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Lakland vs Sadowsky

#61
Musicfreak1988 said:
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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Thanks for the info.
 
#62
I agree it comes down to personal preference, but IME, Sadowsky is a step above Lakland in the quality/feel area. Lakland basses to me feel like a nice Fender, whereas Sadowsky's feel more boutique-y. Nothing wrong with either one but just depends on what you want and like.
 
#63
For whatever reason, I think its what you would call a "west-coast" bias (anything west of, say, Erie PA is west coast, by the way), other than Bergantino, I just don't like music things comin out of NYC. I gotta think Jim B can't help it where he set up shop.

So in my book, I like Lakland and Lull for my Fender-inspired basses, and I prefer EBMM for the more modern style basses. I think Sadowsky's are good but overpriced basses, just not for me. I'm not an entire hater, I do like the Sadowsky Black Label flats (not sure who makes them, but they rock).

And kudos to the guy who resurrected this thread.
 
#65
Musicfreak1988 said:
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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That's a cool option. According to the price list, it's a $500 upcharge. I'm sure that is reasonable, although at that point an NYC Sadowsky J would be at a significant premium to a US Lakland J equipped with a preamp. So one could refinish that Lakland in nitro and probably wind up in the same price ballpark.

I do dig nitro, but I think Pat's poly finishes on both Laklands and Sadowskys are fantastic.

I already replied to this thread two years ago, so I'll just add that you can't go wrong with either brand. I've always been into the passive thing and like the feel of Lakland's necks a bit more than those of the Sads I've tried. But I may own a Sad one day.
 
#67
Jazzdogg said:
Sadowsky's tone controls are boost only, and, with the exception of the Will Lee Model, provide no user controls for mid-range frequencies.
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And that's exactly what I like about 'um. I've found that while, in my head, I think mid control would be nice, in function I don't find myself using it when I've got it on a bass. I had a Lakland 55-02D (Lakland pups and pre) and it was a great playing and sounding bass. Sure, I'd fiddle with the controls but, ultimately, it was overly complicated for my likes. I love the controls of the Sadowsky and how it gets the job done without introducing more knobs and features than what I need.

With that said, both are absolutely excellent basses. :bassist:
 
#68
Lakland, but only Lakland USA. .77" neck depth at the first fret on my USA Joe Osborn and USA Glaub (with Joe Osborn neck) simply rules. Lakland's neo-punch P pickup is also awesome. Also, you can get USA versions with very light weight. You just need to ask. And how can you not love Birdseye Maple dots in the East Indian Rosewood fretboards?
 

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#70
Jazzdogg said:
One of the things I like about my Lakland is that it provides cut & boost controls for bass, mid-range, and treble; AFAIK, Sadowsky's tone controls are boost only, and, with the exception of the Will Lee Model, provide no user controls for mid-range frequencies.
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That's where the Flex Core comes in. It doesn't retain the exact "Sadowsky sound," but introduces versatility not otherwise available. I love my Modern 5-24s just the way they are, but 4-band EQ on a UV70 is the cat's meow.
 
#71
GregC said:
That's a cool option. According to the price list, it's a $500 upcharge. I'm sure that is reasonable, although at that point an NYC Sadowsky J would be at a significant premium to a US Lakland J equipped with a preamp. So one could refinish that Lakland in nitro and probably wind up in the same price ballpark.

I do dig nitro, but I think Pat's poly finishes on both Laklands and Sadowskys are fantastic.

I already replied to this thread two years ago, so I'll just add that you can't go wrong with either brand. I've always been into the passive thing and like the feel of Lakland's necks a bit more than those of the Sads I've tried. But I may own a Sad one day.
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Vintiquity is $500 as for now. Regular nitro is $200.

You can also send in a neck that you like and ask them to shape the neck of a new instrument just like the one you sent in. That's also an option on NYC instruments.
 
#72
And to be complete: NYC's have the following options available

4-string:

20mm string spacing @ the bridge standard, 19mm optional

12" radius standard, 9" optional

1.5" or 1.75" nut width

Dinky or full sized body on J-type models

5-string:

19mm string spacing @ the bridge standard, 18mm optional

1.75" or 1.875" nut width

And like stated before: nitro is available as nitro only and as reliced nitro.
You can send any neck to them if you want a special shaped neck.

