Every complement i received from sound engineers came from using a sadowsky bass or outboard sadowsky pre on a gig.
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I've received compliments from engineers for my sound on every bass I've ever played. I seem to sound like me no matter the bass, the pre, the amp, etc.
I don't doubt you!I've received compliments from engineers for my sound on every bass I've ever played. I seem to sound like me no matter the bass, the pre, the amp, etc.
So tonight I was reading all the posts regarding the preamp and passive tones, so I gave the passive mode a whirl.
Never played with the bass in passive mode since I owned it, over a year and a half now.
Holy cow, it sounds great!
It made my Tech21 amp sing more than usual with my Ampeg settings.
I found a new toy after all this time.
Never played with the bass in passive mode since I owned it, over a year and a half now.
Holy cow, it sounds great!
It made my Tech21 amp sing more than usual with my Ampeg settings.
I found a new toy after all this time.
I just popped the knob out and all other settings were in the same positions.
If that’s VTC, is even more awesome than anticipated.
If that’s VTC, is even more awesome than anticipated.
It's not the VTC. The Sadowsky pre adds a bit of color when flat. In passive mode the bass has a more natural, vintage-like sound.
I've received compliments from engineers, who've said they have no idea what I'm talking about.
I think they were compliments, anyways.
I’m not presently a Sadowsky owner, but LOVE those basses — one of my very favorite bass sounds is Oren Bloedow’s fretless Sadowsky during the heyday of the Lounge Lizards
Peer pressure! I played my MV4-HPJ both active and passive tonight. Both sound great. Of course, the audio chain is Sonic Farm 2di4->Berg Forte->Berg NV115. Pretty hard to go wrong there. Yet great to know that the passive mode rocks just as hard if you bump up the gain. 
Well I played my new PJ5 today and it killed. I was going to try passive, but instead went active with pickup on 50/50, bass/treble +10%, and VTC ~40%. Big, fat, warm. It didn't hurt that we had a great soundman. I could hear every single note I played from the recording.
Will try passive next time...
Will try passive next time...
The wood and hand is the main thing in the sound IMO, but you have much more options with the active pre, even if you like passive mode. Personally I like both, older styles/genres need passive, and modern pop/fusion I use active, more thicker, "cutting" sound.
I dont understand how ppl can say as a general rule that the passive Sadowsky tone is great or not great. For one, there is a huge difference in tone between the Sadowsky jazz and PJ basses. Also, the pickups vary from model to model, made by different companies (ostensibly to Sadowsky specs), and Sadowsky pickup sources have varied over the years.
I can understand how someone might more easily generalise about Sadowsky bass tone when the pre is activated, since the pre, when activated, accents standardised frequencies (I think). But, in totally passive mode, the output would vary quite a bit from one Sadowsky model to another, wouldn't it? Just seems that in passive mode, there are too many variables to generalise that there is a specific Sadowsky passive tone.
I can understand how someone might more easily generalise about Sadowsky bass tone when the pre is activated, since the pre, when activated, accents standardised frequencies (I think). But, in totally passive mode, the output would vary quite a bit from one Sadowsky model to another, wouldn't it? Just seems that in passive mode, there are too many variables to generalise that there is a specific Sadowsky passive tone.
Probably, as it wood with any other brand... I think it speaks more they found a new way to be happy with their purchase/acquisition.
People like what they like and aren't afraid to show support for it.
Don’t post here too much any more …
In no particular order:
1) My Sadowsky PJ5, with a foam mute and chrome flats, set passive, sounds very ‘period correct’. Like it was always a ‘P-Bass’, but with this setup, it’s going all the way with a Daniel Day Lewis Method Acting level of commitment
2) Turning the active pre back on with the EQ set flat brings only a slight volume difference to me. Someone posted that the difference is dramatic and that sounds like something might be wrong with their setup
3) With the, IMO, best preamp in the business boosted, it sounds like (cliche’ ala Talkbass alert) ‘A Fender P-Bass on Steroids’
4) My PJ5, often-with-EQ-boosted, but not very much, gets me a ‘you sound incredible in the mix’ compliment almost everytime I play it. Big PA down to the lowliest 80’s Peavey Keyboard amp doubling as a bass amp with no PA support out front. To be fair I’ve gotten that compliment with every Sadowsky I’ve ever played live.
5) The Modern/M5-24/whatever in a fretless configuration is just a flat-out amazing tone. Just a lean, mix-slicing machine. Congrats to any and all who find this setup and love it. It’s up there (for me) with the fretless 62’ defretted J-Bass, the fretless musicman ala’ Pino and the Pedulla Buzz Bass for iconic fretless tones.
6) Oh yeah, this monster is done and I’m working out shipping with Roger. Man I’m getting heart palpitations just typing this:
In no particular order:
1) My Sadowsky PJ5, with a foam mute and chrome flats, set passive, sounds very ‘period correct’. Like it was always a ‘P-Bass’, but with this setup, it’s going all the way with a Daniel Day Lewis Method Acting level of commitment
2) Turning the active pre back on with the EQ set flat brings only a slight volume difference to me. Someone posted that the difference is dramatic and that sounds like something might be wrong with their setup
3) With the, IMO, best preamp in the business boosted, it sounds like (cliche’ ala Talkbass alert) ‘A Fender P-Bass on Steroids’
4) My PJ5, often-with-EQ-boosted, but not very much, gets me a ‘you sound incredible in the mix’ compliment almost everytime I play it. Big PA down to the lowliest 80’s Peavey Keyboard amp doubling as a bass amp with no PA support out front. To be fair I’ve gotten that compliment with every Sadowsky I’ve ever played live.
5) The Modern/M5-24/whatever in a fretless configuration is just a flat-out amazing tone. Just a lean, mix-slicing machine. Congrats to any and all who find this setup and love it. It’s up there (for me) with the fretless 62’ defretted J-Bass, the fretless musicman ala’ Pino and the Pedulla Buzz Bass for iconic fretless tones.
6) Oh yeah, this monster is done and I’m working out shipping with Roger. Man I’m getting heart palpitations just typing this:
Elmon,
In regards to point #5… are you still using rounds on your fretless? If so, what’s been working good for you lately as far as brand and type?
Congrats on the incoming beauty, btw!!!
