Its safe to say these are arguably the two most popular high end basses out there. But I've found among colleagues that there are Lakland people and there are Sadowsky people. Not to many people that swear by both. Why is that?
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Lakland vs Sadowsky
- Thread starter brndn123
- Start date
there are some vids in youtube from a guy who plays with a Lak and a Sadowsky and I really can't tell de difference
It's funny, because they are the two most popular high-end builders out there, so folks naturally like to compare them. And yet there's not a lot of direct model-to-model competition, in my opinion.
Sadowsky focuses heavily on active Js and PJs, while Lakland doesn't sell many of either (though people do add preamps to Lakland Js often enough). Lakland focuses more on its MM/J models, as well as passive Ps and Js. And it has a great hollowbody as well as the Decade.
I'll try to add more later, but I think they both make excellent instruments. I'm partial to Laklands myself (the passive models are my thing), but I can understand why someone with different tastes might favor Sadowsky.
Sadowsky focuses heavily on active Js and PJs, while Lakland doesn't sell many of either (though people do add preamps to Lakland Js often enough). Lakland focuses more on its MM/J models, as well as passive Ps and Js. And it has a great hollowbody as well as the Decade.
I'll try to add more later, but I think they both make excellent instruments. I'm partial to Laklands myself (the passive models are my thing), but I can understand why someone with different tastes might favor Sadowsky.
Which one should I try first ? A Sadowsky Metro or a Lakland Skyline.
I'm a J guy, No matter Active or Passive. My ear is not that good to know the differences between those basses
I'm a J guy, No matter Active or Passive. My ear is not that good to know the differences between those basses
I'd say that depends on your budget as much as anything. The Metros are nicer, but they'd better be since they cost $1000+ more.
I've owned both -- the U.S. made versions -- in the mid 1990's. Gotta say, I preferred the Sadowsky. And this story is just another reason why ....
I owned quite a few basses in the mid 1990's -- including several vintage Fenders, Tobias, etc. I'd been gigging my Sadowsky pretty regularly at that time when Lakland just started to make some waves. Again, this is mid 1990's. I checked out the brand new Lakland website and there were quite a few posts from owners who seemed really satisfied with their Laklands. So, I call up Beaver Felton at Bass Central and order a 4-94 in Shoreline Gold with rosewood board and Bartolini pickups. The bass arrives, along with its creme-colored case and its a beauty. Fantastic construction - great set up. Really a joy to play. I take it to rehearsal and it just cuts through everything like a ginsu knife. Almost overpowering in retrospect. I take it home, switch out the steel strings for nickels and its better, but still really in your face. By the end of the next rehearsal, my bandmates are asking me to bring back my Sadowsky.
I really loved the feel of the Lakland, and decide to post to their owners website. The usual stuff ... great finish, frets are perfect, made me put away my vintage Fenders and Tobias. Now its the only bass I want to play (except sometimes my Sadowsky). That's exactly how I wrote the post.
The very next day, I have an email in my in box from Roger Sadowsky congratulating me on the acquisition of my new Lakland and thanking me for still wanting to play my Sadowsky (sometimes).
Well, if I did not already lean toward my Sadowsky, I sure did after that email. No builder that I have ever met stands behind their instruments more than Roger Sadowsky.
If I were to buy a new J-style bass tomorrow -- a Sadowsky would be right at the top of my list. Can't go wrong with those basses imo.
Sorry about highjacking this thread with a personal story. But I think it illustrates why Roger consistently ranks at the top of custom bass builders.
I owned quite a few basses in the mid 1990's -- including several vintage Fenders, Tobias, etc. I'd been gigging my Sadowsky pretty regularly at that time when Lakland just started to make some waves. Again, this is mid 1990's. I checked out the brand new Lakland website and there were quite a few posts from owners who seemed really satisfied with their Laklands. So, I call up Beaver Felton at Bass Central and order a 4-94 in Shoreline Gold with rosewood board and Bartolini pickups. The bass arrives, along with its creme-colored case and its a beauty. Fantastic construction - great set up. Really a joy to play. I take it to rehearsal and it just cuts through everything like a ginsu knife. Almost overpowering in retrospect. I take it home, switch out the steel strings for nickels and its better, but still really in your face. By the end of the next rehearsal, my bandmates are asking me to bring back my Sadowsky.
