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Read this interview, it is insightful into why sadowsky's cost so much and sound so good.
Read this interview, it is insightful into why sadowsky's cost so much and sound so good.
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Has anyone bought and NOT liked a Sadowsky??
- Thread starter violetmind
- Start date
Didn't know his preamp was limited to two bands. Got any more info on that? I thought they were similar to an Aguilar OBP-1.
Edit: I just read the article. It's not limited to two, he didn't like the interaction between the bands so he added a midrange circuit, which is basically what Bartloini was doing way back when.
I missed stated slightly, 3 band is possible but mid changes bass and treble too much. Quote from bass gear mag:
"After a lot of listening
and experimentation, though, Roger
prefers the sound of FETs to op-amps.
However, you can't add a midrange band
to a FET-based EQ without also changing
the bass and treble curves. Roger did
consider a number of op-amp-based 3-
band EQs, but he was not happy with
them compared to his FET-based preamp.
Sometimes the best solution is the most
obvious: keep the stock FET-based
Sadowsky preamp and add a separate opamp
midrange control!
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Interesting - perfect example of different strokes/different folks, or maybe variation in individual basses. Agree that Dingwall is on a whole 'nother level, but with a 37" scale, it should be. I guess I should add that I've gravitated away from 35" basses (except for Skjolds, which have ergonomics such that they don't feel like 35's to me). Should also add that I don't play up the neck much on the B-string, and I do agree that above the 5th fret the Sad B-string is a little bit of a different animal.
This seems to be settled, they're great basses and Roger is a great guy and great builder. Enough said.
Not really, no one disputed that Roger Sadowsky is a great person and that his basses are great. The question was has anybody said they did not like Sadowsky basses after trying one. Some have said they don't like them, and that should be no surprise to anyone. There is no bass that everybody likes.
I just don't see how you can make any sort of objective comments about a piece of gear that is diametrically opposed to your playing style, your gig, your tonal needs. For instance, from MY perspective as someone who wants a 60's-type Pbass tone in a modern 5 string package and who's Sadowsky PJ5 with heavy strings and high action reflects this, ALL MTD's/Smiths/Ritters/Roscoe's/whatever are 'overpriced' and not worth it. Its unfair to for me to judge these instruments based off of MY narrow tonal goals, IMO at least. MTD, IME, makes THE most playable and sonically fullrange bass out there, but it can't come CLOSE to the Sadowsky in tone FOR MY PURPOSES. And conversely, the Sadowsky can't even touch the MTD for achieving a piano-like modern bass tone, IMO.
Maybe it's just ME coming from the above viewpoint, but I can't see these types of threads as anything else but an invitation to 'pile on' and vent frustrations about a particular brand. No different than the 'are Foderas worth it?' or 'I don't think Jaco's that good' threads. Often times highly entertaining yes, but other than that.........?
Maybe it's just ME coming from the above viewpoint, but I can't see these types of threads as anything else but an invitation to 'pile on' and vent frustrations about a particular brand. No different than the 'are Foderas worth it?' or 'I don't think Jaco's that good' threads. Often times highly entertaining yes, but other than that.........?
Totally agree, there are alot of great basses and great guys, we just lost one as a great owner in Dan Lakin, my great bass just happens to be a Sadowsky, and 2 musicmans.
The fact is that Sadowsky builds high quality instruments and provides excellent customer service. The reasons not to like a Sadowsky are merely personal preference: some don't care for Fender-style instruments, others might be looking for a different neck profile, string spacing, etc.
As for tone, well, not liking one particular Sadowsky doesn't mean you won't like *any* Sadowsky. From the vintage P and J-basses to the Modern 24F, not to mention all the options for body and fingerboard woods, a lot of tonal ground is covered. But obviously, as stated by others, no builder is going to please all the players all the time.
As for tone, well, not liking one particular Sadowsky doesn't mean you won't like *any* Sadowsky. From the vintage P and J-basses to the Modern 24F, not to mention all the options for body and fingerboard woods, a lot of tonal ground is covered. But obviously, as stated by others, no builder is going to please all the players all the time.
The thread is legitimate because I can imagine someone saying a Sadowsky was not for them, but an Alleva-Coppolo P5, Lull, or even a Yamaha BB2025X was perfect. I could imagine a five string Precision player choosing any of those high quality instruments. It's not just about dogging Sadowsky or "parts basses."
I loved the thought of a Sadowsky...
I loved the music that people were making with them...
I loved the look...
The intrigue...
The promise of a new world of bassdom... FOREVER!!!
Then I got the Metro 5 and couldn't wait to watch as a brand new world of sonic glory was about to unfold in front of my very eyes.
Wait for it...
Wait for it...
Still waiting....
Yeah, no thanks. Sorry.
Sold it in a week.
