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Club Sadowsky!!!

#62,301
I think OP was looking for a thicker neck and I'd consider the Will Lee to be on the thinner size for a jazz bass.

What I mainly adore about Sadowskys is the playability (can't stand the 7.25 inch radius on vintage Fenders).

While I understand the enthusiasm around Sadowskys in this forum and agree, I think you really should try any bass out before you buy (unless they're at a price you can comfortably resell) or custom order.
 
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#62,302
marchone said:
Try rolling off the bridge pup all the way and pluck at the neck.
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That's not usually the sound i want. I usually like both pick-ups balanced, sometimes with the neck rolled off a bit.

Of course you can get them to sound similar, but my point was that mine don't inherently sound similar. My 68 has this thin Fender sound with a very different midrange to the Sadowsky. My Sadowsky JJ 21 is much more resonant and notes just jump off the fretboard. The hum cancelling pick-ups sound much more like humbuckers in the midrange. The Will Lees I've tried are definitely closer but still have a different character.

My Sadowsky will be what I want sonically 60% of the time, other times I prefer the sound of my Fender. I prefer the playability of the Sadowsky for everything except slapping.
 
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#62,303
Jmm757 said:
That's not usually the sound i want. I usually like both pick-ups balanced, sometimes with the neck rolled off a bit.

Of course you can get them to sound similar, but my point was that mine don't inherently sound similar. My 68 has this thin Fender sound with a very different midrange to the Sadowsky. My Sadowsky JJ 21 is much more resonant and notes just jump off the fretboard. The hum cancelling pick-ups sound much more like humbuckers in the midrange. The Will Lees I've tried are definitely closer but still have a different character.

My Sadowsky will be what I want sonically 60% of the time, other times I prefer the sound of my Fender. I prefer the playability of the Sadowsky for everything except slapping.
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I get it. Yesterday while switching back and forth between my CS ‘64 Jazz Bass and Metroline Will Lee I marveled at how close I could get the Sad to that Jazz Bass sound with the neck pup favored. I’m using a Mesa D-350 with everything rolled off at 6:30. Active on, Bright switch off. Then opposite for the Jazz Bass.
 
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#62,305
bucephylus said:
In comparing the native Fender voicing to a Sadowsky, I would think the comparative perception would be largely determined by the specific signal chain.

I still gig my ‘62 J and a more recent Am Pro P; and vastly prefer either of those instruments to have a Sadowsky Outboard between the bass and the amp. I just think Roger’s preamp in any of its forms corrects mix deficiencies that the passive Fenders tend to have for my gigs.

With the Sadowsky preamp in the signal chain, the differences between Sadowsky and Fender basses gets a good bit more subtle, and primarily dependent on the specific pickups and setups that are happening.
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Turning up the standard Sadowsky pre creates a mid-scoop, which is counter intuitive to the “add mids to cut through” philosophy.
 
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#62,306
Dave Hill said:
Turning up the standard Sadowsky pre creates a mid-scoop, which is counter intuitive to the “add mids to cut through” philosophy.
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Apologies. I wasn’t commenting one way or the other about “mids;” rather just the diffs between passive Fenders and active Sadowsky’s.

Obviously, some players care about mids in different respects. So, you’ve got the standard Sadowsky preamp and the Will Lee version with the “mid” boost. For my gigs and prefs, that WL mid boost isn’t useful; but, I am no one to question Will Lee (one of my fav players). The 2 band circuit in the standard preamp covers my pref for LOWER “mids” in spades. That is mainly why I use it.

Anyhow, “mids” is a whole other discussion with a wide range of player prefs.
 
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#62,307
bucephylus said:
Apologies. I wasn’t commenting one way or the other about “mids;” rather just the diffs between passive Fenders and active Sadowsky’s.

Obviously, some players care about mids in different respects. So, you’ve got the standard Sadowsky preamp and the Will Lee version with the “mid” boost. For my gigs and prefs, that WL mid boost isn’t useful; but, I am no one to question Will Lee (one of my fav players). The 2 band circuit in the standard preamp covers my pref for LOWER “mids” in spades. That is mainly why I use it.

Anyhow, “mids” is a whole other discussion with a wide range of player prefs.
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No apology required!!!
 
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#62,309
Received my first correspondence from the shop since my order - regarding Luminlay side dot sizing, since I requested “large.”

I’ve been able to ride the wait time wave without thinking about the eventual arrival of my dream bass, but that one simple email got the butterflies fluttering.

Still a ways to go before final assembly, but it’ll be worth the wait. So pumped for this.
 
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#62,312
Yeah, I’m in the same position. Digging my MetroLine Will Lee 4 so much it has me GASing for a NYC build. Lumilay side dots are a must. But I can’t think of much else. Maybe a roasted neck. And therein lies the rub. I’m not interested in fancy tops.
 
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#62,313
Matt275 said:
Do you mind sharing what you have being built?
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Not at all!

5-21 Left handed
Control Layout - Vintage
Roasted Swamp Ash Body
Target weight: 8 pounds
Shell Pink Nitro Finish
Hum-cancelling pickups with new coil cut switch
60's Location (JJ)
Volume-Pan-T-T/B (Will Lee Mid Boost)
Chrome Hardware
Tort pick guard
Roasted Flame Maple Neck(Master Grade)
Brazilian Rosewod Fingerboard (Master Grade)
Large Luminlay side dots
Standard fingerboard dots
Matching Headstock
 
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#62,314
Glad to see more pink basses on order. My custom is finally completed...behold! Will Lee 4, master grade quilt top, birdseye board, bonnie pink stain, pepto-bismol back. Inspired by a guitar spec'd out by forum member Jim S.

WL4 1.jpg
 
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