Valenti

[Marcus]

The Borg CNC Nino's bodies and necks so you will get consistant quality.

As it does for Sadowsky basses as well. Resistance is futile!

Personally, I would like to own both a Sadowsky and a Valenti =)

 

[Ed Goode]

Personally, I would like to own both a Sadowsky and a Valenti =)

As would everyone else

Seriously, suffice it to say that both basses are extremely well made and both are excellent players. Like anything else, it's just a question of what appeals to the individual holding the axe.

You absolutely can not go wrong in terms of professionalism, build quality and playability with either of the basses ...

 

[BassJunkie730]

As much as I like Nino and Respect his work they dont feel or sound like a Sadowsky bass to me. The Borg CNC Nino's bodies and necks so you will get consistant quality.

Are you also suggesting that Sad's aren't consistent?

Hmmm, Major you're going to need to clarify this statement or ambiguity may give rise to latent design ignorance.

 

[MAJOR METAL]

Are you suggesting Sadowsky bodies aren't CNC'd???

No , where did you get that from ?

 

[MAJOR METAL]

Are you also suggesting that Sad's aren't consistent?

Hmmm, Major you're going to need to clarify this statement or ambiguity may give rise to latent design ignorance.

Sadowsky Basses are by far the most consitent basses I have played from one builder thus far. In regards to the Borg Cutting Nino's necks and bodies I was trying to point out that they are very high quality and consistent and even though they dont play or sound like a Sadowsky they are still very nice.

 

[Peter Parker]

With a few more posts on how the Valenti is as good or better than a Sadowsky the wheels on the whole Sadowsky mystique are going to fall off. Maybe folks will finally understand that it's not hard at all to bolt together a quality bass using quality parts. Spend just a little time and anyone can learn how to set-up a bass to play however they like. Very simple actually. ***In no way am I trying to knock Nino in my comments. I'm not really trying to knock Sadowsky either but I know it reads that way.***

 

[gfried84]

I disagree with the last post. It is by no means "easy" to bolt a neck and body together and get the type of results that Nino or Roger get from their basses. If that were the case both would be out of business. Skills like that are learned over time. Ask Nino or Roger how much time and money they spent to get results like they do now. I've played both basses numerous times and both are top quality instruments.

 

[CaptainWally]

No , where did you get that from ?

What's the final word on this (purely out of curiosity).

Are Sadowsky bodies CNC'd? I'm sure Valenti or Sadowsky can tell

The pros and cons of CNC are a different can of worms that I'm not keen to open, but if someone else is, have at it

 

[CaptainWally]

Sadowsky Basses are by far the most consitent basses I have played from one builder thus far. In regards to the Borg Cutting Nino's necks and bodies I was trying to point out that they are very high quality and consistent and even though they dont play or sound like a Sadowsky they are still very nice.

What are the main differences between a Sadowsky and a Valenti? (other than price and options)

 

[CaptainWally]

With a few more posts on how the Valenti is as good or better than a Sadowsky the wheels on the whole Sadowsky mystique are going to fall off. Maybe folks will finally understand that it's not hard at all to bolt together a quality bass using quality parts. Spend just a little time and anyone can learn how to set-up a bass to play however they like. Very simple actually. ***In no way am I trying to knock Nino in my comments. I'm not really trying to knock Sadowsky either but I know it reads that way.***

Something tells me I'm going to need more than a pamphlet to do something like that. It would be an interesting experiment to see what a shop clutz like me would come up with if I made my best effort at making a bass.

 

[Peter Parker]

I disagree with the last post. It is by no means "easy" to bolt a neck and body together and get the type of results that Nino or Roger get from their basses. If that were the case both would be out of business. Skills like that are learned over time. Ask Nino or Roger how much time and money they spent to get results like they do now. I've played both basses numerous times and both are top quality instruments.

I build basses from raw wood, not premade kits. I know a thing or two. It is easy. maybe I'm smarter than most (I doubt it). The skill is in the premade parts and the tolerances of the CNC. A lot of the Warmoth and US Custom parts are predrilled for the necks and body's, no real danger there. The placemnt of the bridge can be done very easily with a 90degree tool and the center line of the body. I've seen several of the Warmoth bodies predrilled for certain bridges. Even if they weren't, drilling the holes is a pretty easy job. When I build a bass the hard work is in the shaping of the neck and if a hard clear coat finish is used, that takes a bit of skill. Fretwork, installing, leveling, and dressing is not that easy but get's easier with every attempt. As I understand it, Valenti does no fretwork, I'm not sure what Roger does. This is no big deal either, especially considering the Warmoth necks I've seen all had pretty good frets that were decently level straight from the factory. The rest is pretty easy. When I finish a basses, the neck has been sprayed, the body has been sprayed and all that is left is to assemble, if my work is good before this step anyone can do it. Again, I am not knocking either Nino or Roger, I've played Sadowskies that I thought sounded and played great. I've not played a Valenti but I'm sure it plays well, too. You folks need to have a little more confidence in your own abilities. If anybody lives near Greensboro and wants to learn how to set-up a bass, including how to assemble one from parts, I would be happy to show you for free. Probably only take 30 minutes or so. I think all musicians should know their instruments inside and out and that includes knowing how to maintain them for themselves. trust me, it's not as hard as some would have you believe.

