Nordy or Sadowsky???

[datsaxguy]

I owe everyone an apology. Jessica Alba. I just forgot about her.

Sad electronics are more modern, Nordy u get to choose. Build Quality are both excellent.

I can't choose between Jessica Alba and Jessica Beil. I'll take them both along with a nordy w/ hum cancelling soaps and sad w/ jazz single coils.

 

[Hollow Man]

There is a treble boost and there's a bass boost. Roll back the bass and mysteriously you have strong mids.

I know you already know this, but for those who may not, the Sadowsky preamp is boost-only.

I say this since I'm one of the ones who said I find Sadowskys to have a mid-scoop to them, and I want to note that I didn't have either the bass or treble boosted; I rarely use onboard preamps. However, I failed to note that I was referring to the hum-cancelling pickups. I've only tried one Sadowsky with the single-coils, but they sounded much, much better to my ear in terms of balance.

Just for the OP's consideration.

 

[78Jazzlover]

There is a lot of talk about Sadowsky's being scooped. It's nonsense if you use the tone controls on the bass.

There is a treble boost and there's a bass boost. Roll back the bass and mysteriously you have strong mids.

I have no experience with a Nordy, so I will not advise on which way to go.

I had to chime in to clarify this misconception of Sadowsky's having one sole sound: scooped mids.

Nope, its not just talk, I've played numerous ones and I do know how to work a 2 band preamp. Plus I've tried to record them also in a more neutral enviroment. I do believe the ash ones are worse than the alder ones for scoop because Sadowsky likes to use very light ash as a philosophical principal...one that I also disagree with. The preamp accentuates the scoop on the (too) light ash but it also sounds scooped when in passive mode. More so than Nordy, Coppolo or Lull.

I believe it may also be his humcancelling pups as the singles sound a tad better IMO. In any event if you like the way it sounds or how it sits in the mix then knock yourself out, buts its anything but nonsense that they are scooped. Again, the alder ones are a touch less scooped only because its alder and not ash. I do believe I've read Sadowsky saying that he actually believes that mids take away from how a bass sits in a mix, and that it actually sits better with less midrange. To each his own.

 

[CTC564]

This is all great info...

But now I can't get my mind off Jessica Biel OR Jessica Alba....sigh

 

[pacojas]

jessica alba + roscoe or coppolo or nordy = win

 

[Chef]

This is pretty spot on, IMO.
You're choosing b/t two very nice options.

For my money, it's Nordstrand all the way. But that's only but so helpful, because it's your money, isn't it?

There are several threads that compare the two, but in short, a lot of people view Sadowsky as a 'modern' Jazz, whereas the Nordy is more true to the vintage sound/feel. Beyond that, you really just need to try at least one of each to get some representation. The good news is, since not everyone can easily do that, you're going to get a great bass, whichever you choose.

To me, Nordys and Sadowskys sound very different. Largely due to Carey's pickups, a standard Nordy sounds fairly vintage, with a good bit of midrange content. A Sadowsky, on the other hand, has deep bass and lots of sizzly treble, but definitely scoops the mids to give a more modern sound. I also prefer the Nordstrand preamp; it's much more adjustable, whereas just a little bit of boost in the Sadowsky preamp gives a dramatic change in sound, and that can be hard to control.

Anyway, that's my take. Good luck!

 

[Chef]

This is all spot on too
The Sadowsky pre is boost only, so, (obviously?) boosting both creates a mid-scoop relative to the flat starting point.
However, the Sadowsky single coils are pretty mid present to start with, so, this has never seemed bothersome or problematic to me.

I know you already know this, but for those who may not, the Sadowsky preamp is boost-only.

I say this since I'm one of the ones who said I find Sadowskys to have a mid-scoop to them, and I want to note that I didn't have either the bass or treble boosted; I rarely use onboard preamps. However, I failed to note that I was referring to the hum-cancelling pickups. I've only tried one Sadowsky with the single-coils, but they sounded much, much better to my ear in terms of balance.

Just for the OP's consideration.

 

[Fuzzbass]

My Sadowsky basses have either a single P-bass pickup or a single Music Man pickup, so I notice little if any mid scoop.

I should point out that Red and Whitey have Nordstrand pickups, and it's common for Sadowsky J-basses and 24 fretters to sport Nordstrand Big Singles.

 

[datsaxguy]

I've got a set of hum cancelling pups on my squire. They are high output and have a scoop sound compared to Dimarzio ultra jazz I had in there.

The nordy pups make more sense in a Sadowsky to me. Lot more versatile as opposed to the hc sadowskys. Never played the singles but I've heard them and they are great.

Ok, I'll take Jessica Alba and a sadowsky with nordy soaps.

 

[bmc]

I must not be setting up my tone to find the scoopedness (hey a new word!).

