MTD Norm Stockton Vs. Sadowsky NYC

[rodneyat]

There are a lot of variables in the wood and how a bass ends up sounding. Identical construction can sure end up sounding different. I was an Alverez dealer back in the 80's and I had two acoustics that were identical and these two guitars could not have sounded more different from each other than anything I ever heard.

Builders like Mike Tobias certainly hold a world of knowledge and can control things to a certain extent but there still is that variable of the wood and then add that to combinations of woods and you get an exponential increase in part of the process being a bit of a crap shoot. Though I doubt very seriously Mr. Tobias has made a dud in many years but he may have made some instruments that some like over others. We all have different tastes too. Back in the 70's,and 80's there was still quite a bit of experimentation going on as I'm sure there is today, the variables are endless.

I am a firm believer in how different woods react and sound both sonically, sustain, timbre, and percussiveness. Add to that variables in the same wood with increased variables in the combinations and there is quite a large amount of differing characteristics to be had out there in Bassdom.

Mike is definitely a wood master. On his "flagship models" like the Andrew Gouche and Norm Stockton, Mike told me that he goes a few extra steps to ensure consistency. Part of the is the titanium rods in the neck. The other is in the woods he chooses. He purposely will use body and top woods that are from the same batch, if possible. And he also checks the density of those woods and keeps them same. So, in theory, each one will come out sounding as close to the same as possible. As already noted, it's still wood. But, most people are not going to be able to hear the difference.

 

[Mr_O'B]

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

My perception is that Mr. Gouche appears to unimpressed. He is probably thinking, "Nice MTD, but this NS Signature model can't touch my Andrew Gouche Signature model!"

 

[Ace Of Bass]

It's not an issue for me. I don't ever see me buying another high dollar boutique again. I will pick up another Jazz as a Christmas present to my self, but it is hard to screw up an ash or alder body Jazz.

You'd be surprised what's out there...for all the noise the Sires are making, I probably wouldn't consider buying the alder/rosewood model, which is a combo is like to have...from what I have heard, it sounds very much like the ash/maple model...that Marcus sound is totally baked in...because of that, I wouldn't go for it...

 

[Dr. Cheese]

You'd be surprised what's out there...for all the noise the Sires are making, I probably wouldn't consider buying the alder/rosewood model, which is a combo is like to have...from what I have heard, it sounds very much like the ash/maple model...that Marcus sound is totally baked in...because of that, I wouldn't go for it...

Stingray69 was kind enough to let me play his V7 last Monday, and the Marcus sound is sort of baked in since the bass serves it up with very little coaxing, but it can certainly get other tones, and the alder model sounds exactly like Marcus, so buying ash is pretty much a cosmetic choice.

The more I think about it, I want a Carvin JB5 because it come with the Seventies position and 19mm spacing standard. Having spec'ed out what I want, I could get it for $1,044. It will probably be a heavy bass, but I mainly play sitting.

 

[Ace Of Bass]

Stingray69 was kind enough to let me play his V7 last Monday, and the Marcus sound is sort of baked in since the bass serves it up with very little coaxing, but it can certainly get other tones, and the alder model sounds exactly like Marcus, so buying ash is pretty much a cosmetic choice.

The more I think about it, I want a Carvin JB5 because it come with the Seventies position and 19mm spacing standard. Having spec'ed out what I want, I could get it for $1,044. It will probably be a heavy bass, but I mainly play sitting.

I think that's a great choice...I like what Carvin is doing in their custom shop...may end up getting something built myself...

 

[Mr_O'B]

Stingray69 was kind enough to let me play his V7 last Monday, and the Marcus sound is sort of baked in since the bass serves it up with very little coaxing, but it can certainly get other tones, and the alder model sounds exactly like Marcus, so buying ash is pretty much a cosmetic choice.

The more I think about it, I want a Carvin JB5 because it come with the Seventies position and 19mm spacing standard. Having spec'ed out what I want, I could get it for $1,044. It will probably be a heavy bass, but I mainly play sitting.

If you go with the Carvin make sure that you specify your ideal weight range.
Never compromise (playing sitting, because it's too have)! Send it back if it's too heavy!

 

[ebozzz]

This guy does good reviews.

There's just something about the way he touches the strings that just doesn't do it for me but his reviews have been very helpful.

 

[bholder]

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.

I'm trying to learn this lesson still, apparently. Though I've been woodshedding a lot more in the last year or two as well - after decades of playing, I finally feel like I'm starting to have a clue how to put it all together and just play what I'm thinking and have it come out the fingers properly.

 

[otto B]

After a lot of thinking. I decided to get a Sadowsky NYC standard 5-24, wow. This is the bass, I have being looking for a long time. what an incredible bass, not only the tone is great but, It just sits perfectly, being a light weight bass.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

After a lot of thinking. I decided to get a Sadowsky NYC standard 5-24, wow. This is the bass, I have being looking for a long time. what an incredible bass, not only the tone is great but, It just sits perfectly, being a light weight bass.

I hope you love it. Remember GAS pretty much ends because you decided to end it, no matter how great your bass is.

 

[otto B]

I hope you love it. Remember GAS pretty much ends because you decided to end it, no matter how great your bass is.

I do think this is it. Because of my bad back I am forced to look for a light weight bass and this bass is just perfect in every way. If I ever change this bass it would with another Sadowsky NYC 5-24 with maple or ebony board.

 

[bass12]

I do think this is it. Because of my bad back I am forced to look for a light weight bass and this bass is just perfect in every way. If I ever change this bass it would with another Sadowsky NYC 5-24 with maple or ebony board.

And less than a month later in the classifieds...

 

[LAKland_24]

the mtd norm stockton sounds way too thin to be honest. a mtd 535 sounds way better than it. save your money

 

[Red Planet]

I don't know didly about these basses I'm a P bass kind of guy but those Norm Stockton gear review videos are the best!

 

[slamsinger]

I’ve owned both
MTD had the best B string I’ve heard in a long time besides my Spector NS5xl
Also the top end on the MTD was special it cut and was amazing without ever being brittle BUT I got rid of it because it lacks the lower mids and wasn’t thick sounding to my ears and had a hard tine sitting in a mix with my old band
The Sadowsky B is great but it isn’t the MTD B for sure but it sat in a mix much better with much much more “heft” to the notes and I’m a single coil jazz guy there’s just something about the tone of a great jazz bass
But that’s my opinion