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Sadowsky or Fender

#42
MtManiac said:
Well, that’s not unique, my covers band plays ampless every gig, but we do our own sound so we definitely do not get the expensive kind of production shown in that video. Most bar bands I’ve seen over the past few years are ampless.

I was more thinking bass gear specifically, like I’ve seen posts asking what’s the best bass for church music, and I’ve gotten confused. From what I heard in that video, I didn’t take away any reason why a Squier P bass wouldn’t work as well as an expensive Sadowsky Jazz bass, but the responses to those questions are typically 5- or 6-string basses with expensive preamps and exotic figured tops. So what’s your view? Something special, or any bass will do just fine? And if the latter, why? What makes it more fitting for this music?
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You play what inspires you to play better and to get the tone you want. If it is a Squier bass or Fodera its up to you.
 
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#47
Sparkl said:
Edit: Or, save yourself the hard earned money and buy 10 sires instead.
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I have been researching the Sire bass too and they have something about them 👍
Green Lantern said:
Well playing in a worship band has many advantages. No issues with drunks or people who are high. The worship leader picks the songs and provides the charts. Generally there are less personalty conflicts in the band. The guys on the board generally have a good mix as the same people do it from week to week. That is if they have a experienced sound person who trains the other people. No lugging equipment to the church except for your bass or guitar and digital board or pedals. And you play positive music generally thanking God for his saving grace. Its not perfect but one of the better gigs.
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couldn’t have said it better myself.
Amen.
Gizmot said:
As a Sadowsky MetroExpress Express player, I’m a huge fan. The Sadowsky basses all have a unique up-front sound quality. Besides, the sound, the feel and workmanship of them is solid and satisfying. Everything is first class.
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That’s very helpful.
I think I’m going to go for the MetroExpress PJ 5 string in white with roasted maple neck and Fretboard 👌
 
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#48
I have 2 MetroExpress 5s, a 1st gen and a 2nd gen. They are both excellent instruments imo. The 1st gen doesn't have quite as nice fit and finish as the 2nd gen, but the sound and feel is there so I plan to keep it. The 2nd gen is my go to bass. I bought it used with Bartolini pickups so I cant comment on how the stock ones sound. I played a show Friday with the 2nd gen and received lots of compliments from musicians in the audience.

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#49
Warning - unpopular opinion incoming…..

My brother leads a local church band and I sub for the bassist occasionally. The production level is good, the room is well-treated acoustically and the sound crew helpful. Almost all modern Christian music calls for a low-B string and I can choose from a Yamaha TRB6P, a Tobias five-string and a Sting Ray Sub five-string.

For a rig, I can use my Pearce BC1/Crest 4801 amp/Bergantino HT322 cab, my Mesa Boogie 400+ with a Bergantino HT322 cab, my Ampeg B-15, a dbx 376 pre and Stewart 400w amp with a Bergantino HT322 or an original SansAmp DI.

After 45 years of paid gigging with my bands and as a call sideman, 10 years owning a live production company serving rooms up to 2500, over a hundred major tour dates as the manager of amphitheaters and an arena, a few dozen gigs as an arena tour rep for Live Nation, 12 years in production ops for major festivals (think 70,000 fans for Elton, Foo Fighters, Van Halen and Red Hot Chili Peppers at Music Midtown) and hundreds of hours tracking in studios, I have to break some news….

NO PERSON in the audience can tell the difference between a $4000 bass and a $400 bass. The same goes for the other high end instruments at almost every gig, from churches to bars.

VERY FEW of the people on stage with you can tell.

The real truth is we get all spun up over stuff that ONLY matters to us and our bass playing friends and I am here to say…. THAT IS PERFECTLY FINE…. Enjoy the pride of owning a beautiful instrument, one that may actually gain value over time, one that you can stain the neck with your hand oils and, most importantly, makes you want to play it and get better. All that said, stop kidding yourself that the subjective and intangible factors that make you want, love or keep a particular bass mean ANYTHING to ANYONE else, with the exception of a studio engineer trying to get a bass signal with low noise and no EMI/RFI noise onto a track.
 
