The US Lakland pictured in my avatar, I purchased last March 2011 was @ 3500
I never saw a NYC Sadowsky near that price...
I never saw a NYC Sadowsky near that price...
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Sadowsky vs Mike Lull
- Thread starter dbamta
- Start date
Calaverasgrande said:
Agreed. Well, they can be *almost* as high. My Sadowsky was pretty close to $5k. I think the Laklands tend to clock in a little lower. But I think that Lulls are a stonking deal for what you get.
I recently had the opportunity to play-test a wide variety of Lull and Sadowsky basses. If you check the Bass San Diego website, most are still up on the site.
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I bought the Sherwood green M4V. For me, it had the sound and feel I was looking for and I judged it to be an excellent value (I paid FAR less than the price indicated and scored strings, swag, and shipping). The JT5 was also quite badass.
We all buy basses for different reasons. I was looking for a traditional J-style 4-stringer. I had a wealth of choices and picked the Lull.
Keep in mind, however, that I haven't played a gig on EB in over a year. I like Squiers (a POS Precision that I got at a pawn shop for $70 and a modified jazz fretless with plastic fingerboard) and I just bought another pawn shop cheapie because it has that thing, that thud, and it reminded me of my first bass.
In my world, $2-5K basses are 'entry-level cheapies' and it is commonplace to spend $20-40K on an instrument. Some will spend the cost of a Sadowsky or a Lull on a bow.
Both men make excellent basses. Play a bunch of basses and buy the one that grooves you. Personally, I am currently diggin' on my latest pawn shop find- the Sekova that weighs about 5 lbs, is neck-divey, has a scratchy tone pot and 30 year old strings.
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I bought the Sherwood green M4V. For me, it had the sound and feel I was looking for and I judged it to be an excellent value (I paid FAR less than the price indicated and scored strings, swag, and shipping). The JT5 was also quite badass.
We all buy basses for different reasons. I was looking for a traditional J-style 4-stringer. I had a wealth of choices and picked the Lull.
Keep in mind, however, that I haven't played a gig on EB in over a year. I like Squiers (a POS Precision that I got at a pawn shop for $70 and a modified jazz fretless with plastic fingerboard) and I just bought another pawn shop cheapie because it has that thing, that thud, and it reminded me of my first bass.
In my world, $2-5K basses are 'entry-level cheapies' and it is commonplace to spend $20-40K on an instrument. Some will spend the cost of a Sadowsky or a Lull on a bow.
Both men make excellent basses. Play a bunch of basses and buy the one that grooves you. Personally, I am currently diggin' on my latest pawn shop find- the Sekova that weighs about 5 lbs, is neck-divey, has a scratchy tone pot and 30 year old strings.
Agreed! In the upright world spending $1000 on a bass gives you roughly the equivalent of a Squier Affinity. I don't mind spending the money on high end basses as generally they keep their value, and you get what you pay for.
Wow, old thread and I never chimed in.
I bought a Lull P5 shortly after that model was released (2002 or 2003?). I then got a Sadowsky NYC P5 shortly after that model was released (2004).
As noted, both are excellent choices. Fit and finish were similar enough, give a slight edge to Sadowsky.
I sold the Lull before acquiring the Sadowsky. The main reason was that it was a 35" scale bass. I have no trouble playing 35", but it imparts a different timbre and I wanted the traditional 34" tone. That's true even on the B string: the Sadowsky has an absolutely killer B. Also, I believe the Lull had 18mm spacing at the bridge and I wanted 19mm. The Lull wasn't as uncomfortable as the 17mm Modulus I once owned, but my plucking hand is fussier than I realized... the 1mm (x4) makes a difference.
There were many differences in addition to scale length: the Lull was ash/rosewood, passive PJ with Fralins, while my Sadowsky (in avatar) is alder/maple, just the P pickup, with Sadowsky onboard preamp of course. As I recall the Lull had a slimmer neck, but I prefer the slightly chunkier Sadowsky neck.
As many have said, it's a win-win. The Sadowsky works better for me, but I can see why some would choose Lull.
Can't help but add: it's also wise to check into the Nordstrand Nordy basses (Fender-style). I just got one and am extremely happy with it.
I bought a Lull P5 shortly after that model was released (2002 or 2003?). I then got a Sadowsky NYC P5 shortly after that model was released (2004).
As noted, both are excellent choices. Fit and finish were similar enough, give a slight edge to Sadowsky.
I sold the Lull before acquiring the Sadowsky. The main reason was that it was a 35" scale bass. I have no trouble playing 35", but it imparts a different timbre and I wanted the traditional 34" tone. That's true even on the B string: the Sadowsky has an absolutely killer B. Also, I believe the Lull had 18mm spacing at the bridge and I wanted 19mm. The Lull wasn't as uncomfortable as the 17mm Modulus I once owned, but my plucking hand is fussier than I realized... the 1mm (x4) makes a difference.
There were many differences in addition to scale length: the Lull was ash/rosewood, passive PJ with Fralins, while my Sadowsky (in avatar) is alder/maple, just the P pickup, with Sadowsky onboard preamp of course. As I recall the Lull had a slimmer neck, but I prefer the slightly chunkier Sadowsky neck.
As many have said, it's a win-win. The Sadowsky works better for me, but I can see why some would choose Lull.
Can't help but add: it's also wise to check into the Nordstrand Nordy basses (Fender-style). I just got one and am extremely happy with it.
Here’s my Lull M5V.
Hybrid as it’s got a Sad pre in it. So sweet, I didn’t do it myself as I got it second hand.
seller also threw in the original Bart circuit too.
one odd thing I noticed about the wiring is it’s volume, volume, passive tone (pull for active), stacked bass and treble.
Guess you could say it’s best if both lull and sad worlds. LOVE THE NECK ON THIS BEAUTY!
Hybrid as it’s got a Sad pre in it. So sweet, I didn’t do it myself as I got it second hand.
seller also threw in the original Bart circuit too.
one odd thing I noticed about the wiring is it’s volume, volume, passive tone (pull for active), stacked bass and treble.
Guess you could say it’s best if both lull and sad worlds. LOVE THE NECK ON THIS BEAUTY!
Attachments
A few years ago I bought a Lull M5V Jazz bass. It was an incredible instrument, great to play, with a beautiful tone and it was light. Two weeks later a "road worn" Sadowsky MV5 Jazz came up at a great price, I couldn't ignore it, so snapped it up on the off chance. I sold the Lull 2 weeks later! Part of me thinks I should have kept the Lull Jazz but I knew it wasn't going to be played enough to warrant keeping it. The clincher was the Sadowsky sound.
My Lull PJ5 is a keeper. I haven't looked at another P bass since buying the Lull.
My Lull PJ5 is a keeper. I haven't looked at another P bass since buying the Lull.
