Has anyone bought and NOT liked a Sadowsky??

[THand]

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.

Everybody isn't addicted to the classifieds. No need to get pissy, just because you contradicted yourself. What makes you think your post are so almighty that they deserve such study? Since Roger is posting/reading, the assumption is that we are talking basses that go from him straight to his customers...you know things he can control, and what a future customer might expect from dealing with Sadowsky...not whether you can find one at an estate sale and flip it for a profit.

Buying a hand-me-down, and buying new are very different experiences. By buying new, you get the chance to get exactly what you want, straight from Roger. Buying used, your are buying what someone else thought they wanted, and did "who-knows-what" to it, trying to make it what they want, assuming it only had one owner...if it had more than one, the odds of getting a true representation of the bass and the company gets less and less.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I'm not "pissy," I just think a good conversation involves actually knowing what someone says. Prior to you, I don't think anyone else said we were discussing new basses only.

Everybody isn't addicted to the classifieds. No need to get pissy, just because you contradicted yourself. What makes you think your post are so almighty that they deserve such study? Since Roger is posting/reading, the assumption is that we are talking basses that go from him straight to his customers...you know things he can control, and what a future customer might expect from dealing with Sadowsky...not whether you can find one at an estate sale and flip it for a profit.

Buying a hand-me-down, and buying new are very differ

ent experiences. By buying new, you get the chance to get exactly what you want, straight from Roger. Buying used, your are buying what someone else thought they wanted, and did "who-knows-what" to it, trying to make it what they want, assuming it only had one owner...if it had more than one, the odds of getting a true representation of the bass and the company gets less and less.

 

[THand]

I'm not "pissy," I just think a good conversation involves actually knowing what someone says. Prior to you, I don't think anyone else said we were discussing new basses only.

Prior to you, no one accused me of trying to argue, or not being able to comprehend reading...

If you weren't so eager to argue, you would read my post more carefully. .

You made 2 false accusations...that I was trying to argue, and that I would automatically read your post more carefully if I wasn't.

I specifically mentioned used basses, which are what people buy on the TB classifieds..

But, who cares? Where is anyone saying they can NOT sell a Sadowsky they want to unload??

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..

We know! You have done a fine job documenting your fake guilt complex over your gas impulses, I give you that.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

These are the facts I stated as I see them.

1.I said, everyday nice used basses are for sale on the classifieds, including Sadowskys.
2. Being on the classifeds does not mean a bass is common in the general marketplace.
3. I said it is pretty easy to buy a used Sadowsky and sell it without losing money.
4. I also said that I don't think most boutique bass purchases are impulse buys. People have a rationale for why they buy them beyond thinking they are cool.

Beyond those points, I have nothing else to say. If you want to take personal shots at me, go for it.

 

[bassjam]

I love Sadowsky threads!!!!

Is there a "I love Sadowsky threads" thread???

 

[P. Bass]

I love Sadowsky threads!!!!

Is there a "I love Sadowsky threads" thread???

LOL What is it with us human beings? Why do we even slow down to look at a horrific crash on the freeway? You'd think we'd get away as quickly as possible.
B.
PS: I love ya Roger!

 

[Fuzzbass]

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.

Heh, I should clarify. In my case, it's not like ash basses don't sound good... they just don't sound as good to me as alder. Also, I didn't want to assume that my experience with other ash basses would be relevant to the ash Sadowsky.

My disappointment was most apparent in comparison to my alder Sadowsky: the ash P5 sounded good, but the alder one was better. If I'm going to spend that much for a bass I figure I should be completely satisfied. As noted by others, it often takes longer than 7 days to determine whether an instrument is a keeper.

I suppose it was a costly lesson, but that's relative. When I was younger and my income was less, I never considered buying a boutique bass, let alone taking a chance on one.

 

[nostatic]

Everybody isn't addicted to the classifieds. No need to get pissy, just because you contradicted yourself.

Actually you did too. You maintain that one should know *exactly* what they want and *exactly * what they're getting when they buy new, but then you say that 7 days "isn't very long" to try something out (referring to the Sadowsky trial period).

I have bought a new Sadowsky and then sold it (at a loss - life is short). Great bass but not a fit for me. All the research in the world can't tell me if that particular instrument is going to work in my hands for my gigs. And since my gigs often change, sometimes my needs change.

If a person either just collects or messes around at home, then I can see why the choice of instrument isn't heavily driven by tone/use needs. But for instance if I compare the four bands I play in right now with the gigs I was doing a year ago, I have a different set of needs and wants in an instrument. And when I made the jump to my first Rob Allen that actually changed the way I looked at my other basses so I adjusted accordingly.