What I love about the Sad, and I know you do this with a myriad of other active basses, is to favour the bridge pickup and dial in some bass boost. I finger pluck with my thumb resting on the bridge pickup, giving me solid mid honk, with solid bass girth underneath it.

I'd really like to try a Nordy someday. I read wonderful things about those basses.

Good luck with the choice.

 

[madbassplaya]

either way you go, i think you'll be happy.

i want one if not both. i'm leaning towards the Nordy, but if i were to go with Sadowsky, i'd probably get a metro. i don't need a chambered body or fancy top. i want a straightforward J bass.

 

[MrSandman]

I did not played Nordy (heard it), only Sadowsky Metro (active) and main diference between them would be sound. If you like modern sound go Sadowsky. Although Sadowsky is very versatile instrument I would not buy it if my main goal is not something that this bass is famous for and that is modern sound. I think that more expirienced members here can give you more details if you are intereset but main thing is don't buy fast car if you want exclusively comfort or vice versa.

Sorry for my poor english and good luck!

 

[CTC564]

Thanks Sandman

Your English is nothing to be sorry for...I appreciate your input

 

[bikeplate]

HI

Scooped? Gotta be kidding me. Ive done over 2000 gigs the last decade with some type of Sadowsky and have cut thru any mix. Also, its only modernish if you have HC pickups and use the pre. Glassy top w a nice smooth round bottom. If you have SC pickups and use little or no pre, sound like any other jazz bass. Same size jazz body, singles in the traditional pickup placements. You can get both from a Sadowsky. Take if from me, Ive owned 25+ instuments over the last 10 years.

Rob

 

[bass12]

If you want more midrange control with a Sadowsky you can always get a Will Lee.

 

[78Jazzlover]

If you want more midrange control with a Sadowsky you can always get a Will Lee.

I want mids to come from the wood. Pups make some difference too. The last thing I want is to dial in mids electronically. The thing is, you dont have to with other brands, thats my point here.

Now thats a curious thing though, even Will Lee who is Sadowsky #1 player felt he needed more mids. No way around that one IMO as the mid control was obviously installed to ADD mids at different freqs not scoop out more. The control is to boost them. I'm with Will, except I'd do it more organically.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

What is Sadowsky doing so different with the wood from other makers who don't sound scooped to your ears?

Alder is alder and ash is ash and maple is maple. It's not like Sadowsky is using anything else different from Nordstrand or anyone else building Uber-Fenders.

Just curious how you attribute the perceived lack of mids in a Sadowsky to the wood?

I want mids to come from the wood. Pups make some difference too. The last thing I want is to dial in mids electronically. The thing is, you dont have to with other brands, thats my point here.

Now thats a curious thing though, even Will Lee who is Sadowsky #1 player felt he needed more mids. No way around that one IMO as the mid control was obviously installed to ADD mids at different freqs not scoop out more. The control is to boost them. I'm with Will, except I'd do it more organically.

 

[bass12]

What is Sadowsky doing so different with the wood from other makers who don't sound scooped to your ears?

Alder is alder and ash is ash and maple is maple. It's not like Sadowsky is using anything else different from Nordstrand or anyone else building Uber-Fenders.

Just curious how you attribute the perceived lack of mids in a Sadowsky to the wood?

Well, he (78Jazzlover) has already suggested that Sadowsky uses lighter ash. I don't know that that's true. Roger does use swamp ash (which is generally lighter than northern ash), but that's no different from Fender or any number of other Jazz-style bass makers. The NYC models are chambered, but you can always choose the non-chambered option when ordering an NYC. For the record, my Sadowsky Jazz (chambered NYC) is no more scooped-sounding in the mids than my Fender '62 reissue Jazz (not to my ears, anyway).

 

[GRoberts]

When I was seriously shopping for high end 5 string jazz style bass a few years ago, I demo'd both Sad's and Nordy's. Both shine with impeccable craftsmanship. I chose a Nordy. ...and bought a couple of them over a year and a half.

I liked the neck profile better on the Nordstrand bass. The Sadowsky felt ever so slightly chunky to my hands.

I also prefered the boost/cut preamp of the Nordstrand. and I love the passive sound of the Nordstrand, including the impeccable sound of Nordstrand PU's. No regrets.

 

[Sadowsky]

I want mids to come from the wood. Pups make some difference too. The last thing I want is to dial in mids electronically. The thing is, you dont have to with other brands, thats my point here.

Now thats a curious thing though, even Will Lee who is Sadowsky #1 player felt he needed more mids. No way around that one IMO as the mid control was obviously installed to ADD mids at different freqs not scoop out more. The control is to boost them. I'm with Will, except I'd do it more organically.

Will only felt he wanted to hear more mids for live work. He does not use the mid boost in the studio or on TV. And we were unable to achieve this with wood or pickups (believe me, I tried everything).

Roger