Club Sadowsky!!!

[peterpalmieri]

I'm in again with the 'orange bomber'.... non routed ash, Sadowsky singles, Blue Label SS... wonderful bass.

Here's a more 'old school' clip through an LDS single 15 (no tweeter) with the MB F500... grindy and grunty!:

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And a more 'smooth, modern clip through a very 'studio monitor' voiced LDS 12/6 cab with the same head (same room and player, etc.):

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Ken,

Does that bass have 60s spacing? I always assumed it was 70s but my eye is telling me 60s...

 

[jwbassman]

Here's mine:

And an action shot from this past weekend up in Rochester, NY:

 

[Hawkeye]

I've been playing Lak***ds exclusively for three years.......Beauties like this make me want to switch to this side

I'm loving my Metro RV5 PJ but, it still hasn't made me forget the Lakland Joe Osborn 5 I traded in for it. Nuthin' wrong with the Lakies. There's room for a couple at the top.

Now, if I had a 55-94 deluxe in Cherryburst to put alongside my Metro, I'd be a happy bass player.

 

[Hawkeye]

Just for grins...here is the one that is on its way back from NYC.

Yup, that's a nice one. One day I'd like to have a full-bodied J without pickguard. Nice look.

 

[KJung]

Ken,

Does that bass have 60s spacing? I always assumed it was 70s but my eye is telling me 60s...

Yes.. like almost all Vintage and Standard NYC Sadowsky's (and Metro J's other than the UV model), the standard spacing is 60's no matter what the body and neck woods, with the 70's spacing a custom option for the NYC basses.

I've grown to totally love the ash/maple with singles in 60's position spec. You get, if not an authentic 70's J tone, that ash/maple thing that most hear as in the 70's sort of tone universe, PLUS a much nicer bridge pickup 'fat burp' when you want it. I love this spec.

The alder/maple/70's thing is interesting, but takes a bass (in general) in the opposite direction of my tone goals, with that combination (like the A-C RA models) being smooth and warm and fat and sizzly, versus the big and aggressive and punchy and grindy thing I look for. IMO!

Edit: Nice UV you have there. I like the more 'true J' feel of that bigger body. Get some singles in there and be amazed!

 

[Vic]

are the pickups "60s?"

You know I feel like a dummy, but I dont know. I play mainly over the bridge and I didn't notice it being thinner sounding, but by the pics it does look like 70's. Vic has it now and could measure or verify in his spare time.

If you are talking about your orange one, it sure looks like 70's pickup position, but can't exactly tell due to the photo's being taken on a touch of an angle. I'm pretty sure it is though.

Interesting if it does have 70's position... similar then to the A-C RA, modeled loosely after the 'early 70's transition J's... alder body, poly, maple neck (from what I've been told... I'm surely not a vintage Fender expert). That's an interesting spec.

Yes, it's alder/maple, and I haven't measured it, but I'm pretty sure it's 70's spacing.

 

[Vic]

...70's spacing a custom option for the NYC basses...

...and a standard option for the Metro UV70's.

I've grown to totally love the ash/maple with singles in 60's position spec. You get, if not an authentic 70's J tone, that ash/maple thing that most hear as in the 70's sort of tone universe, PLUS a much nicer bridge pickup 'fat burp' when you want it. I love this spec.

+1

The alder/maple/70's thing is interesting, but takes a bass (in general) in the opposite direction of my tone goals, with that combination (like the A-C RA models) being smooth and warm and fat and sizzly, versus the big and aggressive and punchy and grindy thing I look for. IMO!

I woulda' figured the same thing until I played Cory's. The chambered alder seems to regain some of the warmth lost to the 70's spacing. It's still not the same thing as a 60's spaced ash/maple, but I must say, it is a very very cool spec.

I used to pretty much be all about ash/maple 70's spacing on a J style bass, but I've really changed in recent years to prefer the 60's spacing at least on ash/maple. Alder/maple or alder/rw, however, not so sure. Seems pretty darned cool, and while you do still lose a little warmth and phatness compared to the full 60's spacing alder/rw combo, I really like it a lot.

 

[KJung]

I woulda' figured the same thing until I played Cory's. The chambered alder seems to regain some of the warmth lost to the 70's spacing. It's still not the same thing as a 60's spaced ash/maple, but I must say, it is a very very cool spec.

+1 That's how I'd describe it also... more warmth and a bit more compressed down low, and more 'upper treble' airy than 'punchy grind' versus the ash/maple/60's. Again, kind of a strange mix for me at this point, but very pure and warm and smooth.

How close is the tone of this bass to the RA clips I posted, which is the same spec? I know the Sadowsky tone and A-C tone are WAY different, but wondering how much that unusual 70's/alder spec brings them together. All bases sound different, of course, but I was shocked how different my ash/maple/70's A-C sounded from my alder/maple/70's model with the same strings, approximately the same weight, and the same electronics... not better or worse, but surprisingly different. Others who have both models report a similar experience. I would have never thought body wood could make such a difference. I wonder if it is an interaction between the body wood and the 70's placement, since I don't hear as big a difference between the RV's and MV's, for example.

