MTD Norm Stockton Vs. Sadowsky NYC

[otto B]

I am looking for my second bass, but I am in the lookout for either a MTD Norm Stockton or a Sadowsky NYC 5-24 with JJs What do you all recommend. I play different types of music at my Church, however I like a bass that cuts nicely.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

There will not be a lot of people who have played a Norm Stockton MTD. They are pretty rare. The best thing to is to check out Norm Stockton videos. Sadowskys are relatively common a certain set of bassists. I am a Sadowsky fan. I love their necks and tone. The Jazzes are a great example of active Jazz tone. The Sadowsky modern is a nice take on the Ken Smith sort of vibe.

 

[Ace Of Bass]

Your second bass...?..really...?..could've sworn you had both before and sold them off...anyways, the typical answer of "either one will do the job nicely" applies here..depends on your preference...I would pick an MTD (mine is my "church bass"), but not the Stockton version...not a fan of the specs...but I'm sure it's just as comfy...

 

[Ace Of Bass]

There will not be a lot of people who have played a Norm Stockton MTD. They are pretty rare. The best thing to is to check out Norm Stockton videos. Sadowskys are relatively common a certain set of bassists. I am a Sadowsky fan. I love their necks and tone. The Jazzes are a great example of active Jazz tone. The Sadowsky modern is a nice take on the Ken Smith sort of vibe.

+1 on checking out the Sadowsky modern...that Stockton is super versatile though...wish I could choose my specs for that...

 

[otto B]

Your second bass...?..really...?..could've sworn you had both before and sold them off...anyways, the typical answer of "either one will do the job nicely" applies here..depends on your preference...I would pick an MTD (mine is my "church bass"), but not the Stockton version...not a fan of the specs...but I'm sure it's just as comfy...

I did own a MTD NS at one point but only for an hour before I return it back to the store, and I did had a NYC 5-24 with JJs for just for a few days. however I never got to test them right. I want to get some feedback from players that have own for sometime now the MTD NS and the Sadowsky NYC 5-24 with soap bars.

 

[Ace Of Bass]

I did own a MTD NS at one point but only for an hour before I return it back to the store, and I did had a NYC 5-24 with JJs for just for a few days. however I never got to test them right. I want to get some feedback from players that have own for sometime now the MTD NS and the Sadowsky NYC 5-24 with soap bars.

I see...yeah you're probably talking about maybe three or four guys in the entire forum that had those particular two basses...like Cheese said, the Stockton is pretty rare....I do know someone who owns a Stockton now and had a Sadowsky...don't remember if it had soapbars though...I can ask...

 

[Ace Of Bass]

I did own a MTD NS at one point but only for an hour before I return it back to the store, and I did had a NYC 5-24 with JJs for just for a few days. however I never got to test them right....

Why is this (never getting a chance to test them right)..?...what made you take it back to the store after only an hour..?.When you're spending this kind of money for these kinds of instruments I would think one would want to really take their time and be pretty sure about this kind of investment.....I gather you'd have to get the bass sent to you and wouldn't have a chance to try it first...I guess if I were you, considering that you've played an actual NS and have played a NYC 5 and are kinda familiar with the feel of both instruments I would find high quality examples of each, hopefully solo and in some kind of mix, on YouTube....they're both pretty consistently made basses and finding a quality sound sample could help you out big time in case this thread plummets because you're looking for a pretty rare bird (someone who has extensively owned and played both)....

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Another sound is in your hands clip. Gouche may as well be playing his 635.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

This guy does good reviews.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

This guy does good reviews.

That is a really impressive bass. Too bad the MSRP $8,200.

 

[Ace Of Bass]

That is a really impressive bass. Too bad the MSRP $8,200.

Yeah I know...for that price I definitely need to be able to pick my own specs....