EPILOGUE
While I liked the bass, it wasn't enough to make me feel comfortable with the extremely large amount of money I dropped.
Another huge factor that prevented my keeping it was the lackluster fretwork and it's inability to stack up to the other bass I had (and still have).
If my bass plate was clear at the time and money was no object, did I like the bass enough to keep it?
Sure! It sounded like a Sadowsky should sound. With a little spit and (fret) polish it would have been all that and a bag of chips!
I do really like the basses and hope to own an NYC some day.
I appreciate Roger's work immensely and many of the articles I've read about him have made me respect him as just an overall cool dude.
The one that I had, just didn't fit the bill.
(The same model pickups that it had, I later bought for a Squier and they made that thing sound SO AMAZING! It wasn't light or terribly comfy, but it wasn't $2200 either.)
I loved the music that people were making with them...
I loved the look...
The intrigue...
The promise of a new world of bassdom... FOREVER!!!
Then I got the Metro 5 and couldn't wait to watch as a brand new world of sonic glory was about to unfold in front of my very eyes.
Wait for it...
Wait for it...
Still waiting....
Yeah, no thanks. Sorry.
Sold it in a week.
EPILOGUE
While I liked the bass, it wasn't enough to make me feel comfortable with the extremely large amount of money I dropped.
Another huge factor that prevented my keeping it was the lackluster fretwork and it's inability to stack up to the other bass I had (and still have).
If my bass plate was clear at the time and money was no object, did I like the bass enough to keep it?
Sure! It sounded like a Sadowsky should sound. With a little spit and (fret) polish it would have been all that and a bag of chips!
I do really like the basses and hope to own an NYC some day.
I appreciate Roger's work immensely and many of the articles I've read about him have made me respect him as just an overall cool dude.
The one that I had, just didn't fit the bill.
(The same model pickups that it had, I later bought for a Squier and they made that thing sound SO AMAZING! It wasn't light or terribly comfy, but it wasn't $2200 either.)
Boombass76
Commercial User
Even though, I have commented in this thread, I agree. But on the other hand, I don't necessarily see these kinds of threads as a bad thing. Isn't the point of being part of a discussion forum to exchange personal (and therefore highly subjective) opinions?
No, I may not like Sadowskys (or MTD's for that matter) that much based on MY previous experiences. And i DO think that Foderas are too expensive, but that Fender pre-CBS basses CAN be worth the insane price tags, and I DO think that Jaco was great. All those opinions are just mine, and that's why we have abbreviations like IMO/IME
So, as long as we manage to present our subjective opinions in a sober way, I don't see a problem in these kinds of threads that are, of course, based on personal likings
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I owned a Sadowsky MV5 and a Fender American Std Jazz bass at the same time. Took both basses to the same gigs multiple times (most of the time just to satisfy my own curiosity) and hands down preferred my Sadowsky in every situation. The price difference between the two basses for me was $1150, meaning the Sadowsky cost me $1150 more than what I paid for my Fender.
Was the price difference worth it? Absolutely.
All of us prioritize our spending by what we want/need, my jeep has no AC, my TV is only 32" whereas my co-workers rock $60,000 cars and gigantic tv's... Sometimes we experience something, let's say a bigger screen TV or an automobile with AC, and the difference is so great to us that we're willing to pay the difference. My brother in law refuses to fly coach, apparently one flight first class was all he needed and now he refuses to go back with the rest of us.
That's how I was with the Sadowsky, when it came to my experience with jazz basses I greatly preferred the sound, feel, reliability and comfort of the Sadowsky and would pay $1100 or more to experience that gig after gig.
I noticed bigger differences between the basses live but you can hear the differences in recordings as well, but owning the instrument and playing it in multiple settings with multiple genres was more than enough to sell me on Sadowsky.
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I owned a Sadowsky MV5 and a Fender American Std Jazz bass at the same time. Took both basses to the same gigs multiple times (most of the time just to satisfy my own curiosity) and hands down preferred my Sadowsky in every situation. The price difference between the two basses for me was $1150, meaning the Sadowsky cost me $1150 more than what I paid for my Fender.
Was the price difference worth it? Absolutely.
All of us prioritize our spending by what we want/need, my jeep has no AC, my TV is only 32" whereas my co-workers rock $60,000 cars and gigantic tv's... Sometimes we experience something, let's say a bigger screen TV or an automobile with AC, and the difference is so great to us that we're willing to pay the difference. My brother in law refuses to fly coach, apparently one flight first class was all he needed and now he refuses to go back with the rest of us.
That's how I was with the Sadowsky, when it came to my experience with jazz basses I greatly preferred the sound, feel, reliability and comfort of the Sadowsky and would pay $1100 or more to experience that gig after gig.
