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Club Sadowsky!!!

#19,045
OK, I just got my new Will Lee NYC on Friday. It's technically a used bass but was finished being built in August. Still has the plastic on it, so it's still quite new. You probably saw it for sale on TB. I traded a great guy in Australia.

So, how do I join the club? :)

I got the bass on Friday and played it at a gig last night. Awesome! What a fantastic bass in every way! The sound is big, clear and focused. I play in a nine piece band and the Sadowsky punches through clear with no competing over tones. I know all this has already been said a million times but it's the perfect sound for everything that I do.

I've been playing professionally for 30 years. This is not my first Sadowsky. I had a vintage 5 for a couple of years. I fell in love with the sound but I just couldn't fall in love with the width of the neck. I ended up selling it and bought a Ken Smith 5 with a 1.75" nut dimension. Much more comfortable. Very nice bass but more of a mid rangy, modern sound. (I now see the WL 5 is 1.75", cool)

So all of these years playing 5 string basses and now I've decided to just be honest with myself. I prefer a slim comfortable neck on a light comfortable bass with a punchy, clear sound that sits comfortably in the mix. That's it!

The only down side to the Will Lee is neck dive....:( The neo strap that I use holds it in place but it is not perfectly balanced. I'm a little surprised. If I remove my hands with a standard nylon strap on it, the bass will just slide down and point at the floor. Would lighter tuners help? Has anyone else reported this?

Anyways, it's not bad enough to keep me from being completely in love. Dark cherry burst, flame top, absolutely BEAUTIFUL maple neck and tone, tone, tone........

BTW, sound man and band love it too.
 
#19,049
skycoaster said:
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#19,053
skycoaster said:
OK, I just got my new Will Lee NYC on Friday. It's technically a used bass but was finished being built in August. Still has the plastic on it, so it's still quite new. You probably saw it for sale on TB. I traded a great guy in Australia.

So, how do I join the club? :)

I got the bass on Friday and played it at a gig last night. Awesome! What a fantastic bass in every way! The sound is big, clear and focused. I play in a nine piece band and the Sadowsky punches through clear with no competing over tones. I know all this has already been said a million times but it's the perfect sound for everything that I do.

I've been playing professionally for 30 years. This is not my first Sadowsky. I had a vintage 5 for a couple of years. I fell in love with the sound but I just couldn't fall in love with the width of the neck. I ended up selling it and bought a Ken Smith 5 with a 1.75" nut dimension. Much more comfortable. Very nice bass but more of a mid rangy, modern sound. (I now see the WL 5 is 1.75", cool)

So all of these years playing 5 string basses and now I've decided to just be honest with myself. I prefer a slim comfortable neck on a light comfortable bass with a punchy, clear sound that sits comfortably in the mix. That's it!

The only down side to the Will Lee is neck dive....:( The neo strap that I use holds it in place but it is not perfectly balanced. I'm a little surprised. If I remove my hands with a standard nylon strap on it, the bass will just slide down and point at the floor. Would lighter tuners help? Has anyone else reported this?

Anyways, it's not bad enough to keep me from being completely in love. Dark cherry burst, flame top, absolutely BEAUTIFUL maple neck and tone, tone, tone........

BTW, sound man and band love it too.
Click to expand...

Awesome bass! Sorry to hear about the neck dive. That's been something I've been wondering about with these sub-8 pound basses. I kinda wondered how Roger gets around neck dive with such lightweight bodies.
 
#19,056
skycoaster said:
OK, I just got my new Will Lee NYC on Friday. It's technically a used bass but was finished being built in August. Still has the plastic on it, so it's still quite new. You probably saw it for sale on TB. I traded a great guy in Australia.

So, how do I join the club? :)

I got the bass on Friday and played it at a gig last night. Awesome! What a fantastic bass in every way! The sound is big, clear and focused. I play in a nine piece band and the Sadowsky punches through clear with no competing over tones. I know all this has already been said a million times but it's the perfect sound for everything that I do.

I've been playing professionally for 30 years. This is not my first Sadowsky. I had a vintage 5 for a couple of years. I fell in love with the sound but I just couldn't fall in love with the width of the neck. I ended up selling it and bought a Ken Smith 5 with a 1.75" nut dimension. Much more comfortable. Very nice bass but more of a mid rangy, modern sound. (I now see the WL 5 is 1.75", cool)

So all of these years playing 5 string basses and now I've decided to just be honest with myself. I prefer a slim comfortable neck on a light comfortable bass with a punchy, clear sound that sits comfortably in the mix. That's it!

The only down side to the Will Lee is neck dive....:( The neo strap that I use holds it in place but it is not perfectly balanced. I'm a little surprised. If I remove my hands with a standard nylon strap on it, the bass will just slide down and point at the floor. Would lighter tuners help? Has anyone else reported this?

Anyways, it's not bad enough to keep me from being completely in love. Dark cherry burst, flame top, absolutely BEAUTIFUL maple neck and tone, tone, tone........

BTW, sound man and band love it too.
Click to expand...

The Neo strap has been my only answer for my 7.9lbs Vintage JJ 5-24. I don't think there is a lighter tuner than the one Roger uses. You may call the the shop and see if there are any suggestions. A little neck dive may be the trade off when you get a super light bass. for me the neo strap solves the problem but i know what your saying
 
#19,059
Thanks much Roger and my strap is working well for that purpose. The bass is so nice and light to wear that it doesn't take more than that to keep things in place. Again, the issue is minor, just something that I noticed. I am 101% satisfied with this gorgeous bass. :)
 
#19,060
Well, I have a "new" metro UV5, and its "ultra vintage" in weight!

My first Sadowsky and while I typically dont covet ( had my J5 needs covered by a Lakland and a Valenti ), I am so glad I picked up this bass.

assume these pickups are the noiseless series, as they are indeed, yet miss some of that raw SC vibe. No matter as I run the axe thru a tube preamp (Mesa), its all jazz. No doubt you'd never hear the noiseless versus raw SC in the mix.

The Lakland and Valenti received a pickup upgrade from oem and Nordy respectively to Aero Type I, and the change was well worth it. The NJ5 might have been a bit more articulate, but the Aeros are PHAT!

Sadowsky M3503, upgrade? NO WAY! It stays just the way it is. Dont want to alter the engineered Sadowsky sound ; its quite good to go.

Frankly, I bought this bass as it is a "Geddy V", which mimics the 74 J bass I sold in 1979. So i was a "girl", and bought it due to looks. Man, I am glad I did.

Only mod is Roger sending down a black pearl pickguard, and I think I'll stiffen the neck some while the guard is off. VTC stays wide open , so there is only one control I'll never use.

I'd like a bit lower action, and I think this is one of those times where I leave the saddles alone and bring the neck closer to the strings.

Couldnt be happier, although I wish it was made in good ol Brooklyn! ( Lived in both the Heights and Carrol Gardens.)

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