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Club Sadowsky!!!

...
Got a gig Saturday night, we’ll see if I’m brave enough to bring my newest bass. It’ll definitely work, but I’m a chicken and like to use gear I’m super familiar with. I had my F Bass BN5 for 3 years before I started using it regularly (and it’s also a killer bass).
First, congrats on an amazing and great classic inspired bass.

Second, do it. It's a Sadowsky. It'll work. Guaranteed.
 
Well that was worth waiting for.Wow!
Beautiful combination, love the blue and that neck is amazing.

Congratulations from one Matt to another
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NBD!!! :hyper::bassist::hyper::bassist:

TL/DR Bass is excellent, well worth the wait!

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This could have happened 2 weeks earlier, but my wife and I were in Italy on vacation- I knew it would be ready while we were away, as is my luck, but I got the email the 2nd night there (of a 2 week trip):roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:. Roger was fine with waiting for me to pay upon my return, and he gave us some restaurant recommendations as well.

So, to refresh-
5-21

alder body(chambered, target weight between 8.5-9lbs, it’s 8.75lbs :D)

“mastergrade” flame maple neck

“mastergrade” brazilian rosewood fingerboard, 1.75” nut width

NYC skyline inlay in pearl

Standard “clay” dots

Luminlay side dots

Sonic blue finish (which imho is between sonic and daphne blue, and I love it)

Has the stacked jazz pickups in the 60’s position, with the coil cut switch.

Red tort and a parchment pickguard

I submitted my online order form 12/6/2021, paid my $500 deposit 12/25/21 (I swear Roger is always working ;)), and got the email saying it was ready 8/1/2023.

Fortunately I was working from home today (and tomorrow), and the FedEx guy got here just before noon, so I got some work done beforehand :D. Weather was pretty mild, so I didn’t feel the need to let it acclimate, plus I couldn’t wait any longer :laugh:.

Overall, I love this bass, very happy with how it came out. The neck is a bit darker than I’d have guessed, but it looks and feels great, love the slight angle to the flame. It’s a little thicker than I remembered, but the last Sadowsky I played was from 2010 (and it was like 2 years ago). It is NOT unplayable or uncomfortable (I’ve been playing the bass off and on all day :)), but just has some meat to it, especially compared to some of my other basses. The fingerboard has some nice figuring/streaking going on, and the fretwork is excellent. The sonic blue is great, there were a few examples on the Sadowsky site, but it definitely looks better in person ;). And I’m super happy with the skyline inlay and the clay dots- they compliment each other well, and the inlay is not super gaudy or flashy.

No real complaints- the build quality is excellent, it balances well, feels great and sounds amazing. Not the biggest fan of the strings though, but I do like the blue wraps. We’ll see, I’ve got the rest of my life to figure out what strings work best :D. And the Portabag is great, although I remember it being bigger. And it’s definitely brand new- I’ve got it airing out in the basement right now for the chemically smell (but I’m kinda’ sensitive to that, so…

Got a gig Saturday night, we’ll see if I’m brave enough to bring my newest bass. It’ll definitely work, but I’m a chicken and like to use gear I’m super familiar with. I had my F Bass BN5 for 3 years before I started using it regularly (and it’s also a killer bass).

Gorgeous bass, enjoy!
 
NBD!!! :hyper::bassist::hyper::bassist:

TL/DR Bass is excellent, well worth the wait!

View attachment 5160959 View attachment 5160960 View attachment 5160961 View attachment 5160962 View attachment 5160963 View attachment 5160964 View attachment 5160965 View attachment 5160966View attachment 5161042 View attachment 5161043
View attachment 5160967 View attachment 5160968 View attachment 5160969


This could have happened 2 weeks earlier, but my wife and I were in Italy on vacation- I knew it would be ready while we were away, as is my luck, but I got the email the 2nd night there (of a 2 week trip):roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:. Roger was fine with waiting for me to pay upon my return, and he gave us some restaurant recommendations as well.

So, to refresh-
5-21

alder body(chambered, target weight between 8.5-9lbs, it’s 8.75lbs :D)

“mastergrade” flame maple neck

“mastergrade” brazilian rosewood fingerboard, 1.75” nut width

NYC skyline inlay in pearl

Standard “clay” dots

Luminlay side dots

Sonic blue finish (which imho is between sonic and daphne blue, and I love it)

Has the stacked jazz pickups in the 60’s position, with the coil cut switch.

Red tort and a parchment pickguard

I submitted my online order form 12/6/2021, paid my $500 deposit 12/25/21 (I swear Roger is always working ;)), and got the email saying it was ready 8/1/2023.

Fortunately I was working from home today (and tomorrow), and the FedEx guy got here just before noon, so I got some work done beforehand :D. Weather was pretty mild, so I didn’t feel the need to let it acclimate, plus I couldn’t wait any longer :laugh:.

Overall, I love this bass, very happy with how it came out. The neck is a bit darker than I’d have guessed, but it looks and feels great, love the slight angle to the flame. It’s a little thicker than I remembered, but the last Sadowsky I played was from 2010 (and it was like 2 years ago). It is NOT unplayable or uncomfortable (I’ve been playing the bass off and on all day :)), but just has some meat to it, especially compared to some of my other basses. The fingerboard has some nice figuring/streaking going on, and the fretwork is excellent. The sonic blue is great, there were a few examples on the Sadowsky site, but it definitely looks better in person ;). And I’m super happy with the skyline inlay and the clay dots- they compliment each other well, and the inlay is not super gaudy or flashy.

