Club Sadowsky!!!

[KJung]

Well, thats certainly a few things to consider. I'll let you know which route I took.

thanks K!

Just IMO and something to consider. I'm sure other TBer's will be along to offer preamp advice. There are very few on-board preamps that I like. I'm a big fan of a preamp that sounds relatively transparent, and basically just fattens the inherent passive tone of the bass by tweaking the low end a touch (and of course, buffering the output for a slightly wider tone when needed).

I've never found a preamp with multiple bands of EQ to 'fix' an inherent issue with a bass (i.e., really burping up an ash/maple 70's instrument or grinding up and widening an alder/RW 60's style instrument).

If you depend too much on a $100 battery powered preamp to 'get your sound', you are probably asking for trouble and frustration... IMO!

 

[narud]

i think part of the question is whether you want more high or low mids. if you're missing high mids than by all means i think the first option and best one is to swap out to single coils. if youre looking for a lower mid push, than a 3 band would make sense.

 

[T-MOST]

i think part of the question is whether you want more high or low mids. if you're missing high mids than by all means i think the first option and best one is to swap out to single coils. if youre looking for a lower mid push, than a 3 band would make sense.

When I'm on the Sadowsky (and not slapping) I don't feel like the tone cuts through the choir, keys and the drums. I have tried rolling back towards the bridge pup but that sounds thin to me. The VTC helps a little but still it's marginal and not a true mid boost. I guess what I want to hear is a very solid bass tone but with a wider aspect to it. Maybe that is low mids that I'm interested in. Also I want to keep the bass aggressive.

 

[KJung]

When I'm on the Sadowsky (and not slapping) I don't feel like the tone cuts through the choir, keys and the drums. I have tried rolling back towards the bridge pup but that sounds thin to me. The VTC helps a little but still it's marginal and not a true mid boost. I guess what I want to hear is a very solid bass tone but with a wider aspect to it. Maybe that is low mids that I'm interested in. Also I want to keep the bass aggressive.

The VTC just cuts treble, and eventually upper mids as you dial it in (it is a passive cut circuit).

And, +1, the bridge pickup on most 70's style J's does sound a bit thin (that's why the ash/maple 60's position Sadowsky spec sounds so great to me... all the aggressive grind of an ash/maple instrument, but with the ability to burp a bit in the low mids by slightly favoring the bridge pickup in that more 'burp friendly' position and digging in a bit at the bridge, ala Tal Wilkenfeld).

The singles will, as Joe mentioned, move the top end of the response of your stock pickups down a bit, so that you get more 'grind' in the lower treble, upper mids versus the more modern 'click and sizzle' of the HC's, but I agree they will not help with the low mid burp (the are a little more present in the upper bass than the very wide HC"s, but probably not enough to make you happy).

I guess a preamp with the ability to boost in the low mids might help, although again that low mid type boost from an on-board preamp typically sounds electronic and contrived.

 

[T-MOST]

The VTC just cuts treble, and eventually upper mids as you dial it in (it is a passive cut circuit).

And, +1, the bridge pickup on most 70's style J's does sound a bit thin (that's why the ash/maple 60's position Sadowsky spec sounds so great to me... all the aggressive grind of an ash/maple instrument, but with the ability to burp a bit in the low mids by slightly favoring the bridge pickup in that more 'burp friendly' position and digging in a bit at the bridge, ala Tal Wilkenfeld).

The singles will, as Joe mentioned, move the top end of the response of your stock pickups down a bit, so that you get more 'grind' in the lower treble, upper mids versus the more modern 'click and sizzle' of the HC's, but I agree they will not help with the low mid burp (the are a little more present in the upper bass than the very wide HC"s, but probably not enough to make you happy).

I guess a preamp with the ability to boost in the low mids might help, although again that low mid type boost from an on-board preamp typically sounds electronic and contrived.

I'm not a tone purist or vintage type of guy. I'm perfectly ok with achieving a particular tone through electronics. That being the case I think I'm going to try the OBP 3. It has a 2 way mid pot so I'm sure tone(s) I'm after are in there! It's also going to be wired for passive/active.

However, everyone feel free to continue to comment on this if you are so inspired!

 

[Vic]

@cory

pm me time and place for the 20th plz?

It's the Fazio's GTG I told you about.

 

[Chef]

Time?

For the guy wanting more mids:
Try single coil Will Lee model.

 

[nostatic]

When I'm on the Sadowsky (and not slapping) I don't feel like the tone cuts through the choir, keys and the drums. I have tried rolling back towards the bridge pup but that sounds thin to me. The VTC helps a little but still it's marginal and not a true mid boost. I guess what I want to hear is a very solid bass tone but with a wider aspect to it. Maybe that is low mids that I'm interested in. Also I want to keep the bass aggressive.

You should try a Sadowsky PJ. To me it gives a ton of flexibility and the P pup gives you the lower mids that you just won't get out of a JJ setup imho/ime.

 

[marchone]

You should try a Sadowsky PJ. To me it gives a ton of flexibility and the P pup gives you the lower mids that you just won't get out of a JJ setup imho/ime.

Do you think that's also true of the Will Lee with its new preamp? Reportedly more mid range punch was a design goal.

