Gorgeous looking bass. Glad it sounds as good as it looks. Very nice
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Sounds like you have a reason to keep both . Enjoy!!I have had my new Sadowsky Ultra Vintage J5 since Tuesday. It arrived during a week and weekend with no gigs which is highly unusual. My first chance to play the NYC UV J5 with my band will be on two shows this week. I can't wait!
Today I asked my wife to listen to my Sadowsky NYC Ultra Vintage (Roasted Ash body/Flame Maple) compared to my Sadowsky Japanese MetroExpress J5 (Ash/maple) in my home studio. I laid down a loop on electric guitar so I it could be heard in a musical context.
She doesn't have a musicians vocabulary to describe tone so it's always interesting when she describes how she hears things. Her comments mirror my own although I would describe things differently and in words my bass brethren would understand. When I played both a couple of times she pointed to the NYC Sadowsky Ultra Vintage J5 and said "I like that one!" When I asked why, she said; "That bass sounds like Professional bass like what I hear when I listen to songs. When I asked about the Japanese MetroExpress J5, she said it sounds like "Seinfeld." Ha!!
I totally get it. The Japanese ME5 is brighter and has more mid scoop and no matter how I EQ it with all things b being equal, it is brighter and bit more lean. I don't know if that is because it is an 8 lb Ash/Maple bass versus the 9lb Ultra Vintage J5 with roasted ash and flame maple. It doesn't really matter.
What I would say is the NYC UV J5 has more growl, and perhaps some more inherent midrange and a depth of tone that I cannot quite replicate on my Japanese MetroExpress J5. I still love them both. The ME5 plays faster in my hands and has a ton of charm. But this NYC Ultra Vintage J5? It has some secret sauce. Definitely has more girth and a growl and punch to that feels weightier than my Japanese ME5.
nor can i! interesting comments, but the gig mix will really be the telling thing.
I bet the MIJ has side by side humbuckers (D'marzio) and the NYC either has single coils or stacked humbuckers (Seymour Duncan). The side by side Humbuckers have a scooped mid sound IMHO.
So, I have 7 or 8 basses these days. Just accumulated them along the way and never needed to move the 'spare' ones on I suppose.
This year I will do around 30 gigs with a blues/rock band that I joined just as everyone was getting back to music, post-covid. To start with I thought my P Bass with flats would be the thing and then I also did a few gigs with my lovely Sadowsky NYC RV4 that I bought from a talkbasser from Texas a few years ago. But for the last few months my go-to bass has been my white Sadowsky NYC MV4.
I can't believe that I actually considered selling this bass a while ago; and I am so glad I didn't. This bass was the only one of my four Sadowsky basses that I have owned that I got built for me.
I was fortunate to be able to visit the Sadowsky workshop in Feb 2011 whilst on holiday in New York. I got to meet Roger for a workshop tour and was able to spend an hour or so trying out various completed instruments. From there I was able to put my spec together, also based on my experience having previously owned a couple of Metros (RV4 and UV70).
I eventually went with a four string, ash/maple, single coils in 70s position, de-tuner. It probably weighs around 8lb so it's no hardship to play all night.
I have now owned this bass (no.5981) for over 10 years and it has been brilliant for everything I have used it for. That includes rock, soul, modern country, jazz and blues. Marcus Miller is one of my inspirations and he was quoted as saying 'commit to one bass and play it in every situation you can'. I haven't quite managed that 100% as I have occasionally been side-tracked by the odd P bass phase, but he is absolutely right to suggest that, if you can bond with a bass and you spend enough time with it, you should be able to make that commitment work for you and become a better musician as a result.
Now I rarely lust after new basses as I am fortunate to have found one that pretty much can do it all. I only check out the 'for sale' pages when I have no gigs. When I have gigs I am happy to just grab my Sadowsky and get on with playing.
Thanks Roger. Keep doing your thing. I love my bass.
