Sadowsky vs. Fender (with pics and soundbites)

[Kontra v]

Prefer the Sadowsky, not but a lot but noticeably better IMHO

 

[bigcatJC]

Now this is interesting...We need more clips like this around here!

On to the clips - I liked the Sadowsky over the Fender in passive mode. The highs sounded smoother, or more polite, maybe. The Fender sounded better than the Sad in active mode. More "grunt" or low-mids, I guess. But there wasn't a huge difference in either bass for me.

I don't want to start up a flame war (even though I'm in the "Sadowsky is overpriced" camp), but I don't hear enough of a difference between the two basses to matter. Which re-affirms my opinion (to me at least) - I'm not hearing the "Sadowsky magic" I keep reading about.

THIS IS NOT A FLAME WAR - PLEASE.

But am I not hearing something?

 

[Valerus]

Nice work! Thanks for the comparison.

 

[the JT]

The fingerstyle was Jamiroquai's runaway no?

mate, no need to apologise, your playing is great!
In terms of the difference between the basses, i had previously (before these clips) imagined they would have a much more distinctive difference. I think, you dont buy a sadowsky because it sounds way better than a fender, but because of playability, construction, quality, and visual advantages.

 

[otis_thick]

Both basses sound great. But basically it boils down to-if both knobs are turned to 3 o'clock which one sounds better? Ok now which one do you like better Bob Evans Hot Sausage or Tennessee Pride Hot sausage?

 

[Fran Diaz]

The fingerstyle was Jamiroquai's runaway no?

mate, no need to apologise, your playing is great!
In terms of the difference between the basses, i had previously (before these clips) imagined they would have a much more distinctive difference. I think, you dont buy a sadowsky because it sounds way better than a fender, but because of playability, construction, quality, and visual advantages.

Exactly!

I liked both fingerstyle clips, being IMO the Sadowsky fatter in the lowend and the Fender more mid present. For slap the Sadowsky was my winner.

 

[pedroferreira]

Now this is interesting...We need more clips like this around here!

On to the clips - I liked the Sadowsky over the Fender in passive mode. The highs sounded smoother, or more polite, maybe. The Fender sounded better than the Sad in active mode. More "grunt" or low-mids, I guess. But there wasn't a huge difference in either bass for me.

I don't want to start up a flame war (even though I'm in the "Sadowsky is overpriced" camp), but I don't hear enough of a difference between the two basses to matter. Which re-affirms my opinion (to me at least) - I'm not hearing the "Sadowsky magic" I keep reading about.

THIS IS NOT A FLAME WAR - PLEASE.

But am I not hearing something?

You are hearing the basses solo. There's no Magic that way and it's me who's playing...Don't forget that when we try a bass we have a mix of what we hear and what we feel. You are only hearing
A bass is much more than the sound it produces. And every people gets different sounds from the same bass. It's the construction, playability...
The Sadowsky has every note IN TUNE; I can't say the same with the Fender

I liked the passive tone of the Sadowsky (in the recordings) but I never played it in passive mode before. Because in a band context the active sounds incredible and you don't wan't to use the bass in passive mode wonce you hear that preamp working.

I almost only use the Sadowsky these days. And nobody misses the Fender

Pedro

 

[pedroferreira]

Exactly!

I liked both fingerstyle clips, being IMO the Sadowsky fatter in the lowend and the Fender more mid present.

Now this is interesting...We need more clips like this around here!

On to the clips - I liked the Sadowsky over the Fender in passive mode. The highs sounded smoother, or more polite, maybe.

I agree with this opinions. That's what I hear too.

 

[Marcus]

I like the clips. That said, I have owned an Am. Deluxe J and now own a Sadowsky NYC. Back when I had not played a Sadowsky, I did not know what the big deal was. Every clip I heard only pushed me further into thinking the Sadowsky zealots who heard a magic tone were nuts.

Then I played one.

 

[needmoney]

That Fender kills.

