Sadowsky being a very fine instrument is a fact. But in this 14 minutes and 1 second video, absolutely explains my animosity towards sound men and engineers.
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Why buy a Sadowsky?
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
Michael Tobias says all of the Kingstons go through his shop for inspection and setup.
Sorry, I find that very difficult to believe. I must have visited his shop a good ten or so times and I've never seen a Kingston bass there. The shop is tiny and... I just don't see how they would be able to manage anything other than the task of making their handmade basses. On the MTD site's Kingston descriptions the following is mentioned: "Like all MTD Kingston instruments, the (insert model) undergoes a rigorous quality control and setup process in our U.S. facility from master technicians". I would assume that the "U.S. facility" in question is not Mike Tobias' small shop in the woods of Kingston, NY but rather a facility (or facilities) associated with whoever distributes the Kingston series.
I’m just repeating what he said. I don’t have first hand experience like you.
I went for an older MIJ Sadowsky PJ5 with solid ash body for this very reason. The chambered thing always made me a little nervous about divey-ness. I don't like to feel any hint of it, not even barely.
I'm not saying it's impossible, just that I don't see how it would be feasible - or desirable - for Mike to do this. The impression I got from Mike is that he doesn't have much to do with the Kingston line apart from the design and the approval of initial QC. But that's my impression and not necessarily fact. I do find the wording on the website concerning set up of the Kingstons a bit nebulous. I would expect that if the basses are, indeed, set up at the Kingston shop that this would be stated explicitly rather than mentioning a "facility" and "master technicians" (which could easily mean something other than the custom shop and Mike's crew). Anyway, this is drifting from the subject of this thread - I'd just never before heard any mention of Mike and crew setting up/inspecting Kingstons themselves.
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"Why buy a Sadowsky". For me it's because I want "the Sadowsky Sound". Once you've used one live or in the studio you know it when you hear it (unless of course it's running passive). It's subtle, but it just does this very unique thing in a mix. As discussed elsewhere on TB, you can try and mimic it with other EQ matching the EQ specs (I have experimented with that just for yucks) but it doesn't sound the same--it's a "fairy dust" situation. Next best thing if you want that sound is using the outboard pre on a passive bass (when not using my Sadowsky PJ5 I use the outboard pre with my G&L JB5 and it sounds like a Sadowsky JJ in a mix).
Doesn't have to be a $$$ NYC Sadowsky though to get that revered sound.
Doesn't have to be a $$$ NYC Sadowsky though to get that revered sound.
To me, my Sadowsky plays and sounds better and is under 8 pounds. The Fender has the vibe though.
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When Roger had his NYC shop and the original Metro basses made in Japan they would all go to his NYC shop for final setup.
Roger actually used to tell you, if you didn’t care about lighter weight, options or exotic tops, then a Metro would be perfect for you.
First Sadowsky I owned was a Metro Hybrid P/J in Oly White w/Rosewood board. Fit and finish were perfect, sounded great. Bought it at Roger’s Brooklyn shop. Went there with my bass buddy, Chrisbmets, just to look. I walked out with a bass. Just didn’t love the 9 1/4 lbs. Ordered my 1st NYC 4-21 P/J Quilted Maple top, 7.45 lbs. Loved it. When I think about the low price, ah well, those days are gone.
Having done the first two, I'd be crazy to pursue the third! In that regard I suppose I am quite lucky.
I've mentioned it before, but I own a NYC Modern 24-5. It was my first custom/boutique order and I am super glad I got it when I did.
But mostly, the validation came from playing with people and a friend said "man, that bass is YOUR sound!"
No matter what he said. A classic design made of alder/maple for 6k is always overpriced. You can afford a quality Fender P and a J for that price
I used to be a big Sadowsky fan.
I once saw a friend gigging with a Metro UV series and the tone was just perfect.
But after actually owning two MIJ Metros myself, they felt like nothing more than well-made Jazz Basses—nothing really special about them.
I don't think the preamp is all that magical either... how it sits in the mix really just depends on the situation…
I once saw a friend gigging with a Metro UV series and the tone was just perfect.
But after actually owning two MIJ Metros myself, they felt like nothing more than well-made Jazz Basses—nothing really special about them.
I don't think the preamp is all that magical either... how it sits in the mix really just depends on the situation…
I have limited experience with Sadowsky: the two Moderns I’ve owned/own (which I love!), a used Metro Jazz I played in a local store, and a used NYC P Bass I played at a Guitar Center. The P and the J didn’t really stand out to me. I can’t see buying a Sadowsky J as there are a ton of options out there + you can buy the Sadowsky preamp separately. The Modern is a different story, it’s got its own thing going on!
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Some of us would rather have that one incredible bass than multiple standard basses. Maybe we sell one or two basses to finance the deal.
Hey, I’ve been trying to come home to Fender since 2009. Ordered my first Custom Shop, a Custom Classic Jazz Bass. It was a disappointment, to put it mildly, after waiting 9 months. Fit and finish, quality control from Hell. Swirl marks in the clear coat, gap between the pickguard and control plate, and a neck profile that I can’t imagine how they called it a Jazz bass. Also the bass on the preamp distorted when you turned it up too much.
Been trying to buy Fenders since then, but I like lighter basses and am tired of being stuck with a few colors with each fretboard and pickguard. And the wildly varying weights. Mod Shop offers a semi chambered Ash body on a Jazz, but no one at Fender will even give me an estimate of the weight range. Just order it, oh and no refunds on Mod Shop!
In contrast, when I bought my most recent Sadowsky, I had a phone conversation with Roger (as in Sadowsky). He took as much time as I needed and answered all my questions. Sometimes you can’t put a simple price on customer service like that.
Not to put to fine a point on it but all Lakland import basses pass through the Chicago shop. They are Plecked and tested. I very much concour with most of what Roger is talking about. Sure it is a "promotional video" for the Warwick Sadowdky partnershop. I think we would all be suprised at how little profit there actually is as an independent luthier is building botique basses. Speaking for the one's I know locally they make their living doing repairs and some additional monies building instruments. I'm just as quiilty of "sticker shock syndrome as the next person. When I saw the price of the first Alembic basses I laughed out loud, same with Fodera's. The only thing I have issues with it "chambering" in the manner Roger approackes it. If youre going to "hollow out" a EB then personally I prefer the way Godin did it on my LR Baggs Acoustibass or Rob Allens basses. Those instruments actually "resonate", but I'll reserve judgment until I actually get to play a chambered Sadowsky. Once agiian just my take.
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