Just thought I would share my ramblings
This year I will do around 30 gigs with a blues/rock band that I joined just as everyone was getting back to music, post-covid. To start with I thought my P Bass with flats would be the thing and then I also did a few gigs with my lovely Sadowsky NYC RV4 that I bought from a talkbasser from Texas a few years ago. But for the last few months my go-to bass has been my white Sadowsky NYC MV4.
I can't believe that I actually considered selling this bass a while ago; and I am so glad I didn't. This bass was the only one of my four Sadowsky basses that I have owned that I got built for me.
I was fortunate to be able to visit the Sadowsky workshop in Feb 2011 whilst on holiday in New York. I got to meet Roger for a workshop tour and was able to spend an hour or so trying out various completed instruments. From there I was able to put my spec together, also based on my experience having previously owned a couple of Metros (RV4 and UV70).
I eventually went with a four string, ash/maple, single coils in 70s position, de-tuner. It probably weighs around 8lb so it's no hardship to play all night.
I have now owned this bass (no.5981) for over 10 years and it has been brilliant for everything I have used it for. That includes rock, soul, modern country, jazz and blues. Marcus Miller is one of my inspirations and he was quoted as saying 'commit to one bass and play it in every situation you can'. I haven't quite managed that 100% as I have occasionally been side-tracked by the odd P bass phase, but he is absolutely right to suggest that, if you can bond with a bass and you spend enough time with it, you should be able to make that commitment work for you and become a better musician as a result.
Now I rarely lust after new basses as I am fortunate to have found one that pretty much can do it all. I only check out the 'for sale' pages when I have no gigs. When I have gigs I am happy to just grab my Sadowsky and get on with playing.
Thanks Roger. Keep doing your thing. I love my bass.
Just thought I would share my ramblings
Absolutely! Both Sadowsky's will serve me well!
I thought the stacked humcancelling PU's are being made by Nordstrand? No?
I am gigging with the full band this Wednesday and Friday nights! I'll report back for sure. I expect it's going to be nothing short of exceptional!
My build is finished!!!! Photos when I receive it next week!
I'm curious if anyone here knows about the neck dimensions on a Will Lee 4 string vs any other NYC 4 string. I know it has a narrower nut but then is the taper to the heel of the neck also narrower? I know Roger is the best to go to but I hate to bug him so seeing if anyone here possibly knows.
This review from Tom Bowlus lists the Will Lee specs.
https://www.bassgeardirect.com.au/wp-content/uploads/BGM4_WillLeeModelReview.pdf
Scale
Width at nut
Width at 12th fret / joint Thickness at nut / 1st fret Thickness at 12th / joint String spacing at nut String spacing at saddle Radius / Shape
String break nut / bridge Afterlength nut / saddle Attachment
Pocket gap
Truss rod style / access
34”
1.453”
2.201” / 2.389”
.925” / .865”
1.02” / 1.056”
.33” to .396” (8.4 to 10.1mm)
.80” (20.3mm)
12” / C-shape
5 to 14 degrees / 25 degrees
6.75” to 1.5” / 1.375” to 1.625” Bolt-on
Too tight to measure
Single compression rod / neck-end with turn-wheel adjustment
22
92x43
Warwick lists specifications for the NYC Custom 21 JJ fret 4-string.
Sadowsky Custom Shop 21-Fret Standard J/J Bass, 4-String - Natural Transparent Satin - 20-04185
- 12" fingerboard radius
- Sadowsky Just-A-Nut III nut
- 1.5" (38.1 mm) nut width
- 2.2" (56.3 mm) neck width at 12th fret
- 2.5" (63.5 mm) neck width at last fret
- 0.82" (20.8 mm) neck thickness at 1st fret
- 0.95" (24.1 mm) neck thickness at 12th fret
Sorry about the formatting when I cut and pasted.
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Congrats!!!
Just curious where your total wait time ended up compared to what you were quoted.
Total wait time from deposit to completion was right around 16.5 months. To be honest I don’t know if I was quoted an official build time. I think I just assumed about 12 months based on what others had been saying. Roger seems pretty positive about the movement of the shop now, so hopefully others don’t have to wait as long.
