Has anyone bought and NOT liked a Sadowsky??

[THand]

Did anyone actually answer the OP's original question?

Has anyone BOUGHT a Sadowsky and NOT liked it?

To me that means what it says...they don't like it, after they purchased it. Not, "did they sell it because their house was going into foreclosure, or they already owned 8 others so one had to go". Nor, does it mean, " picked one up and noodled on it at a gig and didn't dig it". Who has made this sizable purchase and later realized that they didn't do their research, and bought something that didn't fit them?

That was the nice version. I wanted to say, "who is stupid enough to spend that kind of money without knowing what they were buying and can you spot me a 5?"...but I didn't

I'm not sorting through all this ignorance about how CNC machines work to find out.

 

[Fishheadjoe]

I switched to a mechanical pencil as I prefer a more modern tone.

Can you imagine the sizable price increase had the cup been a Starbucks!!!!!!
Fishheadjoe

 

[SteveC]

Did anyone actually answer the OP's original question?

Has anyone BOUGHT a Sadowsky and NOT liked it?

Yes. I did not like the MV5 I tried. I did not like the M5-24. I loved the RV4 I had. If it had 5 strings I'd still have it.

 

[phillipkregg]

Did anyone actually answer the OP's original question?

Has anyone BOUGHT a Sadowsky and NOT liked it?

To me that means what it says...they don't like it, after they purchased it. Not, "did they sell it because their house was going into foreclosure, or they already owned 8 others so one had to go". Nor, does it mean, " picked one up and noodled on it at a gig and didn't dig it".

Well, he did clarify later on that purchase was not required. He just wanted opinions on why people may - or may not - prefer the instruments:

Does it matter really? Bought, played, tried, used, owned.....not sure if there's a need to split hairs. The essence of the original question was to find out the reasons why some people don't go for Sadowsky basses. It may be tonal (subjective), it may be down to quality, it may be down to customer service. But the idea is to get the discussion going and have people with constructive comments be heard.

 

[KJung]

Did anyone actually answer the OP's original question?

Has anyone BOUGHT a Sadowsky and NOT liked it?

I'm not sorting through all this ignorance about how CNC machines work to find out.

Well, then I'll help you out. Yes, like any other bass brand or model every made. Sometimes, hard to try before you buy, and sometimes it takes longer than even the wonderful 7 day trial that Roger allows to find out if something will really work for you.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Did anyone actually answer the OP's original question?

Has anyone BOUGHT a Sadowsky and NOT liked it?

In 2005 I received my first Sadowsky, one of the early P5 models... it had an alder body, my favorite. It quickly became my number one bass. A year ago, I got the Sadowsky Instruments In Stock update via e-mail, and fell in love with a gorgeous P5 with swamp ash body and flame maple board. So, I bought it. A few months later I realized that it wasn't working for me. It played great and looked great... but the bottom line is that I have never cared for the tone of P-basses with swamp ash bodies: it was true for Fender P-basses, it was true for the Lull P5 I owned, and it was now true for Sadowsky.

So, I sent the ash Sadowsky back to Brooklyn and had them sell it under their Certified Pre-Owned program (sure, I paid commission, but they made it so easy it was worth it to me). I then ordered another P5, with an alder body. I love my '10 P5 as much as my '05.

Again, the moral of the story is that no builder can please everyone. If you're looking for an ultra-slim neck profile, you might not care for Sadowsky. And if you're fussy as I am about the tones of certain woods, then you need to keep that in mind when purchasing/ordering: decide with your ears, not your eyes! But with Sadowsky you'll always get an instrument of the highest quality, and their customer support can't be beat.

I may have told this story already, but after all the silly CNC-bashing I've forgotten.

 

[THand]

Yes. I did not like the MV5 I tried. I did not like the M5-24. I loved the RV4 I had. If it had 5 strings I'd still have it.

So the problem was that you bought a 4, when you need a 5, and not an issue with the brand, build-quality, tone, weight, customer service, etc? How does that happen? Seriously, if I need a new car for the family, I don't accidentally come home with a Big Dog bike. Impulse buy after finding a deal, or did you have it for years and noticed you were only playing 5's now?

 

[THand]

....
Again, the moral of the story is that no builder can please everyone. If you're looking for an ultra-slim neck profile, you might not care for Sadowsky. And if you're fussy as I am about the tones of certain woods, then you need to keep that in mind when purchasing/ordering: decide with your ears, not your eyes! But with Sadowsky you'll always get an instrument of the highest quality, and their customer support can't be beat.
...

Seems like he can come pretty darn close to pleasing everyone, if you know what you want and need.

I guess I am too poor to understand how people can order a bass from Roger and not know exactly how they want it built or exactly what they like/need in a bass. Then he can tell you if it's do-able or not.

An SX, I understand, but to order a Sadowsky, and then go, "whoops! I forgot I don't like ash, guess I'll just get a new one in alder"... That's bizarre to me.

 

[Darkstrike]

So the problem was that you bought a 4, when you need a 5, and not an issue with the brand, build-quality, tone, weight, customer service, etc?

