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Fender Jazz with Sadowsky DI Preamp

#21
I have one of the first edition models and I really like it.
Goes well with both fretted and fretless Jazz basses.

Must have had it for 10 years now and I cannot remember not using it on a gig where I am using a Jazz Bass.

Records well too, can brighten things up a bit, also bodies out some upper registrar stuff.
 
#24
I am also a big fan of this pre with passive Fenders and passive Laklands.

However, I'm NOT a fan of Sadowsky basses in general!

It's funny, I feel like the sound of the pre combined with the actual Sadowsky bass, and the pickups Roger uses, is just a little too clean and glitzy for my taste. I find I'm NEVER boosting treble on a Dowsky and almost always pulling back on the VTC.

However, with passive Fenders and Laklands, this preamp just KILLS. Judicious boosting makes a wonderfully musical difference and I wouldn't be without mine.

ALSO - I'd like to point out that when the preamp is ON and the volume is on full but there's no boost happening in the EQ, the sound is also great - even "improved" from having the box bypassed. Maybe it's the buffer - but it sounds like you have a super spendy cable in line from your bass to the amp. Pickup loading becomes a non issue and the box will drive dozens of feet of cable through stomp boxes and the like.

If you're a passive guy - it's the ticket.

Ian
 
#25
markblasco said:
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.
Click to expand...

cool option. I do something like that with my 55-94: I set the output level of the onboard preamp very close to that of passive bypass, so with the pull of the active/passive switch I have a different kind of sound at the same volume.
 
#26
I tend to do the opposite. My main player is a Status-Graphite S2, so I actually bought the Sadowsky pre to equalize the outputs between active & passive basses. No time on stage to be fiddling with amp settings. Just need to be able to swap basses and go. Works a treat. The other plus is that the Sadowsky output wise is just that little bit hotter than the Marcus Miller Jazz pre & it sounds better, too. Win Win situation :)
 
#27
There is one question that occured to me while reading this thread. Okay, Sadowsky goes well with the Fender-like sound. So far no one showed much doubt about that. I am seriously considering this, eh, device to accompany my basses.
But there's that Fodera 2000 outboard pre...and approximately in the same price range.
What do you think?
 
#29
I modded my jazz basses with colume/balance/tone. Dial in the bridge pickup and boost the bass on the Sadowsky preamp and man does it sound simply amazing. That nice clear mid range supported by serious bottom end. It is tone to die for.
 
#30
OutToPlayJazz said:
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 % :bassist:
Click to expand...

hmm I just bought one of these, and I feel like it makes my precision sound like a jazz.. The mids are gone.. :bawl:
 
#31
artiseasy said:
I am also a big fan of this pre with passive Fenders and passive Laklands.

However, I'm NOT a fan of Sadowsky basses in general!

It's funny, I feel like the sound of the pre combined with the actual Sadowsky bass, and the pickups Roger uses, is just a little too clean and glitzy for my taste. I find I'm NEVER boosting treble on a Dowsky and almost always pulling back on the VTC.

However, with passive Fenders and Laklands, this preamp just KILLS. Judicious boosting makes a wonderfully musical difference and I wouldn't be without mine.

ALSO - I'd like to point out that when the preamp is ON and the volume is on full but there's no boost happening in the EQ, the sound is also great - even "improved" from having the box bypassed. Maybe it's the buffer - but it sounds like you have a super spendy cable in line from your bass to the amp. Pickup loading becomes a non issue and the box will drive dozens of feet of cable through stomp boxes and the like.

If you're a passive guy - it's the ticket.

Ian
Click to expand...

Bump for a great box and a great company. Sadowsky just does it right!

Oh yeah, also to respond to this post. I hear where your coming from, as Sadowsky basses are clean sounding by nature, but I promise you this, if you put an onboard pre into the Fender, you'll also get that "too hi-fi" sound as your describing.
Its all about the cable capacitance in this arena. Using the outboard, your still getting cable capacitance for the passive portion of the signal chain (bass -to- box), which is rolling off some high end. That's a reason among others why you may feel the Fender sounds warmer.

With the on-board, your not getting that high end roll off, hence a brighter sound.

My opinion on the box itself, a MUST for slap players! Love it.
 
#33
That may be because the DJ is a modern sounding Jazz. The osborn's have a much more vintage tone and the Sadowsky allow you toget the more modern tone of the basically vintage sounding bass.

ocnyup said:
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.
Click to expand...
 

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