Club Sadowsky!!!

[Joebone]

It's not the only great preamp - I like the Xotic and John East circuits, but generally don't dig most other 3/4 band preamps, including Fodera (although the Mike Pope-derivied Trickfish amps are superb). I pretty much keep the pre at 20% bass, 10% treble, and then twiddle the pan or VTC controls - and with each of those, a little goes a long way.

 

[scubaduba]

There are many passive tone controls on the market today but I still feel the Sadowsky VTC takes the prize.

 

[nickpc]

I wish there wasn’t such a volume difference between passive and active. Messes with all the gain structure for FOH and IEM’s if I go back and forth.

Funny, I notice no volume/signal level difference switching my NYC Vintage J between Passive and Active (with both boosts at 0). I've tested A/B between modes even during a song in rehearsal and no one noticed a difference.

My default setup when I play is volume on full, on the notch for pickup selection, VTC in the 4-6 range and in Active mode, and both boosts at 0. I'll vary that based on the song, but for me there's no difference in that setup if I have the VTC control in or out.

 

[HeavyJazz]

Love Sadowsky's passive tone. I generally record them in passive but flip to active for live.

 

[WorktheWood]

What do you find different with the Sadowsky tone control over any other? It's just a pot with a standard capacitor like pretty much all other passive tone controls.

There are many passive tone controls on the market today but I still feel the Sadowsky VTC takes the prize.

 

[SteveC]

Funny, I notice no volume/signal level difference switching my NYC Vintage J between Passive and Active (with both boosts at 0). I've tested A/B between modes even during a song in rehearsal and no one noticed a difference.

My default setup when I play is volume on full, on the notch for pickup selection, VTC in the 4-6 range and in Active mode, and both boosts at 0. I'll vary that based on the song, but for me there's no difference in that setup if I have the VTC control in or out.

Yeah, I had some bass boost on. When I went 0 boost it was pretty close. Like I said, it sounds good passive but I do like what the active preamp does for the tone.

 

[staccatogrowl]

There are many passive tone controls on the market today but I still feel the Sadowsky VTC takes the prize.

Totally agree. There's the Sadowsky VTC/pre, and all the others that wannabe. The circuit may be older, but it is amazing.

 

[scubaduba]

What do you find different with the Sadowsky tone control over any other? It's just a pot with a standard capacitor like pretty much all other passive tone controls.

A much wider and useful range.

 

[staccatogrowl]

And, its interaction with RS's boost-only FET 2-band. Classic example where the whole is greater than sum of parts.

 

[LightForce104]

A much wider and useful range.

How so? It's a standard 250k pot with a .047 uf cap.

 

[scubaduba]

How so? It's a standard 250k pot with a .047 uf cap.

And attached to a totally different 2-band boost only FET circuit. But the difference is real. My comparison is based off direct comparison to my current Nordstrand 3B circuit in my Devon, Nordstrand 3B circuit in my LEH, and prior circuits in basses I've had like a Bartolini circuit in a USA MTD and multiple Pope circuits. It's not a little different. It's an obvious difference.

 

[Dave Hill]

And attached to a totally different 2-band boost only FET circuit. But the difference is real. My comparison is based off direct comparison to my current Nordstrand 3B circuit in my Devon, Nordstrand 3B circuit in my LEH, and prior circuits in basses I've had like a Bartolini circuit in a USA MTD and multiple Pope circuits. It's not a little different. It's an obvious difference.

Ooohh! You have an LEH?!
Did I miss a thread on this somewhere?

 

[LightForce104]

And attached to a totally different 2-band boost only FET circuit. But the difference is real. My comparison is based off direct comparison to my current Nordstrand 3B circuit in my Devon, Nordstrand 3B circuit in my LEH, and prior circuits in basses I've had like a Bartolini circuit in a USA MTD and multiple Pope circuits. It's not a little different. It's an obvious difference.

I was under the impression that we were discussing the VTC on its own, not how it integrates with the preamp.

 

[scubaduba]

I was under the impression that we were discussing the VTC on its own, not how it integrates with the preamp.

Uhm. OK.

 

[scubaduba]

Ooohh! You have an LEH?!
Did I miss a thread on this somewhere?

I sure do.

 

[LightForce104]

Uhm. OK.

I mean, you were the one who brought up "passive tone controls", not "passive tone controls attached to an active preamp". Not to mention that there had been discussion about passive mode. But sorry for being an idiot, I guess. Glad to know that's all you're willing to dignify me with.

 

[WorktheWood]

The range is determined by the quality of pot and the capacitor. I personally don't find it any different than most I've tried. In fact, I don't like the stock .047 capacitor and have changed mine to .022 and requested the same for the bass I have on order.

A much wider and useful range.

 

[WorktheWood]

I was under the same impression, that we were just talking about the tone control. It just a tone control, there's no "voodoo" or "magic" to it. It's not even integrated into the preamp in any sort of way different than most others. Basically it's passive pickups going through passive volume, blend, and tone controls, then into the preamp to the output. The preamp doesn't change the function one way or the other.

I mean, you were the one who brought up "passive tone controls", not "passive tone controls attached to an active preamp". Not to mention that there had been discussion about passive mode. But sorry for being an idiot, I guess. Glad to know that's all you're willing to dignify me with.

 

[scubaduba]

Folks, the way a Sadowsky instrument responds to the contribution of the Sadowsky VTC to overall shaping of tone is remarkable in my opinion. From the likes of things here I guess others have a different take which is fine by me.

 

[SteveC]

I think the VTC is pretty nice. My first Sadowsky didn’t have it. There is a noticeable difference.