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Club Sadowsky!!!

#60,701
just starting to shop for my next 4str bass and sadowsky is on the shortlist. and I have a few basic questions to focus my search.

1. first, I guess, what's the best way to find a few to play? i can easily day trip to NYC, but short of making an appointment with sadowsky, where can I go to eyeball and play a few?

2. I want a great sounding *lightweight* j-bass like a sadowsky. what other makers should I be considering for a lightweight classic j?

3. otoh really like the exaggerated offset look of the 24 fret models. Aside from having 3 more frets that I probably won't use, what are the pros and cons of the 24 fret bases relative to the 21 fretters?

tia for any input.
 
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#60,708
Luckydog said:
From the Sadowsky website:

“In 2003, 10 years after his internship at Sadowsky Guitars, Yoshi Kikuchi began production of the Sadowsky MetroLine in Japan.“
Click to expand...

The ad was updated:

---------------------------------
"A Sadowsky NYC Brown Sunburst 5 string has been one of Tom’s “Go-To” basses since the early 1990s. His long relationship with the Sadowsky guitar company has established him as one of their longest running and most famous endorsers.

Tom began playing this identical Sadowsky Metro 5 string in 2010. The Metro is virtually identical to the NYC except made by master luthier Yoshu Kikuchi at Sadowsky’s Japan factory. Regardless, it’s a beautiful bass and one of the models most associated with Tom Hamilton. It’s in great shape but shows obvious signs of being used, including Tom’s settings marked on one of the knobs and some gaffer tape to keep it from moving.

Acquired directly from Tom Hamilton. Tom’s bass tech personally inspected the amp and confirmed it was in excellent working condition with no notable issues."
 
#60,711
Rod Tension said:
just starting to shop for my next 4str bass and sadowsky is on the shortlist. and I have a few basic questions to focus my search.

1. first, I guess, what's the best way to find a few to play? i can easily day trip to NYC, but short of making an appointment with sadowsky, where can I go to eyeball and play a few?

2. I want a great sounding *lightweight* j-bass like a sadowsky. what other makers should I be considering for a lightweight classic j?

3. otoh really like the exaggerated offset look of the 24 fret models. Aside from having 3 more frets that I probably won't use, what are the pros and cons of the 24 fret bases relative to the 21 fretters?

tia for any input.
Click to expand...

Your best option would be to wait for a stock update on the shop site , there are usually a few models available and you could try both NYC and Metro models. If you are driving up you could also stop at the Guitar and Bass Center in Edison , they have a few MIJ Metro [ WL models ] on their site.
 
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#60,712
Kmrumedy said:
Hi Guys - Quick question. I want to change the string spacing on a Sadowsky 4 string from 19mm to 18mm (Black). I can't find bridge replacements on their site. Where can i get one or does Hipshot make a direct 18mm replacement that wouldn't require any modifications? Thanks.
Click to expand...

I posted a similar question above trying to go from 20mm to 19mm. I've not been able to get an email response from Sadowsky about it. Last summer he suggested a hipshot A as bridges werent available due to supply chain issues. I can confirm that only 2 holes of the hipshot line up. The original bridge looks like a gotoh to me so my next attempt was to replace the saddles with saddles from a 303SJ-4 or similar. I'll report back.
 
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#60,713
Breeze3 said:
Your best option would be to wait for a stock update on the shop site , there are usually a few models available and you could try both NYC and Metro models. If you are driving up you could also stop at the Guitar and Bass Center in Edison , they have a few MIJ Metro [ WL models ] on their site.
Click to expand...

check guitar center website for used Sadowskys, you will be surprised on how many they have perhaps a store nearby has one for sale

I have both a 22 and a 24 fret jazz sadowskys. They both sound different, I feel like the 22 has more tension (same 34" scale) and the 24 fret has a bit more mid range, why? I don't know, that's just what my ears hear. Since I prefer 24 fret basses I a a bit biased for the 24 fret jazz bass
 
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#60,715
ragetoca said:
check guitar center website for used Sadowskys, you will be surprised on how many they have perhaps a store nearby has one for sale

I have both a 22 and a 24 fret jazz sadowskys. They both sound different, I feel like the 22 has more tension (same 34" scale) and the 24 fret has a bit more mid range, why? I don't know, that's just what my ears hear. Since I prefer 24 fret basses I a a bit biased for the 24 fret jazz bass
Click to expand...

The upside of getting the bass either a NYC or a MIG Metro from the shop is you deal with the shop ( Roger ) if there is a problem plus he will dial in what you want before you leave. Buying from a dealer will be dealing with the dealer if there is a problem , that is if your buying new. It is well worth the trip to the shop if you can
 
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#60,716
Kmrumedy said:
Hi Guys - Quick question. I want to change the string spacing on a Sadowsky 4 string from 19mm to 18mm (Black). I can't find bridge replacements on their site. Where can i get one or does Hipshot make a direct 18mm replacement that wouldn't require any modifications? Thanks.
Click to expand...
I went the same route. I had to take my NYC5 to the shop and they put on an 18mm bridge. Made a huge difference for me!
 
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#60,717
Rod Tension said:
just starting to shop for my next 4str bass and sadowsky is on the shortlist. and I have a few basic questions to focus my search.

1. first, I guess, what's the best way to find a few to play? i can easily day trip to NYC, but short of making an appointment with sadowsky, where can I go to eyeball and play a few?

2. I want a great sounding *lightweight* j-bass like a sadowsky. what other makers should I be considering for a lightweight classic j?

3. otoh really like the exaggerated offset look of the 24 fret models. Aside from having 3 more frets that I probably won't use, what are the pros and cons of the 24 fret bases relative to the 21 fretters?

tia for any input.
Click to expand...

1. I saw the most Sadowskys for sale in Nashville! Every guitar store had rows of them. All lightly used. Kind of weird! Carter's Vintage, Gruhn ect.
I was at the NYC shop today, they have about 15 there right now. Rudy's in Manhattan may have a few as well.

2. No other makers can match a Sadowsky IMHO for tone, weight and feel.
I've seen some 4 string Js at 7.5-8lbs.

3. My NYC 5-24 vintage with 24 frets makes it way easier to actually play up high. The cutaway is deeper and it's really easy to get to fret 21! The 24s can come in a little lighter at times. My 5-24 is 8lbs even with Alder/Maple/Brazilian Rosewood. To me the number of frets is less significant than the fingerboard wood in terms of sound.
 
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#60,719
PeckBass said:
1. I saw the most Sadowskys for sale in Nashville! Every guitar store had rows of them. All lightly used. Kind of weird! Carter's Vintage, Gruhn ect.
I was at the NYC shop today, they have about 15 there right now. Rudy's in Manhattan may have a few as well.

2. No other makers can match a Sadowsky IMHO for tone, weight and feel.
I've seen some 4 string Js at 7.5-8lbs.

3. My NYC 5-24 vintage with 24 frets makes it way easier to actually play up high. The cutaway is deeper and it's really easy to get to fret 21! The 24s can come in a little lighter at times. My 5-24 is 8lbs even with Alder/Maple/Brazilian Rosewood. To me the number of frets is less significant than the fingerboard wood in terms of sound.
Click to expand...
Neither Gruhn or Carters has any Sadowsky instruments listed on their websites.. wondering why they don’t have any listed??
 
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