Some people like to flip basses. More power to them. I actually don't but I am very particular about the instruments that I own and play. I want to enjoy working with my tools, so I try to choose wisely. But making music is a deeply personal endeavor (to some at least), and the process is as important as the final output. Intangibles permeate music, and they also by extension, impact the choice of instrument. So I can do all the research in the world, but in the end it either works, or I make it work, or I try something else.

 

[THand]

Actually you did too. You maintain that one should know *exactly* what they want and *exactly * what they're getting when they buy new, but then you say that 7 days "isn't very long" to try something out (referring to the Sadowsky trial period).

I have bought a new Sadowsky and then sold it (at a loss - life is short). Great bass but not a fit for me. All the research in the world can't tell me if that particular instrument is going to work in my hands for my gigs. And since my gigs often change, sometimes my needs change.

If a person either just collects or messes around at home, then I can see why the choice of instrument isn't heavily driven by tone/use needs. But for instance if I compare the four bands I play in right now with the gigs I was doing a year ago, I have a different set of needs and wants in an instrument. And when I made the jump to my first Rob Allen that actually changed the way I looked at my other basses so I adjusted accordingly.

Some people like to flip basses. More power to them. I actually don't but I am very particular about the instruments that I own and play. I want to enjoy working with my tools, so I try to choose wisely. But making music is a deeply personal endeavor (to some at least), and the process is as important as the final output. Intangibles permeate music, and they also by extension, impact the choice of instrument. So I can do all the research in the world, but in the end it either works, or I make it work, or I try something else.

Why you!

I guess that does seem like a contradiction, so I should clarify a bit.

Yes, I think you should know "exactly" what you want and "exactly" what you need when considering a large purchase(or at least as close as humanly possible).

I also did agree that 7 days was not very long. These are some of the reasons I think that:

...what if you are sick? Even if you are able to play, your hearing may not be up to par.

...what if a band member is out and you can't get a good impression of how it sounds in the band?

...what if you don't have a gig that week? It would be nice to know that it sounds like you want it to live, no?

...what if a family emergency comes up, a friend dies, or your day job puts you on the road for 2 weeks?

I could go on, and on...but my point isn't that you should need say , 30 days, to decide if you want it or not.You should already know you want it. But with all that could happen in a week, it makes sense to me that Sadowsky would be confident enough that they satisfied your order, and you should be confident enough that you ordered the correct instrument for your needs, that some of the rush to put it through the paces in 7 days could be avoided.

IMO, of course.

 

[nostatic]

Why you!

I guess that does seem like a contradiction, so I should clarify a bit.

Yes, I think you should know "exactly" what you want and "exactly" what you need when considering a large purchase(or at least as close as humanly possible).

I also did agree that 7 days was not very long. These are some of the reasons I think that:

...what if you are sick? Even if you are able to play, your hearing may not be up to par.

...what if a band member is out and you can't get a good impression of how it sounds in the band?

...what if you don't have a gig that week? It would be nice to know that it sounds like you want it to live, no?

...what if a family emergency comes up, a friend dies, or your day job puts you on the road for 2 weeks?

I could go on, and on...but my point isn't that you should need say , 30 days, to decide if you want it or not.You should already know you want it. But with all that could happen in a week, it makes sense to me that Sadowsky would be confident enough that they satisfied your order, and you should be confident enough that you ordered the correct instrument for your needs, that some of the rush to put it through the paces in 7 days could be avoided.

IMO, of course.

"stuff happens"

Sorry, but you can't plan for every contingency. As for "knowing," please reference the second part of my post. I like to think I'm a fairly sharp knife in the drawer, and I've been playing music for 40+years, gigging on and off for the last 30. I have cycled through a fair amount of gear during that time, but I still find that I can't predict exactly what is going to work and what won't. While excellent builders have pretty great consistency, there still is variability. And again, until I put a particular instrument in my hands for my situations, I won't know. I can read every post on TB about an instrument and listen to every clip but that is only a rough guide. I am particular about my instruments, and I've worked hard to put myself in a position where I can afford to be discriminating. Life is too short not to be making music...and I'm going to find and use something that inspires me. And sometimes the most expensive instrument in the world doesn't move me, and a cheaper one will. Such are the vagaries of making art...

