Shootout, Sadowsky, Stenback, de Gier, Fodera.

[roogbass]

Roog, they all sound good but I preferred the black one. It sounds more like a passive fender jazz to my ear.

Your videos are always a treat, but for me the choice of bass is always secondary to your exemplary playing.

P.S. I've always thought a precision would sound great in this track

Yes, that would be great. I didn’t think long enough which track to choose for the 5 strings.

 

[Not yet]

Best Sadowsky I've heard. Tried to love em but never could.....this one sounded great. Went and listened to your P-Bass video someone mentioned here too

You make Pino look easy, that was some nice playin sending me straight to the woodshed

 

[MrLenny1]

Sadowsky for me. Although the others sound very good.
Thanks for posting.

 

[Devnor]

I'm a Sadowsky player but I preferred the Fodera.

 

[Dincrest]

I liked the Fodera's tone the best for the same reasons why many disliked it. I loved that it was heavy in the mids and was a bass that could really cut through the mix. Maybe it's because my main gigging/touring days were in punk and alt-metal bands, I favor more aggressive and punchy bass tones. In that regard, the Stenback was my least favorite because it was too "polite" sounding.

 

[Chickenwheels]

Tops playing. Very clean.
I like the mids from the Fodera. I would have turned the tops down a bit, though. And played worse lol.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

Squier!!

 

[Bass Viking]

I liked the de Gier and the Sadowsky. And of course the playing!

 

[Bass Viking]

Squier!!

Now cut that out!

 

[SJan3]

Well, they all sound great but the 1st Sadowsky has my vote.
P.S. you're a terrific player!

 

[Fender_Bender]

Never heard of Stenback, but went with that. The Sadowsky looks like it was dipped in liquid plastic.

 

[Philip McAdam]

Your playing was really smooth and the basses all sounded fine to me. My choice would be the De Gier, though I could happily live with any of those.

 

[retslock]

Stenback for me. Less crisp on top but deeper & punchier down low. Next is Sadowsky.

 

[triode6L6a]

Nicely done. For me, the Masterbuilt was a bit too polite (meaning not as articulate to my ears). The Stenback, while a bit more articulate, didn't seem to be as well balanced, with the top end seeming a bit subdued. The de' Gier hit all the marks for me (and got my vote), being both articulate and well balanced, while the Fodera, for some reason I can't quite put my finger on, didn't really do anything for me at all, even though it sounded ok.

 

[andruca]

Sadowsky. Stenback is close second. Particularly like how those mini runs starting from the lower register punch, more than the Sadowsky's, but overall I like the Sadowsky more, again, by a very narrow margin, and can't be too precise as to why, except for a certain detail in the highs (while still having thick lowend authority) I personally like more. Liked the Fodera the least, maybe needs more neck pickup in the mix? Nice axes. Still, the nicest is your seriously tight playing, I'm sure you sound as nice with a Squier, so in my heart I vote you sir

 

[halcyo]

Funny that the FIRST bass you play sort of sets up the ear's expectations, and psychologically makes it so many people's favorite.

That said, my favorites were Stenback and Fodera. Stenback sounded like it BELONGED on this track. Warm, but man is that thing still "punch you in the gut" on tone! It has a nice clear treble "attack" though as well! The Fodera has that pushed mid range that just makes it stick out in a mix. A real "fancy bass player's bass". Everyone would hear you killing it!

Needless to say, this video did nothing to lessen my lust for a Stenback...

 

[roogbass]

Funny that the FIRST bass you play sort of sets up the ear's expectations, and psychologically makes it so many people's favorite.

That said, my favorites were Stenback and Fodera. Stenback sounded like it BELONGED on this track. Warm, but man is that thing still "punch you in the gut" on tone! It has a nice clear treble "attack" though as well! The Fodera has that pushed mid range that just makes it stick out in a mix. A real "fancy bass player's bass". Everyone would hear you killing it!

Needless to say, this video did nothing to lessen my lust for a Stenback...

You’re probably right about the first bass setting the mark. Eats get used to that and the other will sound a bit ‘out of place’.
There is no way to get around that.

 

[Joebone]

So this has been very interesting. Great playing! I'm a Sadowsky user and liked this one quite a bit, but that Stenback really got my attention. The riff where you work the E/F/F#/G walk-up is simultaneously warm, tight, articulate, and punchy - pretty much ideal for the track, and certainly a sound I'm chasing. For me, the other two sound great, but just don't gel with the track, and arguably are a bit thin. The Sadowsky brings a bit more pillow, and maybe harkens back to the original track (which I did nor revisit), and it's a timeless and effective sound. But the Stenback is definitely bringing serious mojo to the table. Thanks for posting!

Just listened again, and really impressed by that Stenback...

EDIT - and just did a webcrawl, and it looks like Stenbacks are totally unobtainum. Rats...that kind of warmth coupled with clarity is insane.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

The Stenback is the more jazz-bass of the pack.
The Fodera is the more Stingray of the pack.
As the original tune was played on a Stingray, I'd say that the instrument more accurately reproducing the sound of the original recording is therefore the Fodera ...
Wasn't this the OP's question?
No, ok, but I like the Fodera best anyway

 

[Hectobar]

Thank you for taking the time to record the comparison. It made me happy! You killed it!!

how I love an active J.