Anyone have a Fender Jazz and use an external Sadowsky Preamp? At $249 I'm interested in other opinions before I purchase this.
Thanks
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Thanks
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Fender Jazz with Sadowsky DI Preamp
- Thread starter BassBob185
- Start date
Best external preamp box I have found thus far. Usually when I get something like this, I use it for a month or so then toss it on a shelf to collect dust. I've had mine for about 8 or 9 months and I'm still using it on every gig. I was a little worried about the fact that it is boost only at first, but that has not been an issue on this preamp at all. I really like not having the preamp onboard my instrument. I find myself constantly wanting to futz with onboard preamps. With the preamp on the floor, I just set thing sucker then concentrate on playing the bass passively. Works well for me.
Tonally the bass boost thickens up the signal to sit well in a mix. I usually boost bass about 20% to 25% max. The bass boost will get tubby if you use too much, but it doesn't seem to get tubby as fast as some other preamps I've used. I actually find myself bumping the treble a tad too. Not very much though. Perhaps 10% tops.
I was also surprised how much my active warwick liked the Sadowsky outboard pre. I figured that two preamps might be a little bit much, but nope. Set the Sadowsky and then make VERY minor cuts/boosts from the preamp onboard the wick. Interesting (and more importantly, useable) results.
Tonally the bass boost thickens up the signal to sit well in a mix. I usually boost bass about 20% to 25% max. The bass boost will get tubby if you use too much, but it doesn't seem to get tubby as fast as some other preamps I've used. I actually find myself bumping the treble a tad too. Not very much though. Perhaps 10% tops.
I was also surprised how much my active warwick liked the Sadowsky outboard pre. I figured that two preamps might be a little bit much, but nope. Set the Sadowsky and then make VERY minor cuts/boosts from the preamp onboard the wick. Interesting (and more importantly, useable) results.
I considered replacing the entire Fender stock pot assembly with a Sadowsky set but didn't want to have to route the body for a battery compartment. Also, I wanted to be able to go back to pure Fender Jazz sound with the external preamp allows.
Thanks
Thanks
+1.
I use it ALWAYS when I am using my non-Sadowsky basses. It makes my $300 Squier sound like a $2000 Sadowsky.
I use it with a Fender Jazz, Fender Precisions and my Stingrays.
Not with Fender but with Lakland J-style basses...
Highly recommended. It can supercharge everything, boost a little bit bass and a little bit treble (I nowadays set both around 9 o'clock to start with) and your bass has all the punch in the world. I think the the frequency point selection (40Hz and 4KHz) is great.
Although I have to warn you that if you're a mid-freak then it's not for you because what it does is to scoop mids.
Highly recommended. It can supercharge everything, boost a little bit bass and a little bit treble (I nowadays set both around 9 o'clock to start with) and your bass has all the punch in the world. I think the the frequency point selection (40Hz and 4KHz) is great.
Although I have to warn you that if you're a mid-freak then it's not for you because what it does is to scoop mids.
Hmmm... that's actually an answer to what I was thinking about. I am getting an old FJB soon that needs to be repaired.... and I was thinking whether to leave it passive or go inboard Sadowsky... this one has it all...
Two questions:
- can you get an amplified fender-like 'passive' sound with it if you want? I don't see an effect level knob.
- how much do they usually charge for used ones?
Two questions:
- can you get an amplified fender-like 'passive' sound with it if you want? I don't see an effect level knob.
- how much do they usually charge for used ones?
- Mar 11, 2005
- 2,541
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- Employee - Basscentre Melbourne
like everyone else i can't recommend it enough... really fattens your bass and makes it fill out the band. I don't always use it but i use it alot. and yeah, you don't have to rout out your bass, you can go back to the passive fender tone and you get a great DI as well...
The first track on my myspace 'Baby Move live' is my Fender Custom Shop '64 jazz -> Sadowsky Outboard Pre/DI -> Thunderfunk DI to the desk... Just a desk recording... The bass and treble were on about 2-3 on the Sadowsky...
The first track on my myspace 'Baby Move live' is my Fender Custom Shop '64 jazz -> Sadowsky Outboard Pre/DI -> Thunderfunk DI to the desk... Just a desk recording... The bass and treble were on about 2-3 on the Sadowsky...
