Fender Jazz Bass Elite 5 or Sadowsky MV5

[Big_Nate]

Totally understood. To answer your original question, it is very much worth the extra money to get the Sadowsky if you feel the same once you have had a chance to play one. Sounds like an awesome bass road trip is about to happen.

Yup getting some pizza while I'm there too!

 

[Big_Nate]

After having a Fender Jazz for 25 years, I bought my Metro PJ5 from Roger's shop without ever playing one. I've never regretted it. Since then Iv'e bought a used Sadowsky 4 string and put Sadowsky pups and preamp in my Fender. I realized it was the sound I've been looking for all this time..

I was tempted to blind buy but I wanna try it. Plus I need to get out the city. I have a deep feeling I would have the same experience if I blind buy tho.

 

[gregbackstrom]

Hello all,

I'm plotting out future plans and have been doing research on these two basses. I've played the Fender Jazz Elite (love it) but never got my hands on a Sadowsky (Columbus Ohio doesn't have boutique bass options). Every time I've heard a Sadowsky played I've loved the tone so much. I love fenders but compared to what I've heard from a Sadowsky it trumps it. Sadowsky's have the exact sound I want. My question is this...Is it worth the extra $800? I can save up some more bucks to get it but without playing it I'll never know exactly what I'm purchasing.

I played a Fender MIM for 10 years and loved it until the bridge got funked up. I'm looking to make a sound investment and want this to be my baby for some years (hopefully the bridge will stay intact).

I've been playing bass since 1967. I have owned many Fenders and an embarrassing number of other high-end basses. Really! Several years ago, I ordered a Sadowsky NYC standard J5 on a whim. Today, I can't imagine life without that bass. It sounds and feels perfect. It's me. It is the standard by which I judge all other basses. Whether it's a Sadowsky, a Fender, or something else, I hope that you're lucky enough in life to find one that plays, sounds, and feels the way my Sadowsky does to me!

 

[Big_Nate]

I've been playing bass since 1967. I have owned many Fenders and an embarrassing number of other high-end basses. Really! Several years ago, I ordered a Sadowsky NYC standard J5 on a whim. Today, I can't imagine life without that bass. It sounds and feels perfect. It's me. It is the standard by which I judge all other basses. Whether it's a Sadowsky, a Fender, or something else, I hope that you're lucky enough in life to find one that plays, sounds, and feels the way my Sadowsky does to me!

Thats the feeling I expect. I wanna own other basses too but I just think this is my sound.

 

[JakobT]

Get what you really want. If you don't, it will always irk you.

 

[Ewo]

Hey, Big Nate--

I'm one of those Sadowsky owners Dr. Cheese told ya were coming... He's spent some quality time with the Metro RV-5 I'm selling.

You prefer the tone of the Sadowsky, so that clinches the decision. There are other differences (like the fretwork quality, slightly trimmer body, and truss rod adjustment), but they all favor the Sadowsky, IMHO.

A used Metro gets you a lot of value for the money, and resale value holds up well.

 

[AMp'D.2play]

I see somebody upthread already suggested Bass Club Chicago. Also, post in the Club Sadowsky thread. There'll probably be somebody in the Columbus, OH area that may let you check out theirs if you don't want to make the trek to BCC just yet.

I've played a bunch of American Fenders (but irrc, never an Elite), and am on my 2nd Sadowsky Metro. Only you can determine which way to go once you get one in your hands. If you're buying to own for years, an additional $800 won't seem like much. Or, you could look for a used one. Or, you could just install a new bridge on your MIM Fender!

 

[tycobb73]

Used sads show up here all the time. I got mine for under 1500.

 

[dponbass]

If you like Elite's, their previous incarnation the Deluxe is a great bass. I have had mine since 2010 when they came out, my understanding is that they are not all that different from the Elites-pickups only I believe. You can find them in the classifieds for around $1200, sometimes less. You could always buy one, see if that does it for you and sell it for the same dough later if you really wanted the Sadowsky or Elite. I played an NYC and it was a great bass, just not my thing personally. A little too clean and too much sheen for me. Either way, you are looking at some seriously fantastic basses and I am sure you will love the one you get.

 

[Matt23]

I'm basically looking for a morale boost towards getting the Sad...and if anybody opposes I wanna hear why. This will ultimately sway my decision left or right.

I was in the same boat! I tried both and went for the Sadowsky MV5.