 

[Spector_Ray]

I love the body radius of that Valenti. Fenders are too round for my taste which is funny coming from a Spector guy.

 

[Andy Brown]

I have owned Sadowsky's (still do), and have owned Valenti's (and will in the future). IMO Nino's basses match up perfectly with the Sadowsky Metro line, especially since he's gone with USACG, which has upped the bar on the quality feel. Actually, because Nino gives you many more options, it's an advantage. I probably wouldn't compare Nino's basses with Sadowsky NYC models.

As somebody mentioned earlier, dollar for dollar (in that $1500-$2400 range), Nino gives you too much to pass up.

 

[Andy Brown]

With a few more posts on how the Valenti is as good or better than a Sadowsky the wheels on the whole Sadowsky mystique are going to fall off. Maybe folks will finally understand that it's not hard at all to bolt together a quality bass using quality parts. Spend just a little time and anyone can learn how to set-up a bass to play however they like. Very simple actually. ***In no way am I trying to knock Nino in my comments. I'm not really trying to knock Sadowsky either but I know it reads that way.***

What you're saying is that it's easy (perhaps trivial, judging by your comments) to assemble as good quality of bass as Roger and Nino put out. I would disagree, as it's the attention to details (wiring, custom touches, tight fit and finish) that make the package so desirable. Not everyone has the knowledge, or patience for that matter, to do it the right way. Haven't you ever heard of the adage "If it were that easy everyone would be doing it..."?

 

[Peter Parker]

What you're saying is that it's easy (perhaps trivial, judging by your comments) to assemble as good quality of bass as Roger and Nino put out. I would disagree, as it's the attention to details (wiring, custom touches, tight fit and finish) that make the package so desirable. Not everyone has the knowledge, or patience for that matter, to do it the right way. Haven't you ever heard of the adage "If it were that easy everyone would be doing it..."?

It's pretty when a cavity has nice wiring, doesn't effect playability and usually not the tone. As far as tight fit and finish, USACG and their finishers are to be thanked for that as well as whoever does Roger's basses. Both do a good job at assembly for sure. I think everyone would be doing it if they realized how easy it truly is. It seems most folks on here don't give themselves enough credit. They've been told for years how hard it is and they just believe it without ever trying. I can see their hesitation, it's not cheap to get these parts in finished form to assemble themselves; pretty costly experiment if they fail. Do you rememer when neckthrough basses all cost so much more than a bolt-on and were only found in the high end makes? Everyone thought that it was because NT's were so much more difficult to build than bolt-on's thereby making them cost more. Now there are all kinds of very cheap NT's out there and as a builder i find NT's just as easy or maybe even a little easier than a bolt-on. I suppose from a mass production stand point at one time NT's were more difficult but not so anymore.

 

[CaptainWally]

What you're saying is that it's easy (perhaps trivial, judging by your comments) to assemble as good quality of bass as Roger and Nino put out. I would disagree, as it's the attention to details (wiring, custom touches, tight fit and finish) that make the package so desirable. Not everyone has the knowledge, or patience for that matter, to do it the right way. Haven't you ever heard of the adage "If it were that easy everyone would be doing it..."?

well, I've actually never even considered trying, but i'm very confident i would fall short of these guys in my efforts

 

[BartmanPDX]

With a few more posts on how the Valenti is as good or better than a Sadowsky the wheels on the whole Sadowsky mystique are going to fall off. Maybe folks will finally understand that it's not hard at all to bolt together a quality bass using quality parts.

If this were true, I would expect that more companies would be able to pull it off. I've played many Jazz basses from many manufacturers, and none is as nice as my Sadowsky. Therefore, I can only assume that it IS indeed somewhat of a challenge to make a Jazz bass that is truly outstanding. My guess is that most companies are so concerned with production that they cut corners in some areas to save time and money. Sadowsky and Nino don't do that.

If I had found, say, an MIA Fender that played and sounded as good as my Sadowsky, I would have gladly bought it and saved myself $1k.

