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Sadowsky Modern: Dialing in a Slap Tone

Dr. Cheese

Dr. Cheese

Supporting Member
Mar 3, 2004
57,298
120,457
Metro St. Louis
#1


I have had this bass going on two months. The positives are that it is light, the B string is the best I have ever experienced, the neck is comfortable. It is wonderful for finger style and pick playing.The downside is that the slap tone takes adjustment to shine with both pickups on. When the neck pickup is soloed, it gets a more modern and aggressive version of a P-bass with rounds slap tones. I will say that now that the strings are older, it is easier to get a slap tone that is not harsh. My Peavey still get more of the soap bar slap tone that is in my head. I suspect I will track a nice Cirrus when I retire later this year or get a nice Stingray 5. A MTD Kingston Gouche or Norm Stockton would do the trick too.

Between my experience with the MTD Super 5, Tobias Growler, and Sadowsky Modern, I know I love the mid heavy finger tone, but do love a nice scooped slap tone too. I just think the best way to do this is to have two basses because those mid heavy basses don’t really do scoop the way I like it. My Peavey Forum AX certainly has a slap tone I love and I do not need a Stingray or MTD, but one of those basses would be fun.😎
 
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#2
Good demo. You get a good slap sound out of that Modern. I don't love slapping on my Modern but I think that has a lot to do with slapping on a 24 fret instrument versus a 21 fret instrument. I much prefer the string tension on a 21 fret instrument (as my default position is to pop near the end of the fretboard).
 
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#3
bass12 said:
Good demo. You get a good slap sound out of that Modern. I don't love slapping on my Modern but I think that has a lot to do with slapping on a 24 fret instrument versus a 21 fret instrument. I much prefer the string tension on a 21 fret instrument (as my default position is to pop near the end of the fretboard).
Click to expand...

Thanks, the Modern is a great bass. I would be alright if it were my only bass, but I am glad I have access to more scooped tones too.
 
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#4
Always fun watching you demo a bass!

I often wonder if I don't like most slap tones live because I am hearing so much of the physical instrument while I am playing. How does it sound to you if you go DI into a board or from an amp if you can't actually hear the phyiscal bas iteslf?

(That fingerstyle tone at 2:20 was tasty!!!)
 
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#5
ijump206 said:
Always fun watching you demo a bass!

I often wonder if I don't like most slap tones live because I am hearing so much of the physical instrument while I am playing. How does it sound to you if you go DI into a board or from an amp if you can't actually hear the phyiscal bas iteslf?

(That fingerstyle tone at 2:20 was tasty!!!)
Click to expand...

I bet it sounds a lot cleaner going through a DI, and you are making go back and check out 2:20 again!👍🏿
 
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#9
Great video Doc. I do love that color. I’ve owned a few 24 frets (moderns) but have now gone back to a 4-21 with Sadowsky hum canceling jazz pickups. I sent it back to Roger’s shop and had him install the single band mid boost circuit. Very happy with that and the overall sound.
 
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#12
Those moderns (like Smiths) have the pickups moved closer to the bridge, which means less low end, and the scoops in the midranges are all moved up in frequency. But, there is a way to counter that. Move up 5 frets and down a string, and the comb filtering (and low end) is closer to what you are used to on a "regular" Jazz bass. Likely to be a bit less "harsh" as well (you can also tame that somewhat with a few dB of limiting/compression on peaks)
 
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#13
micguy said:
Those moderns (like Smiths) have the pickups moved closer to the bridge, which means less low end, and the scoops in the midranges are all moved up in frequency. But, there is a way to counter that. Move up 5 frets and down a string, and the comb filtering (and low end) is closer to what you are used to on a "regular" Jazz bass. Likely to be a bit less "harsh" as well (you can also tame that somewhat with a few dB of limiting/compression on peaks)
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
#15

Dr. Cheese said:
That sounds nice; post a picture please!
Click to expand...
Chambered Alder with a Mango top, Amazon Rosewood, Sadowsky hum cancelling in 60s locations and the addition of the single band mid boost circuit. Love it.
The second photo shows the upgraded mid boost switch.
 

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