The Elite was great. Cool package, great case and nicely made. I've owned a bunch of Fenders and this was up there with the best. It looked great, sounded good and felt nice. I'd have bought it had the Sadowsky not been there to compare it to.

Honestly, the Sadowsky was just a step above. I have big hands too and the neck just fit my hands so much better. It just felt right and I don't get any fatigue from playing it. Aside from the perfect neck, the preamp was considerably better. 'That' Sadowsky sound is just there, whereas the Fender pre was bit 'meh'. Not bad, just not great.
Also, the Sadowsky was much more versatile. VTC, passive mode and pickup pan all offer vintage growl and passive tones, even a decent P bass impression.

 

[TMARK]

I had a Metro and have an Elite. With that in mind, I have some thoughts. First, as you know, Sadowskys don't sound like Fenders. They just don't. Second, the Neck shapes are different. I like the Elite neck better, but that's just me. Third, the Sadowsky has tall narrow frets while the Elite has large low frets, but they are more narrow than some Jumbo fret Fenders. Fourth, the Sadowsky had the nitro neck finish which is unreal. Fifth, the build quality is better on a Metro. Not like night and day, but the Metro fretwork is a bit better, and if you look under the hood the Metro is well sorted, with remarkable cable management.

All that being said, I like the Elite better because I like that Fender sound and the neck shape. So I think a trip to Chicago is in order. You really do have to play them.

 

[dponbass]

Most of all, enjoy the pursuit! Take your time, try them out and find your bass! I work with band and orchestra kids all the time and when they go for their collegiate instrument, they go all over to find the one. Bassist, guitarist are often impulse buyers and lose out on the romance of it all.

 

[Spidey2112]

(Columbus Ohio doesn't have boutique bass options).

I feel your pain, Nate... Good luck on your quest, and Go Bucks...

... 20% chance Nate's a fan of Maize and Blue.

 

[Jim Dandy]

If you make the drive to Chicago, make sure you check out Chicago Music Exchange. Go in the front door and take the stairs down to the bass-ment (yes, they have an entire floor dedicated to basses). I was there a few weeks ago and they had Sadowskys, Roscoes, Fodoras, and many other vintage and boutique basses to try. Friendly staff as well. Be prepared to spend a few hours there.

Good luck!

 

[MattB88]

I love my Sadowsky Metro. I've played both and the Sadowsky won for me hands down. The Elite is still a fine instrument. Holding the Sadowsky just felt like home to me. I've never felt so connected to a bass. I instantly became a better player from the playability.

 

[lamarjones]

Loving the sound of it is something that is pretty important and I think Cheese was right to make a point of that in his responses. Me personally, single coils into a j retro is my IDEAL super J sound so I molded a jazz deluxe, and got my ideal j bass, and I've played and owned a ton of high end stuff. String spacing aside, I find the newer fenders and sadowskys to be equally comfortable, and so if the sound is definitely you on a sadowsky and you know this, go with it. That said, you could also mod a fender with sadowsky electronics.

 

[foudufafa]

I am not sure I am qualified to answer. J have a NYC (rosewood) and standard us jazz (maple) with upgraded pups and john east preamp. There is no comparison in neck finish. The fretwork on the sadowsky is by far better. The string spacing on the NYC is better for slap but not for fingerstyle (for me). From a pure playability standpoint, the jazz neck is more comfortable to me (but that's me). Now for the electronic. You can upgrade a jazz with top notch pups amd preamp (including sadowsky) for a few hundred bucks and it will sound way better. In my living room by myself, the upgraded fender sounds fantastic. In a band setting, the NYC just cuts through and sounds light years better in the mix.

So I think it comes down to what you want to do with (solo work or mix). Pricewise, you can get a used metro for $1600 and its resale value will not move. An Elite resale value will likely drop. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Session1969]

Have you played one? Is the feel the same as a fender but better?[/QUOTE

Used sads show up here all the time. I got mine for under 1500.

I was going to mention the same thing. I'd pick one up used. I played a few at an upscale bass shop in Sacramento and really wanted one afterwards. Couldn't swing it, though. If you can, go for it.

 

[Big_Nate]

Get what you really want. If you don't, it will always irk you.

Exactly what I've been afraid of but I know I would like the elite just not as much as a Sad.

 

[Joeykun]

This is a no brainer. Just buy the Sadowsky and start playing. You'll be happy, the band will be happy, your sound man will be happy and so on and so on. Ive had Metros and NYCs and the quality is there in both.
You will love the Sadowsky! Trust me!