Might want to try Sadowsky Flats on it. The steels are pretty bright. I've been very happy with Sadowsky flats, and I can still get a good slap tone out of my Sad's with flats on.
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Might want to try Sadowsky Flats on it. The steels are pretty bright. I've been very happy with Sadowsky flats, and I can still get a good slap tone out of my Sad's with flats on.
Good point, but I don't think it changes the upper treble response. I think it merely extends the treble response to be a little stronger down in what you call the "grind" area, which shouldn't do anything negative, even with the older pickups.
I'd generally recommend the change on any Sadowsky bass as long as it was cheap and easy (like you could do it yourself or you know a friend or tech you could get it done cheaply by). Otherwise, again, it's really a subtle diff, so if it's any hassle or significant expense at all, don't bother.
I don't think that's how it works, and is not what I hear in the clips. I believe it just opens up the sizzle a bit more way up top. However, I might be wrong (basing this on other basses and talking to quite a few set-up guys through the years.
The key is, it seems trivial and not worth the trouble ESPECIALLY with the older, VERY treble present HC's. Per Rogers post earlier, the pot change in the newer basses was part of a change in the pickup voicing, which makes sense to me.
I think we disagree then. Roger's always put the pot change in the context of getting the HC's to sound a little more like SC's... seems to me the HC's already have plenty of sizzle... what they "lack" in comparison to the SC's, is "grind". IMHO/IME.
Joeykun
pronounced ジョーイくん
- Jun 22, 2007
- 4,200
- 16,150
- Disclosures
- Endorsing: LAKLAND SADOWSKY GENZLER DARKGLASS NORDSTRAND TEMPLEBOARD KIRLIN DRSTRINGS ACCESS
Reread my original post. My point was, that is what Roger said and that would make total sense if it were actually true. However, my experience with other volume pots with these specs, and the clips I've heard, and the posts by guys who have done this with their older Sadowsky basses suggests to me that Roger's comment was either off base (probably not), or else is based on the COMBINATION of the new pickup design and the pot (I would guess this is the case).
Roger recently mentioned that he only suggests the pot change for the single coils if the user feels he needs more upper treble brightness.... this makes TOTAL sense to me.
In for part 15. My photography hasn't improved any since 14...
Wow, you are definietly Mr Big Single Sadowksy!!!
How do they compare sound wise?
I am longing for a 5er w. BS in J positions, but I cant' decide on 60's or 70's placement....
I don't need to reread your post, and you are not recalling Roger's comments accurately.
Here's what he actually said, which I agree with, back in this post from last October 16th...
"I have always heard single coils to be more "open" sounding than the HCs. I am not looking to increase any high end on my basses---they already have plenty of highs. So in our listening tests, the 500K volume pot brought the HCs closer to the single coils----which has always been my goal."
sigh... you continue to miss my point. I agree, if the switch out would do what Roger says it should do, all would be well. IMO, it does not.
Again, I agree that is what Roger said and I agree that would be a good thing. However, if you read the above posts and listen to the clips, the swap out seems to not do this at all, and more than anything, it adds just what is not needed. Again, since I believe the pickups have been changed a bit, it would not surprise me at all if the pot change combined with the new pickup voicing is doing more of what Roger is describing.
And I again agree with Roger's other statement that for those who want more of the HC upper treble response in the more low treble present HC's, changing to the 500K pot might just sizzle up the singles a touch more.
As Cory (TB:Saluki) and I have posted about here a bit already, he did me the favor (seriously), of letting me cover for him at his church this past weekend and it was an absolute blast. I played the new Metro MV5-24 through my Markbass F1 and Cory's Berg AE410.
There are a couple of vids posted here, if you guys can see them (not sure about what's not visible by non-friends or non-facebookers). However, there is one vid where I think you can hear the grind and growl this bass has a bit better, actually titled "Vic Serbe Plays Bass at Hope Church". Kind of an odd angle, but there's a reason for that (long story). If folks can't get to that vid, I'm gonna' try to get a copy and host it.
There are a couple of vids posted here, if you guys can see them (not sure about what's not visible by non-friends or non-facebookers). However, there is one vid where I think you can hear the grind and growl this bass has a bit better, actually titled "Vic Serbe Plays Bass at Hope Church". Kind of an odd angle, but there's a reason for that (long story). If folks can't get to that vid, I'm gonna' try to get a copy and host it.
The white and red ones are both ash/maple and sound very similar. I bought the white one first as I needed a 5 string, but prefer 4s... so shortly thereafter had to have the 4 stringed version. They're great sounding basses and I can't recommend the Big Singles in the 60s position with an ash/maple combo highly enough. I LOVE it.
The black and mint (my excellent photography makes it look white) is alder/ebony/fretless and those are Fat Stacks. I wanted to love them but I'm finding them a bit too polite. I'll probably swap them out for Big Singles.
Since I haven't posted any photos in this thread...
Here is my latest, NYC ash/maple JJ4 now sporting Sadowsky SCs which I am loving. I'm still on the fence about swapping the 250k pot to the 500K on this one.
I still have my MV4 in oly white and my other-worldly '97 ash/maple JJ5. All of them are pretty plain vanilla in looks but certainly not in tone, playability or just out n'out fun.
Here is my latest, NYC ash/maple JJ4 now sporting Sadowsky SCs which I am loving. I'm still on the fence about swapping the 250k pot to the 500K on this one.
I still have my MV4 in oly white and my other-worldly '97 ash/maple JJ5. All of them are pretty plain vanilla in looks but certainly not in tone, playability or just out n'out fun.
Honestly, if you already have SC's in it, don't bother. By the same token, if somebody already had the 500K pot in their bass with a set of the HC's (either by original factory config or doing it after the fact themselves), I wouldn't bother the remove the 500K pot when swapping HC's out for SC's.
Sorry, KJ....I must disagree
The 500K does exactly what I say it will do!
I have dozens of emails from people who have made the change and find it a very positive improvement. Not a single email from someone who felt it was a waste of time and/or money to make the change. Nor anyone saying it made the bass too bright.
You actually say in your post that your are basing your opinion "from my experience with these pots in general" which suggests to me that you yourself have not heard the difference with my HC pickups between a 250K and 500K pot.
I will be the first to agree that I expected the 500K pot to just make things too bright, but that didn't happen. Everyone in my shop was unanimous in agreeing with what we heard.
I don't think you should question our extensive listening tests based on "your experience with these pots in general", rather than direct experience of what we are evaluating.
R
Chef
In Memoriam
vic:
can't see the one with you listed in the title.
i'm not friends with the poster...if you can list titles of any other vids with that bass, you know why i'd be curious to hear them.
can't see the one with you listed in the title.
i'm not friends with the poster...if you can list titles of any other vids with that bass, you know why i'd be curious to hear them.
On the vids, if you have a facebook account, I think you can see a couple of the "out front" ones, but not the one he only put on his wall, which only his friends can access. Unfortunately, I think that one has the best bass tone content. Don't worry tho, he's agreed to give me my own private copy, which I'll host and post about.
Even though that recording was done very ad hoc, and the overall quality (while better than I expected) is fairly low, you can really hear the Sadowsky ash/maple/SC growl coming through big time. Just another testament to how "effective" these basses are... even when subject to "sonic oppression".
Even though that recording was done very ad hoc, and the overall quality (while better than I expected) is fairly low, you can really hear the Sadowsky ash/maple/SC growl coming through big time. Just another testament to how "effective" these basses are... even when subject to "sonic oppression".