 

[Chef]

"MTD; Sadowsky with soaps, cuts nicely"

Yeah; that's not a thing, for me, in my experience.
Too soft, too pillowy, not enough round wound in your face midrange, for me.
While I haven't had those two specific models, I've had soap bar loaded MTD's and Sadowskys; and neither worked for me as a guy who wants a single coil J tone.

ymmv; and I'm sure lots of folks will disagree with me

 

[Dr. Cheese]

"MTD; Sadowsky with soaps, cuts nicely"

Yeah; that's not a thing, for me, in my experience.
Too soft, too pillowy, not enough round wound in your face midrange, for me.
While I haven't had those two specific models, I've had soap bar loaded MTD's and Sadowskys; and neither worked for me as a guy who wants a single coil J tone.

ymmv; and I'm sure lots of folks will disagree with me

I love the Modern tone and a great Jazz, which is why I am either buying outright or laying away a nice Jazz for Christmas.
The Norm Stockton seems like a viable way to get the soapbar and single coil tones in one package. I really like that in single mode, the bass still has a lot of MTD sizzle. It is good not to see another Jazz clone.

 

[Chef]

I listened to those clips. I don't hear a really true single coil tone in there, but I'm clearly a freak about that; as my trading history will readily show.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I listened to those clips. I don't hear a really true single coil tone in there, but I'm clearly a freak about that; as my trading history will readily show.

I think it sounds like a single coil, but not very Fenderish.

 

[otto B]

Why is this (never getting a chance to test them right)..?...what made you take it back to the store after only an hour..?.When you're spending this kind of money for these kinds of instruments I would think one would want to really take their time and be pretty sure about this kind of investment.....I gather you'd have to get the bass sent to you and wouldn't have a chance to try it first...I guess if I were you, considering that you've played an actual NS and have played a NYC 5 and are kinda familiar with the feel of both instruments I would find high quality examples of each, hopefully solo and in some kind of mix, on YouTube....they're both pretty consistently made basses and finding a quality sound sample could help you out big time in case this thread plummets because you're looking for a pretty rare bird (someone who has extensively owned and played both)....

I sometimes got a bad tendency of letting a bass go to fast then I would regret it. About the MTD SN, my First impression was on the neck, it was a little bit wider than the 535, it was ok, but at that time I prefer the feel of the 535 neck, so automatically I wanted to go back to the 535, so pack it and ship it back to the store next day, I never gave it a chance as to the tone goes. As to the Sadowsky, I had 2 metros in the past and there were great but once I got the NYC I noted the difference right away and I felt in love with it, however It had the JJ's pickups, the sound was good but I much prefer the modern sound, and I think the soap bars will just fit right. I saw here that someone has a MTD SN available so It kind got me thinking about them two. I don’t want to do the mistake or getting the wrong bass, this is why I am asking for advice.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I am the last one to be saying this to anyone, but every bass you had was excellent. Unless you have Jeff Berlin or Victor Wooten chops, stop spinning your wheels over basses, keep a nice bass and get in the woodshed. I spent years buying basses while making little progress and probably deteriorating sometimes because I was too caught up in gear.

 

[Ace Of Bass]

So if you like the MTD neck but want a more modern sound than the JJ Sadowsky, why not get a 535...?...or at least narrow it down to that and maybe a Sadowsky Modern 5, since great sound samples of that are all over YouTube...

I sometimes got a bad tendency of letting a bass go to fast then I would regret it. About the MTD SN, my First impression was on the neck, it was a little bit wider than the 535, it was ok, but at that time I prefer the feel of the 535 neck, so automatically I wanted to go back to the 535, so pack it and ship it back to the store next day, I never gave it a chance as to the tone goes. As to the Sadowsky, I had 2 metros in the past and there were great but once I got the NYC I noted the difference right away and I felt in love with it, however It had the JJ's pickups, the sound was good but I much prefer the modern sound, and I think the soap bars will just fit right. I saw here that someone has a MTD SN available so It kind got me thinking about them two. I don’t want to do the mistake or getting the wrong bass, this is why I am asking for advice.

 

[Ace Of Bass]

I am the last one to be saying this to anyone, but every bass you had was excellent. Unless you have Jeff Berlin or Victor Wooten chops, stop spinning your wheels over basses, keep a nice bass and get in the woodshed. I spent years buying basses while making little progress and probably deteriorating sometimes because I was too caught up in gear.

Excellent advice...

 

[otto B]

One thing I have noted, the MTD NS it didn't became as popular as

I am the last one to be saying this to anyone, but every bass you had was excellent. Unless you have Jeff Berlin or Victor Wooten chops, stop spinning your wheels over basses, keep a nice bass and get in the woodshed. I spent years buying basses while making little progress and probably deteriorating sometimes because I was too caught up in gear.

That is very true, great advice. Thanks