• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Club Sadowsky!!!

#6,141
Ryan Mohr said:
Have you tried DR nickel lo-riders? If so, how do they compare to the Sadowsky blue label nickels?
Click to expand...

Yes I have actually. The DR is clackier and more brittle sounding (in comparison) and is a lot less smooth to the touch (causing much more string noise which I also hate). On its own the DR sounds great but A/Bed side by side with the Blue Label Sadoswky there is no comparison to me. The Sadowsky Blue sounds fuller and more defined across the frequency range and seems less compressed to tape. The DR sounds a little scooped with an emphasis a little higher than the Blue. The Blue has more ooomph in the bottom but is not dark or boomy sounding. I had a 5 pack of DR Lo-Riders and gave them to a friend of mine. He tried a set of my Sadowsky Blues and gave me the 5 pack back minus a set... I sold the 4 sets here I think or on Ebay or somewhere but I do not have them anymore. I HIGHLY recommend the Sadowsky Strings and I don't use anything else on any of my basses now...

Peace,

T
 
#6,142
tommixx said:
Yes I have actually. The DR is clackier and more brittle sounding (in comparison) and is a lot less smooth to the touch (causing much more string noise which I also hate). On its own the DR sounds great but A/Bed side by side with the Blue Label Sadoswky there is no comparison to me. The Sadowsky Blue sounds fuller and more defined across the frequency range and seems less compressed to tape. The DR sounds a little scooped with an emphasis a little higher than the Blue. The Blue has more ooomph in the bottom but is not dark or boomy sounding. I had a 5 pack of DR Lo-Riders and gave them to a friend of mine. He tried a set of my Sadowsky Blues and gave me the 5 pack back minus a set... I sold the 4 sets here I think or on Ebay or somewhere but I do not have them anymore. I HIGHLY recommend the Sadowsky Strings and I don't use anything else on any of my basses now...

Peace,

T
Click to expand...

Wow that was a compelling argument, thanks for the comparison. I am quite pleased with the nickel lo-riders, but I would like a touch more lower mids and a little less grind.
 
#6,144
Ryan Mohr said:
Wow that was a compelling argument, thanks for the comparison. I am quite pleased with the nickel lo-riders, but I would like a touch more lower mids and a little less grind.
Click to expand...

In that case definitely try the Blue Labels and the Black Labels...the Blacks will have even less grind and are more subdued than the Blues but still sound like a Nickel String...


Peace,

T
 
#6,147
I was gonna call the shop with this question, but I feel I may not be the only one interested in this....Has anyone had the PLEK treatment done to their Sadowsky? Also...for Roger....Are there any issues with having this done, considering the taper of how you plane the bottom of the fingerboard at the neck joint?
 
#6,149
RockBoxBass said:
I was gonna call the shop with this question, but I feel I may not be the only one interested in this....Has anyone had the PLEK treatment done to their Sadowsky? Also...for Roger....Are there any issues with having this done, considering the taper of how you plane the bottom of the fingerboard at the neck joint?
Click to expand...

I did have it done to my NYC Standard Jazz...I have owned 5 Sadowsky basses and that is the only one I have ever considered for that. Their fretwork is so good it is not something you would normally have an issue with. The bass was a few years old when I purchased it. Over those years, one never knows what it has gone through in care, environment etc. That said, this one just did not play up to what I expected. So, I sent it off to Glaser Instruments in Nashville. In my shopping around, they had the best price. I think it was $129. In the end, they even told me that they did not have to do that much to the bass whatsover. There was very little work the Plek machine had to do. A few frets and the nut. Everything else was good. But, it did come back playing much better than it did before. Up to what I would expect it to do. I would really only recommend the Plek for an instrument that you are really having issue with and a normal setup does not seem to resolve it. Just my 2 cents.
 
#6,151
As a TBer who has never owned a Sad (can you believe it?):

Are the Tokyo series as highly regarded as the USA stuff? I see that they seem to sell in the same price range used as the USA stuff. This strikes me as a bit odd as even as highly regarded as the MIJ Fenders are, they typically don't command quite the same price as a MIA Fender. This holds true for most other brands as well regarding import vs USA basses in terms of resale.

Thanks!
 
#6,152
Ryan Mohr said:
Thanks, just to make sure I was talking about the nickel lo-riders, not the normal ss lo-riders.
Click to expand...

Yeah I know...I was talking about the Nickels too...I actually used them on and off for a long time so I am very familiar with them over the long term. I did an A/B with them and both the Black Label and Blue Label Sadowsky Nickels before I made the switch to the Sadoswkys because I was using the Lo-Rider Nickels and Sunbeams (occasionally) at the time. I also still had D'Addario XLs on a couple of my basses at the time to. I think I have tried most strings out there that are in the main stream ad just prefer the Sadowskys over them all...

Peace,

T
 
#6,154
Sadowsky said:
The Metro Line is approximately two-thirds the price of an NYC. That represents about $1000 less on a comparable model.

Roger
Click to expand...

