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The Un-Official Sadowsky SA200 Thread...

#281
artiseasy said:
Alright, so not the best pic - but it'll have to do until I get my space all set up to take the serious Sadowsky Porn pix!!

3213842996_6bdfd3a8b2.jpg
Click to expand...

:eek:


THUD.
 
#286
So I FINALLY got to put the SA200 through its paces after having it all retubed and serviced. I went down to my little practice spot and A/Bed it all night with various other amps I have.

I was expecting to be happy - hopefully quite pleased with my purchase - but honestly, I was a little nervous given the fact that I spent too much money on this thing when it all was said and done. There was the amp itself, the full on retube, the custom plexi top, and a case I had Slamhammer Roadcases make for me (a live-in style case where the amp sits in a tray). How nerdy. How absolutely luxuriously TalkBassy NERDY! Oh god - what if it sucked? What if, after all the pomp and primp, it was just OK?? WHAT IF BOWLUS WAS . . . was WRONG?!?!?!

I could just imagine the look of disappointment on my wife's face (who encouraged me to buy it in the first place) if I had to tell her, "I don't know baby, it's OK - maybe it'll grow on me . . ."

"Grow on you? GROW ON YOU?!?!?! You could've bought us a new kitchen with all that money!!! Damn that silly ChatBass!!! DAMN IT ALL TO . . ."

So I was stressed. You get the point.

Right, so I have 2 Bergantino HS410s which I set up, side by side, with the Sadowsky atop of one and various other amps on the other. This was a GREAT way to check out heads - with the SA200 as the constant. I should note, I just had the SA200 retubed with all JJ stuff - in the pre and power sections. Here are my observations:

SA200 vs. the Kip Winger endorsed Peavey Megabass!

I don't care what ANYONE says - I love me my Peavey Megabass! I'm Peavey Powered and Proud of it! I bought this amp from a guy in Montana when I was 15. Only half of it works. I love my upright through it. The Sadowsky ate it for a wee snack. No surprise. Apples to Zebras.

SA200 vs. Euphonic Audio iamp800:

I'm not that fond of the EA amp, but I just thought I'd see . . . and of course, the Sadowsky just reeks tone and plush clarity and is in a whole different league. The iamp sounded brittle, cold and hollow by comparison. But I know, I know, still an unfair assessment.

SA200 vs. a mid 70s silverface Fender Bassman 100:

Hmm . . . this is where it gets interesting. I have always loved the sound of Fender 6L6 tube amps with bass. This particular head just received a total rebuild from the guys at Savage Audio and sounds marvelous. Obviously, being a tube amp, it was in the same wheelhouse as the Sadowsky, and in fact, seemed a touch brighter and more brilliant. But the Sadowsky can get there if you push the 'treble' and 'top' knobs. However, where the SA200 just completely excels is in its low end authority and volume - leaving the Fender in the dust. I was surprised at just how punchy the EL34 equipped Sadowsky is. I've always thought that 6L6s were the way to go with bass, but Roger just proved me wrong. ALSO, the midrange content of the Sadowsky was more pleasing than the Fender - seeming less scooped in nature. And the Sadowsky overdrives easier too. Cool. I will say though, the old Fender Bassman is a much overlooked tube amp. You can pick one up for 600ish bones. Is the Sadowsky worth 4 and a half Bassmans? Um - yes. Next.

SA200 vs. 70s Ampeg SVT:

Oh boy . . . my SVT is up on a pedestal. It's a wonderful amp that the dudes from Savage have also brought back to life. Plugging into the SVT made me smile. It has such a SOUND! For me, that's a good and bad thing. I've always dug the SVT vibe - but not for everything. They seem to have a top end character that is unmistakably Ampeg and for my ears and variety of musical applications, I want something more versatile. The SA200 sounds DIFFERENT than the SVT. I was surprised to find that the Sadowsky felt heftier in the low end - almost too chubby compared to the SVT. It will be interesting to get a few gigs under my belt with the SA200. I hope that all that Big Bottom doesn't make the Sadowsky seem like a loose canon. But the thing that was most interesting to me was that the SA200 had better overdrive capabilities than the SVT. The old Ampeg just has to be DIMED to really give up the glorious dirt, and being that I just turned 30, my desire to always have my SVT on 8 is waning. Anyone want a 70s SVT?

