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Has anyone bought and NOT liked a Sadowsky??
- Thread starter violetmind
- Start date
I saw a beauty in a local shop. An MS5. Played it and was falling in love... until I came upon a dead spot. The A string around the 8th fret.
A LOUD dead spot.
I was ready to slap down $2,500 on this thing but that killed it for me.
You were VERY smart to do that. Whether it is a Fodera or a Squire, every wooden neck bass has a dead spot or two... period. Luckily, most are quite minor, but every once in a while, a dead spot (regardless of brand, price, multi-lam neck, etc., etc.) will be major enough and sit in just the wrong place to make a bass 'not a good one'.
That's one of the first things I do when evaluating a bass... play long ringing nots all the way up and down the G string and A string (which is where 90% + of the problems are). If I hear that typical 'slightly different note fundamental fade' and it is subtle, no problem. However, if the fundamental fades so fast that it won't sustain at least a typical 'ballad measure' or, in the worst cases, the fundamental barely sounds, then back it goes.
To be fair, a passive Squire 4 string J sounds EXACTLY like a passive Fender J (it is a passive Fender J!). If that is the literal tone you are looking for, the Sadowsky models very much might not 'scratch that itch', since they sound 'J-ish' with a very strong dose of 'Sadowsky tone'. The wider, smoother, more treble extended active Sadowsky tone does not, to me, bring to mind a classic old school passive Fender tone.
They are surely not 'Fender copies' by any means... they are 'J Bass' type instruments with their own very strong voice, which many Fender guys don't see as an improvement at all. I totally get and respect that. The improved fit and finish means nothing if the tone isn't to your liking.
These thread are always a challenge, as there usually is no context for the person making the comment. In Ken's instance, at least we have youtube videos of him playing so you know that a) he has expensive basses, and b) he knows how to play them (and gigs with them). With others it is a crap shoot. I have no doubt that some can't tell a difference because they...can't tell the difference. And for others cost is the most important aspect to an instrument, so Sadowsky and others will lose before they even get out of the gate.
Not sure what "equal" means here. But if you mean "the same", there is nothing out there at any price that sounds like a Sadowsky. The preamp/pickup circuit is unique to them and has a VERY unique character to it.
As for the fit and finish, I have not experienced anything priced even moderately lower that features the quality of fit, finish and fret work that is offered by Sadowsky. Sure, there are others out there that do it, but it takes time and someone who knows what they are doing. They charge a lot of money for that sort of thing. For the most part, about the same as Sadowsky.
I do agree that setup has a great deal to do with the impression one has of bass, and that if someone knows what they are doing, they can change the character of a bass a great deal, but there limitations.
I have a MIJ 1989 Squier Jazz. I love it. Bought it two years ago, after I bought the Sadowsky.
I take back my comment. I was wrong.
They are very different basses and you can't compare them beyind looking similar. The construction materials and components are very different, as are the playability, feel and tone.
That being said, the only bass of the five at home, that comes to gigs and recordings is the Sadowsky.
I take back my comment. I was wrong.
They are very different basses and you can't compare them beyind looking similar. The construction materials and components are very different, as are the playability, feel and tone.
That being said, the only bass of the five at home, that comes to gigs and recordings is the Sadowsky.
I don't think it is as much about telling the difference as it is about appreciating the difference. I would be VERY surprised if someone A/B tested a Sadowsky and a Fender (or any other bass at any price) and thought there was no difference. The question is if the differences matter at all.
For some, they may prefer one or the other and have the means to choose either.
Others may have the means but decide the differences aren't worth the additional expense.
Those that do not have the means have the decision already made for them.
I also agree with you about the challenge of this thread. I do, however, hope that it ends up with some degree of honest and fair criticism of Sadowsky basses. I've tried as best as I could to offer the most fair and honest opinion of them that my experiences allow. I appreciate the others who have also.
I think TB needs the balance. Unfortunately, Sadowsky basses have become the poster child for polarization here at TB. They get caught up in far too many "value" discussions and not enough substantive evaluations of what they are and the niche they represent.
