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Has anyone bought and NOT liked a Sadowsky??
- Thread starter violetmind
- Start date
HI
Whats the difference anyways? Dont we all just want a bangin' bass to gig with? Make it out of stuff in a dumpster for all I care. If it kills, it kills. CNC offers a absolute consistant cut. The guys and girls at the shop do all the final shaping slowly by hand anyways.
Rob
Whats the difference anyways? Dont we all just want a bangin' bass to gig with? Make it out of stuff in a dumpster for all I care. If it kills, it kills. CNC offers a absolute consistant cut. The guys and girls at the shop do all the final shaping slowly by hand anyways.
Rob
MikeBass
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- Nov 4, 2003
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You are probably right and I am TOTALLY fine with the OP. He's question his legit!
Still, I'm talking about some other people who should learn to deal with others with respect and consideration, especially when they have no experience end/or knowledge in the matter.
M
No offense to Roger at all, but when I shell out that kind of money (which I have for several Conklins in the past), I want to to know my instruments are hand-made and that they weren't, in my opinion, tossed on a CNC while the operator grabbed a coffee. I want to know my money was spent on that level of craftsmanship. I am well aware of the programming and work that goes into CNC work, so before y'all attack that comment, just stop. 
Roger stated something earlier about consistency with the CNC. My three Conklins had necks that were damn-near indistinguishable from one other!
I've played a few Sadowskys, and they were very nice instruments. I'd (personally) never consider spending that kind of money on one, however.
I've been to the Roscoe shop. I have seen the work, by hand, they do. I've seen the floors covered in sawdust from instruments being cut, and assembled, by hand. I've chatted with Gard about the work, by hand, that goes in to each and every instrument. If I *ever* buy a boutique bass again (which I doubt I will), it will be a Roscoe... Or a Nordstrand.
Again, NO disrespect whatsoever. I just know that I want my very hard-earned money to actually pay for something truly designed, built, assembled set-up, etc.
Roger stated something earlier about consistency with the CNC. My three Conklins had necks that were damn-near indistinguishable from one other!
I've played a few Sadowskys, and they were very nice instruments. I'd (personally) never consider spending that kind of money on one, however.
I've been to the Roscoe shop. I have seen the work, by hand, they do. I've seen the floors covered in sawdust from instruments being cut, and assembled, by hand. I've chatted with Gard about the work, by hand, that goes in to each and every instrument. If I *ever* buy a boutique bass again (which I doubt I will), it will be a Roscoe... Or a Nordstrand.
Again, NO disrespect whatsoever. I just know that I want my very hard-earned money to actually pay for something truly designed, built, assembled set-up, etc.
i personally couldn't give two craps how my basses were made. in the end, all i want is a bass, and i dont care if it was cut by hand, cut by cnc, or cut with a chainsaw. i'm always impressed by good hand work, but as long as i get a good bass out of it, i find it really hard to care how it was made.
No offense to Roger at all, but when I shell out that kind of money (which I have for several Conklins in the past), I want to to know my instruments are hand-made and that they weren't, in my opinion, tossed on a CNC while the operator grabbed a coffee. I want to know my money was spent on that level of craftsmanship. I am well aware of the programming and work that goes into CNC work, so before y'all attack that comment, just stop.
Roger stated something earlier about consistency with the CNC. My three Conklins had necks that were damn-near indistinguishable from one other!
I've played a few Sadowskys, and they were very nice instruments. I'd (personally) never consider spending that kind of money on one, however.
I've been to the Roscoe shop. I have seen the work, by hand, they do. I've seen the floors covered in sawdust from instruments being cut, and assembled, by hand. I've chatted with Gard about the work, by hand, that goes in to each and every instrument. If I *ever* buy a boutique bass again (which I doubt I will), it will be a Roscoe... Or a Nordstrand.
Again, NO disrespect whatsoever. I just know that I want my very hard-earned money to actually pay for something truly designed, built, assembled set-up, etc.
No offense intended, but a tree doesn't know whether its being cut with a saw blade or an end mill. I doubt without direct knowledge of the fact, you would either. (That comes from years of machining experience) IMHO
Agreed... But if I'm paying someone, I want to know my money is truly being earned. I know that sounds offensive and I do apologize, but with a Sadowsky, I don't feel it is.
Haven't played any NYC Sadowskys but I can't say I was overly impressed with their Metro line. IMO the Laklands and even some US Fenders I've played were better.
Like I said, I'm always wary of "hand-made". I'm not knocking on Roscoe, but I know there was a lot of talk about quality control issues with Roscoes a while back and for some reason, they seem to have a real tough time working with ebony boards; but this is all hearsay. I've also heard of some "inconsistencies" with Alleva Coppolos too. I've had firsthand experience with an F Bass (with all the bells and whistles) with a neck that wasn't sanded down properly (some parts of the 3 piece neck were popping out). The "resin" finish (I think it's hand-applied) was ridiculoulsy soft and you could dent the finish with just a slight pressure of your fingernail. The bass was over $5000. In fact, every handmade bass I've had had those kinds of flaws, stuff that you would never see on a basic Ibanez or Yamaha.
after reading a big big part of this thread, i've learned that these are the reasons why some people don't like sadowsky:
1.) for the price point, they want it hand made.
