'm thinking what would be the best bass for that specific job... It's amazing how (for the last year since I got my first Sadowsky) I always end up taking one of my Sad's. They just do the job better than anything else I have, any job. And I have quite a few other great basses. Makes me wonder if I should keep them at all...
A couple of comments:
1) We did use the flip up battery compartments a few years ago and they are awful! I'm very glad we did away with them.
2) Regarding neck dive, most Fender style basses have neck dive when you are sitting down, yet they balance well on a strap.
Roger
Seeing as your 50th anniversay will conincide with my 50th anniversary, I guess I should start saving now!#5000 is reserved.
No plans for a 30th anniversary model. We will probably do something for a 50th anniversary model
Roger
- Nov 4, 2003
- 11,943
- 3,140
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist- Suhr basses, PedalTrain, GHS, Ultimate Ears
A few thoughts,
Regarding the battery compartment, based on a long experience with plastic pop-ups, IMO you should be thankful that Sadowsky doesn't use those cheap plastic things. The wires eventually ALWAYS get disconnected - most likely at the worst possible moment... It just happened to one of my students with a MM stingray before a show.
Opening the back cover (with steel inserts on the NYC) once in 8-12 months is really not a burden. I actually do it just for fun to enjoy the view
BTW, the separate battery cavity is very cool and keeps everything neat and clean looking. It's a great design.
About the sound and feel. I have all kinds of gigs in different styles and formats so before going out I'm thinking what would be the best bass for that specific job... It's amazing how (for the last year since I got my first Sadowsky) I always end up taking one of my Sad's. They just do the job better than anything else I have, any job. And I have quite a few other great basses. Makes me wonder if I should keep them at all...
Hm, I didn't know about floppy-wired connections of pop-up battery compartments. I did realise that there must have been a good reason for them to not use it, so now I know
.In fact, after reading your post, I opened the back cover to take a look and I also noticed the steel inserts which I think are a small, yet awesome attention. Those guys think of anything
. I also like that the battery is in a separate compartiment. And you were right again: the inside looks very tidy!Before I received my Sad, I've been playing for almost three years on the same bass. Although I have become used to that bass, and although the Sad is a completely different animal regarding feel, after playing a few hours on it, I found out that it *almost* plays itself sometimes.
I play jazz quite often, so the passive pull-pot is a very welcome addition when playing in a trio, but when playing more commercial-oriented music, I can't wait to push the knob back into active mode. I don't know how to describe that tone. It's low, smooth and warm, but not boomy. When adding a little bit of tone or treble (I still have to learn how to use these two in combination with each other) makes the bass cut through, without sounding harsh. I guess I can't find anything that I don't like
.
The back of my NYC:
Granted it's 9 years old though.
Well, I have no doubt your Sadowsky is fabulous and the fact that there wasn't any problem in 9 years only shows that the work at the shop is top notch. However, I do think this is far from being the best solution for a battery compartment. IMO a problem will arise sooner than in the current design.
The pop-up battery compartments are horrible. They always fail eventually. They seem like a good idea on paper but they just don't last. I'm glad Roger has moved away from them.
svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
- 4,741
- Disclosures
- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
i am a longtime Sadowsky fan, i have seen the improvement over the years, at least since the late 80s... I say +1000 on your comment
