The Sadowsky is comparable to the Ball Family Reserve basses and many of them are more than $3,600.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Feedback Wanted on tone preference.
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
The Sadowsky is comparable to the Ball Family Reserve basses and many of them are more than $3,600.
I had a feeling you were going to mention the BFR basses, but I’m not sure it is an apples to apples comparison here. Regardless, that Sadowsky sounds great in your video and I look forward to getting one in my hands someday to see for myself! Best of luck with whatever you decide!
I think the fact that the Sadowsky had such clarity, articulation, and presence on a cell phone recording is an indicator that it will be good in a dense band mix.
Bass Viking, if this JM is like every other Sadowsky I know of, it will do just fine in the mix. That is something Sadowsky and Music Man have in common.
The funny thing the fact that someone makes it a point not to give feedback to someone has asks for it.
I voted for the Ray. It sounded like you enjoyed playing that one more to me.
That’s interesting, what made the Stingray playing sound more joyful?
I have a Stingray Special and just recently am considering the same Sadowsky. Its like this post read my mind.
I dont feel those Sadowskys are worth the price. They are not even USA made. I had a Metro Modern and hated the big neck, string spacing and the reach. Ended up sending it back. I assume the bass here has a similar neck but Im really not sure. For those reasons I would prefer the Stingray...BUT sound alone, That Sadowsky is clearer with more presence....but who cares about "adjust a nut"..just sayin
I dont feel those Sadowskys are worth the price. They are not even USA made. I had a Metro Modern and hated the big neck, string spacing and the reach. Ended up sending it back. I assume the bass here has a similar neck but Im really not sure. For those reasons I would prefer the Stingray...BUT sound alone, That Sadowsky is clearer with more presence....but who cares about "adjust a nut"..just sayin
You played it more and fiddled with the preamp less. Only took you about 45 sec to find a tone that you could groove with and you grooved longer between tone changes.
The Stingray Special is my favorite among the family. If I could get one in Mahogany, Id love it.
But, its not the most versatile and always has that Stingray coloring in the sound. And the G-string bends easily off the fretboard and Ernie Ball fam refuses to acknowledge and fix that.
The Sadowsky has such buttery sounds.
I fell in love with Sadowskys when JasonNewstead switched to them. What a monstrous sound he makes with those. Check out their Cunning Stunts DVD of him on the Sadowsky.
But, its not the most versatile and always has that Stingray coloring in the sound. And the G-string bends easily off the fretboard and Ernie Ball fam refuses to acknowledge and fix that.
The Sadowsky has such buttery sounds.
I fell in love with Sadowskys when JasonNewstead switched to them. What a monstrous sound he makes with those. Check out their Cunning Stunts DVD of him on the Sadowsky.
Sadowsky all day. I’m also biased because I bought a Will Lee Metroline 4 in the beginning of the year and I can’t get over how many sounds I can get out of it. And the workmanship is just stunning.
Boost only preamp tend to be trickier for me than boost cut, The Sadowsky detent also tends to be bit harder to find. I also have to remind myself that Sadowsky pan pots are wired backwards. It takes a bit more time to work out tones. The other factor is that the Stingray only had one pickup so just switched coil options to get different tones.
I have both the Special 4H and a MIG Sadowsky Metroline PJ (not the J/MM), and really like both. In fact, I was just playing them both earlier today. Both are very high quality instruments, as you know. In your videos, I agree with those who found the Sadowsky more articulate and versatile. However, your StingRay video was shorter and more slap oriented. I wonder if a little more knob twiddling would have pulled more bite out of the Ray. My Specials are less harsh than their predecessors, but can still sound pretty bright.
Neither of these basses is likely to get much cheaper, and it's fairly easy to score a used Special for a somewhat reasonable price. Maybe snag the Sadowsky now and consider a Special down the line?
Neither of these basses is likely to get much cheaper, and it's fairly easy to score a used Special for a somewhat reasonable price. Maybe snag the Sadowsky now and consider a Special down the line?
I like the versatility of the Sadowsky better. The Stingray is a classic sound, but it’s always going to sound like a Ray. The Sadowsky sounds cleaner and has more definition when you want it.
So yeah... Sadowsky gets my vote after listening to you play it.
So yeah... Sadowsky gets my vote after listening to you play it.
I preferred the Sadowsky, but I’d like to hear the Pepsi challenge with a Stingray HH, and with identical bass lines played on both.
Last edited:
