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narrowed down to mtd, sadowsky, lakland

#181
michricker said:
Here is an interesting comparison of lower register notes on lakland , sadowsky, mtd 535, and ken smith. My fav is the mtd from his test. Least fav is the lakland. Just IMO.

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Ps. Why do people in Japan always seem to be wearing surgical masks? Especially in videos.
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While that's a pretty cool test,it's not quite fair.Too many variables that go into the process.I personally liked the MTD the best as well!

Here's a video clip of me playing my Lakland...take note of how the B string sounds in this clip.Completely different than the one he played in his video.

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Peace,
JC
 
#182
jcsgroove said:
While that's a pretty cool test,it's not quite fair.Too many variables that go into the process.I personally liked the MTD the best as well!

Here's a video clip of me playing my Lakland...take note of how the B string sounds in this clip.Completely different than the one he played in his video.

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Peace,
JC
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Agreed. For one thing, we don't know how those basses were set up. Additionally, strings that work well on one bass might not work well on another. I use DR Hi-Beams on my 35" Lull and they work fantastically. Those same strings on my 34" Sadowsky result in a clangy and rubbery B string.
 
#183
Jackie. That video was tight. Bass tone and singing awesome. Ill have to post soon a video of my state fair gig from the weekend. I got many compliments on tone from numerous audience and several sound guys.

Rig was my sadowsky NYC vintage 5 (alder/morado) through a thunderfunk 800b2 into a bergantino hs210/hs410 stack. The tone, feel, and dynamics were off the hook. This is the first big gig I had a chance to try out my thunderfunk on. Used to play with the aguilar db750. I like the thunderfunk 800 much better! With the mtd this rig kills to. Allows that woody mids from my mtd shine through and cut in the mix to a T in just the right place with minor eq. Of course the sadowsky just sat in the mix too. But when I dug in for some solos the rig handled thoose dynamics especially well and clear but still warm. Just perfect. Highly recommend this rig combo.
 
#184
bass12 said:
Agreed. For one thing, we don't know how those basses were set up. Additionally, strings that work well on one bass might not work well on another. I use DR Hi-Beams on my 35" Lull and they work fantastically. Those same strings on my 34" Sadowsky result in a clangy and rubbery B string.
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That's exactly what I was gonna say...it's still a good video to give you an idea though.I just wanted to make sure John wasn't completely fooled by the results.

I use D'Addario Super Long Scale strings on my basses and they're a perfect fit.I've used them for the last 12 years...I don't believe in changing when I know it works!:p

Once John gets his sound in his head,talk with a few luthiers,etc...he'll know what to go after!!!
 
#185
michricker said:
Jackie. That video was tight. Bass tone and singing awesome. Ill have to post soon a video of my state fair gig from the weekend. I got many compliments on tone from numerous audience and several sound guys.

Rig was my sadowsky NYC vintage 5 (alder/morado) through a thunderfunk 800b2 into a bergantino hs210/hs410 stack. The tone, feel, and dynamics were off the hook. This is the first big gig I had a chance to try out my thunderfunk on. Used to play with the aguilar db750. I like the thunderfunk 800 much better! With the mtd this rig kills to. Allows that woody mids from my mtd shine through and cut in the mix to a T in just the right place with minor eq. Of course the sadowsky just sat in the mix too. But when I dug in for some solos the rig handled thoose dynamics especially well and clear but still warm. Just perfect. Highly recommend this rig combo.
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Cool! Look forward to checking that out!! I was very close to getting a Sadowsky(because of Will Lee and Ricky Minor) but I ended up landing an artist endorsement with Lakland in 2002.Although I'm not an artist anymore,I still play all my Lakland basses exclusively(along with my '74 Jazz) I can pretty much cover any style I'm called for.I'm still longing for a nice hollowbody to complete my family! haha!

Thanks for the comments brother! That DVD was recorded direct through a B.S.S. DI without miking the amp.That's all bass onboard EQ and a lil bit of Emperical Labs Distressor.

Peace,
JC
 
#186
johnbkim93 said:
Wow thats awesome! Yeah i probably wont be able to make it sound exactly like that but just want to know what kind of bass, pickup, etc has those kind of characters and can get close to that kind of tone.
That would be so great. Thanks!
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I just emailed Reggie about the bass...waiting on his reply and I'll hit you up asap! Look him up on youtube...that guy is a MONSTER on electric and upright!

We got a chance to hang out in Europe a few times when I was touring with Angie Stone.
 
#187
And here is Reggie's reply:

Yo Jackie! Thanks for the shout out! Check out Link Removed Woody is the Man! We're going on 30 years together ! Like an old marriage. My bass is basic. EMGs, Bartolini preamp unit (2 preamps) a HARD piece of flamed maple neck, a light old (22 years) ass Alder body, golden soldered, gold plated adjustable bridge, thin high banjo wire frets & a whole lot of love ! U digg??

Holla...Keep the Bottom !

Reggie

I knew Bartolini was involved,I just didn't remember the EMG's :-)
 
#188
jcsgroove said:
And here is Reggie's reply:

Yo Jackie! Thanks for the shout out! Check out Link Removed Woody is the Man! We're going on 30 years together ! Like an old marriage. My bass is basic. EMGs, Bartolini preamp unit (2 preamps) a HARD piece of flamed maple neck, a light old (22 years) ass Alder body, golden soldered, gold plated adjustable bridge, thin high banjo wire frets & a whole lot of love ! U digg??

Holla...Keep the Bottom !

Reggie

I knew Bartolini was involved,I just didn't remember the EMG's :-)
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Thanks Jackie!
Never heard of woody. So basically, the emg pickups and the bartolini preamps that i would need if i want to order it my self i guess?
 
#189
johnbkim93 said:
Thanks Jackie!
Never heard of woody. So basically, the emg pickups and the bartolini preamps that i would need if i want to order it my self i guess?
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I'd never heard of him until I met Reggie!!! He makes an incredible instrument!!!

As for the pickups and pre,I'd talk with Woody to design a preamp that works for the pickups...He has that knowledge!
 
#190
Here is a pic of my three amigos. The choice between a good USA Lakland, a NYC Sadowsky, or a USA MTD is to hard. So I saved and worked to get all three with the exact wood combos that fit. Took me 6 years of flipping many basses to end up at this point.
 

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#191
The MTD 635 wood combo I have am finding more versatile than the other wood combos I've tried.

Body. Mahogany (smooth, deep, even sweet tone, slight mid bump)
Neck/fingerboard. Wenge (tight and powerful midrange, great dynamics)
Body Top. Flammed redwood. (Warm and smooth).

When played light this bass has such a solid clear fundamental. Nice and clear but warm. When dug in the low to medium mids growl comes through nicely in any mix.
 

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#192
michricker said:
Here is a pic of my three amigos. The choice between a good USA Lakland, a NYC Sadowsky, or a USA MTD is to hard. So I saved and worked to get all three with the exact wood combos that fit. Took me 6 years of flipping many basses to end up at this point.
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Nice collection!!!! I have the Glaub P but,with a maple fingerboard...with flats!!!
 
#197
michricker said:
My USA bg also has a jazz neck. Weight is just under 8lbs. Seriously those lakland USA bg and JO basses are some of the best feeling and playing vintage style basses ever made. Better than sadowsky in terms of neck feel for sure. I have both.
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Yeah,the Sadowskys I've played all felt stiff with the exception of one bass...a good buddy of mine,Victor Broden,has a Sadowsky reverse P 5 string that kills!!!!!

Here's my 2002 Joe Osborn...

One of the most solid basses I've EVER played!!
 

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#198
jcsgroove said:
Yeah,the Sadowskys I've played all felt stiff with the exception of one bass...a good buddy of mine,Victor Broden,has a Sadowsky reverse P 5 string that kills!!!!!

Here's my 2002 Joe Osborn...

One of the most solid basses I've EVER played!!
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I'm curious about what you mean by "stiff". Are you talking about the feel of the neck? The strings? The tone?
 
#199
jcsgroove said:
Yeah,the Sadowskys I've played all felt stiff with the exception of one bass...a good buddy of mine,Victor Broden,has a Sadowsky reverse P 5 string that kills!!!!!

Here's my 2002 Joe Osborn...

One of the most solid basses I've EVER played!!
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Hey Jackie...I've played Viktor's Sadowksky P/J too--that's an excellent one that's really happening....
Did you get rid of that Natural JO 5 string? I thought I saw it up for sale last year.
 
#200
bass12 said:
I'm curious about what you mean by "stiff". Are you talking about the feel of the neck? The strings? The tone?
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When I say stiff,I'm talking about the neck...the response,the feel,the overall vibe.All the Sadowskys I've played(with exception of Victor's) were a pain just to get around on the neck.It felt as if I had to fight just to get the bass to respond.

When Lakland shipped my first bass,it already felt broken in even though it was brand new.The tension was right and the bass played itself.It got better over time and now that it's 10 years old....OH BOY!!!! hahaha!

Just haven't had that experience with a new Sadowsky before...I'd played about 12-15 of em over the course of time.Now this was nearly 10 years ago so things may have changed and this can happen with just about any bass.
 

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