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three words... phat as phuck. end of story. wow. damn.
ok, so i'm still figuring it out... we had band rehearsal tonight, and we were playing around with doing everything 1/2 step down, so started off tuning it there. Literally right out of the box delivered today.
Here's the thing. Noticed right away that NOTHING was "floppy" at all. The low Bb was just dominating with its tight focused clarity and definition. We then decided against that idea, so I tuned it back up to normal and it just kept ruling the roost.
So the final score is, I have a really great Metroline PJ5 (ash/maple) I already have setup for 1/2 step down, so I used that for the songs we really need it on, and I used this new super-p/j for everything else.
I found, just as I recalled from NAMM, my favorite blended tone is the reverse P and 70's J. But all the other sounds reverse/regular P, 60's vs 70's J, were all 100% useful. It'll honestly be a bit tough to choose on a gig, but I guess I'll just have to "suffer" that. lol
When I turned on all the coils, honestly, it was cool, but I don't think I'll play it in that config much. With all 6 (8?) coils active, it's an absolute BEAST, but I feel like it has more focus of identity and typical Sadowsky clarity in the mix with the usual normal/reverse P and one of the J's.
I ordered this bass a long time ago, back when solid lightweight ash was still available tho getting harder to find, so I made sure to have them nab a solid lightweight blank for me, as I knew I would need it for whatever else I'd get from Roger next. This bass weighs in pretty much right at 8lbs, which is VERY HARD to achieve these days without chambering. I love Roger's chambered models (own one, love it), but I've always had a slight preference for the solid bodies, and this one just KILLs it tonally.
So now I have two 24 fret J style basses with lightweight solid ash bodies. One with dual single-coil J's, and now this one with the Super P/J config. I'm seriously considering selling off everything else I own except for maybe a few really special sentimental pieces, and just playing my 2 best pieces from Roger's NYC shop for everything else I do.
The last note I'll add here is I DO NOT want to make a big deal out of the solid vs chambered bodies. My preference for the solid body is very strictly a personal preference. It it NOT AT ALL to suggest the chambered models aren't awesome... because they are... without question.
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First, congrats on the new bass! Looks amazing.
No biggie on the bod choice. I tend to favor your same construction pref. But, I went with chambered on my 4, because I consider the chambered build to be a distinctive Sadowsky characteristic; and I wanted a truly Sadowsky instrument (even with my crazy 3rd party pickup pref).
Light solid bodies are obviously hard to come by and getting harder. Great when you can find them. I’m sadly stuck with Fenders for my 5’s, due to the neck calibrations; so, I also have to play that game.
It is a good thing that Roger’s chambering approach creates both happy build and player possibilities. Which is obviously brilliant. Playing my chambered 4 is like standing there breathing. The solid bodies have their own thing going; and IME there are even trade offs between the light and heavy ones, with positives and negatives at each end of things.
The only “truth” is whatever we each tend to find useful on the gig.
@Vic - So happy for you, my friend. That quick review sounds heavenly and I am super envious!!!
And a +2 to @bucephylus - I like both flavors, myself, and have had good and bad with both, so it's all about getting it right in your ears, hands and your mind.
If those three things ain't simpatico, you'll end up selling the bass and nobody likes doing that as much as they like sticking with the right one!
And a +2 to @bucephylus - I like both flavors, myself, and have had good and bad with both, so it's all about getting it right in your ears, hands and your mind.
If those three things ain't simpatico, you'll end up selling the bass and nobody likes doing that as much as they like sticking with the right one!
I ordered a set of Lollar pickups to put in my MetroExpress 5. Turns out they're too big. The Sadowsky pickups are 94 mm (at least the bridge is), the Lollar bridge is 100 mm. Are there pickups available of the same width as the Sadowskys, or do I either have a luthier adjust the cavities ór not change the pickups?