I really loved the feel of the Lakland, and decide to post to their owners website. The usual stuff ... great finish, frets are perfect, made me put away my vintage Fenders and Tobias. Now its the only bass I want to play (except sometimes my Sadowsky). That's exactly how I wrote the post.
The very next day, I have an email in my in box from Roger Sadowsky congratulating me on the acquisition of my new Lakland and thanking me for still wanting to play my Sadowsky (sometimes).
Well, if I did not already lean toward my Sadowsky, I sure did after that email. No builder that I have ever met stands behind their instruments more than Roger Sadowsky.
If I were to buy a new J-style bass tomorrow -- a Sadowsky would be right at the top of my list. Can't go wrong with those basses imo.
Sorry about highjacking this thread with a personal story. But I think it illustrates why Roger consistently ranks at the top of custom bass builders.
I love my Sadowsky and bought it over other high end Jazz basses because it's voicing spoke to me. Doesn't mean I don't care for Lakland - I'm actually kind of jonesing for a Lakland Don Duck model P - I guess I could get a hybrid from Sadowsky as well, but I like the blocks\binding available on the Lakland. It doesn't matter, I suppose as I won't be buying anything else fo a while anyhow...
i've had a lakland 55-94 deluxe since 2001 i got my 1st sadowsky Will Lee metro 4 string last sat. the sawdosky one me over. roger sadowsky is a craftsman and not a salesman. dan lakland is a salesman who has a great ear and great ideas and sorrounds himself with folks that can get the job done. dan gets his bodies from one company, his necks form another company then sends them out to calif. to have them finnished. lakland does make there own eletronics, preamps, pickus, etc which are great. they do there own fretwork and set ups which are second only to guys like sadowsky' ken smith, etc. i found this out watching dans own video on youtube. he gives a tour of the factory. as for me lakland is a great bass a i have plans to get a 4-94 deluxe but sadowskys are going to be my main bass for now on. plan to get sevreal sadowsky nyc basses. you cannot go wrong with lakland or sadowskys. go out and play and see what feels right to you. you will like one over the other
i have owned both Metro and Skyline brand news and used ones. Construction, set up, quality, customer service is top nocht in both, I noticed a slighly better quality in the metro but in my opinion does not worth the extra $ 1,000 usd you need to paid. Right now I am looking for a new bass and Lakland is the only bass that I have owned that it is still on my list.
Boombass76
Commercial User
I have owned both. Sadowsky (Tokyo, Metro and NYC) and Lakland (Skyline). All were great basses. Period.
There is one major difference, though. The price. Sadowsky's 'cheap' metro line goes for approx. the same as the 'expensive' Lakland US line in here (pre-owned). You may even find a US Lakie that's cheaper than a Metro...
There is one major difference, though. The price. Sadowsky's 'cheap' metro line goes for approx. the same as the 'expensive' Lakland US line in here (pre-owned). You may even find a US Lakie that's cheaper than a Metro...
I think I'm echoing somebody else, here, but I really don't think you can companre apples to apples on this one.
I currently own a Skyline 55-02, and it's definitely on the high end of far east-made basses. I'm pretty sure the Metros are better made, simply because, from what I hear, Sadowsky's Tokyo shop is a quasi-copy of the one in Brooklyn: a small shop of guys putting basses and guitars together. Lakland gets its Skylines made under contract. It was Cort when they were made in Korea. I have no idea who makes the newer Indonesian ones.
That also explains how Sadowsky Metros cost easily a grand more than most Skylines.