+1 I think Sadowsky discussions always get a little testy for the following reasons.
1) Sadowsky is the most widely known and I assume the largest and I think oldest brand of 'Fender type' boutique instruments. So, awareness is high, even among those who never played one. They are kind of the archetype of 'boutique J instruments' IMO.
2) Many who love Fender's don't like the quite different tone of the Sadowky Vintage type basses. Since the Sadowsky basses resemble the classic look of a Fender bass, this can create some confusion (i.e., I thought the Sadowsky would be a lot better than my Fender, but it sounds nothing like my Fender
).3) Many associate 'high price' with fancy laminates, neck through construction, fancy tops, elaborate switches and active circuitry etc. If that is one's definition of 'price/worth', then the Sadowsky (and Alleva, etc.) basses are going to seem a bit confusing.
Put this all together, and you have the guys who love the Stambaugh (as an example) mega woodwork thing that is roughly in the same price range as the Sadowksy basses, and the guys who see nothing at all 'lacking' in their Fender instruments kind of putting these basses in an ugly sandwich.
No big deal for me... I dig the discussion, and totally understand the mixed reviews. Where it gets ugly is the attitude by some on the 'Sadowsky side' that 'you have to be an idiot to not appreciated these basses', and by some on the 'other side' saying 'you have to be an idiot to spend that much on a Fender copy (which of course, they are not)!
IMO.
I bought a beautiful ash Sadowsky from their in-stock page. I didn't realize it wasn't for me until months later, well after the 7 day trial period. I have to add that I should have known better: I've always been an alder guy; I've never cared for the tone of light swamp ash. And that kills me, because ash is so pretty.
I sold the ash bass on consignment through the Sadowsky certified pre-owned program. Yeah, I probably could've made more money selling it on my own, but the Sadowsky program made it incredibly simple and worry-free.
The superior build quality, in particular the fretwork, is worth the $$ IMHO, but on top of that is Sadowsky customer service. I'm just a mediocre weekend warrior, but they make me feel as important as Will Lee, Rickey Minor, or any of their other superstar artists.
If you guys want a Sadowsky and don't like the price then buy a 5'er squire then put the Sadowsky pups and pre in there then tell me if you like it.. 
MikeBass
Supporting Member
- Nov 4, 2003
- 11,943
- 3,140
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist- Suhr basses, PedalTrain, GHS, Ultimate Ears
If you put one on each wrist and dove in a pool, I bet you could.
Or walk into a dark alley in Detroit.......
MikeBass
Supporting Member
- Nov 4, 2003
- 11,943
- 3,140
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist- Suhr basses, PedalTrain, GHS, Ultimate Ears
If you put one on each wrist and dove in a pool, I bet you could.
But if you dove into a pool with a $10 Wal-Mart watch strapped to your Sadowsky could you?
Or a Rolex strapped to a Squire?????
If someone played a bad note on a Sadowsky in the woods, would the band leader hear it?
What about on a Fender in the woods???
i can't speak for the nyc basses but i bought a metro r5-24 a few years back. thought it was not worth anywhere near the $2500.00. neck was ok, fretwork was good, sounded brittle and thin. played one gig, sold it. on top of that, i had a horrible experience with the store i bought it at.
the carvin sb5000 i have now it a much better bass and it was almost 1/3rd the cost. same specs. alder body, rosewood board and active eq. little flatter neck. came with a hardcase. us made.
i would like to check out a nyc bass sometime just to see if the hype is true.
the carvin sb5000 i have now it a much better bass and it was almost 1/3rd the cost. same specs. alder body, rosewood board and active eq. little flatter neck. came with a hardcase. us made.
i would like to check out a nyc bass sometime just to see if the hype is true.
RedLeg
Supporting Member
I had a Sadowsky in my sights. It was my instructors. Nice instrument, I would have bought it. However, I noticed that he always gave lessons and performed with his LowEnd, and the Sadowsky stayed on the stand. The rest is history.