SA200 vs. Aguilar DB750 with fancy NOS tubes . . .

Goodness gracious - I was not expecting this - the Sadowsky sounded SO much bigger and lower and brighter and juicier than the Aggie. This blew me away. I've been gigging the DB750 for over a year now and have been convinced that it is the best amp for me. Not any more. The SA200 just had MORE - more of everything. The Aguilar just seemed dark and boxy. No matter how hard I tried to dial in a similar vibe with the Aggie, I would plug back into the Sadowsky and shout out loud, "HA! You're kidding, right?!" This was the biggest shocker to me. Now of course, the DB750 wins in terms of sheer push and volume due to its monster power section, but remember that comment about turning 30?

So to make a LONG story longer - the Sadowsky SA200 is, without a doubt, the best amp I've ever played. Those of you who have one, I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir. But really - holy cow. Holy cow.

Alright, who wants a Peavey Megabass, iamp800, Fender Bassman, 70s SVT, or a DB750? I have a kitchen to buy my supportive wife.

Ian
 
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#287
artiseasy said:
I was expecting to be happy - hopefully quite pleased with my purchase - but honestly, I was a little nervous given the fact that I spent too much money on this thing when it all was said and done.

Oh god - what if it sucked? What if, after all the pomp and primp, it was just OK?? WHAT IF BOWLUS WAS . . . was WRONG?!?!?!

:eek:

So to make a LONG story longer - the Sadowsky SA200 is, without a doubt, the best amp I've ever played.
Click to expand...

Phew! ;):p:D:cool:
 
#291
Great review, Ian, just like your Berg shootout. My tastes are a bit different, but your reviews are informative and descriptive enough that I can tell what would work best for me. (I did try an SA200 briefly two years ago, and it was amazing.) I'm tempted by the SVT, but don't have the cash right now.

artiseasy said:
WHAT IF BOWLUS WAS . . . was WRONG?!?!?!
Click to expand...
Now that's just crazy talk.:D
 
#292
artiseasy said:
So I FINALLY got to put the SA200 through its paces after having it all retubed and serviced. I went down to my little practice spot and A/Bed it all night with various other amps I have.

I was expecting to be happy - hopefully quite pleased with my purchase - but honestly, I was a little nervous given the fact that I spent too much money on this thing when it all was said and done. There was the amp itself, the full on retube, the custom plexi top, and a case I had Slamhammer Roadcases make for me (a live-in style case where the amp sits in a tray). How nerdy. How absolutely luxuriously TalkBassy NERDY! Oh god - what if it sucked? What if, after all the pomp and primp, it was just OK?? WHAT IF BOWLUS WAS . . . was WRONG?!?!?!

I could just imagine the look of disappointment on my wife's face (who encouraged me to buy it in the first place) if I had to tell her, "I don't know baby, it's OK - maybe it'll grow on me . . ."

"Grow on you? GROW ON YOU?!?!?! You could've bought us a new kitchen with all that money!!! Damn that silly ChatBass!!! DAMN IT ALL TO . . ."

So I was stressed. You get the point.

Right, so I have 2 Bergantino HS410s which I set up, side by side, with the Sadowsky atop of one and various other amps on the other. This was a GREAT way to check out heads - with the SA200 as the constant. I should note, I just had the SA200 retubed with all JJ stuff - in the pre and power sections. Here are my observations:

SA200 vs. the Kip Winger endorsed Peavey Megabass!

I don't care what ANYONE says - I love me my Peavey Megabass! I'm Peavey Powered and Proud of it! I bought this amp from a guy in Montana when I was 15. Only half of it works. I love my upright through it. The Sadowsky ate it for a wee snack. No surprise. Apples to Zebras.

