Lakland vs Sadowsky

[fishdude101101]

I played quite a few Lakland and never had one with a dead spot, so I don't think it's a common issue. If that's the only thing bothering you about the bass, you can cheaply replace it with another Skyline. Or buy a used USA

Either way that's cheaper than buying anything but a Chinese Sadowsky

I've never played a NYC Sadowsky but have played some German ones and they are great instruments. I don't think it's worth the price for me though.

I'll never put 6k into a bass. but 3500 maybe.

Dead spot is pretty bad, to me at least. The timbre of the note is really off. But I'm picky. the bass was a wreck when I got it, had to shim the neck, string tree falling off, someone had to clue what to do.

 

[sawzalot]

I absolutely love Lakland's necks. Took me a long time to figure it out but it's a combo of the profile, compound radius, 19mm spacing and most especially the smaller frets. The fret size makes a HUGE difference to me in how it plays--not sure what the Sadowsky has, but that was definitely a game changer for me when I had my Lakland.

 

[tb-player]

I've always heard if you want the deep cavernous lowend you hear on some recordings go with a Sadowsky pre. Your saying it has more down low than the lakland pre?

The Metrolines are Warwick-made now, so I can't imagine they'd be anything but well-made basses.

On the Sadowsky, the low end is indeed deep. However, the real magic is in the high end. While my active basses with Bartolinis are a bit more sizzly when you roll up the high tone control, the Sadowsky high tone control hits a lower frequency (4 kHz, I think?). It feels more like a very high mid. And it cuts through a mix really nicely. Also, the slap tone is siiiick!!!

My Lakland was a 5594. The MM pickup has its own thickness in tone… not really like a Stingray but in that general vicinity. But in the end, I prefer jazz pickups and that Sadowsky tone.

I owned a Sadowsky Masterbuilt from Warwick. It was every bit as nice as the NYCs. I’m sure the other Warwicks are incredible. Apparently the Warwick factory is quite the impressive place. And, according to Roger Sadowsky, their wood selection is unmatched.

 

[bass12]

Reason you've moved on from the sadowskys?

I still have a Modern that I bought in 2014. I stopped trying to find the "right for me" Sadowsky Jazz when I put a Sadowsky preamp in my Mike Lull M5V and found that the Lull gave me everything I'd been looking for in a Sadowsky Jazz. Don't get me wrong, Sadowskys are great - I just wasn't able to find "the one" amongst the Js I tried. Now I'm used to the 35" scale and neck profile of the Lull and don't see the point in searching any longer (J-bass-wise). But if I played a Sadowsky J and loved it (and could afford it) I wouldn't hesitate.

 

[fishdude101101]

I still have a Modern that I bought in 2014. I stopped trying to find the "right for me" Sadowsky Jazz when I put a Sadowsky preamp in my Mike Lull M5V and found that the Lull gave me everything I'd been looking for in a Sadowsky Jazz. Don't get me wrong, Sadowskys are great - I just wasn't able to find "the one" amongst the Js I tried. Now I'm used to the 35" scale and neck profile of the Lull and don't see the point in searching any longer (J-bass-wise). But if I played a Sadowsky J and loved it (and could afford it) I wouldn't hesitate.

Thoughts on the modern?

 

[bass12]

Thoughts on the modern?

Thé Modern sounds very different from the Jazzes. The sound is narrower and more focused. Tight and precise with more midrange. That midrange is great in a lot of contexts but it doesn't, to me, produce the most pleasing slap tone (at least mine doesn't). But I've held onto the Modern because it sounds different from my other basses and I do very much enjoy it in certain settings. But my Lull Jazz is far and away my favourite all-rounder.

 

[Up the dose]

They are both great instruments that have top notch quality construction. The Sadowsky tone to me is a more polished hi fi modern studio quality Fender tone. (Will Lee, Marcus Miller) The Lakland to me seems to capture more of that vintage old school classic Fender tone. If you play a five string , the Lakland is 35" scale and that's something that may be your preference or not.

 

[Dabndug]

Re country of origin for Sadowsky - in 2000 I was living in the UK and contacted Roger by email. He stated that the build quality and electronics of the MIJ models was equal to the NYC, but NYC offered more options in terms of configuration and finish. In effect, back then, Tokyo was the "standard" and NYC was the "custom shop". I would think, given Roger's fastidious nature, the Warwick factory would be filling the same role as Tokyo did back then.

The MIC Metro Express basses are a totally different kettle of fish.

 

[chris_b]

What make the Sadowsky better in your opinion other than weight.

What I like about Lakland other than playability, is the smooth, low sounds. No into aggressive sounds most of the time.

Pretty much the same for me. The low action, even sound across all strings, the Barts were good (warm, full and clean sounding) and a beautiful neck that played so smoothly. Overall an excellent instrument. It was a very early 5, but I don't know if that had anything to do with the lovely feel and great sound. As I say, if my back issues hadn't taken over I would still be playing it.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I'm taking it you play mostly passive laklands then?

The Sadowsky pre is boost only so "center" is just all the way off.

I'm the opposite these days. I don't think I'll ever buy another passive bass. In my hands they all sound the same to me. I'm gong back to the 90's lol. I like my tone better back then anyway. Quit playing for 10 years, and was in shock at the passive pbass revival I ran into. IN the 90's I didn't know a single person playing a passive fender.

I have both passive and active Laklands (494, 5501, 4460, 4464,
J sonic). Yes, there's def been a passive bass/P bass revival of sorts.

 

[fishdude101101]

I have both passive and active Laklands (494, 5501, 4460, 4464,
J sonic). Yes, there's def been a passive bass/P bass revival of sorts.

