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sadowsky and lakland

#61
pickles said:
And actually, there have been many threads about needing a heavier body to get a true 70's J-bass tone ... so on the UV70s, that weight difference might be seen as an advantage.

:bassist:
Click to expand...

+1 There isn't an equivalent model in the NYC line for the Ultra Vintage Metro (although there are 'Ultra Vintage' NYC's... which are passive 60's style instruments.... confusing!).

The UV70's to me, though, sound MUCH more similar to the standard and vintage models than they do to a 70's style J Bass. I understand that if you put single coils in them, it gets them closer... however, my guess is it would get the standards and vintage closer also. That Metro UV line is nice, but my least favorite of all the Sadowsky models. It seems 'neither fish nor foul'... bigger, heavier and more expensive than the other Metro J models, but not really capturing the 70's vibe to my ear. The neck profile seems larger to me also.

However, if you want a Sadowsky with a larger J body style,and the look of blocks and binding, they are realy nice IMO.


PS There's a REALLY nice one at Low Down Sound at the moment... plays, sounds a looks great. It is very bright, and IMO needs the passive tone control option, but that's easy to get as an add on.
 
#62
I've played a real '70s J-bass exactly one time, and with the single coils, in passive mode, the UV70 seems very simmilar to me other than having an extra strings. Same attack feel, same tone. With the preamp on, boosted 50% on each, and some DR high beams ... its instant marcus. I put on some tamer strings since I don't have many modern funk/jazz gigs lined up ... but it was pretty amazing with the DRs on there.

A '70J aficionado might have a different opinion, but to me, its definately in the ballpark.

:bassist:
 
#64
pickles said:
I've played a real '70s J-bass exactly one time, and with the single coils, in passive mode, the UV70 seems very simmilar to me other than having an extra strings. Same attack feel, same tone. With the preamp on, boosted 50% on each, and some DR high beams ... its instant marcus. I put on some tamer strings since I don't have many modern funk/jazz gigs lined up ... but it was pretty amazing with the DRs on there.

A '70J afficianado might have a different opinion, but to me, its definately in the ballpark.

:bassist:
Click to expand...

+1 In the ballpark for sure, and very nice. It really does retain that Sadowsky tone, which is a good thing. I think I am somewhat inaccurate when I talk about 70's J Bass sound, since I associate that most with Marcus Miller's tone (which is a very specific version of a 70's 'J on steroids' type tone). I haven't really heard that tone in any of the UV's I've played. But... I haven't played one with single coils... which I understand changes things a lot. Also, that doesn't mean the UV's can't funk and slap like crazy in their stock version... just a different tone.. but a very good one!

Great sounding basses though... and I LOVE DR Hi Beams on Sadowsky basses... wonderful.
 
#65
KJung said:
I think I am somewhat inaccurate when I talk about 70's J Bass sound, since I associate that most with Marcus Miller's tone (which is a very specific version of a 70's 'J on steroids' type tone). I haven't really heard that tone in any of the UV's I've played. But... I haven't played one with single coils... which I understand changes things a lot.
Click to expand...

The single coils really are very different, and the DRs are SUPER different from the stock strings, if those were on the ones you tried ...

I plugged the UV70 strung with fresh DR high beams into an SM-500 and Goliath Jr III at low volume, dialed up the scoop with the onboard EQ and used just a touch of aural enhancer ... and to my ears, it came pretty close to the tones from "The Sun Don't Lie" ... the upper register lead lines, the slap lines, and also the low-B thump from "Panther" (after sucking out even more mids). And mine is a rosewood board!

Anyway ... all good stuff. Fun basses capable of great tones.
 
#66
Nino Valenti said:
(...)
2005_04_04018a.jpg

(...)
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wow,

KILLER setup... :bassist:
 
#71
jive1 said:
They are both great basses from great companies.
In terms of quality of construction, playability, and tone you can't go wrong with either. The difference is in the details, and personal preferences. For comparison purposes, I'll exclude Lakland's non-Fender-like models like the 44-02.

- Sadowskys have some sweet preamps, and the vintage tone control comes in handy. Only Sadowsky makes em. Lakland comes passive as standard, and you can add a J-retro preamp as an option.

- Sadowsky has their own brand of pickups, whereas Lakland uses Lindy Fralin pickups.

- Lakland Skylines come in a limited number of finish options (2-3).

- The Lakland Skylines are the cheapest compared to Lakland US, Sadowsky NYC, and Sadowsky Metro.

- Sadowsky Metros and Lakland Skylines have flatsawn necks. Lakland US and Sadowsky NYC have quartsawn necks.

- Sadowsky NYC and Lakland US have graphite reinforced necks. 5 string Lakland Skylines have reinforcement, but the 4 do not.

- Lakland uses small vintage frets, while Sadowsky uses medium frets as standard.

- Sadowsky NYC has a chambered body
Click to expand...
Lakland has 3-band EQ. Otherwise they're comparable in all other aspects.
 
#75
jive1 said:
They are both great basses from great companies.
In terms of quality of construction, playability, and tone you can't go wrong with either. The difference is in the details, and personal preferences. For comparison purposes, I'll exclude Lakland's non-Fender-like models like the 44-02.

- Sadowskys have some sweet preamps, and the vintage tone control comes in handy. Only Sadowsky makes em. Lakland comes passive as standard, and you can add a J-retro preamp as an option.

- Sadowsky has their own brand of pickups, whereas Lakland uses Lindy Fralin pickups.

- Lakland Skylines come in a limited number of finish options (2-3).

- The Lakland Skylines are the cheapest compared to Lakland US, Sadowsky NYC, and Sadowsky Metro.

- Sadowsky Metros and Lakland Skylines have flatsawn necks. Lakland US and Sadowsky NYC have quartsawn necks.

- Sadowsky NYC and Lakland US have graphite reinforced necks. 5 string Lakland Skylines have reinforcement, but the 4 do not.

- Lakland uses small vintage frets, while Sadowsky uses medium frets as standard.

- Sadowsky NYC has a chambered body
Click to expand...

About the smaller frets - does anyone know if those are used on the DJ? Are they used on all Skyline models?
 

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