Club Sadowsky!!!

[Jerry J]

He is talking about the 'dip'. If you sight down the board, it really is interesting... it dips just a touch and then comes back up a bit (or seems to). Disturbing until you realize that it is supposed to do that! It really does look like a little 'valley in the end of the board'.

Just curious, I don't seem to wear frets out on my basses so I've never felt that my Sadowsky's needed fret crowning.

If I were to take my Sadowsky to a local shop for fret crowning do you think that they would take the "dip" into consideration in the crowning process? Or would they need to be informed prior the work?

 

[Chef]

I think I'd send it back to the Sadowsky shop...

 

[Scott McArron]

Just curious, I don't seem to wear frets out on my basses so I've never felt that my Sadowsky's needed fret crowning.

If I were to take my Sadowsky to a local shop for fret crowning do you think that they would take the "dip" into consideration in the crowning process? Or would they need to be informed prior the work?

Mike Lull has a Plek machine and he told me that he could take the dip into consideration and make it play "world's better," I think is what he said, or something to that effect.

edit: just want to add that he made my Lull jazz bass play a ton better with the Plek machine. However, my frets were eatin's up pretty good. But 2/32nds on a B string with little to no buzz is a pretty amazing thing in its own right, and I don't exactly have a soft touch.

 

[BartmanPDX]

Just curious, I don't seem to wear frets out on my basses so I've never felt that my Sadowsky's needed fret crowning.

If I were to take my Sadowsky to a local shop for fret crowning do you think that they would take the "dip" into consideration in the crowning process? Or would they need to be informed prior the work?

I think I'd send mine into the shop. In fact, even though my NYC PJ plays like a dream, I may send it in for some fine detail work when my Will Lee arrives.

BTW -- I have an MB-2 coming!!!

I have you to for that irresistable GAS, sir. Bringing yours to that gig put me over the top. The band loved it!

Cost me a hell of a nice Reverend though.

 

[Vic]

Mike Lull has a Plek machine and he told me that he could take the dip into consideration and make it play "world's better," I think is what he said, or something to that effect.

That sounds exactly like what I'd expect to hear from someone owning a Plek and offering Plek services.

All I can say is, I have NO issues getting my Sadowsky basses to play like an absolute dream. I would add, that I have played (multiple) Plek'd Lulls (as well as a few other Plek'd basses), and while they are also great, they definitely do NOT play "worlds better". Sorry, but that's just a sales pitch, IMHO.

 

[Scott McArron]

That sounds exactly like what I'd expect to hear from someone owning a Plek and offering Plek services.

All I can say is, I have NO issues getting my Sadowsky basses to play like an absolute dream. I would add, that I have played (multiple) Plek'd Lulls (as well as a few other Plek'd basses), and while they are also great, they definitely do NOT play "worlds better". Sorry, but that's just a sales pitch, IMHO.

True to the above. Sales does certainly play a part in it. But like I've said before, my Lull gets 2/32nds on the B string while my Sadowsky needs 5/32nds for the same amount of slight buzz on medium to harder attacks. Both measurements taken after setups from the same luthier. It's hard to argue the numbers. Just my experience. Every bass is different. Yours and others' might have the opposite experience.

 

[flipper_gv]

I think so too... actually, in general on Sadowsky basses, but also other high quality ones.

I went through a phase where it was ALL about getting the action as low as possible until the strings were either practically laying on the frets or until I ran into a level imperfection and a "choke spot" as a result.

Well, that phase is over. I'm taking IMHO a much more practical approach now.

I like what I call "medium low" action, and I don't mind having the E and especially the B even a bit higher so I can really thump those if I want.

It's been commented on many times, but there's a "balance" you can strike between the benefits of lower action and the "dynamics" of strings high enough you can dig in a bit harder (without choking out). That balance is in a different place for all of us, but IMHO, finding that precise spot is CRUCIAL if you want your instrument to play "inspirationally".

I can say I have NO problem getting there with the Sadowsky basses I've owned, and currently own, which makes me particularly thrilled to be an owner.

Roger and his products and crew... magic. They know how to make us happy.

I use what I call very low action (not stupid low) with 1mm at G and 1.5 mm at B and I think it is very useful when soloing tapping. It really helps me having a better articulation when playing very fast parts without having to change my technique. Maybe it's being lazy for some, but I just find it really comfy. Oh and I can play very hard without choking, I play mostly death metal XD and sometimes I tune in drop C without changing string height.

 

[Scott McArron]

I use what I call very low action (not stupid low) with 1mm at G and 1.5 mm at B and I think it is very useful when soloing tapping.

Yeah, i agree. I have to reiterate that I love the Sadowsky for being a player's bass. However, when I'm playing Victor Wooten tunes and tapping and such I prefer a "faster" instrument. But I never play that stuff in a band context, at least not a paying one, so it would be just for fun.

