Club Sadowsky!!!

[MikeBass]

It’s supposed to be royal purple—the pics make it look a little more blue.

Dude, even in the pictures it looks freakin awesome

 

[beavis420]

What strings are people using on their MIJ Sadowskys? Really disliking the NYXLs I have on right now

 

[BassicJazzy]

What strings are people using on their MIJ Sadowskys? Really disliking the NYXLs I have on right now

Not a direct answer, but I'm loving light Chromes on my MX fretless.

 

[Luckydog]

What strings are people using on their MIJ Sadowskys? Really disliking the NYXLs I have on right now

Currently DR Lo Rider SS on Metro Jazz, and Black Label flats on Metro hpj.

 

[IanA]

Am hoping that some of the Sadowsky experts on here can advise me…
Do you tend to go with just a DI to front of house or do you add another preamp inline such as a Tonehammer/BDDI/etc
I used my NYC PJ at church yesterday straight into a Di with some HPF and LPF from the desk and it seemed to work great.
Just wonder what others have had success with? Do you add some light drive from say the AGS on the Tonehammer or just run the bass clean as it is?
Many thanks
Ian

 

[bucephylus]

Am hoping that some of the Sadowsky experts on here can advise me…
Do you tend to go with just a DI to front of house or do you add another preamp inline such as a Tonehammer/BDDI/etc
I used my NYC PJ at church yesterday straight into a Di with some HPF and LPF from the desk and it seemed to work great.
Just wonder what others have had success with? Do you add some light drive from say the AGS on the Tonehammer or just run the bass clean as it is?
Many thanks
Ian

Sending the Onboard Sadowsky pre signal direct to the board can work just fine, depending on the Sound Engineer, Board, EQ time, and tonal objectives.

I’ve been attempting to approach the FoH as my amplifier, and am currently using this signal chain to send to the board:

The Outboard Sadowsky Preamp is mainly for my passive basses, but can also function as a leveling stage, or just bypass for active basses. The Onboard Sadowsky preamp stacks perfectly well with the main board preamp/DI, in this case a Shift Line Olympic, similarly to the preamp in a traditional backline hybrid head. This setup can send a signal to the FoH board, which, in principle, requires minimal adjustment at the board.

I was previously using a Tech 21 BDDI V1, which you mentioned, with excellent results. I just slightly prefer the SLO with a separate dedicated compressor.

YMMV

 

[Bass Viking]

Some bossa nova:

 

[IanA]

Sending the Onboard Sadowsky pre signal direct to the board can work just fine, depending on the Sound Engineer, Board, EQ time, and tonal objectives.

I’ve been attempting to approach the FoH as my amplifier, and am currently using this signal chain to send to the board:

View attachment 7520786

The Outboard Sadowsky Preamp is mainly for my passive basses, but can also function as a leveling stage, or just bypass for active basses. The Onboard Sadowsky preamp stacks perfectly well with the main board preamp/DI, in this case a Shift Line Olympic, similarly to the preamp in a traditional backline hybrid head. This setup can send a signal to the FoH board, which, in principle, requires minimal adjustment at the board.

I was previously using a Tech 21 BDDI V1, which you mentioned, with excellent results. I just slightly prefer the SLO with a separate dedicated compressor.

YMMV

Thanks for that, I think that is a great approach and a nice board. I have been wondering about tubes to add an extra dimension to my tone… The SLO looks a great option.
I will experiment with the Tonehammer as I think the AGS not only gives out some harmonic richness but some nice compression as well.
Thanks for sharing, it is really helpful to see what is working for you in a live environment.

 

[BassicJazzy]

Thanks for that, I think that is a great approach and a nice board. I have been wondering about tubes to add an extra dimension to my tone… The SLO looks a great option.
I will experiment with the Tonehammer as I think the AGS not only gives out some harmonic richness but some nice compression as well.
Thanks for sharing, it is really helpful to see what is working for you in a live environment.

I think a little compression helps but other than that the Sadowsky Pre is adequate on its own.