Hello Roger,

I was referring to used prices. They seem to be in the same ballpark a what little investigation I've done. I'm obviously "shopping" and potentially looking to try (and buy) one of your wonderful instruments. ;)
 
#6,155
Quadzilla said:
As a TBer who has never owned a Sad (can you believe it?):

Are the Tokyo series as highly regarded as the USA stuff? I see that they seem to sell in the same price range used as the USA stuff. This strikes me as a bit odd as even as highly regarded as the MIJ Fenders are, they typically don't command quite the same price as a MIA Fender. This holds true for most other brands as well regarding import vs USA basses in terms of resale.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I can't speak for anyone else but I have owned 2 Tokyos and the only complaint I had was the weight! Both of them were over 10 lbs which was just a bit too heavy for me. Both were fabulous basses in every other way and every bit as good as a NYC IMHO. The construction and finish was top notch and I thought they actually felt a little more solid in some respects than many of the Metros I have had. I have had a number of UV70s and the Tokyo felt different. Not necessarily better but just different. I have seen a few Tokyos over the last 12 months that I really had to resist biting the bullet and buying. If it has Roger's name on it you can be sure it is top notch. I think the pricing is strong because they are fewer in number than the Metro and NYC lines....

Peace,

T
 
#6,156
rodneyat said:
I did have it done to my NYC Standard Jazz...I have owned 5 Sadowsky basses and that is the only one I have ever considered for that. Their fretwork is so good it is not something you would normally have an issue with. The bass was a few years old when I purchased it. Over those years, one never knows what it has gone through in care, environment etc. That said, this one just did not play up to what I expected. So, I sent it off to Glaser Instruments in Nashville. In my shopping around, they had the best price. I think it was $129. In the end, they even told me that they did not have to do that much to the bass whatsover. There was very little work the Plek machine had to do. A few frets and the nut. Everything else was good. But, it did come back playing much better than it did before. Up to what I would expect it to do. I would really only recommend the Plek for an instrument that you are really having issue with and a normal setup does not seem to resolve it. Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...

Joe Glaser, who is actually a rep for PLEK, paid me a big compliment when he told me I was one of the very few guys who didn't "need" a PLEK.

Roger
 
#6,157
tommixx said:
I can't speak for anyone else but I have owned 2 Tokyos and the only complaint I had was the weight! Both of them were over 10 lbs which was just a bit too heavy for me. Both were fabulous basses in every other way and every bit as good as a NYC IMHO. The construction and finish was top notch and I thought they actually felt a little more solid in some respects than many of the Metros I have had. I have had a number of UV70s and the Tokyo felt different. Not necessarily better but just different. I have seen a few Tokyos over the last 12 months that I really had to resist biting the bullet and buying. If it has Roger's name on it you can be sure it is top notch. I think the pricing is strong because they are fewer in number than the Metro and NYC lines....

Peace,

T
Click to expand...

Lets clarify some terms here:

Sadowsky Tokyo
The Tokyo Line preceeded the Metro Line. They were sold only in Japan. We stopped the Tokyo Line when we began the Metro Line.

Sadowsky TYO
The TYO is the current Japan "Custom Shop" line built by Yoshi Kikuchi.
These are more expensive than the Metros and sold only in Japan.

Roger
 
#6,158
Sadowsky said:
Lets clarify some terms here:

Sadowsky Tokyo
The Tokyo Line preceeded the Metro Line. They were sold only in Japan. We stopped the Tokyo Line when we began the Metro Line.

Sadowsky TYO
The TYO is the current Japan "Custom Shop" line built by Yoshi Kikuchi.
These are more expensive than the Metros and sold only in Japan.

Roger
Click to expand...


I probably should have mentioned this myself...I was assuming he was talking about the Tokyo line that preceded the Metros. Those are the basses to which I was referring at least...All great basses though no matter what line they come from IMHO!

Peace,

T
 
#6,159
Sadowsky said:
Joe Glaser, who is actually a rep for PLEK, paid me a big compliment when he told me I was one of the very few guys who didn't "need" a PLEK.

Roger
Click to expand...

Roger, you are spot on(as usual). This one was a little off but I can guarantee it did not come out of your shop that way. Even when I brought it to the Atlanta Bass Gallery to have it setup at one point. They said, "wow, this thing has been played"

...And I can guarantee my other Sadowsky's will not get touched. They all play awesome! :bassist:
 
#6,160
Ryan Mohr said:
Have you tried DR nickel lo-riders? If so, how do they compare to the Sadowsky blue label nickels?
Click to expand...

i have the heaviest lo rider set currently on my fatstack loaded sad, and i kinda like 'em. they're much warmer than the sadowsky nickels, and i like the tighter string tension for the low B. great for a glam rock pick thing i'm doing these days. and i like the bigger larger string gauges that are offered.

unfortunately, for my ears, the DR's took a little getting used to, cause the sad nickels have better articulation. found myself upping the highs on my tone knobs. and the DR's non-taper design unfortunately doesnt get along well with my really low string height. the low B saddle is as far down as it will go! also, at least IME, the DR strings have been VERY spotty for me. some have lasted a good month, while other sets have died within 3 gigs. and already i can hear this set dying after last nite's gig.

i'll most likely be going back to the ol' blue labels, only cause i want the definition back, the sadowskys do feel that much more smoother and even under my fingertips, and they've lasted waaaaay longer than most i've used.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back