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Super Jazz advice?.. sadowsky, xotic, coda etc

sifi76

sifi76

Mar 14, 2007
447
174
New Zealand
#1
Hi fellow tb'er's, I'm looking for a 'super j' or at least a jazz bass that can run the gamut of both active and passive needs as I play several genre's in a few bands, I usually gig with an active bass, and also do session recording so the studio guys always insist I go fully passive in that instance. I'm looking for j's that are a bit more of the 'swiss army knife' style, as I don't like lugging around more than one bass at a time if I can swing it. Here are a few I have been looking at, they all have good active/passive options.

Sadowsky Metro Ultra Vintage 60 4 (has traditional two vol and one tone when in passive mode)
Xotic XJ-IT 4
Spector Coda 4
Nordy VJ4

Okay so any advice from owners or previous owners of any of these would be great, especially given that al these models are stocked locally so it would rob be a sight unseen import. Oh and if you have any other j bass suggestions that would be helpful too (except for fender j active deluxe - played a few, but those n3 pups are a bit too sterile and stale to my ears)

Cheers :)
 
#3
I haven't played xotic or coda.
I really like the Sadowsky stuff; though their passive mode isn't the best.
Nordy seem to do better in passive mode. For me.

You should also talk to Nino Valenti.
 
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#5
Yeah, so I've heard... well its either the active/passive route or go for a fully passive j with a preamp pedal/rack.. the big factor is getting it to 'be nice' to my pedals, especially my darkglass microtubes, bass big muff and my aguilar octamizer and filter twin.. which can all get a little 'spikey' or 'clippy' when active basses are involved. I was looking at a few options there too, like a bluesman el-dorado, lull v4, nordy v4, lakland jo, the nash basses look cool.. but I'm not to sure about those.. and that new fender clayton model has me gassing, but it's a fender so might be a hit or miss etc. Ha, chances are despite my active/passive preference I'm prob better off having one of each lol
 
#7
I haven't actually played a Valenti but my first Valenti custom lands later this month.

I mention this as I went thru the same exercise as you (search for a great Jazz-style bass) last summer. I looked at all of the brands you mentioned except Xotic. I also looked at MBass, Lull and a few others.

I went with Valenti for two reasons.... First, Nino was easy to deal with and had no issues with any of the many weird and very specific specs I wanted. Weird colour, neck profile, radius, specific Nordy electronics and pickups, etc. Second, his basses are cheap compared to many of his competitors. They are not super inexpensive, but I would be surprised if you could build a bass with every option that cost over $3k. Mine was nowhere near that.

Worth a look in any case.

Good luck!
 
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#10
Philonius said:
There was a Coda 4 in the classifieds recently (no affiliation.) I had one, and they are beautifully made. As far as I know, the passive mode is as one might expect, fully passive circuitry. My only dislike was that, coming from the weight-weenie perspective, 10+ lbs. wasn't making me happy.
Click to expand...

Yeah I saw that one.. and 10bs for an alder body? yeesh .. I'd expect that from ash usually.. my atk is just short of that I guess.
 
#12
I too found the N3s sterile and sold my Fender Deluxe V. I'm enjoying my new to me Metro Sadowsky Willl Lee with single coils. If you go the Sadowsky route, you might consider a Will Lee for one extra blade in the swiss army knife... the mid boost. I don't have a ton of experience with it but I like the passive mode too.
I'm also a big fan of Roscoe basses, although mine are modern not Jazz style. Maybe Jazz with Aguilar OBP1 would be a good option? They'll very price competitive too in that space.
I have no input regarding the other 3 you suggested in the OP. I'm sure they're fantastic instruments too.
 
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#13
I've played a few of them... My favourite Sadowsky is the 22 fret Will Lee model - I just ordered the Trans White one, so maybe I'm a bit biased.

The best passive super J I've played is the Mike Lull V4 with the Aguilar HC60's. It's honestly the best pure Jazz bass sound I've ever heard, giving you the Jazz sound/burp you've always had in your head.

I liked the sound of the Xotic, but it felt too light and flimsy, rather like a Roscoe. Maybe I'm not used to chambered basses, but despite the great sound, the feel just wasn't there.

I've not played the Carvins yet, so can't comment there, but I'd go for Sadowsky or Lull. At the end of the day, as with all instruments, it's down to the bass you feel the most at home with when you play them.
 
#14
OutToPlayJazz said:
I've played a few of them... My favourite Sadowsky is the 22 fret Will Lee model - I just ordered the Trans White one, so maybe I'm a bit biased.

The best passive super J I've played is the Mike Lull V4 with the Aguilar HC60's. It's honestly the best pure Jazz bass sound I've ever heard, giving you the Jazz sound/burp you've always had in your head.

I liked the sound of the Xotic, but it felt too light and flimsy, rather like a Roscoe. Maybe I'm not used to chambered basses, but despite the great sound, the feel just wasn't there.
Click to expand...


Makes me wonder if you've ever played a Roscoe. "Light and flimsy" doesn't describe any Roscoe I've ever touch, including the 6 I've had made.

Oh, and if your favorite Sadowsky is a Will Lee, I've got news for you - that's a chambered bass.
 
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#16
And it's the Metro I've ordered :)

No, maybe flimsy was the wrong word regarding the Roscoe basses I played at Bass Direct. I just found nothing to like about them. They seemed too light and the sound was merely quite nice. Obviously I was only looking at the £2000 models, not the really expensive stuff.
 
#20
Xotic are intentionally not featherweights. They're all supposed to be medium weight bodies, I also don't believe any are chambered as was insinuated above.

I recently acquired one and couldn't be happier. It might be fastest playing jazz I've ever had, can go from vintage to modern, and the fit/finish are as good or better than anything.

The list you've got there though is a list of makers that it's hard to go wrong with.
 

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