2.) they will not buy a 'fender style' bass or any bass at that price
3.) a few are not happy with the B string on the 5's
4.) some just have different tastes (i.e. they dont like j-basses, they dont like active EQ, they prefer other brands, etc.)
that's about the valid reasons i could find....
seems to me Sadowsky basses are really good. i wont have the chance to try them since im halfway across the globe, but they sure seem to be worth buying "blindly" based on the posts i read here.
1.) for the price point, they want it hand made.
2.) they will not buy a 'fender style' bass or any bass at that price
3.) a few are not happy with the B string on the 5's
4.) some just have different tastes (i.e. they dont like j-basses, they dont like active EQ, they prefer other brands, etc.)
that's about the valid reasons i could find....
seems to me Sadowsky basses are really good. i wont have the chance to try them since im halfway across the globe, but they sure seem to be worth buying "blindly" based on the posts i read here.
Does George use an oil finish on his necks? If so, that's very common. All my multi laminate necks that are oil finished, or unfinished, exhibit this phenomenon.
No offense to Roger at all, but when I shell out that kind of money (which I have for several Conklins in the past), I want to to know my instruments are hand-made and that they weren't, in my opinion, tossed on a CNC while the operator grabbed a coffee. I want to know my money was spent on that level of craftsmanship. I am well aware of the programming and work that goes into CNC work, so before y'all attack that comment, just stop.
Roger stated something earlier about consistency with the CNC. My three Conklins had necks that were damn-near indistinguishable from one other!
I've played a few Sadowskys, and they were very nice instruments. I'd (personally) never consider spending that kind of money on one, however.
I've been to the Roscoe shop. I have seen the work, by hand, they do. I've seen the floors covered in sawdust from instruments being cut, and assembled, by hand. I've chatted with Gard about the work, by hand, that goes in to each and every instrument. If I *ever* buy a boutique bass again (which I doubt I will), it will be a Roscoe... Or a Nordstrand.
Again, NO disrespect whatsoever. I just know that I want my very hard-earned money to actually pay for something truly designed, built, assembled set-up, etc.
Question for ya in regards to hi-end basses. If you came across an instrument that was tonally superior, for your needs of course, to another bass in a similar high price bracket but yet had a plain wood body with no intricate woodworking ( no exotic top, ultra-rare fretboard for example) would you consider it worth it to make the switch? This is how it was for me with Sadowsky basses. I DO think that as far as woodworking display (not quality and consistency IMO/IME) is concerned, there are plenty of better examples. And I also completely understand if the aesthetic quality of the build matters to the buyer as much as tone, at least in this type of price point.
If ANY bass just doesn't do it for you insofar as playability/to
ne/features then it's 'not worth it' at any price point, right?
+1, and as someone who has to order Ductile Iron/Steel parts (which you would THINK would have less variability/room for error than wood does) from machine shops to the tune of a million dollars a year for my company, I can attest that a CNC machine is STILL prone to screw ups, input error, etc. Plus, the nuances of a bolt-on design such as the tightness of the neck pocket, quality and rigidity of the wood and how it is cut/shaped are HUGE factors that are not as apparent as a finely executed exotic top.
Well, you can cross us off your list. We use a CNC. Sorry...
Also, I really hesitate to pop into this thread, but we've been mentioned so I figure I might as well add a little perspective.
Building and selling basses at the botique level is NOT easy. When I started building I was terribly naieve. I have learned many hard lessons over the past years, and fate as much as anything has allowed us to somehow survive and keep doing this.
I think it's a shame that there are those out there that lack respect for the way Roger runs his business and the prices he charges. It's an even bigger shame that these folks feel the need to be rude and dismissive on a public forum.
You guys really need to chill out. You have NO idea what's involed in making the consistently excellent products that he and his crew do. It's hard enough making good product when you have total control over the process. When you have to rely on others it actually gets more difficult, not easier. But you'll never know that unless you try it. And if you don't, or can't try it, then you really can't know what you're talking about. Can you?
I truly believe that Roger's basses set the standard for quality in our corner of the industry. They are rediculously consistent. I have never seen one that was anything less than exceptional in workmanship. Tone can vary. It is wood after all. Even so, the tonal variance between his basses is very small because of the control he exerts over the quality of them. These are the things you get when you buy a Sadowsky - consistently high quality and consistent tone.
Also, think about simple economics. If everyone agreed with the nay-sayers Roger wouldn't be in business. There IS validity in what he does and the success he has had and continues to have is evidence of that. Why can't you contrarians just accept that and let it be?
Again, if you haven't been on the inside trying to do this, then you really have no idea what you're talking about. Believe me. It's not easy...
You have such low standards...
From now on, I am demanding that all of my bass guitars be whittled out of carbon fiber with a lightsaber wielded by a bikini clad Scarlett Johansson.
You have such low standards...
From now on, I am demanding that all of my bass guitars be whittled out of carbon fiber with a lightsaber wielded by a bikini clad Scarlett Johansson.
Scarlett Johansson? I'd like Jessica Alba instead, or is that a $200 option?
That's kinda harsh. You seem more concerned with his profit margin than the quality of his basses. I've had plenty of handmade basses and they're not all they're cracked up to be.
