Sadowsky RV4 vs. Fender Jazz: can you hear the difference?

[baxter_x]

My guess is:
Bass 1: Fender.
Bass 2: Sadowsky.

Will you tell us if we're right?

Same here.
I'm so sure about it that I could bet my two Sadowskys

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Can’t tell but the best sounding must surely be a Sadowsky because otherwise why I should pay for it twice the price of a Fender

 

[Acoop]

I went with Fender on 2 and I'm far from alone on that so, I could be wrong. ... Both sound like 'modern' J-basses. ... Clean and crisp, more suited for a rock ballad than a standard. ... Good pole though, thanks.

 

[Robert Strickland]

Bass 1 clearly sounds like a red bass. Bass 1 is the Sadowsky.

Haha!

 

[Robert Strickland]

Having owned several jazz basses and a Sadowsky RV4 I can assure you there is a difference. I intentionally have not listened to the recording above as I usually find the frequency range on a laptop makes it difficult to determine a clear preference. Based on my own experience over a year owning and playing both, the Sadowsky comes set up to play better and has a wider variety of tones with its preamp. Comparing it to my CS 64 Jazz and original 63, I felt the Fender tone sat more naturally in the mix. The Sadowsky was the easiest playing bass I have ever owned, low action and absolutely no buzz, yet I felt myself tonally drawn back to the Fender. With hindsight I think this may have been the humcancelling pickups on the Sadowsky versus the single coils on the Fender, and perhaps I should have swapped them out. I still feel myself drawn to try a Will Lee Sadowsky with its single coils, and maybe one day I will. But to me, and for me, there is no doubt that I preferred my Sadowsky RV4 and there is a clear tonal difference. I no longer have my RV4, but a Will Lee has just become available....

remember this is an Elite Jazz... different model. It has active electronics and the noiseless pickups.

 

[Robert Strickland]

Can’t tell but the best sounding must surely be a Sadowsky because otherwise why I should pay for it twice the price of a Fender

that’s one of the reasons for the experiment!. Remember to vote!

 

[lestratele]

It's a coin toss for me. Great playing and sounds either way. 1-Sadowsky, 2-Fender ???

 

[Robert B]

I don't know which is which, but I definitely like 2 better!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I voted carrots. Both basses sounded great and both players played beautifully.

 

[J.Wolf]

first bass to play melody sounds like a Sadowsky to me

 

[Spidey2112]

If I had to guess... bass #1 is the Sadowsky.

 

[AMJBASS]

Same here.
I'm so sure about it that I could bet my two Sadowskys

This is my guess as well. Though, its not a super super fair comparison since the players are different. To me, Sadowsky's have a bit smoother sound in the high end.

 

[Burwabit]

2 is the Sadowsky. The purr gives it away.

 

[mikezimmerman]

They're pretty similar to my ears (and both sound great!), but if I had to guess, I'd say Fender #1, Sadowsky #2

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Bass 1 (left) Sadowsky
Bass 2 (right) Fender

 

[Doug Parent]

Because the bass on the left sounds warmer with more detail up top (characteristic of Fender Noiseless pickups) and the bass on the right is more focused (Sadowsky)

On 2nd listen, I'll say definitely with 100% certainty that .......I don't know but now I'm leaning towards the Fender being on the right lol!

 

[Dave Hill]

2 seconds...bass 2 (right) is the Sadowsky

 

[Robert Strickland]

haha

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I’ve never owned a Sadowsky. I own an Elite 5 Ebony . I’m going with #1 Sadowsky , #2 Fender Elite.

They both sound great . Not that big a difference .

Great poll.
Can’t wait for the results .

 

[Scarey Larry]

Computer sound just is not going to make detail discernible for me. I have owned both at the same time. There is most certainly a difference in the tone/sound/whatever-you-want-to-call-it between them. I thought the Sadowsky sounded kinda sterile. That said the Sadowsky is gone but I don't use the Fender much either. However the Fender is so modded that I hate to say it sounded like a Fender J from the factory either.