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Lakland vs Sadowsky

#41
I don't know if the offshore Laklands are made "at a factory that does several things for several people," or not, but, I do know that the SAdowsky Metros are made by a few people only, that Roger went over and trained.
Only NYC Sadowsky are nitro finish; not the metros.

Roger and Dan have both been exemplary to work with, for me.

IMO, any stompbox may get you "some of that flavor" with other basses, but there's a lot more than just a preamp that goes into making an individual bass sound the way it does. Roger and Dan, while they may outsource electronics, have spent a loooot of time making preamps and pickups that work extremely well *together.* Mixing and matching with other components doesn't really get you the same sound, IME.
 
#42
the swank one said:
dan lakland is a salesman who has a great ear and great ideas and sorrounds himself with folks that can get the job done.
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Dan is also a very talented bass player. Out of the Jamerson/Dunn school.




the swank one said:
dan gets his bodies from one company, his necks form another company then sends them out to calif. to have them finnished.
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Roger pretty much does the same thing. And they both get their US models done at the same finishing company.
 
#43
excuse me if I didn't put it clear enough

With nitro finish and finishing altogether, I meant to say you can get the same from Lakland if you want to. Bell or "that other guy", I forget who, you can get either of them with Lakland.
If only US Sadowskys get nitro, well, that only means you can get a custom US Lakland in nitro for less money.

With stomp boxes, I was saying I like Lakland with or without the onboard preamp, and the active option gets my favor. My second-call bass is a 55 passive, so I'm glad there is a possibility now to get the outboard version of the same Lakland LH-3 pre that they have on basses (according to Carl Pedigo, that is).

Also, I don't think it really matters if it is DiMarzio, Bartolini, Aero or in-house stuff as long as it gets tthe work done, that was my objection in a nutshell.
 
#44
Mikio said:
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
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Probably because he's got super old strings on both of them, nickel wound and obviously the player sounds like the player.

Slap some new strings on the basses, take off any EQ he may have on them, and they should sound different.

Either way, both basses are killer. Depends on what your ear is asking for.
 
#49
masmasbasso said:
I've owned both, 5 Laklands (4 USA, 1 Skyline) and 2 Sadowsky's (1 metro and 1 NYC). All great basses and I still kick myself for selling my USA Lakland Hollowbody. I've sold all of them but just acquired the NYC Sadowsky. I really like nitro finishes and Lakland doesn't offer that as far as I know. You can get that in the NYC Sadowskys. I just feel like I have a condom on my bass when it is a thick poly finish. My NYC Sadowsky is an Ultra Vintage model and I really love it. I can't wait to put single coils in it.

Several years ago I was on tour with an Artist and I was using a sunburts skyline Joe Osborn Lakland and we were passing through Austin. I picked up a sunburst Metro Sadowsky and played it on the gig. The artist had no idea that I picked up a new bass and they looked alike outside of the headstock. He turned to me on the second song and said "Dude, your bass sounds so F*&king good!" That is a pretty good blind test endorsment for Sadowsky. I would love to own a thin finish Lakland since I mainly a passive guy and mostly use the Sadowsky with the preamp off. I might not hold on to the Sadowsky, but I'm going to wait to see how it sounds with single coils. I have a bunch of Fender Custom Shop basses that I love and get most of my playing time.
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Dang! Not much better recommendation than this! I love playing my Sadowskys. We do a lot of current country including LBT, Sugarland, Lady A, Band Perry, etc. The Sadowsky jazz or pj always sounds great.
 
#50
I've found the neck profiles on both Sadowksy and Lakland to be perfectly fine for me.

I've had many 35" scale basses, and, don't personally find that to be an issue.
But, all my other current basses are 34's, so, I flipped my Lakland P for a Sadowsky PJ5.
 
#53
I have a NYC Standard 5, a Metro P/J 5 and a Lakland 55-94 and I love them all. the ONLY think I like less about the Lakland is the 1.81" nut width - all my other basses are 1.875". And yes, I can feel the difference the whole time I play the Lakland.

That being said, All three are great basses and I can use any of them for a gig. It really comes down to personal preferences (and checkbook).

Dan K.
 
#54
I personally like the 35 inch scale and the banjo size fret wires, which requires little or no pressure . . . kinda hard for me to compare the basses, as I only played a four string Sadowsky, and wanted and chose the Lakland five string (JO) - both are very high quality basses.
 
#56
:cool:

Both USA versions of Lakland & Sadowsky are wonderful basses.
Lakland does the passive fender thing. While Sadowsky lead the way for the active tone.
Apple's and Oranges. Both Rock hard.
 
#58
masmasbasso said:
That's Cool. What LBT songs are you doing?
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Right now little white church and pontoon, but others on the way! I'm sure i dont do them justice, but they're fun as heck to play! Also life in a northern town, which i believe was a collaboration with LBT, sugarland and jake owen? I'm honored to have met you and wish you the best with the group!
 
#60
Munjibunga said:
mmmmm ... I don't think so. Sadowsky NYC basses are finished by Pat Wilkins out here in environmentally hobbled California. He doesn't do nitro. He also does the U.S. Laklands.
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Since Roger and co moved to LIC, they have a license to spray nitro. They used it on their necks already, but now, you can order a body finished in nitro or a vintiquity, which is also finished in nitro. You can check their website and price list for more info. So it's true Pat Wilkins doesn't do it, but Sadowsky do it themselves at their shop.
 

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