Wow, this is gorgeous! Lurking in these Club Sadowsky threads is dangerous--but fun!
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Wow, this is gorgeous! Lurking in these Club Sadowsky threads is dangerous--but fun!
This is what I tried as well, certainly seems to make a lot of sense, but at least in my case, the alder/rw didn't quite git-r-done for me even in the PJ. I ended up with ash/maple on both, and couldn't be happier. That said, I do consider myself to be in the minority on that. I think your choices are a lot more typical.
I play classic rock (if you consider Springsteen, Petty, The Band, Dylan, etc. as classic rock) and my ash/mp PJ shines. You can roll off the VTC and you get a warm tone but still not overly dark so the notes can be really heard.
YES it should be! But even in my blues band, as awesome as the alder/brazilian PJ5 was, I still somehow missed the ash/maple thing enough to switch.
Again, I consider myself in the minority on this one. Maybe I'm wrong, but I really think for most folks the alder/rw theme would probably be more generally popular for a PJ. Maybe Roger can comment based on numbers of units sold on each?
Yeah - that is what I was afraid of...overly dark. edit..sounds like it works if dialed in. Thanks guys!
I'm not saying that alder/rw has to be always dark, but I find that ash/maple, even with the VTC completely rolled off, has a better definition of the notes (I'm talking about the pitch). I have never owned an alder/rw Sadowsky, but that's my experience with other brands.
Chef
In Memoriam
I think that it depends on the instrument as well as the amp. I had a brief fling with a NYC bass in the pre-VTC days and I found it a little too "alive" for my style back then. Today it'll be a better fit, and I love the VTC and think it gives a lot more tonal range.
Back in the day I went through similar things with strats. I would switch back and forth between maple and rw fingerboards, and if I had to pick one today it would be rw because my ear wants that extra bit of warmth as opposed to the extra bit of bite. But again, instrument and amp factors in as well.
The VTC is a very handy knob.
I like the RW board on my RV4. It sounds warmer to me than my M5-24 did. Of course, the pups/placement of the M5-24 probably has as much to do with it as the maple neck. The VTC was very useful on that bass to "take some edge" off.
I like the RW board on my RV4. It sounds warmer to me than my M5-24 did. Of course, the pups/placement of the M5-24 probably has as much to do with it as the maple neck. The VTC was very useful on that bass to "take some edge" off.
Another +1 on the VTC. IMHO an absolute must-have on any Sadowsky. Not to say Sadowskys are "too bright" in general... lots of times I don't use it at all, but man, you want a great way to smooth out the high end from time to time, you gotta' love the VTC.
I like what the VTC does. That said, my UV 5 is rarely bright, even with brand new strings. And it is an ash/maple combo. Very rarely, when the strings are really new and playing through a hi fi rig, I might use it.
Maybe I should try a different brand of strings?
Maybe I should try a different brand of strings?
I have to say, that to my ears, my ash/morado UV70 is just perfect to me. It has some grit and grrrr, but it is also nice and smooth. I don't think I saw anyone make a mention of that combo, which is why I chimed in.
Hey Bluesy
Not Vic but I do have a lot of PJ Sadowsky experience. For what you're describing, there is no way in the world you wouldn't be happy with Alder/Rosewood. If you're going NYC, definitely go for the Brazilian board too.
That combo rules for fingerstyle and pick playing. It's so versatile and just sits perfectly in the mix.
JC
Thank you!!! That sounds perfect. I use an Ampeg 410hlf and a GK700rbII, btw. I also forgot to mention that I am leaning towards a reverse pj.
I have an alder/braz. rw PJ as my #1, and our band plays classic rock and blues, and it works perfectly. The alder/RW works especially well with the P pickup, IMO. Hopefully I can post some live clips at some point (gotta find somewhere to host them).
That being said, I have an ash/maple JJ on order for some contrast.
I do have to say that as much as I love the PJ, it shines on fingerstyle. JJs are definitely better for slap, but since I only slap about 5% of the time and mostly play fingerstyle, the PJ works great for what we play.
You are talking about my bass:
reverse PJ5 in alder/brazilian:
Link Removed
It is not overly dark at all! After all it is a Sadowsky
+1
I've been working on some tunes for a fill-in gig this Friday night.. One of the songs is "Just you and me" by Chicago.. When I solo the P pickup on my RVPJ-5, it just nails that sound/tone...
