Club Sadowsky!!!

[tombowlus]

This was one of the topics for one edition of the Luthiers' Round Table in Bass Gear Magazine. Let me try to find it... As I recall, I believe Roger preferred nickel/silver.

I found the discussion of fretwire gauge and material from the Luthiers Round Table. This was in BGM #11. The question was "What fretwire gauge and material do you prefer, and why?" Here is Roger's response (at that time, which was 2013):

"Roger Sadowsky - Our primary fretwire measures .094" x .051". I do not like wire wider than this, as it is too difficult to reshape the crown of the fretwire after several fret dressings. I also like the higher height for longevity. We can usually re-level the frets with this wire several times before a refret is necessary. 90% of our instruments get this wire. For our Ultra Vintage models, we use .080" x .043" to retain a vintage feel. We use a non-tarnishing nickel silver formula with a maximum hardness of Hv.200.

I do not like stainless steel frets at all. I have tried to use it for some of our customers who wear through nickel silver frets quickly. Every one of them had me refret their instruments back to nickel silver, as they did not like the tone of stainless. I agree with them. I do not like the tone of stainless frets, either."

For the record, other luthiers had other opinions, and Roger's opinion may have changed over the years, but that was a fun discussion with the LRT team.

 

[HeavyJazz]

Seconded. I'm no fan of steel frets either. I flipped my Suhr bass because of it.

 

[Vic]

I also prefer the nickel alloys.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I'm fine with nickel frets, and also the gold EVO wire. I have not owned a bass with stainless frets, but would hesitate because even though it's more durable, it's also much more difficult to work with should fretwork be required. One local luthier said he didn't like stainless frets for that reason.

 

[Vic]

... it's also much more difficult to work with should fretwork be required. One local luthier said he didn't like stainless frets for that reason.

yeah, that's kinda' what i was talking about tho more from a manufacturing process. that said, the repair process is also a very fair concern as well.

 

[Jugghaid]

I would say that with one qualification... especially with gear that can be that revealing and detailed...

Keep in mind a lot of our tone comes from our personal styles and touch. It's often said "he can play any bass in the world and it still sounds like him".

So take what you hear with a little bit of a grain of salt. It may not be exactly how you sound.

This probably matters more if you hear something you're not thrilled with, but maybe to small degree, even if you love what you hear. It might be interesting to ask a third party if that person sounded the same as you do, and if not, maybe look into it a bit if you wish.

I wouldn't bring it up, because that's at a fairly deep level of detail, but when you play gear like this, and are as discerning as we are, that starts to matter.

FWIW

I think that is valid. We play with a very similar touch however.

 

[pb9717]

I ordered this off the warwick.de site. Waiting to see if theres any actually in stock. Happy to pay VAT and shipping. Fingers crossed.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

View attachment 6982632
I ordered this off the warwick.de site. Waiting to see if theres any actually in stock. Happy to pay VAT and shipping. Fingers crossed.

Sweet. Please be sure to keep us posted.

 

[Joeykun]

This bass never disappoints! Rockin’ the new DR Dragon Skin+ strings on this now. Love them!

 

[Addison]

Yes, the only frets in my opinion that last longer are Warwick's bell brass frets.

This is interesting to see as I had the exact opposite experience with Warwick’s “bell brass” with both my Streamer and my Thumb I used to have.

Both basses had noticeable wear after only a couple of years of regular playing on the G string side - my Thumb frets even started to corrode in the slots, causing them to rise. When I pressed them back in, green ooze came out. I was like, waaaaaat?!?

This was early 2000’s, so maybe I got unlucky and got a bad batch or maybe they’ve changed their formula - but my experience with that bass specifically (it was more than just the frets - that bass was a love/hate experience) turned me off of Warwick since.

 

[Vic]

This is interesting to see as I had the exact opposite experience with Warwick’s “bell brass” with both my Streamer and my Thumb I used to have.

Both basses had noticeable wear after only a couple of years of regular playing on the G string side - my Thumb frets even started to corrode in the slots, causing them to rise. When I pressed them back in, green ooze came out. I was like, waaaaaat?!?

This was early 2000’s, so maybe I got unlucky and got a bad batch or maybe they’ve changed their formula - but my experience with that bass specifically (it was more than just the frets - that bass was a love/hate experience) turned me off of Warwick since.

keep in mind i was comparing to nickel, not stainless... or are you saying you feel their bell brass frets actually wore faster than nickel? if so, that's news to me. disclaimer, i'm going on information i've read only... i've only briefly owned Warwicks in the past, so i don't have a direct experience. so FWIW i guess.

 

[grimmchaos]

Whelp, I really like Sadowsky's - this is number 3 now. This thing is awesome. 8.2lbs, balances well, B string sounds great. Love running the MM pickup in series with the neck in single coil mode. I've always loved the idea of a 5 string, and have had many, but usually end up selling them off. I have a feeling things may be different this time around.

 

[Addison]

keep in mind i was comparing to nickel, not stainless... or are you saying you feel their bell brass frets actually wore faster than nickel? if so, that's news to me. disclaimer, i'm going on information i've read only... i've only briefly owned Warwicks in the past, so i don't have a direct experience. so FWIW i guess.

Yes, much faster in my experience - but, like I said, maybe they changed the formula or I had a bad batch or something.

 

[Vic]

Yes, much faster in my experience - but, like I said, maybe they changed the formula or I had a bad batch or something.

wow, that's a surprise to me. interesting.

 

[bucephylus]

I have literally never gigged any fretted bass to the point that the frets were worn down so as to create either intonation or witness issues. So, in my world, fret material is not an issue; and I rely on Roger and other luthiers’ expertise with confidence.

At the same time, I have worn ruts into bare ebony fingerboards on fretless basses, particularly at the Blues Guitar key roots; to the point that I had to fill with epoxy, sand; and ultimately coat the board with polyurethane. Yet, cats will post on here that my touch must be too heavy on fretless.

So, apparently, I finger with too little pressure on fretted basses, and too much pressure on fretless basses. I guess I’m hopeless.

 

[Vic]

I have literally never gigged any fretted bass to the point that the frets were worn down so as to create either intonation or witness issues. So, in my world, fret material is not an issue; and I rely on Roger and other luthiers’ expertise with confidence.

This is also true for me EXCEPT when buying a used, especially older, instrument. I've had to have a few fret jobs in the past, but like you said, none were due to my tenure with the instrument... but I also very rarely slap/tap, which is probably also a good part of it (as well as anyone who prefers to hit it harder if that's part of their sound).

 

[Lava]

New limited edition Jason Newsted signature model in the latest Sadowsky emailer.

 

[anezthes]

New limited edition Jason Newsted signature model in the latest Sadowsky emailer.

Cool! Love Newsted. His "signature" Sadowsky will always be black and maple, though.

IMO/YMMV.

 

[Stagelab]

Looking for some help. Considering this RSD fretless but the specs are somewhat a mystery.

Any idea if this is a first year RSD? I read about QC issues with them.

Looks like an ebony board—a lighter ebony than usual—but the seller isn’t positive. Not sure what the body wood is. No serial number on the front or back of the headstock.

Is this the same preamp found in Metrolines or a cheaper alternative? Seller said it’s 2-band. Knobs are volume, blend, treble, bass. Seller couldn’t say if there’s a VTC. Sounds like a ‘no.’

Also curious if you know about the pickups. I’m guessing they’re a cheaper alternative to those found on Metrolines. True single coils (ie Not noiseless)?

 

[HeavyJazz]

New limited edition Jason Newsted signature model in the latest Sadowsky emailer.

I'll be interested to learn how quickly they sold out. Won't take long.