Has anyone bought and NOT liked a Sadowsky??

[Darkstrike]

Really??? Some things must have changed since John took over

Indeed, I just very recently saw a thread announcing it.

 

[KJung]

So you didn't see the CNC machine at the Roscoe shop? Because they do both CNC and hand routing for their instruments.

Rob Allen uses a CNC for his basses as well. I suppose you'd dismiss his instruments because of that?

Reality check on aisle 5 please...

Next thing you'll cross something off the list because it came from Asia...

High quality parts, EXPERTLY assembled I like the profile also.... great low end, smooth mids, and very present up top.

 

[Hounddog]

I love mine. I bought a used Ash/morado UV-70 5 string with SCs and it has been my main bass for quite a while now. I have never played another bass @ a show since I got it. I had a NYC built and it will be here next week. I have owned and played several other high end basses that didnt gel with me but I would never mention them on here. They simply didnt fit my style. I personally love everything about Sadowsky and cant see myself playing anything else.

 

[Margus Alviste]

After getting a Sadowsky outboard pre/di I understand that the only reason for being unsatisfied with the Sadowsky basses can be related with the particular wood used on particular bass. At least that was the main reason I got rid of my Metros. The electronics are top notch! Now I can get the nicest Sadowsky sound out from any of my basses. Very good preamp indeed!!!

 

[capnsandwich]

Well you know...

Some guys dig Sadowsky, some prefer MTD. And some guys dig Scarlett, while others prefer Jessica.

In reality, they are all great. And I can't afford any of them.

(Plus I think it's great how gear-wars can be brought to a peaceful conclusion through the power of T n' A)

Yep, that's my point as well. If I had the money, though, I'd have both.

 

[Bass Viking]

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.

Yeah right, Roger is goofing off and posting on Talkbass instead of slaving over a hammer and chisel.

 

[blmeier7]

I guess I'm one of the few that didn't like the Sadowsky. Mine was a Metro MS5. It was the lightest bass I've ever played and the construction was top notch. It was just the tone that I couldn't live with, it was way too harsh and bright for me. I really wanted to like this bass but just couldn't. I do prefer the typical Fender, vintage Fender tones, and that is probably the reason I didn't like the Metro.

In all fairness I never played the Metro in a live setting, which is where I've heard the Sadowskys shine. Since the majority of my playing is a hobby I play solo and wanted a bass that sounds great soloed. One day I would like to try a alder/rosewood 4 string Sadowsky to see if it would closer fit the tones I'm usually after.

However, I listen to Will Lee on David Letterman a lot and I'm always impressed with his sound and range of tones.

 

[MikeBass]

OK, I vote to close this thread now.

Lets end it with all these beauties in one post:

Invalid Link Removed

Invalid Link Removed

I do think this may be my best post ever on TB.
Hell, it may be THE best post ever on TB!!!

 

[maurilio]

at this point I've changed my mind, I agree with this!

 

[rayzak]

Even if you don't get/like Sadowsky basses, it's a fact that Roger basically set the "standard" for "high end" bass builders to match. He, and a few others such as Mike Tobias. I've even heard Dan Lakin(Lakland), who's basses I love, during an interview saying how when he began Lakland, he wanted to offer his basses with the type of quality that Roger and Mike are putting out. They set the bar very high indeed.

 

[capnsandwich]

OK, I vote to close this thread now.

Lets end it with all these beauties in one post:

Invalid Link Removed

Invalid Link Removed

I do think this may be my best post ever on TB.
Hell, it may be THE best post ever on TB!!!

Isn't it amazing how a thread, filled with so many bassists with strong opinions, can suddenly unite everyone with a few pics of hot chicks? I love women and I love Sadowsky threads!

 

[Eric Perry]

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.

Aren't all of us that work for a living concerned about where our hard-earned dollars are going? I don't own any Tara Labs cables for the same reason. I'm not comparing Sadowsky to Tara Labs, just using it as an example.

Then get a Wishbass. They're handmade, no CNCs used.

Maybe Steve uses a CNC, but he's just high when programming!

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..

As I've stated earlier, I have owned a few custom Conklins. All great basses. They are all gone now. I have owned, and still own, a Conklin Groove Tools GT-5. If we are talking build quality, feel, etc., then the customs simply buried the GT. Tonally, however (to MY ears), the GT, with US Barts and an OBP-3, always gave me exactly what I wanted. None of the customs ever matched that. I wish they could have. Here's the thing though: The customs were thousands of dollars each. Much of that $$$ went for the pieces of wood, the carved and figured Cherry top, etc. The very simplistic by comparison GT was $750. If Conklin made a GT with wider spacing, I'd probably never buy a custom.

Actually, I'll be more honest.... When I bought my customs, I had money burning a hole in my wallet, I was a headstock whore, and dammit I just wanted a custom... just to say I had a custom. Now I'm much older, wiser, and mature, and would probably never spend that kind of cash on ANY instrument again. My main three basses today are the GT, a Yamaha RBX765A, and a modded SX Jazz. They suit me pretty well, actually.

Well, you can cross us off your list. We use a CNC. Sorry...

True, but let's compare prices between one of your basses and an NYC Sad. Your prices aren't listed on your site anymore, but they used to be substantially cheaper than any NYC. I've had the privilege (and pleasure) of playing both a Sadowsky NYC and a Nordstrand NX, and I was always more impressed with your basses, Carey. I'm sorry you took offense to my post. One of the reasons I liked you (much like why I have always liked Bill Conklin, Mike Tobias, The Roscoe crew, etc.), is you never used to come off as another Ken Smith.