 

[KJung]

Just curious, I don't seem to wear frets out on my basses so I've never felt that my Sadowsky's needed fret crowning.

If I were to take my Sadowsky to a local shop for fret crowning do you think that they would take the "dip" into consideration in the crowning process? Or would they need to be informed prior the work?

Nah.... no issue. Fret 'crowning' just involves taking any 'roughness' off the top and edge, and polishing up. That would have nothing to do with the very slight thing that Roger does with the fretboard above the 12th fret. Unless you are really having trouble, fret crowning is more of a 'vanity' sort of thing (make them look pretty again). No real need to do it, but it surely won't hurt anything every few hundred gigs.

Refret.... I'd definitely take that to Roger, but that shouldn't be necessary for thousands of gigs, even with stainless rounds.

 

[jmeyers44]

Speaking of PLEK vs the human touch, has anyone ever sent their Sadowsky back to the shop for work (fretwork for example)? What is their turn around time? Just curious, I probably would send mine back to the shop regardless.

 

[Steve]

Mike Lull has a Plek machine and he told me that he could take the dip into consideration and make it play "world's better,"

Wow!

That's a pretty friggan bold statement.

 

[BartmanPDX]

Speaking of PLEK vs the human touch, has anyone ever sent their Sadowsky back to the shop for work (fretwork for example)? What is their turn around time? Just curious, I probably would send mine back to the shop regardless.

Good question.

 

[BartmanPDX]

OK, I know there must be a couple out there by now.

Originally, I was planning on getting the Portabag with my new Will Lee in a couple months, but that was before they introduced the new hard case. Now I'm not so sure. I generally like hard cases for my basses, though I use an incase dub bag for gigging as it has proven up to my standards of protection. The Portabag seemed like it would be great.

So who has one of the new hard cases? How do they stack up to the Portabag? Inquiring minds want to know . . .

 

[Jerry J]

I think I'd send it back to the Sadowsky shop...

For just a simple fret crown for me it would cost $80-90 just for ground shipping plus the shop charge for the work. And with gound shipping the bass would be gone for almost a month! If there were other issues it might be worthwhile.

 

[Scott McArron]

Wow!

That's a pretty friggan bold statement.

I think what he meant by that is that he could get the action lower. That's all. And I believe he can. He did it to my Lull, I'm sure he could do it to my Sadowsky as well. I'll back him up on that statement with my experience.

 

[Nenor]

Unless you are really having trouble, fret crowning is more of a 'vanity' sort of thing (make them look pretty again).

I think crowning means shaping the fret to have a round top. When dealing with worn frets that means eating the flat top from the sides, making them round again. This procedure, when repeated, slowly lowers the frets. There should be not esthetic reason for doing this.

 

[Jerry J]

OK, I know there must be a couple out there by now.

Originally, I was planning on getting the Portabag with my new Will Lee in a couple months, but that was before they introduced the new hard case. Now I'm not so sure. I generally like hard cases for my basses, though I use an incase dub bag for gigging as it has proven up to my standards of protection. The Portabag seemed like it would be great.

So who has one of the new hard cases? How do they stack up to the Portabag? Inquiring minds want to know . . .

Bart, hard cases are cool and do offer a very high degree of protection. If I wasn't the one handling my bass then the hard case or a road case would be the mode of choice.

The one instance that has always aggrevated me with a bass hard case has been the times when I've gone through doors or turns in a staircase. With a gig bag like the Portabag or the Incase is that I can hold the bag upright by the spare handle or by the straps. Not an option with a hard case or soft-sided case.

Plus, Tolex does tear, which drives me nuts.

 

[Vic]

Fret 'crowning' just involves taking any 'roughness' off the top and edge, and polishing up.
...fret crowning is more of a 'vanity' sort of thing (make them look pretty again). No real need to do it...

This is actually not true.

Crowning refers to a specific process of rounding the top of the fret, which takes place AFTER the level, and is absolutely NOT just window dressing (though that probably also happens just as a part of the service).

The crown actually has a specific purpose. It guarantees the string fulcrum point of the fret is in the middle of the fret for intonation reasons.

 

[KJung]

This is actually not true.

Crowning refers to a specific process of rounding the top of the fret, which takes place AFTER the level, and is absolutely NOT just window dressing (though that probably also happens just as a part of the service).

The crown actually has a specific purpose. It guarantees the string fulcrum point of the fret is in the middle of the fret for intonation reasons.

Correct, after a leveling, you need to dress the fret. Many also recrown without a full leveling, just to keep things looking nice. The point being, it would not in any way be a problem with the Sadowsky neck with that slip 'unusual' fretboard profile.

 

[Vic]

Many also recrown without a full leveling, just to keep things looking nice.

Again, a recrown is not "just to keep things looking nice". That was my objection to your earlier comment. It actually serves a technical purpose... it's not just aesthetics.

...it would not in any way be a problem with the Sadowsky neck with that slip 'unusual' fretboard profile.

Totally agreed.