 

[Fran Diaz]

You are hearing the basses solo. There's no Magic that way and it's me who's playing...Don't forget that when we try a bass we have a mix of what we hear and what we feel. You are only hearing
A bass is much more than the sound it produces. And every people gets different sounds from the same bass. It's the construction, playability...
The Sadowsky has every note IN TUNE; I can't say the same with the Fender

I liked the passive tone of the Sadowsky (in the recordings) but I never played it in passive mode before. Because in a band context the active sounds incredible and you don't wan't to use the bass in passive mode wonce you hear that preamp working.

I almost only use the Sadowsky these days. And nobody misses the Fender

Pedro

+1 +1 and a big +1.

 

[pickles]

I don't want to start up a flame war (even though I'm in the "Sadowsky is overpriced" camp), but I don't hear enough of a difference between the two basses to matter. Which re-affirms my opinion (to me at least) - I'm not hearing the "Sadowsky magic" I keep reading about.

At this point, the '78 Jazz is probably more expensive . The sadowsky will be lower maintenance since it is new, and the tone is on the same page, which is the whole point.

And when you hear what that preamp does in a live mix instead of a solo clip, you'll likely change your mind.

The sadowsky is also available with a low B string.

 

[JimS]

Nice playing for sure.

 

[thewanderer24]

2 things.

I listened to all of those without looking which was which until afterwards...
Of course, I was confident, even without looking which was which.

1. I prefered the Sadowsky in everyone of those clips. Maybe that's why I own 2 Sadowsky's? go figure.

2. where the Sadowsky's really shine is 2 places - one, playability/feel, and two I appreciate the sound a hell of a lot more in a mix with other instruments.

3. this is obviously all personal preference and taste, so ymmv

 

[Willem]

I like passive over active and fender over sadowsky... but yeah, in the mix is where it matters!! To bad a shop doesn't let you take a bass to try live or at rehearsal .

 

[ElDunco]

Too much bottom in the sadowsky, but I've heard them played right in front of me and can say it's pretty nice. However I'm not too sure how much of this might be the pickup spacing.

Biggest thing this has proven to me is that I need a set Dimarzio Ultrajazzes

 

[Bassmickeyd]

Apples and Oranges........ Maybe played against other instruments they'd sound different but by themselves. So, I may have to side with the guy's wife who said; "They sound like basses." ...... I have basses that sound great alone and lost when in a mix. But I have other basses that sound great alone and killer in the mix. ..... I nearly bought a NY Sadowsky 15-years ago but luckily I took my Fender Jazz in to A/B them together and my Jazz sounded just as good. The guy said to me; "Hey man, if you buy my Sadowsky for $2500. I'll buy your Jazz bass for $1000." ..... Needless to say I kept my Jazz bass.

 

[pedroferreira]

Somehow the active clips are quiet (less gain) than the passive ones. The active samples sound less bright ("alive") then they really are, maybe because of the gain (I had to cut it on the pre so it don't clip at the input of the audio interface).

One big difference that I noticed is the Slap Sound: the lowest note (A on E string) sound much more smoother and polite on Sadowsky. The Fender is aggressive and you can't take that characteristic out.

Thank for your compliments on my playing. I think it's not great at all, but I did this quickly yesterday before I went to a concert play, so I could use both set of strings new in this comparison.

I also was surprised about the passive sound of the Sad vs. the Fender.

A lot of people say sadowsky don't sound good in passive mode. That's not true. But once we use that great preamp there's no turning back to passive mode, and that's why people say that.

Pedro

 

[Jerry J]

Without knowing which was which I selected the Sadowsky on all clips. I think that Roger has done pretty much exactly what he has always intended to do. Retain most of the early Fender vibe.

I do have old Fender's that I will never sell but I play Sadowsky because of the playability. Plus my Fender's are significantly more expensive/valuable than either of my Sadowsky's.

Very nice comparison. Thank you for doing that and posting for us.

 

[*smb]

I prefer the Fender passive and the Sadowsky active. No real surprise there.