 

[peterpalmieri]

Yes.. like almost all Vintage and Standard NYC Sadowsky's (and Metro J's other than the UV model), the standard spacing is 60's no matter what the body and neck woods, with the 70's spacing a custom option for the NYC basses.

I've grown to totally love the ash/maple with singles in 60's position spec. You get, if not an authentic 70's J tone, that ash/maple thing that most hear as in the 70's sort of tone universe, PLUS a much nicer bridge pickup 'fat burp' when you want it. I love this spec.

The alder/maple/70's thing is interesting, but takes a bass (in general) in the opposite direction of my tone goals, with that combination (like the A-C RA models) being smooth and warm and fat and sizzly, versus the big and aggressive and punchy and grindy thing I look for. IMO!

Edit: Nice UV you have there. I like the more 'true J' feel of that bigger body. Get some singles in there and be amazed!

To be clear (for others) my bass is solid ash/maple with 70s spacing and has hum cancelling pickups...Some may think it has an alder body being that it's got that early 70s "geddy" look...And it is a light bass, I'd say lighter then my A-C LG5, in hind sight I should have weighed it before I left the shop.

Ken I had the opportunity to play a metro that was ash/maple and 60s spacing with HCs I didn't really dig it to be honest. Not a bad bass at all just wasn't what I am hearing in my head. To be honest I wasn't even looking to buy the UV spec with my LM5 almost complete but man it was such a nice bass I didn't want to let it go...

I am curious of what the difference would have been if the bass had singles in it but there was no other bass in the shop spec'd that way to compare. Of course the shop would have gladly made the swap for me but being that the bass sounded really good I didn't see a reason to make the swap, but after I get my LM5 I could always bring the bass back and make the swap if I am inclined.

 

[Big String]

New Topic ...
I've been told that a P-neck (1-3/4")with more mass is better for the 'real' P-bass tone than a Jazz neck (1-1/2")... ? Not sure about that being so other than what is just personally comfy.

 

[rodneyat]

I woulda' figured the same thing until I played Cory's. The chambered alder seems to regain some of the warmth lost to the 70's spacing. It's still not the same thing as a 60's spaced ash/maple, but I must say, it is a very very cool spec.

+1 That's how I'd describe it also... more warmth and a bit more compressed down low, and more 'upper treble' airy than 'punchy grind' versus the ash/maple/60's. Again, kind of a strange mix for me at this point, but very pure and warm and smooth.

I have had a chance to A/B a few wood combinations with the Sadowsky basses I have owned. When I still had my NYC 24-5 alder/ebony. I did and A/B with another friend who had a 24-5 ash/maple. They were both actually even built within a month of each other. Like you said Ken...The alder brought in some upper treble air to the mix. Part could have also been the ebony board. At the same time, the overall tone was a bit more rounded than the ash/maple. But, it did not seem to quite have the low end that the ash/maple did either. It was an interesting experiment. Then I did an A/B with my NYC Standard JJ single coil ash/ebony with another friends same pickups but ash/maple. There was subtle differences. But, overall, they really sounded almost the same. in a mix, you would probably not hear the difference. That was a good A/B because it probably kept me from buying an ash/maple Standard.

 

[Vic]

New Topic ...
I've been told that a P-neck (1-3/4")with more mass is better for the 'real' P-bass tone than a Jazz neck (1-1/2")... ? Not sure about that being so other than what is just personally comfy.

That could be. I don't really notice it on a 5 (noting the measurements you list are for a 4), but maybe that's just because once you get to a 5 neck you've already crossed some mass boundary that just makes it ok between the P and J 5 necks.

 

[Vic]

How close is the tone of this bass to the RA clips I posted, which is the same spec? I know the Sadowsky tone and A-C tone are WAY different, but wondering how much that unusual 70's/alder spec brings them together. All bases sound different, of course, but I was shocked how different my ash/maple/70's A-C sounded from my alder/maple/70's model with the same strings, approximately the same weight, and the same electronics... not better or worse, but surprisingly different. Others who have both models report a similar experience. I would have never thought body wood could make such a difference. I wonder if it is an interaction between the body wood and the 70's placement, since I don't hear as big a difference between the RV's and MV's, for example.

Well, the short version is, I think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned the AC vs Sadowsky sounds are way different.

To elaborate...

I think the AC is a lot more faithful to the true Fender alder/maple 70's tone, and actually, I have a basis to say that from. My Geddy Lee is that exact spec, and it definitely nails that tone. I totally hear that in an RA, and while I know that spec didn't really do it for you, I continue to dig it a lot.

However, while I'm not sure it's useful to compare the RA to the Sadowsky (for reasons just mentioned), I will say this, the delta between the the LM and RA are very comparable to the delta between similar spec'd Sadowsky basses, which of course makes sense. The other vairable Sadowsky brings to the table of course is the chambered bodies, and that also adds a bit of depth and punch to the tone. Nothing at all comparable to that on the AC side, further making it hard to draw any useful conclusions by comparing the two brands.