All in all, there's not much they won't do if you ask them.
 
#73
Musicfreak1988 said:
Vintiquity is $500 as for now. Regular nitro is $200.

You can also send in a neck that you like and ask them to shape the neck of a new instrument just like the one you sent in. That's also an option on NYC instruments.
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Thanks for the correction. I guess "vintage style" on the price list = nitro finish?

Musicfreak1988 said:
And to be complete: NYC's have the following options available

4-string:

20mm string spacing @ the bridge standard, 19mm optional

12" radius standard, 9" optional

1.5" or 1.75" nut width

Dinky or full sized body on J-type models

5-string:

19mm string spacing @ the bridge standard, 18mm optional

1.75" or 1.875" nut width

And like stated before: nitro is available as nitro only and as reliced nitro.
You can send any neck to them if you want a special shaped neck.

All in all, there's not much they won't do if you ask them.
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Very cool. Lakland has a lot of flexibility on its US models as well. For instance, they'll do a 1.625" nut width (generally my preference) on a four. Kudos to both shops for providing plenty of options.
 
#74
GregC said:
Thanks for the correction. I guess "vintage style" on the price list = nitro finish?
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No. Vintage style means: add a custom cut pickguard and a control plate. If you want a 'standard', it will have no pickguard and no control plate. Since pick guards are custom cut, you can't really know if an aftermarket one will even fit. The control plate won't fit, since the line-up of the knobs is different.

So you can order a 'standard' bass with (or without) nitro finish, or a vintage one without a nitro finish (or with).
 
#75
Musicfreak1988 said:
No. Vintage style means: add a custom cut pickguard and a control plate. If you want a 'standard', it will have no pickguard and no control plate. Since pick guards are custom cut, you can't really know if an aftermarket one will even fit. The control plate won't fit, since the line-up of the knobs is different.

So you can order a 'standard' bass with (or without) nitro finish, or a vintage one without a nitro finish (or with).
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Ah, OK. Thanks.

In that case, I didn't see a specific "nitro finish without relic'ing" price on the list. I'll take your word that it's $200, though. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#76
After reading this whole thread, I really want to try one of each. I want a "traditional" jazz style bass (fretted), and both of these brands sounds like exactly what I am looking for. I have seen / heard a Sadowsky played live by a bassist in a local band and I was blown away by the tone he had through a Markbass head and cab.
 
#77
bigjames said:
After reading this whole thread, I really want to try one of each. I want a "traditional" jazz style bass (fretted), and both of these brands sounds like exactly what I am looking for. I have seen / heard a Sadowsky played live by a bassist in a local band and I was blown away by the tone he had through a Markbass head and cab.
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You really should try several of each. There is considerable variation in tone between the different models of each brand. For example, my UV70 sounds quite different from my Modern 5-24s. And my 55-94 sounds nothing like my JO5 w/J Retro. (I'm talking about before I changed out a couple preamps.)
 
#78
I am looking at a new bass and saw that Lakland skyline are priced at $1400.00 vs the Sadowsky which according to the 2014 price list that he sent me are between $4500.00 and $5,000 usd. From what I am reading above, there isn't that much difference between the two in terms of sound. The Sadowsky is made "inside" the garden as opposed to slightly inside the garden. What I would like to know more about is "the temperament" of the instrument. For the people that have both have you charted the frequency of the notes on each of the basses? The consistence of design in this regard would seem to be a better indicator of the quality and successfulness of the instrument. Does your intonation in the key of Db major sound as good as it does in E major. I get the feeling that sometimes we get intonation and temperament confused with eq and tone. When someone says "You sound good or better" the next question should be "how so? Is it the sound of the bass or Do you feel I'm matching your pitch better? Albeit, most people (who haven't give this much thought) won't be able to discern the difference. I guess I am getting weary of makers that are charging increasingly more money for instruments that use electronic to solve tonal issues.
 

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