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

[baxter_x]

Damn, shame on me I was wrong.......
Fender makes great instrument, but the price you pay for a Sadowsky is justified IMO. Craftmanship, finish, the tone, and mainly the way a Sadowsky cuts through the mix.

Owning a Fender is like owning a BMW, owning a Sadowsky is like owning a BWM AMG. I can't see any better analogy.

 

[Vinny_G]

As of right now, the voting is split pretty evenly with 44 people guessing correctly and 39 guessing incorrectly. I think this confirms that these two basses sound pretty similar, at least in this setting.

This rather confirms that a good portion of people have their ears covered with mud, which can be the result of years of hearing a P-bass with flats.

 

[Midak]

I got this one wrong, and I am very happy, as I liked the right bass better.
We want more comparisons!

 

[Wilbyman]

I saw the note that EQ was set flat but nothing regarding how pickups were panned? (It sounds like there was some pan toward the bridge on both basses, I could be wrong). Maybe I missed it.

 

[Robert Strickland]

I saw the note that EQ was set flat but nothing regarding how pickups were panned? (It sounds like there was some pan toward the bridge on both basses, I could be wrong). Maybe I missed it.

both Basses had both pickups on and balanced. It's a really good question. If one bass favored the bridge or neck pickup it would have made a big difference. Sorry we missed that.

 

[Flaked Beans]

no video no evidence.ohi trust you. good luck.

 

[Lesfunk]

I guessed correctly.
The key word being "guess"

 

[Mr_O'B]

If both basses were eq'd to sound more active then it would be obvious, because the Sadowsky preamp sounds overhyped and plinky.

 

[Robert Strickland]

If both basses were eq'd to sound more active then it would be obvious, because the Sadowsky preamp sounds overhyped and plinky.

both Basses were in active mode, set flat. Would boosting the treble and bass make the Sadowsky Sound more "plinky"? Well, depending on the definition of that adjective, it's entirely possible that it would for some listeners.

 

[Wilbyman]

If I had to guess here, the pickups make up the largest tonal difference being that everything else is pretty much equal. I was listening to the SBL podcast with Carey N. yesterday and he says the effect of pickups on tone can't be understated, which I agree with.

 

[Robert Strickland]

If I had to guess here, the pickups make up the largest tonal difference being that everything else is pretty much equal. I was listening to the SBL podcast with Carey N. yesterday and he says the effect of pickups on tone can't be understated, which I agree with.

Pickups are important...no doubt. These basses both have the noiseless variety. Typically, I would agree that pickups are a huge, maybe even the primary, factor. But in this case, the real talk around Sadowsky Basses from a tone standpoint is the preamp. It was the key modification to Marcus Miller's bass back in the day, and folks have been talking about it ever since.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Pickups are important...no doubt. These basses both have the noiseless variety. Typically, I would agree that pickups are a huge, maybe even the primary, factor. But in this case, the real talk around Sadowsky Basses from a tone standpoint is the preamp. It was the key modification to Marcus Miller's bass back in the day, and folks have been talking about it ever since.

I've also heard of more than one person replacing the preamp preamp in their Fender American Deluxe or Elite Jazz Bass with a Sadowsky preamp.

- Steve

 

[Jim Carr]

Drat. Got here late, but I was certain the left channel was the Sadowsky—I have two. The give away to me is the evenness of the sound across all the strings and across the registers. I'm not sure how he (Roger) does it, but he does.

 

[DigitalMan]

I got it right, but it was close. The Fender sounds less full and even across the full frequency range, which to me is what I think of as an organic sound. It's the holes in the sound spectrum that give it a natural quality that almost smears a little bit. The Sadowsky sounds fuller and tighter. Not a monumental difference, just a slight one, and one that could have been explained just as easily by differences in any number of other variables, such as player, technique, live versus dead strings, etc. I just guessed that the Sadowsky was the one with the slightly firmer and thicker midrange.