 

[HeavyJazz]

Sending the Onboard Sadowsky pre signal direct to the board can work just fine, depending on the Sound Engineer, Board, EQ time, and tonal objectives.

I’ve been attempting to approach the FoH as my amplifier, and am currently using this signal chain to send to the board:

View attachment 7520786

The Outboard Sadowsky Preamp is mainly for my passive basses, but can also function as a leveling stage, or just bypass for active basses. The Onboard Sadowsky preamp stacks perfectly well with the main board preamp/DI, in this case a Shift Line Olympic, similarly to the preamp in a traditional backline hybrid head. This setup can send a signal to the FoH board, which, in principle, requires minimal adjustment at the board.

I was previously using a Tech 21 BDDI V1, which you mentioned, with excellent results. I just slightly prefer the SLO with a separate dedicated compressor.

YMMV

Those Olympics are killer sounding preamps.. especially for double bass. I was surprised to learn that "flat-EQ" setting was actually mids all the way up and bass/treble all the way down. Strange but effcetive!

 

[Vic]

Am hoping that some of the Sadowsky experts on here can advise me…
Do you tend to go with just a DI to front of house or do you add another preamp inline such as a Tonehammer/BDDI/etc
I used my NYC PJ at church yesterday straight into a Di with some HPF and LPF from the desk and it seemed to work great.
Just wonder what others have had success with? Do you add some light drive from say the AGS on the Tonehammer or just run the bass clean as it is?
Many thanks
Ian

This isn't really a "Sadowsky expert" question per se, as it's just a generally applicable bassist signal chain question applicable to any brand.

In my case, I use a Fractal FM3 in some cases, but my new interface is the new Helix Stadium. I haven't used an amp on stage for a long time now. While I have used just a plain active/passive DI in the past, there are two reasons why I use these processors, even though I do not use the modeling feature in either.

I use the built-in preamp to compensate for going through different FOH systems where production input gain stages aren't always set the same, and it's just easier for me to twist a knob than to have them reconfigure channels while they're dealing with all the other stuff.

I use the built-in effects exclusively. I don't have super specific tastes when it comes to effects, so I don't need discrete pedals, so I do all my processing in one unit, which saves me all the interconnect and power supply/design inconsistency issues (ground loops, bad jacks/cables, etc).

 

[IanA]

This isn't really a "Sadowsky expert" question per se, as it's just a generally applicable bassist signal chain question applicable to any brand.

In my case, I use a Fractal FM3 in some cases, but my new interface is the new Helix Stadium. I haven't used an amp on stage for a long time now. While I have used just a plain active/passive DI in the past, there are two reasons why I use these processors, even though I do not use the modeling feature in either.

I use the built-in preamp to compensate for going through different FOH systems where production input gain stages aren't always set the same, and it's just easier for me to twist a knob than to have them reconfigure channels while they're dealing with all the other stuff.

I use the built-in effects exclusively. I don't have super specific tastes when it comes to effects, so I don't need discrete pedals, so I do all my processing in one unit, which saves me all the interconnect and power supply/design inconsistency issues (ground loops, bad jacks/cables, etc).

Thanks Vic
That is really helpful, modelling is certainly option as some effects can be pretty useful.
The reason I am asking Sadowsky owners is that I hear of many people saying that they can just plug into the board and the engineer has very little to do, and the bass cuts through great. I have even seen a video where Roger himself says it.
The VTC seems great for rolling off some of the HF, not a cab sim but close enough in a live environment it seems.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Those Olympics are killer sounding preamps.. especially for double bass. I was surprised to learn that "flat-EQ" setting was actually mids all the way up and bass/treble all the way down. Strange but effcetive!

That's similar to the Fender Dual Showman passive tone circuit which was replicated in other gear such as the renowned Alembic all-tube rack preamps. Flat on the Alembic was actually 2-10-2 (dial numbers, not clock positions), meaning highs and lows mostly off, mids fully up. Setting everything to noon resulted in a slightly scooped contour that many find pleasing.

I don't really follow preamps, so this just dawned on me: is "Olympic" supposed to be a reference to "Alembic"?



