Club Sadowsky!!!

[Spidey2112]

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Your now and forever more tribal nickname is... Sir Gumby Slapalot.

 

[B-Lo]

I’ve heard the same…

Fingers crossed that the reason I received no input on my build is because he is excited about it!

Same here. Fingers crossed.

 

[bucephylus]

actually, it's not even that straightforward. older jazz basses were closer to 20mm, and the new jazz v's and 4's using the newer himass bridge are both 19mm (.75"), and maybe some of the deluxe bridges, but yeah i know there are some 18mm 5's. just don't recall exactly which. my main point is, i feel most fender-ish players generally look for 19mm spacing most of the time.

Older Jazz Basses have threaded saddle bars, on which the player can set a wide range of string spacings. There was no specific spacing.

 

[scubaduba]

Anybody have (or experience with) both a MV5 and MV5-24 JJ? How would you compare the ergonomics and tone of each? Probably slap tone would be mostly effected by the extra frets of the MV5-24. And less neck dive sitting down on the MV5.

 

[ShawnG]

Sadowsky P-basses are few and far between, but I’d love to have one. The build quality of my MIJ MetroLine is sooo nice. Would be great to have an equivalently well-made P w/ the Sadowsky preamp on tap.
Has anyone ever taken a Hybrid PJ, removed the bridge pickup and played it as a straight P? Would it be doable with the preamp (how would you deal with the blend knob?)? Is it even possible to get a Sadowsky preamp without a blend knob? If so you could just get new pickguard to cover the routs and you could always reconvert/keep the electronics in case you ever wanted to sell.
For those asking why go to the trouble, just for looks I guess. Not a huge fan of the PJ aesthetic.
Random thoughts on a Sunday AM flight to LA.

 

[dmas81]

Hey y’all, I have come here to make a confession hoping that the fine upstanding members of this club will accept me and forgive me.

I have owned countless boutique basses in the last twenty years and even endorsed by a very high end builder (I have to be careful here). For years I have stubbornly avoided owning A sadowsky as I viewed the bass and those that play them as just bougie. A quality build for sure, but not offering anything remotely different from other nice high end J basses.

I stand humbly corrected and asking for your forgiveness. I decided to “try” one when I was able to buy a Metroline Germany for a fair price.

I received this bass last week. I currently have eight basses that are all ranging from high end to boutique.

I took this bass to church last Wednesday night and OMG! Mind blown!! This is one of the best sounding basses I’ve heard let alone owned. It has immediately shot to the top of my collection.

I have other basses I love but just WOW!!! I think Sadowsky owners tout the quality so much that maybe sometime the fact that the tone is on another planet gets buried. Or maybe I just have been too stubborn to listen.

So with that being said, I hope you accept my apology and will welcome me into the “bougie” club

 

[Addison]

I was there - one of the seven who actually put up a deposit. Have since moved on. There was lot of attitude and agita in the air, and I think the pre-order window was artificially tight so that certain "told-you-so" positions could be maintained, but it was spot-on of Sterling Ball to offer an opportunity based on folks backing their yack with a dollar sack, so as for EBBM not to lose on this.

Thanks for the insight … it’s an elegantly written post and loosely summarizes my hazy reflections on the way the whole thing went down. Had there been a lefty option, I’d have certainly thrown down a deposit, but Sterling’s arrogance regarding the whole affair and often-shared disdain for lefty bass players has since turned me off from the brand. The only production lefty he offers anymore is the Sterling 4. Decent bass, but no thanks.

With that said, I own a lefty ‘94 SR4 that I ordered the very minute word got back to me that lefties were on display at NAMM and it is one of my most cherished possessions. It is a fantastic bass and, other than having to send it off recently for a fretboard relevelling, refret and Plek, is a work of art. Beautifully built with premium woods that you just don’t see much anymore. Especially not at that price point.

