/ Register

Playing my Nordy VJ4

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by headband, Jan 3, 2015.

  1. Jan 3, 2015 #1
    headband

    headband

    Oct 18, 2013
    Lake Havasu City
    For the last 5 months I have been pretty much playing my Sadowsky V4 and it is a great instrument. For NYE I pulled out the Nordy and what a delight! Very different sound than the Sadowsky but a very good sound. Warm and solid, every note was articulate and could be heard, even though I was not playing very loud. It got the nod again last night. miller house NYE 2014.jpg
     
    RBJ11, Rooster009 and Carey like this.
  2. Jan 3, 2015 #2
    noahw1

    noahw1

    Jul 22, 2005
    Los Angeles, CA
    How would you describe the differences between the two? Modern vs. vintage? Obviously the Sadowsky has "that" sound but I'm curious. I'm thinking of ordering a new bass this year and have been going back forth between the idea of a Sadowsky or a Nordy.
     
  3. Jan 3, 2015 #3
    Jared Lash

    Jared Lash Born under punches

    Aug 21, 2006
    Denver, CO
    To me Sadowskys are lightweigh (chambered NYCs anyway) and are tight and bright with a more modern sound that cuts through a mix well.

    With Nordys it really depends on if you're getting the Classic or the Modern. The biggest differences are that the Classic is a 34" scale passive bass with standard jazz shaped pickups (true singles or split coil humbuckers) and the Modern is 34.5" with Carey's preamp and signature soapbars shaped pickups (Big Singles, Big Splits, Fat Stacks etc). Both have a compound radius fingerboard but I believe the Modern is a touch flatter all around.

    The Classic Nordys are very vintage sounding. The Modern has some vintage flavor but is definitely more modern. Those "Big" pickups are fatter (especially in the low mids) have a dip in the high mids/low treble (to my ear at least) and extended highs. They don't sound like traditional single coils - they have their own vibe going on.

    I haven't heard a lot of Nordys but of the ones I have heard my favorite was a Classic with single coils and the Nordstrand pre.
     
  4. Jan 4, 2015 #4
    noahw1

    noahw1

    Jul 22, 2005
    Los Angeles, CA
    Thanks
     
  5. Jan 6, 2015 #5
    headband

    headband

    Oct 18, 2013
    Lake Havasu City
    The Sadowsky is a modern sounding bass - is great for slap with the scooped mids. And chambering brings the weight in around 8.5 ;bs. My VJ4 has big singles pickups and is passive. Very well balanced physically, it weighs a little more but it is not noticeable (and I can't play heavy basses - back problems). Both have necks to die for. The Nordy has a classic sound, not quite vintage, but very round and full. Not as extreme on the highs as lows. And the big singles give it a very nice bump in the low-mids that seem to give it a solid presence on stage. Both are very nice, and both are very different.
     
  6. Jan 6, 2015 #6
    smeet

    smeet Gold Supporting Member

    Nov 27, 2006
    Woodland Hills, CA
    I owned an nyc Sadowsky for a while, and yes, it's very modern sounding. It was scooped even with the preamp set to minimum, and you can only make it more scooped with the pre. The high mids and highs were great, but I was never satisfied with the fatness of the fundamental. Boosting lows just doesn't sound the same. I think much of the sound is in the construction, as I replaced the pickups in the Sadowsky with Nordstrands, and it still had the Sadowsky character, it didn't sound like a Nordy.
    The Nordys (even the moderns) have a somewhat more low/mid focused sound, with less "sheen", more full sounding pickups, and a more traditional boost/cut preamp.