Back on topic: Vic is correct, it's not a Sadowsky-specific question! FWIW I prefer to add grit to my tone path, I've always enjoyed the extra harmonic richness. Grit means anything from gentle overdrive to outright distortion, depending on the band I'm performing with. (Ironically, despite my TB handle I'm not really a fuzz guy).

 

[Vic]

Thanks Vic
That is really helpful, modelling is certainly option as some effects can be pretty useful.
The reason I am asking Sadowsky owners is that I hear of many people saying that they can just plug into the board and the engineer has very little to do, and the bass cuts through great. I have even seen a video where Roger himself says it.
The VTC seems great for rolling off some of the HF, not a cab sim but close enough in a live environment it seems.

Ahhh, that comment. Yeah, that's also been my experience. Sorry if I "over-answered", reading too much into your question.

To that end, while this is true of most of the basses I play, it is especially true with the Sadowsky that I don't need to use any EQ in my processor. I only use it for effects... not fundamental tone... because at least in my experience, as you mentioned, the Sadowsky just doesn't seem to need any "help" with that.

 

[MikeBass]

Am hoping that some of the Sadowsky experts on here can advise me… Do you tend to go with just a DI to front of house or do you add another preamp inline such as a Tonehammer/BDDI/etc I used my NYC PJ at church yesterday straight into a Di with some HPF and LPF from the desk and it seemed to work great. Just wonder what others have had success with? Do you add some light drive from say the AGS on the Tonehammer or just run the bass clean as it is? Many thanks Ian

Am hoping that some of the Sadowsky experts on here can advise me… Do you tend to go with just a DI to front of house or do you add another preamp inline such as a Tonehammer/BDDI/etc I used my NYC PJ at church yesterday straight into a Di with some HPF and LPF from the desk and it seemed to work great. Just wonder what others have had success with? Do you add some light drive from say the AGS on the Tonehammer or just run the bass clean as it is? Many thanks Ian

Am hoping that some of the Sadowsky experts on here can advise me… Do you tend to go with just a DI to front of house or do you add another preamp inline such as a Tonehammer/BDDI/etc I used my NYC PJ at church yesterday straight into a Di with some HPF and LPF from the desk and it seemed to work great. Just wonder what others have had success with? Do you add some light drive from say the AGS on the Tonehammer or just run the bass clean as it is? Many thanks Ian

 

[Bass Viking]

I don't really follow preamps, so this just dawned on me: is "Olympic" supposed to be a reference to "Alembic"?

It’s Olympic, check the photo Bucephylus posted.

Alembic preamps are awesome!

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Some bossa nova:

Your recordings always sounds so nice. Crystal clear .

 

[Fuzzbass]

It’s Olympic, check the photo Bucephylus posted.

Alembic preamps are awesome!

Right, I was vaguely aware of the Shift Line Olympic, but since it's an all-tube pre (which I didn't know) with a similar tone stack to the Alembic F2B/F1X, I was just wondering if "Olympic" was a veiled reference to "Alembic". Maybe I'm overthinking, but if not, it's clever.

I used an Alembic F2B for close to two decades back when I was rack rigging. As you say, an awesome piece of gear!

 

[MikeBass]

Am hoping that some of the Sadowsky experts on here can advise me… Do you tend to go with just a DI to front of house or do you add another preamp inline such as a Tonehammer/BDDI/etc I used my NYC PJ at church yesterday straight into a Di with some HPF and LPF from the desk and it seemed to work great. Just wonder what others have had success with? Do you add some light drive from say the AGS on the Tonehammer or just run the bass clean as it is? Many thanks Ian

This is a completely subjective question with no right or wrong answer.

I’ve ran mine just as you described, bass-DI-FOH
Other times used a preamp.

Seems you had great success with just DI to FoH. So I’d say why switch?

 

[Bass Viking]

Your recordings always sounds so nice. Crystal clear .

Thanks! My Zoom Q2n 4K camera has good sound quality and I run my bass through an Alembic Superfilter.