I got to play several Sadowsky's over the last few days. This experience has confirmed what I'd noticed before: the NYC models play a lot better/different than the Metro's. I played several NYC's and the necks were a bit thinner and just more comfortable than all of the Metro's. I played a couple PJ 5's with Nordstrand's and really hated them. I'm not the biggest Nordstrand pickup fan though I do like their standard single coils. I really dislike the way the pole pieces are rotated on the P pickup. It looks ugly to me and I have a feeling that it's bad for tone, just an idea, really, as I have no way of proving my theory. Also, it seemed to me the fretwork was better on the NYC's. If I were in the market for a bass right now and was looking at Sadowsky, no way could I buy a Metro.
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I believe the extra string coverage makes the tone a bit blurry similar to my experience with a lot of dual coil pickups. I think when the pickup focuses on a narrower part of the string the tone is punchier and more defined. I think the idea behind the pickup is cool and certainly sets Nordstrand pickups apart from the rest, in practice I don't believe it produces the most desirable tone(to me anyway.) I just don't think a pickup that covers a wider portion of the string produces a fatter sound. I think what happens is similar to what happens in dual coils and two pickups basses in that the wider coverage cancels out frequencies. This is just my opinion and I'm sure many will disagree, but after nearly thirty years of playing I've learned to trust my ear.
Yeah, I know what you're saying, but while I tend to agree with you somewhat on the traditional dual sensing dual coil type pickups, where the "aperture" is particularly wide, I personally don't think there's enough here to matter. Similar to the "large pole" pickups out there (Musicman SC's, Suhrs in the older American Deluxe Fenders, etc) that seem perfectly focused and punchy to me. I would generally attribute most of the tonal issues with a pickup to be more related to what the magnets are made of and the coil design rather than a small change in the aperture like this.
At the end of the day tho, I totally agree with you that it should just be your ears that are the judge... if you like one pickup better than the other, done deal.
Interesting.... I owned 3 Sadowskys (ies/es)? how the hell we spell the plural?), 2 NY and a Metro. I liked the Metro the better, go figure!
Look it's a matter of taste... and sound, too, but you are the first, that I know of, who says he hates the Nordstrand NP5.
I'm not a P guy, not even close, but this pup is the only one that sounds good, to my ears.... go figure, again
Interesting.
On my main bass I have custom humbucker quadcoil (dual coil with split single coil sections) bartolini wired in parallel/ single coil and in parallel they sound way more punchy and articulate than the single coil mode.... go figure!
M
I don't doubt the Bart sounds punchier in dual coil mode than single coil. Single coil mode in a dual coil never sounds anything like a true single coil. At least none that I've ever heard.
Sound-wise, I tried a NYC M-24 with Nordstrand DCs a while back and really didn't like the sound at all. (To the point that I honestly wondered what all the Sadowsky "fuss" was about.) But I eventually went back to the dealer to try a Metro M-24 with the stock pickups and liked it so much, I bought it on the spot! At least with the Metro, I can easily get the neck slimmed down a touch, by my local luthier, but I certainly couldn't justify doing a pickup swap on an expensive NYC...
EG
EG
Sound-wise, I tried a NYC M-24 with Nordstrand DCs a while back and really didn't like the sound at all. (To the point that I honestly wondered what all the Sadowsky "fuss" was about.) But I eventually went back to the dealer to try a Metro M-24 with the stock pickups and liked it so much, I bought it on the spot! At least with the Metro, I can easily get the neck slimmed down a touch, by my local luthier, but I certainly couldn't justify doing a pickup swap on an expensive NYC...
EG
I would have to think that the M24 is the one Sadowsky that really shouldn't be messed with. That design, with the PU placement and Roger's soapbars, really is a Sadowsky signature.
I'd probably tinker with the vintage design stuff without any worries, as it is fairly "conventional" in design. But, I wouldn't mess with the Sadowsky "Flag Ship."
Just as a side data point, the vast majority of the "Sadowsky fuss" is about their J basses... not the Modern/24-Fret 5 models. Those are great basses, but not at all the product Sadowsky is best known for.Sound-wise, I tried a NYC M-24 with Nordstrand DCs a while back and really didn't like the sound at all. (To the point that I honestly wondered what all the Sadowsky "fuss" was about.) But I eventually went back to the dealer to try a Metro M-24 with the stock pickups and liked it so much, I bought it on the spot! At least with the Metro, I can easily get the neck slimmed down a touch, by my local luthier, but I certainly couldn't justify doing a pickup swap on an expensive NYC...
EG
I am thinking of buying a Sadowsky 5 string bass, but I have a question. Am I able to get a Hipshot D-tuner installed and a nut designed for EADGC-tuning if I am buying a Metro?
I would call the shop or send them an email. I would think if you ordered one directly from the shop. They could modify the bass for you. But, regardless, it will come from Japan BEADG and then they would have to put on the D-Tuner and cut a new nut. So, I would assume all of that would just be at ala carte prices.
ok, thank you.
I have one more question: What is the neck width and radius on the vintage 5's? Can't find this information on sadowskys homepage.
nut width on nyc 5-strings: 1" 7/8 standard, 1" 3/4 on request
radius on 5-strings: 12"
fyi, 21 frets standard, 20 on request
radius on 5-strings: 12"
fyi, 21 frets standard, 20 on request
Here's my NYC MS5 in action w/SC's and DR Lo riders. I like the tone in the mix, the video is not up to the normal quality of our churches stuff (the band was all fill ins due to the holiday). It is an original tune one of our worship leaders wrote. And I had to come up with my own line (normally I have to play the line on the MP3 or chart). I know its not Chic Corea or anything like that.
The tune:
The tune:
- Feb 17, 2003
- 1,006
- 281
- Disclosures
- ........................................EX-Sadowsky Guitars Builder..........................................................
On the Metro 5 strings...
Nut = 1 7/8"
Radius = 12"
21 fret's (unless you want a UV70 which has 20 frets).
I would call the shop and talk to Roger concerning the "D" tuner, and tuning.
Robert
My (new to me) NYC Will Lee was delivered this weekend. LOVE the tiger's eye finish. Looks, feels and sounds awesome but sadly I am not digging the 1.45" neck. I don't necessarily need 5 strings but find my Metro MS5 neck more comfortable. I like the mid boost but am still experimenting with the freq. and level. Anyone have any recommendations for eq settings w/mid boost?
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