SA200 vs. Euphonic Audio iamp800:

I'm not that fond of the EA amp, but I just thought I'd see . . . and of course, the Sadowsky just reeks tone and plush clarity and is in a whole different league. The iamp sounded brittle, cold and hollow by comparison. But I know, I know, still an unfair assessment.

SA200 vs. a mid 70s silverface Fender Bassman 100:

Hmm . . . this is where it gets interesting. I have always loved the sound of Fender 6L6 tube amps with bass. This particular head just received a total rebuild from the guys at Savage Audio and sounds marvelous. Obviously, being a tube amp, it was in the same wheelhouse as the Sadowsky, and in fact, seemed a touch brighter and more brilliant. But the Sadowsky can get there if you push the 'treble' and 'top' knobs. However, where the SA200 just completely excels is in its low end authority and volume - leaving the Fender in the dust. I was surprised at just how punchy the EL34 equipped Sadowsky is. I've always thought that 6L6s were the way to go with bass, but Roger just proved me wrong. ALSO, the midrange content of the Sadowsky was more pleasing than the Fender - seeming less scooped in nature. And the Sadowsky overdrives easier too. Cool. I will say though, the old Fender Bassman is a much overlooked tube amp. You can pick one up for 600ish bones. Is the Sadowsky worth 4 and a half Bassmans? Um - yes. Next.

SA200 vs. 70s Ampeg SVT:

Oh boy . . . my SVT is up on a pedestal. It's a wonderful amp that the dudes from Savage have also brought back to life. Plugging into the SVT made me smile. It has such a SOUND! For me, that's a good and bad thing. I've always dug the SVT vibe - but not for everything. They seem to have a top end character that is unmistakably Ampeg and for my ears and variety of musical applications, I want something more versatile. The SA200 sounds DIFFERENT than the SVT. I was surprised to find that the Sadowsky felt heftier in the low end - almost too chubby compared to the SVT. It will be interesting to get a few gigs under my belt with the SA200. I hope that all that Big Bottom doesn't make the Sadowsky seem like a loose canon. But the thing that was most interesting to me was that the SA200 had better overdrive capabilities than the SVT. The old Ampeg just has to be DIMED to really give up the glorious dirt, and being that I just turned 30, my desire to always have my SVT on 8 is waning. Anyone want a 70s SVT?

SA200 vs. Aguilar DB750 with fancy NOS tubes . . .

Goodness gracious - I was not expecting this - the Sadowsky sounded SO much bigger and lower and brighter and juicier than the Aggie. This blew me away. I've been gigging the DB750 for over a year now and have been convinced that it is the best amp for me. Not any more. The SA200 just had MORE - more of everything. The Aguilar just seemed dark and boxy. No matter how hard I tried to dial in a similar vibe with the Aggie, I would plug back into the Sadowsky and shout out loud, "HA! You're kidding, right?!" This was the biggest shocker to me. Now of course, the DB750 wins in terms of sheer push and volume due to its monster power section, but remember that comment about turning 30?

So to make a LONG story longer - the Sadowsky SA200 is, without a doubt, the best amp I've ever played. Those of you who have one, I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir. But really - holy cow. Holy cow.

Alright, who wants a Peavey Megabass, iamp800, Fender Bassman, 70s SVT, or a DB750? I have a kitchen to buy my supportive wife.

Ian
Click to expand...

nice amp, eh? :D
 
#294
gbarchus said:
Has anyone compared it to a Hiwatt? ...or the Reeves?

Gale
Click to expand...

Yes, I used the SA200 as a reference in my Reeves Custom 225 review in BGM #2. They are different sounding heads, but I spent a ton of time going back and forth between those two trying to decide which one I liked the best. In the end, I give the SA200 a slight edge, but man, that Reeves is a phenomenal head in its own right. :cool:

Tom.
 
#296
HI

Cool, J. Played Sat night at a local club. Tons of people showed up including alot of local musicians and their significant others(Valentine's night) A drummer I know and vocalist/guitarist I know were full of compliments. Loved the tone of my SA200 paired with my Bergantino HS410. Filled the room with warm, punchy tubeness. Love this combo. So killer. Sadowsky does rule!!!

Rob
 

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