Actually, if you read it again, the first two basses he mentions not liking are 5ers.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

So the problem was that you bought a 4, when you need a 5, and not an issue with the brand, build-quality, tone, weight, customer service, etc? How does that happen? Seriously, if I need a new car for the family, I don't accidentally come home with a Big Dog bike. Impulse buy after finding a deal, or did you have it for years and noticed you were only playing 5's now?

Every day in classifieds, you can see nice basses including Sadowskys, that their owners decided to let go. What's the big deal? Sadowskys are not common, and many buy them used at a lower price. Reselling such a bass is not hard at all.

 

[phillipkregg]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[THand]

Actually, if you read it again, the first two basses he mentions not liking are 5ers.

Ok, I took it that he only bought the 4.

 

[THand]

Every day in classifieds, you can see nice basses including Sadowskys, that their owners decided to let go. What's the big deal? Sadowskys are not common, and many buy them used at a lower price. Reselling such a bass is not hard at all.

In one breath you say they are in the classifieds everyday, in the other you say they aren't common....

Regardless of the brand, reselling is almost always done at a loss, especially if you bought new. If you don't see the big deal in losing 100's of dollars because you were impulsive or didn't do your homework, I don't know what to tell ya.

 

[SteveC]

So the problem was that you bought a 4, when you need a 5, and not an issue with the brand, build-quality, tone, weight, customer service, etc? How does that happen? Seriously, if I need a new car for the family, I don't accidentally come home with a Big Dog bike. Impulse buy after finding a deal, or did you have it for years and noticed you were only playing 5's now?

Not exactly. I bought the M5-24 and the MV5 first. I couldn't make the M5-24 work for me. I tried a more "traditional" MV5 but didn't like the B string on that bass. It was fine on the M5-24.

The RV4 (Sea Foam Green, Rosewood board, white guard, beautiful bass) was available and so great looking I got it hoping the D tuner that was on it would be enough. I tried for a while and the tone was amazing - but I just need a B string.

Again, as many have said, I didn't like the sounds I was getting on the first 2 basses, but the basses are great.

 

[THand]

Well, then I'll help you out. Yes, like any other bass brand or model every made. Sometimes, hard to try before you buy, and sometimes it takes longer than even the wonderful 7 day trial that Roger allows to find out if something will really work for you.

That makes sense. 7 days really isn't very long, IMO.

 

[THand]

Well, he did clarify later on that purchase was not required. He just wanted opinions on why people may - or may not - prefer the instruments:

My bad....sorry.

 

[jwbassman]

For those of you who hate CNC machines, give me a call and I'll hook you up with one of my 100% handmade basses.

Here's one:

Link Removed

And only a fraction of the cost!

meh! That thing is so obviously a "parts" bass! Sourced out Styrofoam cup that was blow molded at some uber huge factory and mass produced and the same thing with the pencil and rubber band

 

[THand]

Not exactly. I bought the M5-24 and the MV5 first. I couldn't make the M5-24 work for me. I tried a more "traditional" MV5 but didn't like the B string on that bass. It was fine on the M5-24.

The RV4 (Sea Foam Green, Rosewood board, white guard, beautiful bass) was available and so great looking I got it hoping the D tuner that was on it would be enough. I tried for a while and the tone was amazing - but I just need a B string.

Again, as many have said, I didn't like the sounds I was getting on the first 2 basses, but the basses are great.

Gotcha. I didn't think about the d tuner being a factor in you choosing a 4. Thanks for clearing it up for me.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Every day in classifieds, you can see nice basses including Sadowskys, that their owners decided to let go. What's the big deal? Sadowskys are not common, and many buy them used at a lower price. Reselling such a bass is not hard at all.

In one breath you say they are in the classifieds everyday, in the other you say they aren't common....

Regardless of the brand, reselling is almost always done at a loss, especially if you bought new. If you don't see the big deal in losing 100's of dollars because you were impulsive or didn't do your homework, I don't know what to tell ya.

Being seen in TB everyday is not the same thing as common. Common is Fender or Ibanezes. Most people can't hop in a car and try a Sadowsky and be home in an hour or two.

If you weren't so eager to argue, you would read my post more carefully. I specifically mentioned used basses, which are what people buy on the TB classifieds. It is very easy to buy a bass used and sell it for the same price at this site. I have done it many times.

I don't think most boutique bass purchases are impulse buys. I think many people are just willing to use their resources to try to get the tone or feel they imagine they want.

 

[bass12]

That's right... "anyone". Not just Roger. You seem to see that but see it as a direct slap at Roger anyway.

It could be both, and since this thread is about Sadowskys it would make sense for someone to interpret the comments as being a direct slap at Roger.

Okay, if "look at what/who..." is not a reason to get one, look at them for what? To see how well known well and used the instruments are? The difference being?

Simple - to help one decide if the luthier in question is likely to be deserving of his reputation. That doesn't necessarily have anything to do with wanting to buy one of that luthier's instruments.