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Sadowsky advice

D

dsilvercoin

Jun 1, 2009
7
0
#1
Hi all. Forgive me if this has been posted elsewhere, but I haven't found it yet.

I'm looking to pick up a bass to have in my studio (TV/ film work) and am looking for something that will be as versatile as possible. Would people recommend a MV4 over a RV4? I don't tend to do a lot of funk playing, but have been thinking that the MV4 will be the most versatile.

Bass is not my main instrument, so any advice would be greatly appreciated .

Thanks!!
 
#2
The only difference is maple vs. rosewood (hence the M and R before the V4). It's just a matter of taste. There may be a difference between maple and rosewood to your ears, but I don't think of the one being more versatile than the other. Just a matter of taste in looks, tone and feel.
It's the onboard preamp that gives you the possibilities/versatility, imo. It's active/passive switchable with a tone control that works in either of the two modes and a 2-band EQ in active mode.

Anyway, if you want something versatile, I'd maybe look towards a 5-string with a PJ-pickup configuration. The 5-string PJ Metro has just been released this year.
 
#5
For a studio setting I would recommend the a rosewood board. Although I own two maple boarded (?) Sadowsky basses, I think you are better off with the rosewood. Especially, if you are not a bass player and all of the users are not bass players. I would definitely consider a PJ if possible.

I think the 5 string PJ would be optimum, but I know many people come in the studio and don't want to touch a 5 string. More recording mistakes happen when someone is not comfortable on the 5 string. 4 string RV4
 
#6
The maple board metros also have ash bodies instead of alder on the rws, so they do sound quite different. I have had several rosewood/alder sadowskys in the past and liked them a lot, but the ash/maple ones are even better for me. I have an MS4 and an MV5 now and they kill. IME they are much less likely to have dead spots and the more present upper mids do magical things in conjunction with the EQ.

Get a VTC on it and it is easy to back down the sizzle for fingerstyle (while leaving some nice bite in the upper mids) when necessary.

To me, the ash/maple JJ is the sadowsky bass. All the others are great too though, can't go wrong.
 
#8
Thanks so much. That is all very helpful.

Sadowsky currently has a pre-owned RV4 for sale in the finish I wanted for $1800. Is it worth trying to pick that one up or can a better price/ model be found if I'm patient? I know that a used MV4 that was listed on the buy/sell section of this forum just sold for $1450 or so.
 
#11
dsilvercoin said:
...I'm looking to pick up a bass to have in my studio (TV/ film work) and am looking for something that will be as versatile as possible. Would people recommend a MV4 over a RV4? I don't tend to do a lot of funk playing, but have been thinking that the MV4 will be the most versatile....
Click to expand...

I have done a lot of TV work. I am very happy with my Sadowsky P/J. My advice is to contact Sadowsky's small sales staff, and begin a discussion. Kevin Drexler was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, patient, and responsive. I wanted warm and versatile, and got it.

Specs on mine:

2006 Sadowsky RV4 P/J with...
Quilted maple top AAAA
Dark transparent cherry finish
Brazilian rosewood fingerboard
9" fingerboard radius
Parchment pickguard
Sadowsky Hum-canceling Pickups
Chambered Alder Body
Chrome hardware
Vintage-tint amber headstock
Vintage Tone Control

It is a great instrument for live, broadcast, and studio work. :bassist:


PS. To the OP, sorry I though you were considering an NYC. Metros are great, too. Check out the Metro Hybrid P/J.
 
#12
Yeah, I have been speaking with Kevin and he has been great. He thought a MV4 J-Bass would be a good bet for an "all-rounder." He thought a P/J would be good as well, but more of a signature sound.

The folks at Sadowsky are really nice and helpful. it makes a person want to play their instruments.
 
#15
dsilvercoin said:
I know that a used MV4 that was listed on the buy/sell section of this forum just sold for $1450 or so.
Click to expand...

My RV4 cost me $1400 with case used, mint and apparently unplayed. Took a lot of searching and haggling, plus this recession, to get that price so YMMV. If the MV is brighter still, I'm glad I got the RV as it's plenty snappy for my purposes.

More praise for Sadowsky customer service: before I bought the Metro I called the shop several times about another bass I was considering, an early 24/5. Roger's willingness to help me and his recall of a 20-plus-year old instrument were amazing, and that's coming from a longtime Alembic player, whose customer service is excellent in my experience.
 
#16
$1,800 is high if you're buying off the street. It's probably a pretty good deal from their shop however. They'll put on new strings and give it a complete setup. That has to be worth a couple of hundred dollars right there.

I think there will be a noticeable difference between the M and the R. I thought I read somewhere that it's easier to add brightness to the R as opposed to adding warmth to the M.

As others have said, R for warmth; M for brightness.

One other thing, I'd make sure the bass has the Vintage Tone Control (VTC). Most basses that I've owned, I've never used it. Except my Sadowsky. It works really well with their preamp.

LeonD
 
#18
LeonD said:
t there.

I think there will be a noticeable difference between the M and the R. I thought I read somewhere that it's easier to add brightness to the R as opposed to adding warmth to the M.

As others have said, R for warmth; M for brightness.
LeonD
Click to expand...

Do most people agree with this? Is it just a question of EQ and new strings?

Thanks
 
#19
I agree with his general comment regarding the tone profiles of the models with the NYC (not as much with the Metro's, more on that below), but regarding making one sound like the other, I actually feel just the opposite. I had an NYC Vintage alder/RW Sadowsky and an NYC Vintage ash/maple (which I still own) at the same time.

I found that it was much easier to dial out some of the upper mid and treble aggressiveness with the VTC from the ash/maple model than to try to dial that aggressiveness in with the alder/RW model.

However, both of them sounded like Sadowsky J's. If you KNOW you don't really ever need that kind of '70's J grind' type tone (using that term loosely to describe the aggressive tone of a maple board on a J) when either slapping or digging in fingerstyle, then you are probably fine and maybe even better off with the smoother tone that the RW board gives you. However, if you do like the J grind, that's almost impossible for me to get with any alder/RW J I've owned or played.

Finally, if you are considering a Metro, it's a bit more of a moot point, since the Morado boards on the Metro's sound closer to maple than RW to me. If you are going with a Metro, it would be the RV ALL THE WAY. I've played quite a few RV"s and MV's, and felt the RV's were much more in the sweet spot of fatness and presence than the Metro MV's.

IMO.

Edit: Regarding the PJ thing, I guess if you wanted a legitimate P Bass tone, and a 'kind of' J bass tone, that would be an option. Not my thing at all personally, but I really like J Basses.
 
#20
KJung Finally, if you are considering a Metro, it's a bit more of a moot point, since the Morado boards on the Metro's sound closer to maple than RW to me. If you are going with a Metro, it would be the RV ALL THE WAY. I've played quite a few RV"s and MV's, and felt the RV's were much more in the sweet spot of fatness and presence than the Metro MV's
Click to expand...

I really agree with K on this one. While I've played a couple of UV metros I liked (all were the UV 70 models). The RV's appear to me to be the most consistent. And it appears harder to get that extra zing out of an MV then to dial it in on an RV in the metro. Both of my ash maple (MV and MS) were "warmer" then my RV metro. Perhaps it's the lighter chambered bodies. In a NYC I would go with an MV, in a metro it would be an RV.
 

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