I was a 90's kid with an active Ibanez. If you're old enough, most of us were

 

[iammr2]

...

I don't know that I've ever played a sadowsky other than a metroline modern 4 and that wasn't quite my cup of tea.

...

Eh, you're not alone. I LOVE the sound of Sadowskis. I tried some out and I didn't like the feel of the neck on any of them. Hate to say, but it wasn't my cup of tea, either. Seems like my only option would be to find a good Jazz and have Sadowski customize it, if they still do that.

 

[murphy]

Re country of origin for Sadowsky - in 2000 I was living in the UK and contacted Roger by email. He stated that the build quality and electronics of the MIJ models was equal to the NYC, but NYC offered more options in terms of configuration and finish. In effect, back then, Tokyo was the "standard" and NYC was the "custom shop". I would think, given Roger's fastidious nature, the Warwick factory would be filling the same role as Tokyo did back then.

The MIC Metro Express basses are a totally different kettle of fish.

I have had 3 5 string Metroline..made in Japan.
I did not bond with them like my made in America Fender Marcus Miller jazz

I have owned 6 Lakland 5502 , 5501 and the Lakland jazz...all were made in Korea....amazing builds!!!!

A USA/Roger built Sadowsky is another level.

I would love to try a German made one.

 

[fishdude101101]

Eh, you're not alone. I LOVE the sound of Sadowskis. I tried some out and I didn't like the feel of the neck on any of them. Hate to say, but it wasn't my cup of tea, either. Seems like my only option would be to find a good Jazz and have Sadowski customize it, if they still do that.

With the modern, I just didn't like the pickups....it played fine, but it was to nasaly and midrangey to me.

 

[Joebone]

Have been walking this line for a long time - presently no Sadowskys in the house, but their fit and finish (Japanese and NYC - I have no experience with the German or Chinese products) has always been excellent, and that preamp just plain sounds right...on top of which, the passive tone control is a fabulous tool in both active and passive mode. I play five string and my Laklands have been active, and their electronics just don't do it for me - in particular, no passive tone control, and I don't think the Hanson electronics were a step forward from the Bartolini stuff.

But then we turn to ergonomics, and for my body size and type, the original Lakland body shape just fits like a glove. I also prefer the 12" Sadowsky radius and compound 10"-13" radius of the Laklands to the more rounded Fenders that many know and love.

I can hang with Lakland's 35" neck, which does not feel like a reach 'cuz they situate bridge close to the edge of the bottom bout, but generally prefer 34."

Frankly, my ideal bass would be a Lakland 34" build with narrow frets and Sadowsky electronics. And I've come close to that...in 2015 I commissioned a Carl Pedigo build - 34" 5-string, light but solid ash body, rosewood board, John East preamp with passive tone and variable mids, and Duncan humbuckers with splittable coils. A few years ago I simplified the pickups to Nordstrand big blades, and I'm often running them in passive mode, although I now have a Sadowsky stomp box on my pedal board and am using it for smoother tones on certain tunes and vibes.

I also have a project in process - a Roscoe Beck V that needed some love but has a kick-butt tone that fits well with my present cover band...I'm getting it back in a few weeks and dying to try it out on the following series of gigs. And I'll probably dig it greatly...and then probably wake up one morning and realize that I'm still best off with the Pedigo...which has been a recurrent pattern as it has seen off contenders that are great - and sometimes exceptional - basses, but at the end of the day, ergonomics are destiny.

 

[fishdude101101]

Ended up finding a 55-14 in the classifieds here for 1750.00

Might take my l-2500's to GC and trade in on a used metroline too

 

[Norman Hunter]

All you have to do is pull out on the tone control and its passive.

But why would you bother? The secret sauce is the preamp in this case.

Personally I'll never buy another passive bass.

I have the Sadowsky JJ bass. While it is true that you can play it in passive mode by pulling up on the VTC, the tone is pretty lifeless and does not sound at all like a passive Jazz Bass. The Sadowsky JJ is ment to be used in active mode. The passive option is good if your battery dies I suppose. In active mode the Sadowsky JJ sounds very natural like a Jazz Bass but maybe more muscular. I have the German made Metroline and the fit and finish are excellent.

 

[fishdude101101]

I have had 3 5 string Metroline..made in Japan.
I did not bond with them like my made in America Fender Marcus Miller jazz

I have owned 6 Lakland 5502 , 5501 and the Lakland jazz...all were made in Korea....amazing builds!!!!

A USA/Roger built Sadowsky is another level.

I would love to try a German made one.

I have a lakland 55-14 incoming. Found in classifieds here. Found a used Metroline too and looking to maybe trade in my l-2500's on it.

 

[fishdude101101]

I have the Sadowsky JJ bass. While it is true that you can play it in passive mode by pulling up on the VTC, the tone is pretty lifeless and does not sound at all like a passive Jazz Bass. The Sadowsky JJ is ment to be used in active mode. The passive option is good if your battery dies I suppose. In active mode the Sadowsky JJ sounds very natural like a Jazz Bass but maybe more muscular. I have the German made Metroline and the fit and finish are excellent.

I would expect nothing less from Warwick. I think Roger picked a good company to carry on the brand.

 

[muggsy]

I currently own a US Lakland Glaub P/J with J neck that’s as good as anything I’ve played. Got it in trade (with some cash) for a US Sadowsky Ultra Vintage Jazz that I bought new. Haven’t regretted it for a second. The Sadowsky was a beautiful bass, impeccable fit and finish, but I never bonded with it.