 

[dmas81]

Sadowsky P-basses are few and far between, but I’d love to have one. The build quality of my MIJ MetroLine is sooo nice. Would be great to have an equivalently well-made P w/ the Sadowsky preamp on tap.
Has anyone ever taken a Hybrid PJ, removed the bridge pickup and played it as a straight P? Would it be doable with the preamp (how would you deal with the blend knob?)? Is it even possible to get a Sadowsky preamp without a blend knob? If so you could just get new pickguard to cover the routs and you could always reconvert/keep the electronics in case you ever wanted to sell.
For those asking why go to the trouble, just for looks I guess. Not a huge fan of the PJ aesthetic.
Random thoughts on a Sunday AM flight to LA.

Interesting. I’m the exact opposite for looks. I prefer the look and shape of a j or p/j over a p any day!

To each his own I guess.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Is it even possible to get a Sadowsky preamp without a blend knob?

All 3 of my Sadowskys have just one pickup (two P, one MM), none has a blend control. I don't know how those preamps are sold... just sayin' that blend is not necessary.

 

[Vic]

I don't believe the recent Deluxe or Elite Fender 5's have 19mm bridges, not sure about the Ultra. the two Elite's I own are definitely around 18.5mm or slightly narrower. It's a small difference but certainly noticable when I pick up my Sadowsky or Foderas right after playing my Fenders.

just look at the specs for the current himass bridge. .75" for both. not sure about the previous himass and previous deluxe. just saying it's all over the place.

 

[Vic]

on the whole string spacing thing, it does seem to be a little silly debating 1mm here or there, but i've also been quite surprised at how a relatively small difference at the bridge per string makes a very noticeable overall difference in feel when it all adds up.

if i'm going to be a complete nerd about it, honestly, 18mm is my overall favorite regardless of the number of strings 4, 5, even 6... but i'd much rather have 19mm than 17mm if i'm pushing one direction from that "center".

i do have one bass that's 17mm, and i have played it a bunch, especially in the past, but i always feel better with a little more space. i think some of the warwicks are even tighter than that, and i really felt uncomfortable on those.

anyway, just maybe wrapping up the spacing stuff... at least in my mind.

 

[HeavyJazz]

I agree, I've found 18mm to be the sweet spot for me as well though I currently only own one bass that comes close (18.3mm Roscoe). Most of my playing time goes into the 19mm Sadowsky and Fodera but I'll reach for the 17mm Zon if I need a bit more speed.

 

[WorktheWood]

I don't think that is the correct one. When the Ultra's first came out there was a bad issue with the G string being on the very edge of the fingerboard, I pointed this out in a thread I started way back. I believe it was determined that Fender used the incorrect bridge on the first batch that had the 19mm spacing which caused the issue. I think the correct bridge, as was mentioned earlier, is 18.3mm, which has been the US Fender spacing for a long time.

just look at the specs for the current himass bridge. .75" for both. not sure about the previous himass and previous deluxe. just saying it's all over the place.

 

[Fuzzbass]

on the whole string spacing thing, it does seem to be a little silly debating 1mm here or there, but i've also been quite surprised at how a relatively small difference at the bridge per string makes a very noticeable overall difference in feel when it all adds up.

if i'm going to be a complete nerd about it, honestly, 18mm is my overall favorite regardless of the number of strings 4, 5, even 6... but i'd much rather have 19mm than 17mm if i'm pushing one direction from that "center".

i do have one bass that's 17mm, and i have played it a bunch, especially in the past, but i always feel better with a little more space. i think some of the warwicks are even tighter than that, and i really felt uncomfortable on those.

anyway, just maybe wrapping up the spacing stuff... at least in my mind.

I agree, 1mm seems silly if you just think about it, but after playing four string for a couple of decades I learned that my right hand had become accustomed to 19mm. I owned an 18mm Lull P5 for awhile... superb instrument, but I let it go because 19mm is "home" to my right hand. 18mm was playable, but just felt off. Anything less than 18mm is an absolute no go for me.