As always, IMO, YMMV.

And back on topic, I'd love to get a Valenti 5-string P bass. Maybe next year.

 

[vicenzajay]

I will add that my Valenti is a quality instrument - assembly being easy or not. I think the key thing here is time. Peter, you are probably correct in many ways. I am a fast learner at whatever I choose to "pick up". It didn't take long, for example, to learn how to do a setup on my instruments every bit as good as (or perhaps slightly better than) our local guitar repairman (who has a fabulous reputation and community following - not meaning to slight him). It's just not that difficult once the basics are learned and the fear of "adjusting anything" is overcome.

I'm sure that I would do a fantastic job of building (or assembling) an instrument. I actually don't sell myself short on that count. I'm so incredibly anal with fit and finish issues as well as neatness and attention to detail (blame the military), that I'd probably eventually get to a quality level that would rival both of these instruments (given the same quality of parts). That's not said to boost my own ego - I'm just that driven in everything for which I possess a passion. As an example, our church's lead guitarist got married 6 weeks ago and moved out of town, leaving a gap in the worship team. Having never played lead (and quite a while since playing acoustic guitar), I bought an instrument, rig, and pedals and went to the woodshed. (I mean something like 60 hours in the woodshed within the first three weeks.) I was performing with the worship band the very first weekend....no slight against our former lead guitarist, but I played our material better than he ever had the very first time I played a lead guitar line in front of others. Again, that's not written for boasting's sake - it's just the way I approach things - either dive in 100% or stay out of the pool.

Which leads me to the point of my post - I simply do not choose to invest the time and passion in learning to build or assemble these instruments. Nino, I would love to know the sheer amount of hours you spend on a particular instrument...say Poon's #15 that I now own? I'm betting that the amount of time is significant - that's time that I choose to woodshed and play with my various musical projects, concentrate on worship vision and leadership at my church, studying as I complete the master's (finally!), and be with my wife and wonderful children - never mind the day job. Roger (for decades) and Nino have both established a reputation for an intense passion for their assembled instruments...attention to detail/fit and finish/signature sound/etc. For that matter, although I'm not famililar personally with your instruments, you seem to possess a fine reputation for quality work on this bulletin board. For me it is simply more profitable all around to let those with a passion for building/assembling do that and provide quality instruments for a reasonable cost.

I have yet to reach the point where I can afford to commission a Sadowsky NYC....when I do, something like #4253 will be created again. For now, however, I am very pleased to have a Valenti with which to make music.

Jay

 

[Peter Parker]

If this were true, I would expect that more companies would be able to pull it off. I've played many Jazz basses from many manufacturers, and none is as nice as my Sadowsky. Therefore, I can only assume that it IS indeed somewhat of a challenge to make a Jazz bass that is truly outstanding. My guess is that most companies are so concerned with production that they cut corners in some areas to save time and money. Sadowsky and Nino don't do that.

If I had found, say, an MIA Fender that played and sounded as good as my Sadowsky, I would have gladly bought it and saved myself $1k.

As always, IMO, YMMV.

I would hope the quality of the Sadowsky and Valenti for that matter is higher than a Fender. Fender build thousands upon thousands of basses a year and therefore can't afford to put the amount of time roger and nino are afforded due to there relatively small market. Given the fact the average guy here is not going to build thousands of basses at once he/she should be able to put the same amount of time in their own Warmoth/USCG project and achieve great results. I guess I choose to believe the average person more capable than some of you seem to feel.

 

[Nino Valenti]

It's pretty when a cavity has nice wiring, doesn't effect playability and usually not the tone. As far as tight fit and finish, USACG and their finishers are to be thanked for that as well as whoever does Roger's basses. Both do a good job at assembly for sure. I think everyone would be doing it if they realized how easy it truly is. It seems most folks on here don't give themselves enough credit. They've been told for years how hard it is and they just believe it without ever trying. I can see their hesitation, it's not cheap to get these parts in finished form to assemble themselves; pretty costly experiment if they fail. Do you rememer when neckthrough basses all cost so much more than a bolt-on and were only found in the high end makes? Everyone thought that it was because NT's were so much more difficult to build than bolt-on's thereby making them cost more. Now there are all kinds of very cheap NT's out there and as a builder i find NT's just as easy or maybe even a little easier than a bolt-on. I suppose from a mass production stand point at one time NT's were more difficult but not so anymore.

Holy crap... Get over yourself!!!!! "I'm a builder.. wah, wah, wah." Are you jealous cause I use kits and sell basses and you build from scratch, and do what, not sell 'em? Grow up!!!!