Interested in purchasing a Japan Metro PJ5 with 1 7/8 nut width. Message me if interested inletting one go.
First gig report with my NYC Sadowsky Ultra Vintage J5.
Wow!!#%#@! This was a corporate gig with my 4 piece band. Bass Rig: Mesa WD-800 amp with Bergantino Reference 2x10/HDN 1x12 stack. I brought my Japanese MetroExpress5 just in case I need my familiar bass. As it turned out, I never played the ME5.
Full disclosure: the NYC UV J5 has Sadowsky Blue Stainless Strings and is Roasted Ash Body. My ME5 is Swamp Ash/ Maple, 8 lbs with Sadowsky Blue Nickel strings.
The NYC UV J5 has an impressive level of sustain and growl paired with a deeper resonance that is more supportive, authoritative and more old school than my ME5 which is brighter and snappier. The UV J5 has more bass bloom that is classic yet defined and clear. Almost P Bass-ish in the depth that I noticed.
Here is a very interesting finding. On the UV J5, I am able to dial up more of the bass boost EQ that gives a girth and depth to my sound without being overbearing. On my ME5, I can only use a 'little bit' of onboard bass EQ boost. When I do, I usually have to favor the bridge PU slightly so it doesn't get too bloated. But on the UV J5 NYC bass, I could dial up maybe 20% bass boost for a great supportive punchy deep tone and I also added maybe 20% treble boost. (VTC rolled back maybe 10 - 25% depending on the song)
Notes are so present and I can feel and denote the resonance and sustain when I fret notes on the fingerboard. I can feel the notes growl and sustain with my fingering hand. Maybe its the new Stainless strings to some degree. But I think this bass is inherently resonant and vibrant. Absolutely stunning. I had more fun using the onboard 2 band boost EQ than ever before. My band mates loved the bass and my lead singer/acoustic rhythm guitarist said; "It sounds like you!" I am over the moon.
Cool venue (Here are the grounds for the corporate event)
Wow!!#%#@! This was a corporate gig with my 4 piece band. Bass Rig: Mesa WD-800 amp with Bergantino Reference 2x10/HDN 1x12 stack. I brought my Japanese MetroExpress5 just in case I need my familiar bass. As it turned out, I never played the ME5.
Full disclosure: the NYC UV J5 has Sadowsky Blue Stainless Strings and is Roasted Ash Body. My ME5 is Swamp Ash/ Maple, 8 lbs with Sadowsky Blue Nickel strings.
The NYC UV J5 has an impressive level of sustain and growl paired with a deeper resonance that is more supportive, authoritative and more old school than my ME5 which is brighter and snappier. The UV J5 has more bass bloom that is classic yet defined and clear. Almost P Bass-ish in the depth that I noticed.
Here is a very interesting finding. On the UV J5, I am able to dial up more of the bass boost EQ that gives a girth and depth to my sound without being overbearing. On my ME5, I can only use a 'little bit' of onboard bass EQ boost. When I do, I usually have to favor the bridge PU slightly so it doesn't get too bloated. But on the UV J5 NYC bass, I could dial up maybe 20% bass boost for a great supportive punchy deep tone and I also added maybe 20% treble boost. (VTC rolled back maybe 10 - 25% depending on the song)
Notes are so present and I can feel and denote the resonance and sustain when I fret notes on the fingerboard. I can feel the notes growl and sustain with my fingering hand. Maybe its the new Stainless strings to some degree. But I think this bass is inherently resonant and vibrant. Absolutely stunning. I had more fun using the onboard 2 band boost EQ than ever before. My band mates loved the bass and my lead singer/acoustic rhythm guitarist said; "It sounds like you!"
I am over the moon.
Cool venue (Here are the grounds for the corporate event)
TOLDJA!First gig report with my NYC Sadowsky Ultra Vintage J5.
Wow!!#%#@!
...
Thanks again Vic. Your contributions have always been top shelf and right on the money.
