Club Sadowsky!!!

[Vic]

What do you guys recommend?

I echo Roger's recommendation first (if your UV is old enough to have the 250K in it, as Roger also eludes to). Simple and easy, and it might get it done for you.

Vic i remember you posting some stuff about changing the pickups in the past, was did you decide on?

I was just bouncing around between hum canceling (HC) and single-coil (SC) pickups, but still all Sadowsky essentially, and I feel the SC pickups, while a noise risk, sound better overall, including a stronger high end presence.

I'd still try the pot first tho.

On a related, but maybe less intuitive point, strings also make a big diff here, and you don't mention those. If you're using nickels, try SS too. If you're already using SS, maybe try a different brand or product within that brand. I've typically found Sadowsky Blue Label SS strings to be plenty bright, for example.

 

[lx_night]

How old is your UV-70? You may just want to start with a 500K volume pot. Pickups are the same in both the NYC and the Metro Line.

roger

I believe it is a 2006 model. serial#M1720

I did not realize a volume pot would change the sound?
What is the current Volume pot my bass has?

I love the output this bass has, for example when i plug in my Fender first and plug in my Sadow after i have to lower the volume on the amp because the output is much more higher!

What can i expect from this 500k volume pot?

Thank you Roger!

 

[KJung]

I echo Roger's recommendation first (if your UV is old enough to have the 250K in it, as Roger also eludes to). Simple and easy, and it might get it done for you.

I was just bouncing around between hum canceling (HC) and single-coil (SC) pickups, but still all Sadowsky essentially, and I feel the SC pickups, while a noise risk, sound better overall, including a stronger high end presence.

I'd still try the pot first tho.

On a related, but maybe less intuitive point, strings also make a big diff here, and you don't mention those. If you're using nickels, try SS too. If you're already using SS, maybe try a different brand or product within that brand. I've typically found Sadowsky Blue Label SS strings to be plenty bright, for example.

The other thing that took me a long time to realize (years) is that 'brightness' has very little to do with upper treble response, but more to do with upper mids/lower treble. This is ESPECIALLY true in a bass with 70's pickup placement, and/or a maple neck. Those Sadowsky HC's have beautiful upper treble extension, but in a mix, with that UV spec, that treble can disappear at the first hit of the ride cymbal.

Counterintuitively (at least for me), the single coils have much less treble extension to my ear than the HC's, but the brightness they do have in the treble is 'in the right place'.. grindy and bright instead of clicky and airy.

Not sure if the 500 pot will just make the HC's even more clicky and airy... haven't heard it... probably worth a try as you say.

K

 

[Sadowsky]

I believe it is a 2006 model. serial#M1720

I did not realize a volume pot would change the sound?
What is the current Volume pot my bass has?
I love the output this bass has, for example when i plug in my Fender first and plug in my Sadow after i have to lower the volume on the amp because the output is much more higher!
What can i expect from this 500k volume pot?

Thank you Roger!

The value of a volume pot has a major effect on the sound.
You have a 250K. 500K will give you more high end. You should try it before you try new pickups.

Roger

 

[JeanBG]

Can anyone confirm if the older 24fret had the EMG 40J's in them?
thx!

 

[Vic]

The other thing that took me a long time to realize (years) is that 'brightness' has very little to do with upper treble response, but more to do with upper mids/lower treble....

Exactly the reason I avoided that kind of terminology in my reply and simply used "stronger high end presence" instead. Sometimes a more generalized response is more informative. (IMHO)

 

[Sadowsky]

Can anyone confirm if the older 24fret had the EMG 40J's in them?
thx!

Yes they did!
Especially the ones that say EMG!

R

 

[lx_night]

Roger, Vic and Ken Thank you.

I think Roger is right on the 500k volume pot which is what i will do.
I was really hesitant to change the pickups on a bass of this caliber because i would not change anything on it, but I did want that extra zing.

The strings that are on it right now are Sadowsky's Black label strings which I returned to sadowsky and asked for Blue labels instead because they are brighter sounding to me.

However I have only used Blue labels on my Fender, I have 3 packs of blue labels in the closet but have not used them in the Sadow because the current strings still have some life on them.

I was pretty sure the strings would make a difference but i do believe that what roger and vic say about the volume pot.

