I would say in general nickel will not be as bright as SS. And a little less friction under the fingertips
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My man @Kevan Campbell laying down the groove with his SP/SJ bass at an outdoor event yesterday! Always great to see and hear other TB’rs out and about and dang, you and that bass sounded killer!
I don’t seem to be bonding with this bass. It’s amazing. Sounds great. I just love the feel of the neck of my other 5 SO MUCH and this just feels big. I only need one 5 string. If anyone is looking for a 5JJ Metro Express from Japan, maybe let me know.
I use nickels on my other 5 so I thought maybe I’d try them on the Sadowsky. I know a lot of people seem to use SS on these so that’s why I asked. Trying to see if that will help.
Dang it Kasey, you beat me to it!
It was great to see you and hear y’all burn that stage down! Got an awesome photo of @KaseOfBass here playing some fire and digging the gig:
You’ve got some serious tone and chops brother, AAANNNDDD now you got me thinking about a Sadowsky with those soapbars pups!!
Dang it Kasey, you beat me to it!
It was great to see you and hear y’all burn that stage down! Got an awesome photo of @KaseOfBass here playing some fire and digging the gig:
View attachment 4629166
You’ve got some serious tone and chops brother, AAANNNDDD now you got me thinking about a Sadowsky with those soapbars pups!!
I would love to hear that bass
Think of a jazz bass but one that's on the brink of diabetic coma because of severe obesity....just really FFFFAAAAAATTTTT tone!
Seriously though, it definitely has the jazz bass sound, but thicker and rounder. Not as grindy as my WL-5 with singles, less shimmer up top, and big, punchy lows. Using just the neck soap can get a more throaty P-like tone than a normal jazz to my ears. I keep the pre engaged, but rarely if ever, use anything other than the VTC to shape the tone.
Think of a jazz bass but one that's on the brink of diabetic coma because of severe obesity....just really FFFFAAAAAATTTTT tone!
Seriously though, it definitely has the jazz bass sound, but thicker and rounder. Not as grindy as my WL-5 with singles, less shimmer up top, and big, punchy lows. Using just the neck soap can get a more throaty P-like tone than a normal jazz to my ears. I keep the pre engaged, but rarely if ever, use anything other than the VTC to shape the tone.
Funny because almost all of those statements are how I think of the Sadowsky HC J pickups compared to Single coils.
I've had the HC J pickups (albeit, in an older Sadowsky bass that I no longer have- there's been revisions to the HCs since then) and there's definitely a difference in the two, at least based on the HC pickups I had. Newer ones are supposed to be more on the SC end of the spectrum. This is speaking of the 5-string version specifically.
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Hey Sadowsky guys/ help me out a little here. I’ve played Pedulla mvp and buzz basses the past 20 years. Been looking at a lot of Sadowsky lately found a gorgeous one…. Never played one although I know they are good basses. Can anyone who has played both significantly give me some insight here. I’m not near any shops so getting my hands on one without a purchase will be difficult. Thanks in advance
This is on a new MetroLine Model. The MM/J 21 fret 5 string. 18mm spacing and narrower neck.
Dear hivemind,
I'm in need of help. Since late 2021 I've got a German MetroLine Will Lee 5er. While I adore the feeling (and looks!) of the bass, one thing doesn't stop to bug me: the A-string sound spretty weak compared to the other strings.
At the moment I'm working around the issue by applying rather heavy handed compression, but I don't enjoy this. Playing around with the pickup height didn't help so far and I'd rather not compromise on string action (I adjusted each string for as low as possible action without fret buzz). Strings are blue label nickels.
Is a weak A-string a common issue with 5-string jazz basses or is it possibly an issue with the bass in question? If the latter: What might be a suitable fix?
Edit: Some further information: The string isn't sounding weak acoustically, but only through my amplifiers (Genzler Magellan 350&800, both through one 1x12 cab). My Modern 5-string and Human Base Roxy B5 both sound way more balanced through my rigs, therefore I'd rule my amplifiers and cabs out as culprits.
Playing style is about 60/40 mix of fingerstyle/pick playing, the issue is prevalent in both styles however. For fingerstyle I slightly adjust the balance toward the neck pickup, for pick playing slightly towards the bridge pickup.
I'm in need of help. Since late 2021 I've got a German MetroLine Will Lee 5er. While I adore the feeling (and looks!) of the bass, one thing doesn't stop to bug me: the A-string sound spretty weak compared to the other strings.
At the moment I'm working around the issue by applying rather heavy handed compression, but I don't enjoy this. Playing around with the pickup height didn't help so far and I'd rather not compromise on string action (I adjusted each string for as low as possible action without fret buzz). Strings are blue label nickels.
Is a weak A-string a common issue with 5-string jazz basses or is it possibly an issue with the bass in question? If the latter: What might be a suitable fix?
Edit: Some further information: The string isn't sounding weak acoustically, but only through my amplifiers (Genzler Magellan 350&800, both through one 1x12 cab). My Modern 5-string and Human Base Roxy B5 both sound way more balanced through my rigs, therefore I'd rule my amplifiers and cabs out as culprits.
Playing style is about 60/40 mix of fingerstyle/pick playing, the issue is prevalent in both styles however. For fingerstyle I slightly adjust the balance toward the neck pickup, for pick playing slightly towards the bridge pickup.
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A quick question I have is if you have tried changing the string? Could be a dead string possibly. Another thing to check is to loosen the string to see if it may have twisted when it was put on. If that happened it may have ruined the string but sometimes loosening it and then reseating in the bridge helps.
is it exactly the same when you solo 100% on each pickup one at a time? if so, maybe try changing the strings first, and if that doesn't work, keep digging for ideas. if not, you might have a bad pickup.
that said, even if it is an identical problem on both pickups, even after changing strings, it may also be possible both pickups have the same issue, maybe having come from one lot that had a problem.
you can also take a metal object and tap the pole pieces lightly and see if you can hear a sensitivity difference. of course it's hard to make sure you tap exactly the same on all poles by hand, but it's something to try.
but i'm hoping you just have a string that's bad somehow and maybe in an odd way that's not as audible acoustically.
