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I prefer the JJ set up. To me the PJ combo sounds pretty good played finger style but has a hollow sound that I really don't like when slapped. Solo'd the neck pickup does the "P" thing well of course. I think the JJ tone is where it is at and the PJ doesn't cut it. That's my feeling on the subject, contrary to the many PJ lovers. I went to Sadowsky thinking I was going to buy a PJ5 and learned it is not my thing...
Moral of the story make sure you really give it a good workout before deciding.
That's kind of where I'm at. The PJ thing never did anything for me.
For those of us old enough to remember, the PJ thing back in the day was never about the J guys getting a fatter tone, but all about the guys who owned P Basses wanting a bit more brightness and grind sometimes, and not wanting to give up their P for a J.
The PJ has always been, for me, a 'PBass+', versus having anything to do with a 'modification of a J Bass tone'.
If you are the type of player who basically loves a P Bass tone, but sometimes wants a bit more grind and sizzle and 'burp', then the PJ is wonderful, since you don't really 'lose' anything (i.e., it IS a PBass with the bridge pickup turned off).
If, on the other hand, you are a Sadowsky J owner who wishes for a bit more fatness, punch and mid complexity in the tone of your Metro J or NYC with the HC's, putting in a set of Sadowsky singles is a much better way to go IMO and IME.
It is funny, for me it is like going from a darth vader voice to a mickey mouse voice.
From top to bottom:
P=Darth Vader
J neck
JJ
PJ
J bridge=Mickey Mouse
That's how I hear the harmonics. For sure it's an exaggeration, but it is just to show the idea of how I hear them.
From top to bottom:
P=Darth Vader
J neck
JJ
PJ
J bridge=Mickey Mouse
That's how I hear the harmonics. For sure it's an exaggeration, but it is just to show the idea of how I hear them.
I personally love both, tho I must admit if I had to pick one, I'd take the JJ first.
To me, the primary difference between the JJ and the PJ is of course the effect of the P, which is to put more emphasis on the earthier lower mids as opposed to a bit more in the upper mids.
So on a PJ, to me, it tends to sound a bit more "modern" because it's got almost a scoop effect in the upper mid "grind" area. This also gives it a little bit of a "ping" type of sound... especially when slapped. HOWEVER, it does have a little more grunt down lower, so it's not a net loss, it's just different, and I like it.
I'm definitely a J guy at heart, but there are a lot of times I'll set the JJ down and really dig what the PJ does... even without soloing the P, tho of course when you do, it's also a wonderful thing for rock and blues especially.
Anyway, just MHO on that.
I find that the pan position with the PJ makes a big difference. For whatever reason, I don't like it in the middle (50/50). It kinda thins out a bit and just doesn't punch. I am usually tweaked just a bit towards the P side or J side depending on what I want. And with the TC/Berg setup, I find I like the J pup a bit more. I never tried a Sad JJ with SCs though. Then again, my favorite bass tone of all time is my Zon Lightwave fretless, so I'm probably an outlier...
Thanks all,
I'm probably going to go JJ in the long run. I'm getting a good deal on it, and spending that much more for a PJ just doesn't make sense right now...
I'll probably wind up w. both somewhere down the road anyways...
I'm probably going to go JJ in the long run. I'm getting a good deal on it, and spending that much more for a PJ just doesn't make sense right now...
I'll probably wind up w. both somewhere down the road anyways...
It's quite the opposite for me, but different strokes. To me the JJ models were way too scooped, both fingerstyle and slapped. When panning either pickup, no issues. To my ears the PJ5 has a lowmid kick that just 'does it' for me. IME.
+1. Depending on my right hand position I have the best of both worlds. And I'll also add that putting SC's was a HUGE improvement one what I was hearing as a relatively scooped sound.
See, as always, owning one of each is THE answer!!!! I wouldn't mind having an MV5 JUST for a modern slap tone.
I experienced the same thing with my metro, but yet when I got this NYC, something about how Roger and crew set the pickup height eliminated this problem. With pickups panned in the middle, I get a very fat lowmid punch. Anything BUT scooped. Plus, when I pan either pickup I don't have to really change my volume setting. The way I had my Metro's pickups set, when I went to the P pickup, it threatened to blow my speakers and I had to back off the volume. I'll try and take some measurements of my NYC's pickup height and post them up here.
HI
Ive owned and gigged all of them and there is a difference at a gig and when recording. The PJ still is kinda jazz sounding but was an added deepness to it. I really love panning my Hybrid PJ all the way to the P when using a pick. If I had to own one id personally own a JJ but the PJ will handle any gig, any tone. Have at it and have fun. Also, take the subway to the shop. Its right in your "neighborhood" and check some out
Rob
Ive owned and gigged all of them and there is a difference at a gig and when recording. The PJ still is kinda jazz sounding but was an added deepness to it. I really love panning my Hybrid PJ all the way to the P when using a pick. If I had to own one id personally own a JJ but the PJ will handle any gig, any tone. Have at it and have fun. Also, take the subway to the shop. Its right in your "neighborhood" and check some out
Rob
I listened to, looked @ and played some amazing Sadowskys today @ the St.Louis GTG @ Fazios. I decided that I had to have one and have just exhaused all resources in trying to find a used NYC Sadowsky that had everything I wanted on it. So I sent Kevin an email and Roger a cc and asked him to contact me so I can get him the money to get the process started. Here is the specs I decided to go with.
Ash Body,
Maple Top. (as close as possible to #5249)
BE Maple neck
Vintage style
SC PUPs
59 Burst finish
Tort PG
I want to thank all of the guys that brought the Sadowskys for me to,listen to, look at and play. Thanks guys,
Mike
Ash Body,
Maple Top. (as close as possible to #5249)
BE Maple neck
Vintage style
SC PUPs
59 Burst finish
Tort PG
I want to thank all of the guys that brought the Sadowskys for me to,listen to, look at and play. Thanks guys,
Mike
Awesome! Congrats on the decision to just jump in, rather than waiting and fussing over the lack of used ones that met your wants. Used NYC Sadowskys really don't show up that often considering just how many are out there. It must mean that they've found permanant homes. This way you are going to get exactly what you are looking for. It's a win situation.
Hmmm...
I'm not sure if I'm going to have too much of a problem w. lows and low-mids... I'm a flatwounds kind of guy, so I'm not overly concerned w. that. As soon as this bass gets home, there's a 90% chance it will get the "year old TI's" treatment lol.
The deal I'm getting is a little too good to pass up, so JJs it is... for now...
I'm not sure if I'm going to have too much of a problem w. lows and low-mids... I'm a flatwounds kind of guy, so I'm not overly concerned w. that. As soon as this bass gets home, there's a 90% chance it will get the "year old TI's" treatment lol.
The deal I'm getting is a little too good to pass up, so JJs it is... for now...
I should add that I just put down my second payment on it today... so I'm about 40% there...
For what it's worth, I'm pretty much a P bass guy, but I just got in from my second gig with my new Vintage 5 string, and although i struggled a little with the settings (VTC) on the first job Thursday night, tonight i had no issues and got a great P sort of sound on the appropriate tunes. It's amazing how virsitile this instrument is. And I was a TI flats guy too, but really like the Sadowsky flats that came on my bass. I don't think I'll end up changing them. Although the tension is a bit higher and the guages are more normal than Ti's, these Black label strings have a really nice bite to them when you dial it in. A quarter turn on the VTC and I'm back in P bass heaven, with Jazz bass pickups. Who would have thought. And I sure don't miss the two extra pounds I was holding up all night!
