Club Sadowsky!!!

[ElMon]

Have you ever sighted down the neck of your Sadowskys? It may be the same on yours, too. I don't really see it on the G string side, but it's noticable on the B string side for sure.

Between your NYCs and Metros, do you find that you have to set up your metros more often because of the lack of graphite reinforcement? It just worries me a little here in the wet state of WA where my motorcycles rust despite being kept in a garage and never seeing rain.

I've certainly sighted down the neck, and I'm like you in that I try to get the neck as close to flat as possible, though I generally like medium/high action. I remember when all my Sadowsky's arrived to me that they all had very low action with no buzzing. Not my thing, but yet they seemed to take to that setup. I"m very aware of the bump that Rob is talking about in older Fenders, and I never really noticed it in my Sadowskys, Metro or NYC. Now, this is keeping in mind that I DON"T actually have one in front of me to check, keeping in mind what you've said. FWIW.

As for weather differences, that might be a big factor here. I"m willing to wager that OK's climate is much more consistent and drier in general than is WA. I will say that whether I had an NYC or a Metro, I always seemed to need to tighten the trussrod occasionally when the weather changed from hot/cold. Other than that, no worries.

 

[dragonbass]

I've also read the FAQ and it doesn't say anything about the fact that the neck doesn't have graphite reinforcement.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[flipper_gv]

That dip or bump, depending on how you look at it has never detracted my basses of low action with an almost flat neck.

As Rob said, it's not a flaw, but a design improvement. What I can see here is that maybe tried to fix that 'flaw' in the past, damaging the instrument.

Roger and crew will help you to fix the problem.

It's an improvement for what purpose. I mean everyone is there telling it's an improvement but I can't see the purpose actually. I need some light on the subject plz

 

[johnnydi]

It's an improvement for what purpose. I mean everyone is there telling it's an improvement but I can't see the purpose actually. I need some light on the subject plz

Just go on the Sadowsky web site and check out the video with Roger explaining the bump in the neck.
He does it very well.

Hey Flipper, Just notice you're from Montreal. I was born and raise in Mtl. Use to play with the boys From Rick Hughes & Co, PornFlakes, Sword. I'm now on the west coast since 05.

 

[Chef]

Went to the site, couldn't find the video; can someone plz post a direct link?

thx!

 

[bikeplate]

HI

http://www.behindthenotes.com/index.php/Featured-Video/Features/Bass/Roger-Sadowsky/menu-id-17.html

Rob

 

[Chef]

thx!

 

[Scott McArron]

What a great video! Thanks!

The fingerboard bump makes more sense to me now and I understand there are two different schools of thought here depending on the luthier you talk to. Personally, I don't care as long as it doesn't affect how straight I can get the board and how low I can get the action. I'll find that out Friday when I pick her up from the shop. Gonna get her on a gig the same night. Can't wait!!

 

[KJung]

What a great video! Thanks!

The fingerboard bump makes more sense to me now and I understand there are two different schools of thought here depending on the luthier you talk to. Personally, I don't care as long as it doesn't affect how straight I can get the board and how low I can get the action. I'll find that out Friday when I pick her up from the shop. Gonna get her on a gig the same night. Can't wait!!

+1 It is a little disconcerting when you sight down the neck with a Sadowsky and see that strange 'dip and bump' at the bottom of the neck. However, the playability is just great on every one I've owned or played.

 

[Scott McArron]

Thanks for the all the help and info about this stuff, guys. Appreciate the experience shared, too. That video was really cool to see and very informative.

Just wanted to add that I edited my original post with the following:

Edit:
I understand now that the dip and bump on the Sadowsky boards are not a sign of quality issues, but a difference in design. I'm just a little surprised I've never heard about this, or somehow missed the information, until now after years of reading about and researching them on the forums here and on the website. Anyway, I'm very excited to finally be a Sadowsky owner and can't wait to get this thing on the gig!

 

[Scott McArron]

+1 It is a little disconcerting when you sight down the neck with a Sadowsky and see that strange 'dip and bump' at the bottom of the neck. However, the playability is just great on every one I've owned or played.

True that! I wasn't expecting that at all! I'm pretty finicky about my boards being straight with very little relief, so it definitely threw me off a bit at first. Thanks for the vote of confidence!

 

[ElMon]

Thanks for the all the help and info about this stuff, guys. Appreciate the experience shared, too. That video was really cool to see and very informative.

