Idk everyone, I’m trying to love a Sadowsky. The 5 didn’t work. I took a really nice 4 in trade. I’ll try it on a gig for a set tomorrow and see, but I may have one for sale here again.
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Tone? Or playability? If the former, some folks here have good ideas. If the latter, check setup. 
That pre took me some getting used to. Once I figured it out, it’s my #1. Good luck.
I did some set up today. It plays great. Intonated perfectly. As far as sound, I don’t know. I have it set flat. Full VTC Zander no treble or bass boost. Even split on pickups. I’m going to play it at a gig tomorrow and see how it is in a mix. I play through an Empress Bass Compressor and a REDDI. Like I said, I know I should love this bass. I had an RV4 many years ago and really liked it. Same preamp, VTC, etc. I’m at a loss as to why I’m not loving it.
Sadowsky's, like every brand, aren't for everyone. The old saying "you can't go wrong with a Sadowsky" is wrong, you absolutely can go wrong just like any other brand. I've owned many Sadowsky basses before I found one that does it for me. I find that I have to stick with my preference of alder body to get the tones I like. But even with that I've had a few alder body Sadowsky's that didn't do it for me. My current Sadowsky has become my go to and hopefully the one I have on order will take its spot.
Might be, might not be. Personally, I don't think Sadowskys are for you and think you should just move on.
Nah. Move on. Nothing wrong with saying a Sadowsky isn’t for you. Or, try a Sadowsky with Soapbars in tbe JJ position or even a Sadowsky Modern which will probably remind you more of your history with Roscoes. Put the neck pup on solo with the Modern electronics and it might just give your Roacoe P a run for the money.
I see Metro's for $3,800 on the Verb. I hate to see a guy sell such a sweet MIJ Metro for some of the crazy low prices I have been seeing. My advice is to use the full spectrum of the onboard controls. You can go from Thumpy to Hi-Fi without touching your amp. No reason you can't turn the knobs all the way in one direction or the other. Just my $.02
The only ‘set flat and it’s perfect’ Sadowsky I have is my heavy ash/Brazilian rosewood PJ5, and even then, a SMIDGE of bass and treble still takes it even further without sounding ‘EQ’d’.
My MIJ Metro UV5(ash/maple) needs some boost.
The pre is kind-of the ‘thing’ IMO. I recommend:
Boost treble up over halfway
VTC backed OFF halfway
Bass Boosted 1/4 or more.
All my J style Sadowsky sound great that way. More or less VTC as needed, all night.
In fact, on EVERY Sadowsky I’ve owned, once I get the bass/treble right, I can get any sound I want with the VTC and pickup blend knobs.
Easy peasy shells and cheesy
My MIJ Metro UV5(ash/maple) needs some boost.
The pre is kind-of the ‘thing’ IMO. I recommend:
Boost treble up over halfway
VTC backed OFF halfway
Bass Boosted 1/4 or more.
All my J style Sadowsky sound great that way. More or less VTC as needed, all night.
In fact, on EVERY Sadowsky I’ve owned, once I get the bass/treble right, I can get any sound I want with the VTC and pickup blend knobs.
Easy peasy shells and cheesy
True. It isn’t going anywhere tomorrow so I’ll have time to experiment before it sells - if I post it.
I actually did try that tonight. I turned the VTC way down, and then did about 20% bass and maybe 50% treble. It sounded pretty good.
I’ll keep experimenting. I wish Jim Bergantino would get his new preamp pedal/DI in the real world. 24 memory spots for presets. That would be nice for my 3 very different basses.
My ears prefer alder to ash, absitively posolutely. My three keeper Sadowskys are alder. I owned an ash Sadowsky for a while, but had to acknowledge that the tone did not please my ears. Too bad because my eyes loved it.
I already kind of knew that ash wasn't my thing, but thought that maybe the Sadowsky would come through even though I didn't care for the ash Fender and Lull basses I'd previously owned.
I wanted to add a Mid boost to my Sadowsky from the moment I played the Will Lee model.
Unfortunately it is not possible to purchase Will Lee's electronic circuit from Sadowsky (or Warwick), so I turned to an electronics genius nearby to prepare a mid boost circuit for me according to my requirements.
This is the demo of the bass after the MOD:
Unfortunately it is not possible to purchase Will Lee's electronic circuit from Sadowsky (or Warwick), so I turned to an electronics genius nearby to prepare a mid boost circuit for me according to my requirements.
This is the demo of the bass after the MOD:
Ok. I eq’ed as suggested. I will play this bass all night - except when I need a B string for about 5 songs.
It killed in the mix. The neck is a little thick front to back but I guessing I can get used to it.
It killed in the mix. The neck is a little thick front to back but I guessing I can get used to it.
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That's where a Sadowsky shines, cutting through the mix. My Verdine White sounds good at home and in rehearsal, but live on stage it's like something happens and the bass comes alive in ways I can't explain.
It seemed a little counter intuitive to turn up the bass and treble (many people say the leave these off) and then turn the VTC down or up but it worked. My guitar player and drummer couldn’t stop talking about how great it sounded.
First world problems for sure. Should I play my Roscoe or my Sadowsky? I didn’t have my Roscoe Classic P w/flats there tonight. I wanted to focus on giving the Sadowsky a good audition. There are still some things that I think I prefer that “P with flats” tone for, like Piece of Mind, Don’t Stop Me Now, American Girl, Proud Mary, things like that. Guess I’ll have 3 basses at the next gig.
First world problems for sure. Should I play my Roscoe or my Sadowsky? I didn’t have my Roscoe Classic P w/flats there tonight. I wanted to focus on giving the Sadowsky a good audition. There are still some things that I think I prefer that “P with flats” tone for, like Piece of Mind, Don’t Stop Me Now, American Girl, Proud Mary, things like that. Guess I’ll have 3 basses at the next gig.
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