I have a Sadowsky fund going right now. I'm 69% of the way towards my target amount for a US-built Sadowsky. I've handled both US-made brands and found both to be freakin' exquisite. Sadowsky just offers the specifics that I want for my mega-expensive bass.
That being said, Roger Sadowsky > Dan Lakin, in my experience. Granted, the new owners at Lakland have already made some great changes over there...
I currently own a Skyline 55-02, and it's definitely on the high end of far east-made basses. I'm pretty sure the Metros are better made, simply because, from what I hear, Sadowsky's Tokyo shop is a quasi-copy of the one in Brooklyn: a small shop of guys putting basses and guitars together. Lakland gets its Skylines made under contract. It was Cort when they were made in Korea. I have no idea who makes the newer Indonesian ones.
That also explains how Sadowsky Metros cost easily a grand more than most Skylines.
I have a Sadowsky fund going right now. I'm 69% of the way towards my target amount for a US-built Sadowsky. I've handled both US-made brands and found both to be freakin' exquisite. Sadowsky just offers the specifics that I want for my mega-expensive bass.
That being said, Roger Sadowsky > Dan Lakin, in my experience. Granted, the new owners at Lakland have already made some great changes over there...
I like them both. I have owned US made of each, and they are both great instruments. I lean more towards vintage style basses(feel, look), and the Lakland does the passive Fender quite well. For an active bass its pretty tough to beat a Sadowsky. I haven't had another Jazz Bass that just sits the way these do in the mix. For the record I don't own any Laklands any longer, I do have a Sadowsky RV4. I'd love another 55-94 though!
- Apr 3, 2003
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I am definitely a fan of both Lakland and Sadowsky basses. The Lakland Skylines are pretty much the basses to beat in their price range, and the same can be said for the Sadowsky Metros (which occupy a higher-priced niche, relative to the Skylines). The USA-made basses from each brand are some of the very best "Fender-inspired" basses on the market. I agree with Adrian that the Laklands are perhaps a bit more "vintage flavored" and Roger's basses have, to a certain extent, defined the "active bass sound" (in a Fenderesque context, at least), but I'll caveat that by saying that I've heard/played some nicely "active" sounding Laklands, and I have heard some great vintage tones coming from some Sadowsky's.
I can see where a lot of folks will have their favorites and preferences, but IMHO, if you are a fan of Fender-inspired basses, it's hard not to find something to like from both brands.
Tom.
I can see where a lot of folks will have their favorites and preferences, but IMHO, if you are a fan of Fender-inspired basses, it's hard not to find something to like from both brands.
Tom.
I've watched those. He's pretty good. More evidence that your bass doesn't matter as much as your ability.
Yeah, if you can afford to "custom order" a new Lakland.
Chef
In Memoriam
Sadowsky, for the most part, are based on an "active Fender Jazz" theme.
While Lakland do make a nice Jazz themed bass, their offerings are pretty different from Sadowsky's versions, and,, they also offer some very tasty non-JJ variants.
For the ~$1500 new pricepoint, you really just can't beat the Skyline series, if they offer a flavor that tempts you.
Yes, the Metros are substantively more expensive, but, you're not really comparing apples to apples as the two brands don't really offer same-same models...if you follow that.
So, in this case, my advise to you is to set your budget, and have some sort of semi-well-defined sonic goals, and then do your shopping from there.
Both vendors have really great product, and really great reputation, and really great customer service, IME.
While Lakland do make a nice Jazz themed bass, their offerings are pretty different from Sadowsky's versions, and,, they also offer some very tasty non-JJ variants.
For the ~$1500 new pricepoint, you really just can't beat the Skyline series, if they offer a flavor that tempts you.
Yes, the Metros are substantively more expensive, but, you're not really comparing apples to apples as the two brands don't really offer same-same models...if you follow that.
So, in this case, my advise to you is to set your budget, and have some sort of semi-well-defined sonic goals, and then do your shopping from there.
Both vendors have really great product, and really great reputation, and really great customer service, IME.