 

[ElMon]

You should try a Sadowsky PJ. To me it gives a ton of flexibility and the P pup gives you the lower mids that you just won't get out of a JJ setup imho/ime.

+10000. That was THE fix for me. I'll never look back!

 

[Sadowsky]

When I'm on the Sadowsky (and not slapping) I don't feel like the tone cuts through the choir, keys and the drums.

Have you asked anyone out in "the house" how it sounds?

Roger

 

[Vic]

However, everyone feel free to continue to comment on this if you are so inspired!

Here are my thoughts...

First, with the 70's pickup placement, yeah, the bridge pickup can be a bit thin, BUT, have you tried just favoring it enough to get the edge/cut you want, and then backing the VTC off 30-50%, AND boosting the bass? That will give you more mids both in the upper range (from the bridge favoring) and the lower mids (from the bass control both filling in space and also reaching somewhat into the low mids just from the nature of how it works). I've had pretty good luck with that.

That said, for the reasons you state, that's one of the reasons I really dig the 60's placement the most these days. I used to be ALL about the 70's spec, but more lately have really gotten into the 60's spec more.

Ok, so let's say that doesn't do it for you...

The WL preamp isn't an option, since you can't buy that aftermarket, so toss that out.

Other preamps? Man, I hate to go away from the magic of the Sadowsky preamp, but if it really isn't quite doing it for you AND you can't afford, or don't wish to consider a different model, then I'd suggest you get into a preamp that either has sweepable mids (like a J-Retro) or something that has either internally settable mid freqs that include something down around 250-400Hz or where the preamp's mids are otherwise somehow configurable to that frequency range. I could be off-base here, but I'm getting the feeling that's the zone you're missing with the 70's spec. At least that's the area of the mids I always felt sounded the best boosting on a 70's spec bass.

Ok, so what about other models of basses? Assuming you're primarily a J guy, I'd definitely suggest getting one of Roger's more typical 60's spec basses. That's all I own and I NEVER EVER have a problem with a fat cutting tone. NEVER. Otherwise, nostatic is absolutley correct, if you really want low mid grunt and you don't mind losing more of the classic J tone for something a bit more generally "modern" sounding (sorta'), the PJ is a great solution. That P pickup imparts a great earthy mid character to the sound, and even if you're not a P guy, try soloing that pickup sometime. I'm pretty sure you'll be pleasantly surprised at how well it "works".

Anyway, there's my array of thoughts, depending on your goals and pocketbook, and my first recommendation is to try and make your bass work for you without mod'ing it, but that's for you to decide. Hope it's of some help.

 

[DrSmaggs]

it's always hard to tell on stage how you sound front of house. Your lower end is a longer wavelength than the top end of your signal, so you will hear your slaps and pops with ease, but have a harder time hearing on stage when you play lower register lightly.

I'm sure you're coming through just fine

 

[pablo basso]

...Just gigged my new RV5 last night...whoawww..just great...

It was a festival so I played over another guy's rig ( Markbass 2x10 combo and Mesa 1x15) and that sounded killer, punch, growl..anything you would want...plus the metro is a dream to play.

We did record through a simple stereo zoom H2 and the bass cuts through great...

Only problem is...you hear me screwing up so well...

 

[ClassicJazz]

Here are my thoughts...

First, with the 70's pickup placement, yeah, the bridge pickup can be a bit thin......

I am sure it varies from bass to bass depending on the woods or it SC or HC are used......but I have the 70's pickup placement on my fretless and the bridge pickup is anything but thin. Nice punchy low mids which cuts it through the mix big time. But, as I said...that is my bass!

 

[Vic]

I am sure it varies from bass to bass depending on the woods or it SC or HC are used......but I have the 70's pickup placement on my fretless and the bridge pickup is anything but thin. Nice punchy low mids which cuts it through the mix big time. But, as I said...that is my bass!

Curious... which fretless? What woods? What pickups?

 

[ClassicJazz]

Curious... which fretless? What woods? What pickups?

This fretless!

Swamp Ash body and HC pickups. (you just wanted me to post it!! )

 

[Vic]

Swamp Ash body and HC pickups. (you just wanted me to post it!! )

Heck yes I did!

Yeah, I know you've posted this before, but 1.) I can't remember all these off the top of my head, and 2.) It's NEVER bad to see another amazing Sadowsky pic, even if it is a repost.

Last question... when you play this, where is your right hand?

This is where I think the rub lies. At least I play a fretless totally differently than a fretted. Many times I play WAY forward, and sometimes literally right over the fingerboard (just like an upright player typically does). This TOTALLY adds a bunch of low end to the tone. On fretted, I typically (tho not always) play in the zone between and over the bridge and neck pickups, but hardly ever forward of the neck pickup, and usually right between them.

On a 70's positioned bass, if you play in that zone and don't add any bass and/or neck blend, the bridge pickup can sound kinda' thin... especially if you move back towards the bridge to add some extra bite. Even though the difference between the 70's and 60's spec is less than an inch (I think it's actually 1/2 inch), at least IMHO, the bridge pickup, and the bite you get from it, is very audibly fatter sounding. At least IME it is. This is the crux of my point.

 

[Dave C]

had this for 9-10 years, its my main instrument, thought I'd finally get around to posting a pic on here (yes its the avatar too)

that's all

 

[Bass Collector]

WOW! that's Niiiiiice!