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Sadowsky Pickup Mod

Lava

Lava

Gold Supporting Member
Jul 14, 2014
1,747
2,571
El Paso, TX
#1
This is mostly a hypothetical question... Not sure I'd do it but would love to hear suggestions. I have two Metro 4 string Jazz basses that I love but they are nearly identical in sound with very small differences. Sometimes I think I'd like to change the pickups in one just for the heck of it. I play half fingerstyle and half slap bass most nights.
What jazz pickups would you replace the Sadowskys with that have a big warm sound? I would definitely keep an active preamp going.
 
#4
I've swapped out Sadowsky HC pickups for Sadowsky single coils in my bass, and really like the way the new pickups sound.

There's a member here who has installed Delano HC jazz pickups (the ones with four huge pole pieces) in his/her Sadowsky, and has raved about them. I don't remember the person's user name, but I'm pretty sure it's the name of an ancient Greek or Roman horse.

You might also want to post this question in the Club Sadowsky thread.
 
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#5
Big, warm, slap happy sound?

I've been getting exactly that with Delano JMVC pickups, which are sauce with the Sadowsky preamp. Started with them as an experiment in a Metro 4, which led to an NYC build (below). I wouldn't gig any other flavor of Jazz Bass at this point.
3F614498-D2FA-4B99-A67F-0AF03F941391.jpeg


With these pickups, you can solo the neck pickup for a VERY convincing P vibe. Slapping with both is Funk city, and the bridge pickup solos extremely well for harmonics and 1/16th note passages. And, they are humcancelling.

I suppose the only downside is the single pole look. I've just owned it and moved on.
 
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#6
unresolved said:
I've swapped out Sadowsky HC pickups for Sadowsky single coils in my bass, and really like the way the new pickups sound.

There's a member here who has installed Delano HC jazz pickups (the ones with four huge pole pieces) in his/her Sadowsky, and has raved about them. I don't remember the person's user name, but I'm pretty sure it's the name of an ancient Greek or Roman horse.

You might also want to post this question in the Club Sadowsky thread.
Click to expand...
LOL. That name came from a mis-spelling of the horse effigy in the movie The Black Stallion, which my then kids were watching way back. I had (still have) a black Fender Jazz Bass (62), which acquired the name from my kids. I just used it when I signed on to TB in '02. Mis-spelled because there was no Wikipedia to consult at that time.
 
#7
Nordstrand Big J-Blades... Warm and Wooly wind. I have them loaded in my Ibanez SR885LE with a Nordstrand preamp 2B-4C. From what I have read, Carey was going for something similar to Sadowsky's preamps for his design (so I am guessing the pairing of Big Blades to your stock pre would work well). Over the years, I have tried several jazz basses with a variety of pickup/preamp combinations. I found most of them to be too bright for my liking and lacking in the warmth that I wanted. I can respect the bright clear tone, but it just is not my thing.

I am reasonably sure I saw a set in the classified section posted in the last day or two (no affiliation with seller, but might be worth a look for you).
 
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#9
Great info, thanks! I also looked at getting the Sadowsky Super-J Pickup in the bridge position. At one point Roger said they were going to sell it with a routing template as a kit, but later said they were not sure when that would happen. Anyhoo, I've got some research to do.
 
#10
bucephylus said:
Big, warm, slap happy sound?

I've been getting exactly that with Delano JMVC pickups, which are sauce with the Sadowsky preamp. Started with them as an experiment in a Metro 4, which led to an NYC build (below). I wouldn't gig any other flavor of Jazz Bass at this point.
View attachment 3269392

With these pickups, you can solo the neck pickup for a VERY convincing P vibe. Slapping with both is Funk city, and the bridge pickup solos extremely well for harmonics and 1/16th note passages. And, they are humcancelling.

I suppose the only downside is the single pole look. I've just owned it and moved on.
Click to expand...

Did the Delano JMVC pickups drop right in, or did you have to do any additional routing to the Metro 4 body?
 

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