No real complaints- the build quality is excellent, it balances well, feels great and sounds amazing. Not the biggest fan of the strings though, but I do like the blue wraps. We’ll see, I’ve got the rest of my life to figure out what strings work best :D. And the Portabag is great, although I remember it being bigger. And it’s definitely brand new- I’ve got it airing out in the basement right now for the chemically smell (but I’m kinda’ sensitive to that, so…

Got a gig Saturday night, we’ll see if I’m brave enough to bring my newest bass. It’ll definitely work, but I’m a chicken and like to use gear I’m super familiar with. I had my F Bass BN5 for 3 years before I started using it regularly (and it’s also a killer bass).
WOW! That flame neck is perfect! Gorgeous bass (esp with the tort) - enjoy that beauty!
 
I bought this Japanese jazz 5 from a fellow TBer about a month ago and I finally got a change to play it tonight with the band and Oh My goodness!!! These Japanese Sadowskys just sound so amazing!! I also have a MIJ Modern 5 and they just blow the Germans out of the water, I know, I have owned 5 MIGs. I have yet to own a NYC, maybe one day.
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Are you running the Sadowsky preamp in 2 seperate stages?
 
FYI, ordered the 18mm 5 string bridge from Warwick, ETA was 7 weeks, but ordered it last week and supposed to be here Friday. Currently in Germany, so we will see how realistic that is to make it to the west coast. Will take before and after pictures.

Thanks for this...I had been waiting for them to show in stock, but went ahead and ordered.

So did I. Said it was 13 weeks out when I bought it so was not expecting it so soon.

Hopefully I’ll get some time this weekend to install and report back.

Just following up on this. I ordered two black 5-string 18mm bridges on 8.12.23, they showed out of stock and available in 12 weeks. I received them today.

I had not noticed before, but yes as earlier mentioned, the Warwick-made bridges have a longer base plate than the Hipshot-made bridges. So, one was a direct replacement for my MIG MJ5, but my NYC did require me to drill a couple of pilot holes for the screws closest to the bridge pickup - easy peasy though.

Being picky, I really wish they were completely black. Though, based on photos, I knew this was what I was getting. Could probably source black screws, springs, and threaded inserts fairly easy if I wanted to mess with it, but I probably won't.

Installed on my #1 NYC -
IMG_2665.jpg


And on the MJ5 (not setup yet)
IMG_2666.jpg
 
My tried-and-true, NYC Will Lee 5 went under the knife this week and is now wearing a fresh set of soaps. Previously had the Sadowsky (Duncan) singles in it…which I actually liked a lot.

But, when I picked up a NYC 5-20 Ultra Vintage awhile back that had soaps, I was smitten (despite previously not really being enthused by the 60s position soaps based on videos I had watched). The soaps have a familiar j-bass tone because of location, but are just so fat and punchy.

I didn’t get along with wider neck of the 5-20 Ultra Vintage bass and ended up selling it. My Will Lee 5 is a keeper bass that’s got plenty of bumps and bruises, but feels like home. So, I had been going back and forth about having it routed for the soaps. Finally decided to just go for it and couldn’t be happier.

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Love this! The Soap-bars in 60s are few and far between. Newsted has them there on his custom Sadowsky..

Been considering getting Roger to just build one from Jason’s specs for me as we have a similar playing style (heavy pick hand).
 
Love this! The Soap-bars in 60s are few and far between. Newsted has them there on his custom Sadowsky..

Been considering getting Roger to just build one from Jason’s specs for me as we have a similar playing style (heavy pick hand).

Thanks! The soapbars are definitely my go-to now...I love the way they sound in 60s locations! Just so fat and meaty :bassist:
 
I recently got a used NYC Will Lee 5 in excellent shape. Planning to ship it to NY for a couple of minor tweaks.

Having trouble deciding whether to swap the passive J bridge pickup for a Super J. Does any one have experience with both?

I would love the option of that "bridgier" sound that 70s Fenders have, but I am really hesitant to cut up the bass if I can't be sure of what I'll get. Does the Super J really give the sound of both, or is it a tradeoff somehow? (The only videos I found demoing the Super J are Alex Rodriguez's where he's slapping.)

Thanks.
 
I have limited experience with the super J pickup but I'll give you my take. For me, it's absolutely a trade off. I personally prefer the sound of true single coils for the punch and grind. The super J does a decent job of capturing both the 60's and 70' placement, but for me it didn't capture well enough, it was lacking that true single thing. That's not to say you won't like it and be satisfied but for me I'd need to basses, one with 60's and one with 70's to get what I like from each. That said, I don't think there's a better option out there for an "all in one" bass.

I recently got a used NYC Will Lee 5 in excellent shape. Planning to ship it to NY for a couple of minor tweaks.

Having trouble deciding whether to swap the passive J bridge pickup for a Super J. Does any one have experience with both?

I would love the option of that "bridgier" sound that 70s Fenders have, but I am really hesitant to cut up the bass if I can't be sure of what I'll get. Does the Super J really give the sound of both, or is it a tradeoff somehow? (The only videos I found demoing the Super J are Alex Rodriguez's where he's slapping.)

Thanks.