Just saw that the volume pot is only $6.00,

Only $6.00 to improve my sound, yep this is for me!

 

[Vic]

I was really hesitant to change the pickups on a bass of this caliber because i would not change anything on it, but I did want that extra zing.

I really don't think that will be necessary anyway. I'm pretty sure between the pot change, and maybe string selection, you'll get just what you want.

 

[JeanBG]

Yes they did!
Especially the ones that say EMG!

R

Thanks Roger!!! You, just like your basses, ROCK!!!!

 

[sok monkee]

I recently bought a MV5 and put SC pups in hoping to have a second bass at the gig that sounds like my NYC ash/maple Vintage J5-24. i have not put the 500k pot in yet but its sitting here on my desk this moment. I have tried to get the setups as close as possible the MV5 sounds wonderful perhaps quite a bit warmer sounding i find my self favoring the bridge pup more. The NYC bass is more present in the mix, less forgiving (i like like the less forgiving part) it just cuts like a lazer in the the mix. anyone else have that sort of experience?

 

[KJung]

I recently bought a MV5 and put SC pups in hoping to have a second bass at the gig that sounds like my NYC ash/maple Vintage J5-24. i have not put the 500k pot in yet but its sitting here on my desk this moment. I have tried to get the setups as close as possible the MV5 sounds wonderful perhaps quite a bit warmer sounding i find my self favoring the bridge pup more. The NYC bass is more present in the mix, less forgiving (i like like the less forgiving part) it just cuts like a lazer in the the mix. anyone else have that sort of experience?

Every bass sounds just a bit different, even two basses from the same company with the same spec. I had two virtually identical Celinder Updates for a while, and they sounded like two completely different instruments... one was HUGE down low and super sizzly up top, the other was more compressed down low, and more warm/grind up top. Same woods, same electronics, a bit different weight-wise.

Differences in the resonances of different pieces of wood, weight of body, density of neck, etc., etc. can combine in a zillion different ways to result in quite different tonal performance, even if the basses look identical!

I find the Sadowsky basses much more 'constant' from instrument to instrument than many other brands, but they all sound a touch different and have their own voice.

I too love the 'unforgiving' nature of my NYC ash/maple with singles. That bass scares some who try it... lot's of articulation and upper mid presence! Great in a mix.... a little challenging when played solo!

 

[Chasarms]

I recently bought a MV5 and put SC pups in hoping to have a second bass at the gig that sounds like my NYC ash/maple Vintage J5-24. i have not put the 500k pot in yet but its sitting here on my desk this moment. I have tried to get the setups as close as possible the MV5 sounds wonderful perhaps quite a bit warmer sounding i find my self favoring the bridge pup more. The NYC bass is more present in the mix, less forgiving (i like like the less forgiving part) it just cuts like a lazer in the the mix. anyone else have that sort of experience?

I don't think there is much value in installing a 500K pot if the bass has single coil pickups in it.

If I understand everything correctly, the findings have been that a 500K pot helps add a little sparkle to the hum canceling J PUs that are stock in the Metros and are featured in many NYCs.

I think RS stated that the 500K works fine with the SC pickups and P pickups but doesn't really change the tone, so for the interest of simplicity, he's putting it in everything. In fact if I am recalling correctly (and that is not always the case) , he explicitly stated on some thread either here or at his forum that there is no point in changing the pot if you have single coils.

 

[rodneyat]

For more of you Sadowsky fans out there...I was at the Atlanta Bass Gallery the other day and they had an SA410 cabinet. It sounded great...I have even considered picking it up myself...Just getting it in the house without my wife seeing it would be a problem.

 

[Joeykun]

I don't think there is much value in installing a 500K pot if the bass has single coil pickups in it.

If I understand everything correctly, the findings have been that a 500K pot helps add a little sparkle to the hum canceling J PUs that are stock in the Metros and are featured in many NYCs.

I think RS stated that the 500K works fine with the SC pickups and P pickups but doesn't really change the tone, so for the interest of simplicity, he's putting it in everything. In fact if I am recalling correctly (and that is not always the case) , he explicitly stated on some thread either here or at his forum that there is no point in changing the pot if you have single coils.