I had a 20mm Warwick Streamer Stage I 5 for awhile -- that was OK for my right hand, but overall a bit off ergonomically, and the real problem was that it was all flame maple and at least 10 pounds.

 

[Tim1]

on the whole string spacing thing, it does seem to be a little silly debating 1mm here or there, but i've also been quite surprised at how a relatively small difference at the bridge per string makes a very noticeable overall difference in feel when it all adds up.

if i'm going to be a complete nerd about it, honestly, 18mm is my overall favorite regardless of the number of strings 4, 5, even 6... but i'd much rather have 19mm than 17mm if i'm pushing one direction from that "center".

i do have one bass that's 17mm, and i have played it a bunch, especially in the past, but i always feel better with a little more space. i think some of the warwicks are even tighter than that, and i really felt uncomfortable on those.

anyway, just maybe wrapping up the spacing stuff... at least in my mind.

I have become totally spoiled by the 1.45" nut width on my Will Lee 4. Never expected it to make a huge difference and it is subtle but the fretboard feels just a little bit slinkier and easier.

 

[bucephylus]

Regarding the thoughtful discussion about bridge string spacings:

1) This is actually the kind of “small” thing that does matter; individual players have varying prefs; and it is a good thing to discuss that topic, especially for $6k+ custom made basses.

2) That all said, Roger has repeatedly stated that he will never retool for his 5 string instruments, and that 19mm is it. So, that’s how Sadowsky 5’s are configured, various other prefs notwithstanding. It is what it is.

P.S. 1mm for each spacing translates to nearly 0.5cm of neck girth at the joint; and that difference is entirely noticeable on the strap. IMHO.

 

[Addison]

on the whole string spacing thing, it does seem to be a little silly debating 1mm here or there, but i've also been quite surprised at how a relatively small difference at the bridge per string makes a very noticeable overall difference in feel when it all adds up.

if i'm going to be a complete nerd about it, honestly, 18mm is my overall favorite regardless of the number of strings 4, 5, even 6... but i'd much rather have 19mm than 17mm if i'm pushing one direction from that "center".

i do have one bass that's 17mm, and i have played it a bunch, especially in the past, but i always feel better with a little more space. i think some of the warwicks are even tighter than that, and i really felt uncomfortable on those.

anyway, just maybe wrapping up the spacing stuff... at least in my mind.

I feel like I can eventually adjust to any spacing … I’ve had basses with most - from 16.5, all the way to 20. After some time, I always managed to adjust as long as I played that same bass regularly.

Where I always run into issues is switching basses that have different spacing. Whether I’m playing 4, 5 or 6, if the spacing from one bass to the next is different, I can tell - so it just makes more sense to me personally if all my basses are the same.

 

[Dave Hill]

Aren’t vintage Fenders 20mm?

 

[KaseOfBass]

2) That all said, Roger has repeatedly stated that he will never retool for his 5 string instruments, and that 19mm is it. So, that’s how Sadowsky 5’s are configured, various other prefs notwithstanding. It is what it is.

Guess that's why I'm intrigued with the new Warwick/Sadowsky J/MM model - the 18mm spacing (a nice balance for me between right and left hand comfort zones - not too wide of a neck for the left hand, not too narrow of a string spacing for the right hand) and subsequent neck taper dimensions are something I'd love to get my hands on in a Sadowsky bass. Not an NYC, but still something I'd like to try. I'll admit though, I have to get past the looks (at least the ones with a pickguard).

 

[cxcxcx]

Aren’t vintage Fenders 20mm?

Vintage Fenders have threaded saddle barrels. There isn’t one “track” on the saddle where the string falls into to define a consistent spacing. I doubt they did precise measurements on string spacing in favor of eyeing it out.

If you want the strings to line up perfectly in between the polepieces in the pickups, it will come close to 20mm. That’s why Sadowsky has 20mm spacing.

I blissfully played my Metro 4 string for 10 years until I read that it had 20 mm spacing. Still seems to feel and fine as a daily player, and all my other 4 and 5 string basses are 19mm.