 

[Mr_O'B]

both Basses were in active mode, set flat. Would boosting the treble and bass make the Sadowsky Sound more "plinky"? Well, depending on the definition of that adjective, it's entirely possible that it would for some listeners.

I think most jazz basses sound similar set flat, so some of the debates about the best is irrelevant imo. I always say play the bass that makes you happy.

 

[Robert Strickland]

I got it right, but it was close. The Fender sounds less full and even across the full frequency range, which to me is what I think of as an organic sound. It's the holes in the sound spectrum that give it a natural quality that almost smears a little bit. The Sadowsky sounds fuller and tighter. Not a monumental difference, just a slight one, and one that could have been explained just as easily by differences in any number of other variables, such as player, technique, live versus dead strings, etc. I just guessed that the Sadowsky was the one with the slightly firmer and thicker midrange.

same strings and age of strings

 

[DigitalMan]

same strings and age of strings

I got that. I use the same brand and type as well, and for whatever reason I will find sometimes strings seem more lively, and others, well, don't. So my premise is that string sets of the same type can vary. Even more, human chemistry is different and can have a big effect on how fast strings lose their initial zing. Having said that, my intent was saying that there are a lot of variables in comparison. Either way, the basses do sound good and very similar, but side by side they do seem to each have their own character.

 

[Jim Carr]

When I received my first Sadowsky, I played it unamplified. I was stunned. For quite some time, I couldn't even put it down long enough to go get my amp. It was the evenness, and the amazingly organic (interesting) quality to the sound. All IMHO.

The Fender sounds great, too!

 

[martinc]

I've also heard of more than one person replacing the preamp preamp in their Fender American Deluxe or Elite Jazz Bass with a Sadowsky preamp.

- Steve

I took a different tack. On my 2018 passive P-bass I replaced the stock pickups with a set of Fender Pure vintage 63's. Then I bought the Sadowsky SBP-1 Bass preamp/DI box which is designed to go directly into the input of a bass amp. It uses the same circuitry as the pre in the Marcus Miller bass.

The Sadowsky box adds some extra db's which help cut through the mix when I can't go directly into the PA.
I leave my amp controls flat. I have come to appreciate Roger's theory that all you need for tone is bass and treble because mid-range controls end up muddying up both the bass and treble. All I know is that my P bass with flats on it never sounded so good. No mud here.

I have played a Sadowsky Vintage Jazz-style bass in a music store and certainly noticed the quality. But I have to give Fender USA credit. The maple neck, neck joint, rosewood fingerboard and finish of my P-bass is right up there with the Sadowsky. So, other than choosing a more exotic body wood, it really comes down to the pickups. As you have demonstrated in this comparison, most people were unable to tell which bass was which. In the end it all comes down to personal preference and feel.
If I ever need a Jazz-style bass, I will buy the Sadowsky on principle.I like the hollowed-out chambers in the body.
Also thanks to both of you for this great thread. It sure helps pass the time during the self-quarantine and craziness we are going through right now.

 

[woody357]

Since our thread "'62 Precision vs '72 Precision: can you hear the difference?" got a such positive response, @Robert Strickland and I decide to record a version of the jazz standard "Autumn Leaves" to compare the sound of his Sadowsky Metroline RV4 to my Fender American Elite Jazz Bass.

Both basses were recorded direct with no effects, EQ or compression. Both basses were in active mode with the onboard EQ set flat and both are strung with the same strings (D'Addario NYXL 45-100) that are about two months old. Unlike the last comparison where I played both basses, Bob and I played our respective instruments since the state we live in has enacted a stay at home order and comparing electric basses is somehow considered non-essential .

For this exercise, we will call the bass that plays the melody first and solos second "Bass 1". This bass is also panned left, while "Bass 2" is panned right. It's up to you to guess which one is the Sadowsky and which one is the Fender.

Autumn Leaves Bass Duet

View attachment 3778582

- Steve & Robert

Man that real nice, and that's one of my favorite stands