Just wanted to add that I edited my original post with the following:

Edit:
I understand now that the dip and bump on the Sadowsky boards are not a sign of quality issues, but a difference in design. I'm just a little surprised I've never heard about this, or somehow missed the information, until now after years of reading about and researching them on the forums here and on the website. Anyway, I'm very excited to finally be a Sadowsky owner and can't wait to get this thing on the gig!

When I got my first Sadowsky, and MV5 just like yours, I wasn't completely convinced after having owned multiple MTD's/Smith's up to that point. It didn't seem as hi-end as the others, and the tone didn't sound as textured or nuanced.................

And then I heard it in a mix with my band...........

And saw my drummer look back at me with an 'oh $%&* what was that!!!!' look.................

 

[Vic]

When I got my first Sadowsky, and MV5 just like yours, I wasn't completely convinced after having owned multiple MTD's/Smith's up to that point. It didn't seem as hi-end as the others, and the tone didn't sound as textured or nuanced.................

And then I heard it in a mix with my band...........

And saw my drummer look back at me with an 'oh $%&* what was that!!!!' look.................

Yeah, that's the hard part about telling folks who've never gigged one why they're so great.

 

[Scott McArron]

Yeah, that's the hard part about telling folks who've never gigged one why they're so great.

I know a few people have posted how the sound isn't so great soloed but awesome live. Personally, though, I LOVE the sound soloed! Especially through my DB750... If it sounds anywhere as good in the mix live then I'm gonna be a very happy Sadowsky owner, indeed!

 

[Vic]

I know a few people have posted how the sound isn't so great soloed but awesome live. Personally, though, I LOVE the sound soloed! Especially through my DB750... If it sounds anywhere as good in the mix live then I'm gonna be a very happy Sadowsky owner, indeed!

That's a bit of a misquote, depending on how one is to interpret "isn't so great". It's not that they dislike it solo'd, it's more about expecting to be blown away, because of all the fan-boys rantings (including yours truly's), and then being underwhelmed by comparison. I don't think anybody has ever said they actually don't like it solo'd. It's all relative. But then if they gig it, then you get the usual "now I get it" posting like literally the next day.

 

[Dan Knowlton]

So, why are there 3x as many posts about Lakland basses as Sadowsky? Just kind of puzzling as I find Sadowsky users even more rabid (in a good way) than Lakland users.

For me, the only reason I don't still have a Sadowsky is that I have 2 Alleva Coppolo's.

Dan K.

 

[tombowlus]

I know a few people have posted how the sound isn't so great soloed but awesome live. Personally, though, I LOVE the sound soloed!

For me, I love the sound of my P/J 5 solo'd (and I love the sound of the Will Lee model solo'd), but my 24F 5 never really gives me goosebumps played all by its lonesome. But in a mix, they all kill, and the 24F 5 the most of all. In every live setting where I have tried it, my 24F 5 probably has the best "punch through the mix without overpowering" tone of any bass in my collection.

 

[Scott McArron]

That's a bit of a misquote, depending on how one is to interpret "isn't so great". It's not that they dislike it solo'd, it's more about expecting to be blown away, because of all the fan-boys rantings (including yours truly's), and then being underwhelmed by comparison. I don't think anybody has ever said they actually don't like it solo'd. It's all relative. But then if they gig it, then you get the usual "now I get it" posting like literally the next day.

You're right, that's what I meant to say. I suck at words.

 

[Vic]

So, why are there 3x as many posts about Lakland basses as Sadowsky? Just kind of puzzling as I find Sadowsky users even more rabid (in a good way) than Lakland users.

For me, the only reason I don't still have a Sadowsky is that I have 2 Alleva Coppolo's.

Dan K.

Do you mean in general across lotsa' threads, or are you talking about the two club threads?

I ask because TB went through a phase where people posting about Sadowskys were kinda' beat up on for being overzealous, and in a few unfortunate cases (who I think are no longer on TB), causing nasty arguments and such. Kinda' gave us Sadowsky fans a bit of a black eye, so things calmed down a bit. I don't know if there's still a perception issue out there or not.

 

[ElMon]

So, why are there 3x as many posts about Lakland basses as Sadowsky? Just kind of puzzling as I find Sadowsky users even more rabid (in a good way) than Lakland users.

For me, the only reason I don't still have a Sadowsky is that I have 2 Alleva Coppolo's.

Dan K.

Not trying to be a jerk, but what does the amount of posts have to do with anything? Not sure where you were going with that. I'd also LOVE to get my hands on an Alleva Coppolo. From what I hear they're much closer to an older Fender than are Sadowsky basses. For me, I like that my Sadowsky(s), in look/feel/tone, are in the ball park of 'the Fender sound' , but with its own modern vibe.