Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
18mm for the musician pickup basses. I tried one and although it was exceptional, I prefer 19mm.
Last edited:
Ok, that's what I was wondering because I also prefer 19mm spacing. Is it also narrow at the nut?
Looks like the MM bases are starting to hit…. At least in Belgium.
https://reverb.com/item/71643706-sadowsky-vintage-m-style-2023-dark-burgundy-black-burst?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=71643706
https://reverb.com/item/71643706-sadowsky-vintage-m-style-2023-dark-burgundy-black-burst?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=71643706
I would be surprised if the MM had a different bridge and possibly neck to the MM/J, but it would be a pleasant suprise. I haven’t found any mention of 19mm spacing instead of 18mm for the 5 string MM basses so far.
Re: the M pickup basses: you can look at it and tell it's 18mm spacing at the bridge and 1.75" (44.5mm) nut width. For the bridge, they use the same base plate for 18mm and 19mm (I know because I have both 18mm and 19mm to compare), but you can spot an 18mm vs 19mm bridge because the saddles don't span as wide on the base plate on the 18mm as the 19mm. For the nut width, as someone that is always looking for a 1.75", I can just spot 'em and don't have a telltale sign, but it's 1.75" no doubt.
As an example, here's 18mm (from an M bass). You can see how the width of the saddles doesn't span across the entire base plate.
Here's a 19mm and you can clearly see that the saddles span the width of the base plate. Looking at the two, you can also see just the difference in individual saddle width.
As an example, here's 18mm (from an M bass). You can see how the width of the saddles doesn't span across the entire base plate.
Here's a 19mm and you can clearly see that the saddles span the width of the base plate. Looking at the two, you can also see just the difference in individual saddle width.
Last edited:
Re: the M pickup basses: you can look at it and tell it's 18mm spacing at the bridge and 1.75" (44.5mm) nut width. For the bridge, they use the same base plate for 18mm and 19mm (I know because I have both 18mm and 19mm to compare), but you can spot an 18mm vs 19mm bridge because the saddles don't span as wide on the base plate on the 18mm as the 19mm. For the nut width, as someone that is always looking for a 1.75", I can just spot 'em and don't have a telltale sign, but it's 1.75" no doubt.
As an example, here's 18mm (from an M bass). You can see how the width of the saddles doesn't span across the entire base plate.
View attachment 5137272
Here's a 19mm and you can clearly see that the saddles span the width of the base plate. Looking at the two, you can also see just the difference in individual saddle width.
View attachment 5137273
Wow, I never knew to look for that. That helps a lot...... Thanks!!
Re: the M pickup basses: you can look at it and tell it's 18mm spacing at the bridge and 1.75" (44.5mm) nut width. For the bridge, they use the same base plate for 18mm and 19mm (I know because I have both 18mm and 19mm to compare), but you can spot an 18mm vs 19mm bridge because the saddles don't span as wide on the base plate on the 18mm as the 19mm. For the nut width, as someone that is always looking for a 1.75", I can just spot 'em and don't have a telltale sign, but it's 1.75" no doubt.
As an example, here's 18mm (from an M bass). You can see how the width of the saddles doesn't span across the entire base plate.
View attachment 5137272
Here's a 19mm and you can clearly see that the saddles span the width of the base plate. Looking at the two, you can also see just the difference in individual saddle width.
View attachment 5137273
So would it be possible to change the 18mm spaced bridge to a 19mm, or are the neck dimensions different and the outer strings will be too close to the edge of the neck?
I have Aguilar DCBs paired with a Sadowsky pre in my Roscoe and it sounds so close to the other Sadowsky Modern I have
I don't think it would work. My NYC Will Lee 5 is 3" at the neck heel; my MIG Metro MM/J 5 is only 2.75". While I do have a 19mm bridge (edit: a spare 19mm bridge, I replaced mine with an 18mm bridge), I'd rather not do any surgery on either bass to see. I did snap a few pics that I think paint the picture though...
This is the NYC and it has an 18mm bridge -
Here's the MM/J Metro that's built for 18mm -
Last edited:
I've had Big Singles, albeit in a Roscoe and a Valenti jazz (60s spacing), and absolutely loved them. I've never had them in a Sadowsky though, or paired with a Sadowsky pre, but I'm confident they'd be much more aggressive sounding than Sadowsky soaps. Now are they the closest thing in a soapbar shell to Sadowsky singles? I'm not sure on that one, but they definitely nail a very nice single coil sound.
Do you think you could go the other way around? I have a German JJ with a 19mm bridge and have been thinking about swapping it out with an 18mm bridge. The Sadowsky bridges from Warwick have the same dimensions for the screw holes, so should be an easy swap, though I would have a little more space between the edge of the fingerboard and the top and bottom strings.
I swapped the 19mm bridge on my NYC Will Lee 5 for an 18mm bridge. It'll just have a little more space between the B and G strings and the edge of the fretboard like in my photo above. I swapped mine with a Gotoh though. Once the Warwick-made Sadowsky bridges become available, I'll probably grab one of those.
Just don’t ask Sterling Ball about that (19mm). Sore subject to this day.
Well, I've certainly moved on, but that whole fiasco was...a fiasco!
