Club Sadowsky!!!

[BluesyCat]

Boy, am I glad I'm broke. All this talk about PJs, Braz, 5-strings, etc.....darn good think I'm broke.

It will even be more difficult when I'm at NAMM this week....

 

[DrGroovenstein]

That is just such a stupid, scary, amazing, good looking bass. That's one of those 'how can this even happen' basses.

Amazing, and I'm one who thinks a J bass without a pickguard and a fancy top is somehow against the will of god.

Hahah. I think this is my old bass, and boy do I miss it.

 

[nostatic]

If you go back a few pages there is a fellow club member that got his vintage style bass with a black control plate.

A few pages or a few threads? I looked through this entire thread and didn't see one.

 

[Joelc73]

This was EXACTLY my experience. My NYC alder/Braz RW PJ5 just wasn't as bright or aggressive as I sometimes needed it to be. Strangely enough, my ash/maple PJ5 can get 90% of the thick/dark punch of my old NYC with the VTC rolled off. Plus, and maybe this is just IME, but I swear that Low Eb down to open B on the B string sounds clearer and has more pitch fundamental in a mix in the ash/maple configuration. IMO

I'm an Ash/Maple guy all the way when it comes to every other bass I own - but something about that Alder/Brazilian combo speaks to me on the PJ5's.

I agree that the B is better on the Ash/Maple basses in general but I don't spend enough time on low B-E that it's a worthwhile trade off on the PJ5.

JC

 

[Vic]

This was EXACTLY my experience. My NYC alder/Braz RW PJ5 just wasn't as bright or aggressive as I sometimes needed it to be. Strangely enough, my ash/maple PJ5 can get 90% of the thick/dark punch of my old NYC with the VTC rolled off. Plus, and maybe this is just IME, but I swear that Low Eb down to open B on the B string sounds clearer and has more pitch fundamental in a mix in the ash/maple configuration. IMO

No offense to the alder/"rw" fans, but my experiences also echo this... all this. Sounds like you and I have had literally identical experiences (I also agree with the other stuff you said).

 

[J. Crawford]

I have Sadowsky knobs on my P bass, if that counts for anything...

How hard would it be to put a Sadowsky setup in my Pbass? I mean, I know it can be done.

 

[nostatic]

No offense to the alder/"rw" fans, but my experiences also echo this... all this. Sounds like you and I have had literally identical experiences (I also agree with the other stuff you said).

I can believe the B string part. From the Sadowsky web site:

"The Sadowsky 5-string bass is available in alder, swamp ash and bent maple top/swamp ash in a variety of finishes. Maple fingerboards are standard as they contribute to the tight, punchy low-B string we desire. Morado, ebony and other premium fingerboards are available."

You guys aren't making this any easier for me...

I suppose I could get an ash/maple NYC PJ5 and keep the Metro alder/rw PJ5

In that case I could do an alder/maple 59 burst vintage with a mint guard.

 

[Vic]

You guys aren't making this any easier for me...

Sorry man, but these basses are just so damn good it's hard not to talk about the details. That said, sheesh, it's not like the B string will be bad on the alder/rw bass... so don't "fret" over this too much.

Go with yer gut, and get the one that has the most overlap with the sound in your head "natively". If you're really feelin' the alder/rw, just get that. Whatever specific things there are that might work slightly better with the ash/maple combo will be washed away by how well the alder/rw meets your "core" tonal goals.

In other words, I do sometimes miss the added classic warmth the alder/rw combo had, but the ash/maple combo just fits me so well it doesn't bother me at all in the end.

 

[bikeplate]

HI

Ive said this a number of times. You can tame, for the most part, an ash/maple Sadowsky down but you'll never get that "snap" and edge from an alder/rw version. Keep that in mind. If you love that warm, vintage tone Id get the alder. Otherwise, ash/maple all the way. All you VTC fans know how this knob works. I feel it makes an ash/maple version the most versatile, even though I dont use it ever. LOL

Rob

 

[Vic]

HI

Ive said this a number of times. You can tame, for the most part, an ash/maple Sadowsky down but you'll never get that "snap" and edge from an alder/rw version. Keep that in mind. If you love that warm, vintage tone Id get the alder. Otherwise, ash/maple all the way. All you VTC fans know how this knob works. I feel it makes an ash/maple version the most versatile, even though I dont use it ever. LOL

Rob

Yeah, we know how you feel Roger was an idiot for putting such a totally useless feature on his basses...


JK!!

Seriously tho, again, big +1. I will say that a "tamed" ash/maple combo will not sound like the alder/rw combo, BUT it gets me enough of that kind of sound that the few times I need it, it's perfect.

I'm also in the camp that feels native edge is much better than edge "extracted" from a combo where it's not there natively.

IMHO/IME as always.

 

[bikeplate]

HI

Nope, didnt said he was an idiot. I said I dont use it. LOL

Never even considered using it but I know many players like it. Actually, many have asked me if they should add VTC to their older NYC's or metros and my answer is always yes. Great for resale if nothing else.

Rob

 

[cripula]

Yeah, we know how you feel Roger was an idiot for putting such a totally useless feature on his basses...

There should really be a smiley for "pot stirrer"

My next Sadowsky will be an alder/braz P/J, but I've been getting into the tones of the ash/maples I have so much that I'm getting curious about an ash/maple P/J as well.

might need both

 

[Vic]

HI

Nope, didnt said he was an idiot. I said I dont use it. LOL

Never even considered using it but I know many players like it. Actually, many have asked me if they should add VTC to their older NYC's or metros and my answer is always yes. Great for resale if nothing else.

Rob

JK stands for "just kidding". Just ribbin' ya bud.

 

[Vic]

There should really be a smiley for "pot stirrer"

Yep, Vic the rabble-rouser, upstart, agitant, or, just to keep it simple, plain old goofball.

 

[SCT1422]

Heres a couple of pics of my Metro PJ-5.. I love the bass.. It has a very fat thick sound/tone... It can be alittle too much for my main group at times... I've thought about putting some flats on it for something different and it would killer on some of the other gigs... It did sound great for a fill-in gig back in December for a group the covers Chicago and Steely Dan..
It's actually darker in person... It looks like a 3 tone burst here, but it's the 59'.. Also the morado is alittle darker in person as well... I've seen a few of these and I don't like a lighter colored rosewood...

 

[dragonbass]

A few pages or a few threads? I looked through this entire thread and didn't see one.

Brian Marshall from Alter Bridge has a Vintage 5 with Black hardware...

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Here's a link to many more pics....
http://images.google.com/images?hl=...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBgQsAQwAA

Rob

 

[dragonbass]

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And here is Specs newest "Blackie".

Rob

 

[johnnydi]

I was going to buy the metro PJ and repaint it but I change my mind. Too heavy, 9 lb 10 oz.

I guess I'm back to the drawing board. What I'm looking for is a P-bass really. I have the J-bass thing covert and now I'm thinking why not a couple of P-basses. one in Alder/RW and the other in Ash/maple.

Its really hard to find a NYC v4 in P or PJ with the P-bass Body.

Any thoughts

 

[bikeplate]

HI

My pj metro is 8.5lbs. If you dont mind buying new, Im sure the shop can keep you in mind when a light one arrives. Other than that, just check ebay, bassgear.com, and the classified here for used NYC's

Rob

 

[dragonbass]

Its really hard to find a NYC v4 in P or PJ with the P-bass Body.
Any thoughts

Hey Johnny,

It's not really that hard, just call the shop and order one with your specs.

Rob