Lull V4 or other superjazz in same pricerange.

I don't know how much a Lull costs but look at Sadowsky, new or used.

 

I have a Lull Vintage 4 with Bartolini pre-amp /single-coil Fralins. You can find used Lull's for around around $1500+ and Sadowsky's for $2000+. I also have a Sadowsky Vintage 4 with Sadowsky humcancelling and pre-amp. Their primary tone is very different--the Sadowsky tone is "original" to my ears--brilliant and clear. The Lull sounds more vintagy to me--like my first J bass but with a better overall feel and preamp "umph"....But with knob tweeking you can make them sound somewhat similiar. I love them both, but if I had to choose one, it would be the Sadowsky.

 

choose warmoth!

 

I've never owned a 63 reissue, but I've played 3 in various music stores. While they are fine instruments, none of them left me feeling I just had to own it. On the other hand, I own a Lull V4 and it just knocks my socks off.

I've owned 4 Fender jazz basses since '69, and have probably played 50 or more over the years. I never could get them to play and sound just right to me (I'm kind of a perfectionist...) My Lull on the other hand is just wonderful, and I can't imagine ever getting rid of it. It's an absolute dream to play, and I can capture all those tones I've heard for years on record and never could get live from a Fender Jazz. The response is totally even string to string, and it's beautiful too. IMO, if a Fender jazz is a Chevy, a Lull is a BMW.

By the way, a Lull can be had for a very reasonable price. I paid $1650 new last March, sunburst alder with rosewood fingerboard and a J-retro preamp. I've seen them used for as little as $1100, and Ive seen more than one going for $1300. If you want to buy one, I highly recommend Steve Barr (aka the Dude). He is an authorized Lull dealer, and he'll give you a great price and customer service that can't be beat. If you don't know Steve, let me know and I'll be happy to get you in touch with him.

 

www.devonguitars.com

Small custom shop in WI. Makes a killer jazz, mine smokes everything out there, and is more reasonably priced!

ymmv, et al.....

 

A lot of German companies like Marleaux, Bassline, etc. offer excellent Super Fenders for around 1500 Euro/$.

 

Go with the Lull Vintage4. I don't even own one (yet), but I wouldn't be afraid to say that it's the best overall J-bass clone out there. Probably even better than a true Fender vintage original.

 

Check out www.schecterguitars.com

They make a great Jazz Bass. Their custom shop is great too, they can make you anything you want at prices significantly lower than the Fender Custom Shop.

They make basses for STPs Robert DeLeo.

 

Have you played a Sadowsky Vintage Jazz 4 in alder + rosewood or maple maple?

 

Hi Jock,
I can see that you're based in Sweden, so I would suggest to you to check out Celinder basses from Denmark. Their Vintage Jazz Basses are incredible, they have a web-site: www.celinder.com. Unfortunately the site gives you only their e-mail address, phone and fax numbers but Chris Celinder is a very nice guy and will send you all the info plus pics you need. The construction of his basses is flawless and top notch. The options he offers with regard to neck binding, block inlays electronics etc.are way above the ones offered by Sadowsky. Regarding the playability and the sound of Celinder basses I think they are at least one class above Lulls and the respective Fender model you've mentioned. Celinders play definitely in the Sadowsky league, if not slightly above.
With regard to re-sell value, of course the Sadowsky is the number one.
At the moment the guys from www.proguitar.de have a used 92 Sadowsky Standard 4 for $ 1,400 (1.500 Euro) on offer. It has EMG pickups installed but if you don't like them you could order different ones from Sadowsky's shop and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. For this price you would not even get a used Sadowsky in the US.

Regards.

 

Get a Sadowsky, you will never regret.
I tried to fix my Fender JB with Sadowsky P.U. with J retro Pre amp, still cannot meet half the original.

 

JimS-- The Sadowsky basses seem to be very highly regarded. In all honesty, I've never had my hands on one. Perhaps a Sadowsky Vintage J4 is "better" than a Lull Vintage 4, but does that still apply considering the sizable difference in price? Perhaps a Sadowsky would be the first choice over a Lull IF price isn't a factor. Otherwise, I don't think it would be going too far out on a limb to say that the Lull V4 is the better value by a wide margin.

 

i own a lull modern 5, have owned a sadowsky and played others. the lull, for me, is the best bet for the "super jazz". i know many love the sadowsky pre, but i dont dig it at all. sadowsky's are too scooped sounding for my tastes. the bass and treble boost only preamp doesnt help matters.

even with a swamp ash body, the lull has more mids and comes closer(but definitely doesnt nail)my favorite slap tone which comes from a late 70's fender j. the northern ash in those basses has some midrange grunt.

in terms of build quality, they seem the same to me. the inside of the control cavity on my lull is the prettiest ive seen.

i picked up my 5 for 1450 used while a comparable sadowsky would be over a grand more. i used the money i saved and sent it to bass central for the deposit on my custom fodera.

 

I would have agreed with you a couple of years ago. Since then, by definition of "value" has changed. I have never played a better instrument than the Sadowsky. I was never a "Fender" guy, in fact was more in the Modulus/Zon/Warwick/J Drozd camp of "modern" basses. My instructor turned me on to Sadowsky. I ended up buying a Vintage 5 and have never been happier with an instrument. Easily the best bass I have owned or played.

So, for me, it would not be a value to settle for less. The money I spent on the Sadowsky is my best bass purchase ever in that it is the first instrument I have owned that I am completely satisfied with and cannot imagine selling. It would have saved me a ton of cash in incremental "upgrading" if I would have found this instrument long ago.

It does cost more than a Lull. IMHO, it is worth every penny. That said, it may not be the bass for you. Try both if at all possible.

Good luck!
Jeff

 

Well, for what it's worth , I tried many basses before settling on my Sadowsky jazz bass. I have no regrets. I love it: easy to play, versatile, sounds great live, sounds even better recorded and sits in the mix wonderfully, looks great. Well worth every penny I paid for it and more!!!!

 

What did I try before I chose Sadowsky?

Fodera, Lakland, Fender, G&L, Status, Modulus, Peavey, Yamaha, Ibanez, ESP, MTD, Ken Smith, Sukop, Dingwall, Curbow, and probably a few other brands I can't remember.

 

Jim S You are lucky by trying only. I have spent so much money importing so many basses by trial and error [ because nobody sells high end basses in my country].
You know how many basses eat the dust in my closet ? some even used less than 10 times.
Pedulla MVP 4, Lakland Deluxe 4, Warwick thumb 4, Warwick Streamer SS1, Dolphin 4, Reverend 4 and 5, Fender, Music man, Alembic Elan , Taylor etc... Iam tired of typing it now. And the only basses I use now:
2 Sadowsky plus 1 Rob Allen . That is all I need until I am very old.

 

Hey j.s.basuki,

E B A Y !

 

Jim,

You're right but the shipping going there US 250 minimum per bass. I'll try to sell them in Australia , my second residence.