+1 to all the praise.
I use it with all my basses (Atelier Z, P, Warwick). Usualy have set bass and treble to 9 o'clock.
Yes it allows you to just increase the volume - you only need to set the level knob up and leave treble and bass knobs at zero positions.
Another selling points are
- mute switch - for changing basses between songs and tuning
- tuner out
- XLR DI out - I use it for line out to PA at the end of my pedalboard
Great box!
I use it with all my basses (Atelier Z, P, Warwick). Usualy have set bass and treble to 9 o'clock.
Yes it allows you to just increase the volume - you only need to set the level knob up and leave treble and bass knobs at zero positions.
Another selling points are
- mute switch - for changing basses between songs and tuning
- tuner out
- XLR DI out - I use it for line out to PA at the end of my pedalboard
Great box!
T
TylerlovesAva
Guest
True to some extent; I do find that sometimes I compensate for it not having a mid control by adding some on the amp. If you are a mid tone freak, you can check out the new Aguilar Tone Hammer. Aguilar runs an ad here, so just click on that. I had their first preamp, which was also two band (but needed 18v of power, consequently gave it more headroom), which I traded in to get my sad outboard pre.
This thing really brings my Fender Roscoe Beck to life. I used to use the series mode of the pickups exclusively when playing rock, and now I'm loving that I can stay in single coil mode and still cut through. I might be getting the Tone Hammer at some point, but I'm keeping the Sad. Best *insert whatever you're paying for it* you can spend.
If you leave the bass and treble at their 0 points (flat), you can't get a level boost. It is designed so that the level control is a cut only, so you can add in some bass and treble, than cut the level to match your un-EQ'd level. This is nice, because you can set it for one tone, than use the foot switch to turn it off and have your passive tone back.
I use the outboard Sadowsky pre with my Marcus Miller Jazz & 08 American Standard Precision. Makes the jazz especially sound fuller & much more purposeful. One of my better buys 
I use the outboard Sadowsky pre with my Marcus Miller Jazz & 08 American Standard Precision. Makes the jazz especially sound fuller & much more purposeful. One of my better buys
how does tone of the precision change with the sadowsky pre?
With respect, I think you're mistaken. You cannot boost volume when the eq is flat. Volume max, bass&treble min(flat) is unity gain.
I use one with my passive basses. I have a Warmoth parts Jazz bass. The pickups are Fender Custom Shop 60s. After installing them I realized I don't really care for the sound. Plug it into the Sad preamp - Presto!!! Whole other ball game! I definitely recommend this little unit. It sounds good with active basses as well.
Makes it a lot fuller and rounder sound. Much more power/output as well, but still recognisably a Precision sound. I use mine usually with both treble & bass at 12 o'clock. Yes, I'm a bit of an EQ hooligan! My Status basses usually have the treble & bass full on 100 %
Lakland Skyline Daryl Jones model (white). Just installed a Sadowsky preamp. Killing! As true as that is though, I believe I might have to let it go. It's an amazing preamp and the bass has a great tone, but it may be a little too hi-fi for me.
To answer your question though... any preamping you want done, just buy a Sadowsky and get on with it. They are the best.
To answer your question though... any preamping you want done, just buy a Sadowsky and get on with it. They are the best.
Just bought one used from another TB'er...I'm thrilled! As soon as I clicked it on, my drummer's head snapped over to me wide-eyed and grinning.
I've found that 9:00 on the bass, 11:00 on the treble works for my playing. I do have some seriously cranked mids on my SWR Grand Prix, so I'm all set in that respect as well.
It rounds out the bottom end with a nice fat punch. From now on, if my Jazz is in my hands, the Sadowsky is turned on. No exceptions.
-Mark
I've found that 9:00 on the bass, 11:00 on the treble works for my playing. I do have some seriously cranked mids on my SWR Grand Prix, so I'm all set in that respect as well.
It rounds out the bottom end with a nice fat punch. From now on, if my Jazz is in my hands, the Sadowsky is turned on. No exceptions.
-Mark