Well, I took the 5JJ to rehearsal last night. It sounded so good. I think I'm going to retract my sale ad and keep it. We added "Don't Stop Me Now" and Let's Go Crazy" last night. Between the 5JJ and my Roscoe Classic P, I had tones covered for each song. The neck is feeling better every time I play it, and the new strings and tweak to the set up helped as well.
sounds like maybe you ended up with pickups designed for a fender? there is a difference between the "fender direct replacement" j style pickups, and, well, everything else, and i do think in particular, the bridge is longer/taller for the fender replacements. double check with lollar. if i'm right, they'll probably just swap you for the right stuff.
The standard Jazz bridge pickup size is 3.73" (94.74mm), but there are some 5-stings Jazzes that use longer pickups. I suspect that the set you ordered from Lollar was intended for one of those.
Nordstrand's 5-string J sets come in two sizes:
NJ5S Hum-Cancelling
Nordstrand's 5-string J sets come in two sizes:
NJ5S Hum-Cancelling
Running up the SOS flag for anyone who may have experience installing the Warwick version of the onboard preamp. I just found one on the used market, since they are unavailable new; but, the wiring bears little resemblance to the US unit, which was very straightforward. Can’t find any instructions on line. No clear pickup connect terminals. There is a daughterboard (I think the VTC circuit) which is now separate with an additional multi conductor jumper cable (no idea where to fit that
.
Seller disconnected the jack and the battery terminal; so, I’m kind of guessing on those as well.
NOT what I’m used to.
Any help would be appreciated.
.Seller disconnected the jack and the battery terminal; so, I’m kind of guessing on those as well.
NOT what I’m used to.
Any help would be appreciated.
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https://www.sadowsky.com/support/Running up the SOS flag for anyone who may have experience installing the Warwick version of the onboard preamp. I just found one on the used market, since they are unavailable new; but, the wiring bears little resemblance to the US unit, which was very straightforward. Can’t find any instructions on line. No clear pickup connect terminals. There is a daughterboard (I think the VTC circuit) which is now separate with an additional multi conductor jumper cable (no idea where to fit that
Seller disconnected the jack and the battery terminal; so, I’m kind of guessing on those as well.
NOT what I’m used to.
Any help would be appreciated.
View attachment 4650728
Surely one of those matches!
Running up the SOS flag for anyone who may have experience installing the Warwick version of the onboard preamp. I just found one on the used market, since they are unavailable new; but, the wiring bears little resemblance to the US unit, which was very straightforward. Can’t find any instructions on line. No clear pickup connect terminals. There is a daughterboard (I think the VTC circuit) which is now separate with an additional multi conductor jumper cable (no idea where to fit that
Seller disconnected the jack and the battery terminal; so, I’m kind of guessing on those as well.
NOT what I’m used to.
Any help would be appreciated.
View attachment 4650728
Here you go: https://shop.warwick.de/media/pdf/1f/51/ee/SAC-ELE-ONBOARD-BP4K_Manual_EN_ONLINE.pdf
and mine with a P body is phatter than phuck as well!!
And yet I heard that Vickers wuz Thickr Than a Snikr.
Well, schnizzel. I see how to hook up this Warwick version; but, it just seems to be a MAJOR step backwards from the solderless version the shop used to sell. NOT user friendly. I may just keep it for a spare and hold out for a used solderless one to come along.
Starting to seem like a pattern. Random design changes initiated by Warwick. No thanks. JMHO.Running up the SOS flag for anyone who may have experience installing the Warwick version of the onboard preamp. I just found one on the used market, since they are unavailable new; but, the wiring bears little resemblance to the US unit, which was very straightforward. Can’t find any instructions on line. No clear pickup connect terminals. There is a daughterboard (I think the VTC circuit) which is now separate with an additional multi conductor jumper cable (no idea where to fit that
Seller disconnected the jack and the battery terminal; so, I’m kind of guessing on those as well.
NOT what I’m used to.
Any help would be appreciated.
View attachment 4650728
Their design / implementation looks like something they perhaps rushed to market. I’m sure the circuit is there. It is not as user friendly. Big step back.