I noticed bigger differences between the basses live but you can hear the differences in recordings as well, but owning the instrument and playing it in multiple settings with multiple genres was more than enough to sell me on Sadowsky.
I purchased a Sadowsky Metro RV4 and did not keep it. In comparing it to my Fender American Jazz, I prefered the Fender neck and the Fender had an organic tone that I just didn't hear in the Sadowsky. Finally, I did not like the humbucking pups in the Sadowsky. This is NOT to say it wasn't a nice bass, but at $1895 vs $795 for my Fender at the time, I did not realize enough value in the Metro.
I did, however, purchase a Sadowsky outboard preamp and I do like what it gives my Jazz Bass. So, now I can add some Sadowsky "flavor" to all of my basses.
I did, however, purchase a Sadowsky outboard preamp and I do like what it gives my Jazz Bass. So, now I can add some Sadowsky "flavor" to all of my basses.
Aha, so that's why old fenders are so low priced and unappreciated these days.
It's all a matter of taste and where you want to put your money.
If the topic is to look for the negative thing with a Sadowsky bass it seems pretty meaningless since you already answered that question in your first statement. You searched for it and got no responses.
Of course there are always people that for one reason or another are not going to be happy with their instruments.
Roger Sadowsky started out a long time ago and the reason he constructs his basses the way they are, clones or not, are his own, built on his experiences as a luthier. It seems to work out good for him and if you've had any contact with him or the people at Sadowskys in NY I'm sure you'll agree he's doesn't strike you as the "laughing all the way to the bank" kind of person.
If the Sadowskys are not your cup of tea move on to something else.
And if you don't now and the intention with this thread was to find out there's only one way. Get one and see for yourself if you understand the reason why the Sadowskys are so popular.
Sadowsky basses are not for everyone, thank goodness. How boring would that be.
Personally, I greatly prefer active basses, and so far I have yet to play an active Fender that I liked the sound of. I got a MIJ Fender fretless jazz that I put a J-retro in, and it is a great bass. However, I wanted something that plays and sounds great out of the box, and that gives me a great sound without spending an hour EQ'ing the thing. Only to meet the God Almighty Soundman who insists on a pre-eq signal.
For me, so far, the Sadowsky delivers soundwise. I asked for a lighter set of strings and the bass setup for low action, and I got exactly what I asked for. Perfectly set up for my taste, it just plays so well.
I couldn't be happier, but that is me. Just try one or a few out, if they don't do anything for you, so what? There are plenty of other options.
Personally, I greatly prefer active basses, and so far I have yet to play an active Fender that I liked the sound of. I got a MIJ Fender fretless jazz that I put a J-retro in, and it is a great bass. However, I wanted something that plays and sounds great out of the box, and that gives me a great sound without spending an hour EQ'ing the thing. Only to meet the God Almighty Soundman who insists on a pre-eq signal.
For me, so far, the Sadowsky delivers soundwise. I asked for a lighter set of strings and the bass setup for low action, and I got exactly what I asked for. Perfectly set up for my taste, it just plays so well.
I couldn't be happier, but that is me. Just try one or a few out, if they don't do anything for you, so what? There are plenty of other options.
You are right on point, and yet I disagree with you.
I think it is absolutely reasonable and certainly possible to make objective comments about a "piece of gear that is diametrically opposed to your playing style, your gig, your tonal needs." Especially in this case when the OP made no clarifications about style or tone goals. Many have been very objective and shared real experiences.
If the only point of value that comes from this thread is that Sadowsky may not be the be-all, end for every bass player, it is worth it. There's nothing fair or unfair about stating that bass A is not for me because . . . If the poster's reasoning doesn't apply to the interested reader, he or she can certainly dismiss it. That's what we do with about 95 percent of the stuff we read on here anyway.
The only thing that is unfortunate about this thread and so many others is that the cost issue always pops up. I understand that it has to play a part in the discussion, but it always seems to end up overshadowing any substantive discussion.
If this thread becomes a "piling on" thread or a "worth it" discussion, it is just a simple reflection of the immaturity and lack of consideration that we see on far too many threads. The OP's question was valid and worthy of discussion. Further, IMO, there's no piece of gear or anything else TB related that is above honest, valid criticism.
You certainly can make a 3 band (or 500 band if you want) FET based preamp.
...and FETs ARE solid state, so I'm not sure what you're trying to get at differentiating between a "FET preamp" and a "solid state" mid boost.
It looks like the title of the thread is now "Has anyone bought and NOT liked a Sadowsky??" Either it's changed or I did not catch the "bought" initially. I haven't bought a Sadowsky since the only one I liked had issues that the store techs couldn't eliminate. I do have to wonder, though, why you would spend that kind of money on something you didn't like?
The best thing about that article - the blue bass that ROger is working in in two photos is my Sadowsky!