You are correct. From the Sadowsky Forums:

The issue for us regarding using 500K with single coils was did it have any negative effect? It was easier to use the 500K for everything so we needed to be sure it worked fine with single coils and soapbars. We are using the 500K for everything now but I do not see the need for folks who have single coils or soapbars to run out and switch.

Roger

 

[Famous Shamus]

Since there's some down time here - any chance of seeing a pic of that NYC V amber quilt top of yours? I'm REAL curious about that one. Maybe a comment about it? Thanks.
B.

Sorry, a little late on this request...so here's the bass in Vintage Amber

As far as comments go, this is not just the J bass I compare other J basses to...this is the bass I compare other Sadowsky's to.

It is non-chambered, 8.2 lbs. The nut is 1 5/8" , but is slim front to back, so that the bass is super easy to play, even for folks like me who are used to traditional J nut spacing. I haven't measured it, but I think this is a a full sized body. Its seems a little bigger than other Sadowsky's I own (or have owned).

Anything you'd like to know in particular about it?

 

[Joeykun]

I echo Roger's recommendation first (if your UV is old enough to have the 250K in it, as Roger also eludes to). Simple and easy, and it might get it done for you.

I was just bouncing around between hum canceling (HC) and single-coil (SC) pickups, but still all Sadowsky essentially, and I feel the SC pickups, while a noise risk, sound better overall, including a stronger high end presence.

I'd still try the pot first tho.

Call me crazy (well people do anyways ) but I am one of the many people that prefer HC pups over the SC. Keep in mind I am talking with my experience with 4 string models.

My Standard 4 has HC pups and the 500k volume pot and it just totally kills. All the upper Treble, Lows and slightly scooped mids. It really punches up a storm and cuts through the mix as most Sadowskys do.
My Will Lee has SC pups and a 250k volume pot. Although it sounds great, it is not as sizzly up top. The mid boost set at (500Hz wide) does grind it up but, I keep wanting to hear that upper treble response I get from the HC pups.

After last night, A/Bing both basses and messing with all the mid boost settings at band practice, I descided I'm going to get the HC pups and the 500k volume pot for my WL. Again, the WL is a great sounding instrument but, the HC pups work better for me for my tone goals.

 

[Sadowsky]

Call me crazy (well people do anyways ) but I am one of the many people that prefer HC pups over the SC.

I just knew there had to be someone out there who loved the HC pickups!

Roger

 

[Jerry J]

Call me crazy (well people do anyways ) but I am one of the many people that prefer HC pups over the SC. Keep in mind I am talking with my experience with 4 string models.

My Standard 4 has HC pups and the 500k volume pot and it just totally kills. All the upper Treble, Lows and slightly scooped mids. It really punches up a storm and cuts through the mix as most Sadowskys do.
My Will Lee has SC pups and a 250k volume pot. Although it sounds great, it is not as sizzly up top. The mid boost set at (500Hz wide) does grind it up but, I keep wanting to hear that upper treble response I get from the HC pups.

After last night, A/Bing both basses and messing with all the mid boost settings at band practice, I descided I'm going to get the HC pups and the 500k volume pot for my WL. Again, the WL is a great sounding instrument but, the HC pups work better for me for my tone goals.

Joe, this is a very interesting take on the whole HC vs SC discussion. I'm looking forward to hear how that works out.

 

[Famous Shamus]

Call me crazy (well people do anyways ) but I am one of the many people that prefer HC pups over the SC. Keep in mind I am talking with my experience with 4 string models.

My Standard 4 has HC pups and the 500k volume pot and it just totally kills. All the upper Treble, Lows and slightly scooped mids. It really punches up a storm and cuts through the mix as most Sadowskys do.
My Will Lee has SC pups and a 250k volume pot. Although it sounds great, it is not as sizzly up top. The mid boost set at (500Hz wide) does grind it up but, I keep wanting to hear that upper treble response I get from the HC pups.

After last night, A/Bing both basses and messing with all the mid boost settings at band practice, I descided I'm going to get the HC pups and the 500k volume pot for my WL. Again, the WL is a great sounding instrument but, the HC pups work better for me for my tone goals.

Your Crazy

Just kidding, but I might be in the same boat as you Joey. Could it be that we've tailored our sound so much that we are so used to hearing the HC's? I wonder....

I'm going to give my WL a few more gigs, but I've been considering that switch too. Thought I was the only one that was crazy