A few months ago, I ventured into the Sadowsky compound to compare a few basses they had in stock to determine what I wanted on my "ordered" Sadowsky.
One of the comparisons was SC vs. HC. Granted, this was all within the confines of their showroom. It wasn't on a gig or recorded.
While I did hear a difference between the two, it was very slight compared to the hum the SC's had (that the HC's didn't).
While I might notice the tonal difference while playing, I doubt my bandmates or anybody listening would.
On the other hand, everybody listening will hear the hum of the SC's.
Now I'm sure it'll be a lot less noticeable in the context of a song with everybody playing but I've got to start somewhere. And for me, the lack of hum will have (at least initially) more of a positive impact on my playing than any tonal difference the SC's might have.
As an aside, I went in mainly with the intent of comparing JJ vs. PJ pickups on a 24 fret bass. I ended up leaving ordering a Will Lee. For my money (literally), the Will Lee rocks.
Ok, I'm a bit confused. First, a Will Lee has SC pickups in it (or did you change your order?), also, when you compared SC to HC was that both on JJ vs JJ, or did you mix models with PJ? Exactly what did you compare to what, is my main question.
Nobody has less tolerance for hum than I do, and while I'll give you I rarely solo a pickup (I play mostly blended, but then favoring one or the other... but not to a large extent), when fully blended, the SC's are dead silent for me.
So, when soloing, or significantly favoring one pickup or the other with SC's, yeah, you get hum, but it depends on the venue how bad it is. I also disagree with your comment; "On the other hand, everybody listening will hear the hum of the SC's." I've played a LOT of gigs where I'm getting hum (and it doesn't always mean SC pickups!), and the hum is ALWAYS buried in the mix easily. Just talk to any strat player. A little volume control between tunes, and you're good to go.
I also definitely disagree with your opinion on the significance of the differences, but that could possibly be explained by playing style and tonal preferences (bass/amp eq settings, amp/cab types, etc).
To play my own devil's advocate, and also to avoid being accused of being an SC pusher again
I definitely do get your point about hum, though. I have both SC and HC equipped Sadowsky basses, and it is very nice to just not have to think about whether you'll get hum or not in a venue, and know you have the full freedom of blending and favoring/soloing without considering noise.
FWIW anyway.