I'll be real bold here and go out on a limb to say, I really believe if you played Cory's bass, you'd like it more than you think you would. I wouldn't go as far as to say it'd be your new fave, but I do think you'd be pleasantly surprised.

IMHO.

 

[KJung]

Ken I had the opportunity to play a metro that was ash/maple and 60s spacing with HCs I didn't really dig it to be honest. Not a bad bass at all just wasn't what I am hearing in my head. To be honest I wasn't even looking to buy the UV spec with my LM5 almost complete but man it was such a nice bass I didn't want to let it go...

I am curious of what the difference would have been if the bass had singles in it but there was no other bass in the shop spec'd that way to compare. Of course the shop would have gladly made the swap for me but being that the bass sounded really good I didn't see a reason to make the swap, but after I get my LM5 I could always bring the bass back and make the swap if I am inclined.

+1 On my trip through a few Sadowsky's to find one that is my sound (I played an NYC alder/RW for a couple of years that I 'liked but didn't love', bought a Modern that I hated in every way possible.. really not my sound), and to your point above, bought a Metro Ash/maple that was very lightweight and VERY clacky sounding at least with the stock HC's. I knew that was the direction I wanted to go, and when I saw my orange one with the slightly heavier solid body, and had singles put in it... that was my boy and has been for a while.

Interestingly, when Low Down Sound was open and quite a few Metro's came through, almost everyone thought the alder/RW's were, in general, great sounding, but many of the ash/maples didn't fair well with people. The UV's, maybe due to the increased body mass, or pickup placement, always sounded great to me... never played one I didn't like. I find my ash/maple non-routed NYC with singles and 60's position to sound closer to most of the UV's I've played than most of the MV5's I've played, which should sound identical!

Whew... OK, enough of that. I think you can hear that aggressive grind of mine in my clips though. I love this bass!

 

[peterpalmieri]

...and a standard option for the Metro UV70's.

+1

I woulda' figured the same thing until I played Cory's. The chambered alder seems to regain some of the warmth lost to the 70's spacing. It's still not the same thing as a 60's spaced ash/maple, but I must say, it is a very very cool spec.

I used to pretty much be all about ash/maple 70's spacing on a J style bass, but I've really changed in recent years to prefer the 60's spacing at least on ash/maple. Alder/maple or alder/rw, however, not so sure. Seems pretty darned cool, and while you do still lose a little warmth and phatness compared to the full 60's spacing alder/rw combo, I really like it a lot.

BTW - It may (or may not) be worth mentioning. I owned a '73 Fender jazz that had black blocks and bindings, alder/maple for many years and loved that bass to death. This UV70 sounds strikingly similar keep in mind it's been ten years since I owned that bass. In my memory more so then the ash/maple 60s spacing. What that's telling me is that the 70s spacing is more defining the tone then the ash vs alder body. Maybe? or maybe it's just this and that piece of wood..or it's all in my head...

 

[jmain]

I've been playing Lak***ds exclusively for three years.......Beauties like this make me want to switch to this side

Sold my 55-02 about 2 yrs ago and my JO5 this past weekend.

This one will be here tomorrow. I'm gonna rock the HC's and Blue Steels for a bit. But I'm thinking I'll probably end up with singles and Blue Nicks in this mug. I'm gonna play it out for a while first. (May end up with a black or tort pickguard also. We'll see.)

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Has anyone who's been to the shop recently played this bass. With that incredibly dark look, i was just wondering how it sounded

I played it and liked it a lot. Those that call the Moderns Smith-like are on the right track. It was the first Modern I've played, and it made me want one of my own.

 

[lowB_2277]

I played it and liked it a lot. Those that call the Moderns Smith-like are on the right track. It was the first Modern I've played, and it made me want one of my own.

I think they need to set up a "Sadowsky Demo Lab" out here on the left coast.

 

[Vic]

Sold my 55-02 about 2 yrs ago and my JO5 this past weekend.

This one will be here tomorrow. I'm gonna rock the HC's and Blue Steels for a bit. But I'm thinking I'll probably end up with singles and Blue Nicks in this mug. I'm gonna play it out for a while first. (May end up with a black or tort pickguard also. We'll see.)

Awesome bass dude!

Strong IMHO on this, but regarding the pickguard, I personally wouldn't really be feelin' a pickguard on a Standard, but at least as far as color goes, either black or tort would look killer on a natural finish, so good choices there!

 

[peterpalmieri]

Whew... OK, enough of that. I think you can hear that aggressive grind of mine in my clips though. I love this bass!

I listened quite a few times to your orange bomber clips and I can say I love that tone. I didn't hear that same tone in the ash/maple 60s spacing metro, the UV70 is somewhat closer but not the same, less mid presence (I think).

It could easily be chalked up to the unpredictability of different woods or maybe even the HCs vs. singles.

Again the ash/maple metro with 60s spacing if I ventured a guess sounded more like the RA you had.