 

[THand]

"stuff happens"

Sorry, but you can't plan for every contingency. As for "knowing," please reference the second part of my post. I like to think I'm a fairly sharp knife in the drawer, and I've been playing music for 40+years, gigging on and off for the last 30. I have cycled through a fair amount of gear during that time, but I still find that I can't predict exactly what is going to work and what won't. While excellent builders have pretty great consistency, there still is variability. And again, until I put a particular instrument in my hands for my situations, I won't know. I can read every post on TB about an instrument and listen to every clip but that is only a rough guide. I am particular about my instruments, and I've worked hard to put myself in a position where I can afford to be discriminating. Life is too short not to be making music...and I'm going to find and use something that inspires me. And sometimes the most expensive instrument in the world doesn't move me, and a cheaper one will. Such are the vagaries of making art...

I don't have a problem with any of that, but I can't figure out if you agree or disagree that having more than 7 days would be a good thing.

 

[nostatic]

I don't have a problem with any of that, but I can't figure out if you agree or disagree that having more than 7 days would be a good thing.

Sure - in an ideal world I'd like to have a year But the reality for a small builder is risk/benefit. Having a return policy is a pita for the builder and costs them money (which factors into the sales price - something that some around here don't think about), so there needs to be a balance. I think that 7 days is more than fair, as many builders don't have *any* return policy.

 

[maurilio]

some people will never be satisfied, happy or grateful, no matter what!

I feel sorry for them

M

 

[nostatic]

some people will never be satisfied, happy or grateful, no matter what!

I feel sorry for them

M

for the record, I hate everyone equally

 

[maurilio]

me too, some a little more. some a little less!

M

 

[bassjam]

LOL What is it with us human beings? Why do we even slow down to look at a horrific crash on the freeway? You'd think we'd get away as quickly as possible.
B.
PS: I love ya Roger!

Ha-Too true.Why is that?

Now back to the bickering and pics of half dressed women!

 

[sjb64]

I liked the tone of my $adowsky everywhere, except for my living room. As good as they are, they are overpriced. Don't get your pantys in a wad DB's. :=$

 

[Vic]

I didn't read this whole thread, and really, it's packed with the usual stuff from the fanboys and naysayers anyway... much of which I think is kinda' silly, so I won't comment on that... but I do think you ask a fair question, so let me just answer (FOR MYSELF) generally...

So.....has anyone played a Sadowsky and NOT liked it? I'm about to take the step to order one so hope to hear some opinions.

Yes. Me.

But then again, I've played other Sadowskys and been so blown away I can't justify it with words, but I don't worry about it because all it means is, I got my money's worth, and at the end of the day, that's what we look for in any purchase.

At least for my prefs and tonal/feel sensitivities, I get stuff from "the right" Sadowsky that I get from no other bass... whether it be a "J style" or not... but as with any instrument at any price level, it has to be the "right" one. I've played both Metros AND (some pretty darned nice) NYC basses that just "didn't do it" for me. For ME. I've sold them and the next owners have most typically been as elated with them as I am with my current stable... which is significantly.

The link provided back in the first few pages to a post from Roger back in 2007 addressing the truth about the effort put into each instrument, I think is telling, and certainly answers to a lot for me and what I feel and hear when I play THE RIGHT Sadowsky FOR ME.

The bottom line is, as with any instrument, it's the matchup. I just personally feel the benefits of the right matchup with a Sadowsky exceed that of most basses at lower price levels, so I'm ok with Roger's pricing for that reason.

Anyway, hope this answers your question and keeps the shiny side up at the same time.

 

[drbakker]

So.....has anyone played a Sadowsky and NOT liked it? I'm about to take the step to order one so hope to hear some opinions.

Thanks very much!!!

Hi violetmind, your poor thread has gotten so hijacked, I hope you still see this reply.... I'll try to add what I've learned from my sadowsky.
I have a sadowsky J, #4888, and it's great. The only regret is it is a slightly "flatter" radius and wider string spacing than I like. After playing it a couple years now, I've learned I like the more vintage J 9" radius and narrower nut. So, my advice is to try a couple fender J necks if you're not near the NYC shop and find a radius/width you like. They will do various different neck shapes for you and you should take advantage of that.
That aside, 4888 is my 'go to' bass. It was amazing right out of the box, here's a video goofing around at a studio session literally 20 minutes after I pulled it out of the case for the first time - it is just slamming.
Anyway, after a couple years of bliss with this bass I have ordered a second one, with the spacing I like, maple neck, still J config, but non-humbuckers. Should be done mid next year.

 

[spade2you]

some people will never be satisfied, happy or grateful, no matter what!

I feel sorry for them

M

Pretty much. Spend a little time on TB and you'll realize that some dudes are never going to find a bass they truly love.