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Sadowsky bass with JJ PJ conversion

Fran Diaz

Fran Diaz

Mar 28, 2002
3,912
1,058
Santander, Spain
Disclosures
Bassist
#1
After watching this video with Michael Rhodes
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I have major Sadowsky PJ GAS :rolleyes: . My first bass was a Fender Jazz Special (PJ) which means that this bass should close a circle anf cure my GAS (:D ).

I was thinking about getting a vintage PJ 4 with an extra route and pickguard to be able to go JJ if I ever change my mind.

Anybody has a pic (without the picguard obviously) of a bass routed for both pickups? TIA.

I'd also like to hear about neck preferences from people that plays both jazz and P Sadowsky necks. Which one should I choose?

later
 
#2
Great vid. Its like Country Fusion.

A PJ/JJ convertable Sadowsky was sold on TB a while back, you could search for that and contact the old owner. Seems like a cool idea.

Anybody know what Michael was using for amps and strings? He sounds great.
 
#5
pickles said:
Great vid. Its like Country Fusion.

A PJ/JJ convertable Sadowsky was sold on TB a while back, you could search for that and contact the old owner. Seems like a cool idea.

Anybody know what Michael was using for amps and strings? He sounds great.
Click to expand...

Something like this?

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Just saw this the other day and am now suffering from a bad case of gas.

Dave
 
#6
frandiaz said:
After watching this video with Michael Rhodes
Invalid Link Removed

I have major Sadowsky PJ GAS :rolleyes: . My first bass was a Fender Jazz Special (PJ) which means that this bass should close a circle anf cure my GAS (:D ).

I was thinking about getting a vintage PJ 4 with an extra route and pickguard to be able to go JJ if I ever change my mind.

Anybody has a pic (without the picguard obviously) of a bass routed for both pickups? TIA.

I'd also like to hear about neck preferences from people that plays both jazz and P Sadowsky necks. Which one should I choose?

later
Click to expand...

Do it bro. That is the sound of my PJ5 to the tee. I will tell you that isn't the EA rig you are hearing. Not sure what he is running through but he is runnig direct.

When I was in Nashville earlier this month both Michael and Brent were in the main tracking room of the studio I was mixing at.

Got to hang with Mike for a bit, play his P Bodied PJ5 (sweet bass - not chambered) and got to check out his rig. U5 and a Sans Amp Bass Driver DI (couple of Aphex pedals too including the Xciter which he loves).

Mike loves the SansAmp and said he uses that a ton. He also said "it just sounds right and very good. who cares what anyone thinks or says". This is the same setup I used when I tracked for the cd I am producing (out August 1st BTW).

Brent Mason is hands down the best country guitarist there is. Period. He had a new amp in his rig; Genz Benz Black Pearl. They just did a photo shoot down there with GB and Brent.

Also, that drummer is Eddie Bayers. THE number one session drummer in Nashville for the better part of 25 years! Still!!! He is also the guy I hired to play on this cd. Great, loveable guy and funny as hell. Has some great stories. Eddie was fantastic. One take on every song with only two overdubs and those were two little things I wanted slightly different in 4 bars. Just an amazing person, drummer and musician.

Sorry I got a little OT there....

Defintitely do the conversion. Why not? LOL I love the Saodwsky PJ5 tone. Just kills. It is MY sound for sure.
 
#10
I'm hoping to place an order for my first Sadowsky built just for me later this year. I was going to go P/J, but will seriously consider the PJ/JJ swap-ability. It's just such a cool design and I can see the wisdom in going that route.

As far as Sadowsky necks go Fran, I don't believe there is any difference at all in the necks width-wise. On all 4 strings they are standard J bass width, whether coupled with P or J bass style bodies. All the 5 string necks are the same width (whatever that is). The only neck profile variation is if you go with an Ultra Vintage (4 string only), which has a 9" radius as opposed to the standard 12" radius. The Ultra Vintage basses have full size bodies (the non-Ultra Vintage have slightly smaller bodies than a Fender). I don't know if Roger will do or has ever done a custom width neck, but I don't recall ever seeing one.
 
#13
It's not possible to convert an existing JJ (5 string) to PJ, is it? I thought I remembered reading you couldn't due to the control plate and pickguard set up on the PJ.
 
#16
Look its my old bass. I ended up selling it because it just was not for me. The neck never felt comfortable and I am just more of a five string player. But it is a great bass in great shape and the people at GuitarX are really cool to deal with.

If you have any specific questions about it feel free to ask, both myself and some of the previous owners can give you feedback.
 
#19
I believe and I'm pretty sure, along with VJP, if you want to go that way, you do need to start with a PJ. There is a subtle difference in the shape of the pick guard and bell plate placement to allow for the reverse P option.

You may be able to start with a J but I think at that point you'll be stuck with a normal P configuration which is fine but...once you hit a couple low notes with the pickup reversed, I doubt you'll go back. There is an aubible difference.
 

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