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My First Sadowsky (Lots of Pics)

#21
How lovely it is! Congratulations!!!

I am not shocked to see the thread title includes the "my first" words. As Kevin Drexler rhetorically asked and answered, "What could be better than a Sadowsky? Another Sadowsky!!"

Play the heck of out it!!!
 
#32
Awesome bass. I know because it's virtually the same as the all natural one I have (tho mine's the vintage model with the guards). Ash body, maple neck, stunning tone. I did try the blues on it, and while those are great, I still prefer the DR HiBeams ultimately. Does it have single-coils or hum-cancelling? If it has the HC's, I HIGHLY recommend you watch out for a deal in the TB classifieds for some SC's. That's what's in mine, and this bass sounds so good it even kills in a mix with dead strings on it.
 
#34
Vic said:
Awesome bass. I know because it's virtually the same as the all natural one I have (tho mine's the vintage model with the guards). Ash body, maple neck, stunning tone. I did try the blues on it, and while those are great, I still prefer the DR HiBeams ultimately. Does it have single-coils or hum-cancelling? If it has the HC's, I HIGHLY recommend you watch out for a deal in the TB classifieds for some SC's. That's what's in mine, and this bass sounds so good it even kills in a mix with dead strings on it.
Click to expand...

it has the HC pups in it. So you really think the SC's are THAT much better huh? maybe i'll have to keep my eyes open...Is it an easy swap? or what I have to have someone who knows what they are doing do it?

also, how is the B string on the Hi-Beams? I had some once and wasn't impressed by it.
 
#37
p0k said:
it has the HC pups in it. So you really think the SC's are THAT much better huh? maybe i'll have to keep my eyes open...Is it an easy swap? or what I have to have someone who knows what they are doing do it?
Click to expand...
IMHO, yes. Not that the HC's aren't great, they are. I just like the SC's better on this wood combo. There's a low treble bite that really brings out a bit more of that roundwound ring and clarity especially for fingerstyle. Plus they last a really long time due to that round core (as long as you keep them fairly clean).

also, how is the B string on the Hi-Beams? I had some once and wasn't impressed by it.
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The B string is great with HB's. IMHO every bit as good as with Sadowsky blues or blacks, maybe even better. Thing is, with the HB's you MUST follow their advice to bend the strings at the tuner end BEFORE you cut them. You can ruin the strings if you don't. You can "spring" the windings and then you get a horribly defocused string with tons of strange overtones and such.
 
#38
Vic said:
The B string is great with HB's. IMHO every bit as good as with Sadowsky blues or blacks, maybe even better. Thing is, with the HB's you MUST follow their advice to bend the strings at the tuner end BEFORE you cut them. You can ruin the strings if you don't. You can "spring" the windings and then you get a horribly defocused string with tons of strange overtones and such.
Click to expand...

interesting! maybe thats what happened on the last set i had. It definitely have a lot of overtones on the B...thanks for the info.
 
#39
p0k said:
interesting! maybe thats what happened on the last set i had. It definitely have a lot of overtones on the B...thanks for the info.
Click to expand...

Per your questions:

Pretty much +1 to Vic, but maybe with a little more nuance on my part.....

HC versus SC... different, not better or worse. The HC's are a bit deeper and have a bit more upper treble. The SC's are a bit tighter down low, a bit more mid present in general, and more 'grindy' in the upper mids/lower treble. While I prefer the SC's on the ash/maple Sadowsky's, the HC's are also great. Unless you find yourself searching for the mid control on your amp and constantly turning down the VTC, I would not bother swapping. However, if you feel your Sadowsky is a bit too scooped in the mids, and more to the sizzly side versus grindy side for your taste, it's an easy swap that really can make a difference.

Hi Beams... I LOVE them on the Sadowsky basses (really any J Bass). However, the B string is a complex issue for me. The way I use my B string is more of an extension of the E string, and to allow me to play some figures more comfortably in a different part of the neck, never above the Eb on the B string. For that type of playing, the Hi Beam B string is great and is as good as everything else MO and IME.

However, quite a few report some strange overtones, etc. as you move up the neck, and while this is a zero issue for me, in my noodling around to check this out, I can hear it also a bit as you move up into the 10th fret+ region of the instrument. I think part of this might be the low tension of the Hi Beams, which is usually something most want to avoid on a B string. However, if you use the B like I do, it sounds great.. plenty of grind down low, even C and below.

I really like the Sadowsky Blue label on these basses also. Tight tension, and a much harsher upper mid response and punch versus the Hi Beam that can sound a bit 'forward' whe playing solo, but can really punchy your top end through a busy guitar/drum mix.

IMO... all good stuff. Enjoy that bass!!!!!!!!:bassist:
 
#40
thanks for all the help guys. Just one more question. If i ever did decide to change over to the SC pups (i don't think i've played the bass enough to know at this point), is there soldering involved, or do the pickups just disconnect with a little plug type thing? I've never done anything like that so i was just curious if it was something i could do myself.
 

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