For whoever mentioned Roscoe's use of the CNC (I looked, couldn't find the post)... When I was there (last summer), the CNC was pretty much being used as a storage table and was covered in sawdust. It obviously hadn't been used in quite some time. Gard told my most of their basses continue to be hand carved. Besides, my issue is NOT with so much using a CNC. It had to do with labor / price points, essentially. If two builders dedicate the same amount of labor / time / and effort, and then release equally impressive instruments, but sell at a substantially lower price, then what's the motivation to buy, other than the name?


Again, I mean no disrespect. For those (the one or two of you that take this crap personally like I'm slandering your mom ) and infer said disrespect, then responded in such a way to my earlier post(s), I really couldn't care less what you think. I gave my opinion because it was asked for on a public forum. Don't like it? Sorry.

 

[Eric Perry]

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

That's exactly right. SX Jazz bass bodies and USA Fender Jazz bass bodies are both cut with CNC machines. There is a *substantial* difference in cost between the two. Kinda gets one thinkin', doesn't it?

 

[Eric Perry]

All that stuff being said, I'm out. I haven' been interested in lame peeing contests and/or intrawebs arguments for quite some time. A Sadowsky thread sure as hell ain't gonna light that fire again.

 

[Sadowsky]

That's exactly right. SX Jazz bass bodies and USA Fender Jazz bass bodies are both cut with CNC machines. There is a *substantial* difference in cost between the two. Kinda gets one thinkin', doesn't it?

It gets one thinking that CNC is not the issue. Programming, wood quality and selection, parts quality (gears, bridges, electronics, etc) skilled craftspersons for finish, fretwork, wiring, assembly and set-up, and quality control standards through every step of the process is what makes the difference.

I can assure you if you provided me with all the parts that go into as SX bass, it would be better than a production one, but still not a great bass. There is an old expression "you can't polish a turd".

Roger

 

[Infidelity]

I really wanna troll this thread so this could be closed.. lol

 

[Jared Lash]

My guess is that the machinery used for a lot of the basic construction of Geo Metros is the same as that used for Mercedes and BMWs.

The differences are obviously the quality of components, design elements, tolerances and work on the finer details.

 

[ElMon]

As I've stated earlier, I have owned a few custom Conklins. All great basses. They are all gone now. I have owned, and still own, a Conklin Groove Tools GT-5. If we are talking build quality, feel, etc., then the customs simply buried the GT. Tonally, however (to MY ears), the GT, with US Barts and an OBP-3, always gave me exactly what I wanted. None of the customs ever matched that. I wish they could have. Here's the thing though: The customs were thousands of dollars each. Much of that $$$ went for the pieces of wood, the carved and figured Cherry top, etc. The very simplistic by comparison GT was $750. If Conklin made a GT with wider spacing, I'd probably never buy a custom.

Actually, I'll be more honest.... When I bought my customs, I had money burning a hole in my wallet, I was a headstock whore, and dammit I just wanted a custom... just to say I had a custom. Now I'm much older, wiser, and mature, and would probably never spend that kind of cash on ANY instrument again. My main three basses today are the GT, a Yamaha RBX765A, and a modded SX Jazz. They suit me pretty well, actually.



Again, I mean no disrespect. For those (the one or two of you that take this crap personally like I'm slandering your mom ) and infer said disrespect, then responded in such a way to my earlier post(s), I really couldn't care less what you think. I gave my opinion because it was asked for on a public forum. Don't like it? Sorry.

Completely understand the above, and that's exactly what I suspected. Didn't think you were being offensive at all. If it get's your sound, it's worth any amount you can afford and if it happens to be relatively cheap, score there too!

And I completely understand the sheer gear-lust inspired by Roscoe/Fodera/Brubaker/Smith/MTD. Those basses are all just gorgeous in design and build. Thank GOD they don't appeal to me tone-wise. I'd be in serious financial trouble.

 

[nostatic]

It gets one thinking that CNC is not the issue. Programming, wood quality and selection, parts quality (gears, bridges, electronics, etc) skilled craftspersons for finish, fretwork, wiring, assembly and set-up, and quality control standards through every step of the process is what makes the difference.

I can assure you if you provided me with all the parts that go into as SX bass, it would be better than a production one, but still not a great bass. There is an old expression "you can't polish a turd".

Roger

In situations like this I'm reminded of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." Different people have different opinions of "quality." And some can't tell the difference between a turd and a Baby Ruth - mostly because they only use their eyes to judge.



For me, I find the people behind the instrument to be a critical factor in my choice of instrument. It is worth it to me to know the people who make the tool I'll use to make music. People like Roger, Rob Allen, Carey Norstrand, Keith Roscoe, etc make me perfectly willing to spend my hard-earned money on their instruments. Does it make the bass sound better? Maybe, maybe not. But making music is about more than just the final sound. The process is important. Some people can use any tool and be happy. Others want more (be it fit/finish, aesthetic, brand recognition, whatever), and value the relationship that comes with working with a small builder. Thankfully, we have a market that provides instruments for people no matter what their means or preference.

 

[ClassicJazz]

OK, I vote to close this thread now.

Lets end it with all these beauties in one post:

Invalid Link Removed

Invalid Link Removed

I do think this may be my best post ever on TB.
Hell, it may be THE best post ever on TB!!!

How 'bout some beauties and a Sadowsky!