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#50
Dale Carter said:
Warning - unpopular opinion incoming…..

My brother leads a local church band and I sub for the bassist occasionally. The production level is good, the room is well-treated acoustically and the sound crew helpful. Almost all modern Christian music calls for a low-B string and I can choose from a Yamaha TRB6P, a Tobias five-string and a Sting Ray Sub five-string.

For a rig, I can use my Pearce BC1/Crest 4801 amp/Bergantino HT322 cab, my Mesa Boogie 400+ with a Bergantino HT322 cab, my Ampeg B-15, a dbx 376 pre and Stewart 400w amp with a Bergantino HT322 or an original SansAmp DI.

After 45 years of paid gigging with my bands and as a call sideman, 10 years owning a live production company serving rooms up to 2500, over a hundred major tour dates as the manager of amphitheaters and an arena, a few dozen gigs as an arena tour rep for Live Nation, 12 years in production ops for major festivals (think 70,000 fans for Elton, Foo Fighters, Van Halen and Red Hot Chili Peppers at Music Midtown) and hundreds of hours tracking in studios, I have to break some news….

NO PERSON in the audience can tell the difference between a $4000 bass and a $400 bass. The same goes for the other high end instruments at almost every gig, from churches to bars.

VERY FEW of the people on stage with you can tell.

The real truth is we get all spun up over stuff that ONLY matters to us and our bass playing friends and I am here to say…. THAT IS PERFECTLY FINE…. Enjoy the pride of owning a beautiful instrument, one that may actually gain value over time, one that you can stain the neck with your hand oils and, most importantly, makes you want to play it and get better. All that said, stop kidding yourself that the subjective and intangible factors that make you want, love or keep a particular bass mean ANYTHING to ANYONE else, with the exception of a studio engineer trying to get a bass signal with low noise and no EMI/RFI noise onto a track.
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Much of your post is on target; but, you have also missed the value of this thread to a significant extent.

Musical performance, as you know, requires concentration. So, playing an instrument which promotes concentration on the playing is preferred. Who want to perform with a distracting instrument? Right?

There are differing aspects between any specific bass guitar makes, including Sadowsky and Fender, which can have significant effect on a player’s performance concentration. Sadowsky and Fender instruments, the subjects of this thread have significant differences, which affect setup, sound, and general feel. Characteristics; such as neck width, neck stability to humidity, bridge spacing, preamp voicing, setup ease, etc; have a significant effect on a player’s concentration space. The useful posts in this thread contribute comparative information.

That said, you are entirely correct that the instrument does not make the player. The player makes the player by study, hard work in the practice room, and instrumentation / gear, which delivers at performance time. Can a player with a distracting instrument and / or signal chain deliver performance? Of course. But, why take a path of most resistance?

Carry on.
 
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#54
I have two four string metro express basses , a vintage jazz And a Will Lee. I puta Sadowsky VTC pre in the vintage and an actual Will Lee pre with the mid dip switches in the WL. ( I found that available in GB)

The only US Fender I have at the time is a USA Geddy Lee.

I love all three basses, but I wouldn’t say the Fender is any better than the ME’s.

The neck on the vintage is a bit thicker than the other two, but all have great feel. I would say the fit and finish nod go to the ME’s.

I don’t have any problems with the ME pickups, but I’m considering putting ML pickups in at some point, but at almost $300 a set I’m not in a rush.

I don’t play 5 string much ( I only have 1- a Yamaha) But I am considering a 5 string Will Lee at some point…

From my experience, I wouldnt hesitate to buy a metro Express.
 

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#55
Dale Carter said:
NO PERSON in the audience can tell the difference between a $4000 bass and a $400 bass. The same goes for the other high end instruments at almost every gig, from churches to bars.
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That is very true, they can't, but IMO it's not the point. The most important factor is that the bass matters and makes a difference to the player. If the bass sounds good and feels good then it will make the player happier and more confident. Then he'll play better and that will be noticed, maybe by some in the audience, but always by the band and that should make the band play better, and that will be noticed by the audience. If a $4000 bass gets you to that point, it's worth it.
 
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