Woo Hoo! New Sadowsky! (Porn Shots Included)

Finally got this baby yesterday...absolutely perfect. I have fallen out of love with high intensity grain basses (burled, spalted, quilt maple, etc).
and this bass has a nice subtle grain to it. Just ash with no top wood. This is one that will definitely last me for many years to come. (sorry for the blurry pics...I took these this morning while still half asleep).

Note the mint green pickguard. I love how this looks...for those that aren't familiar with Sadowsky basses, this bass DOES look like a Fender, yes, but the attention to detail is top notch. I saw one of the guys at his bench yesterday going over a neck for about 15 minutes, just inspecting it for any anomalies. Electronics job is absolutely perfect. No noises, humming, etc.
No fret issues. Tuners are silky smooth. Just perfection. It also has the passive tone control, which is basically a push pull knob that when pulled, puts the bass in passive mode. This knob now can be turned as a treble rolloff similar to a passive J-bass tone control. Push the knob back in and back to active mode, where you now use the stacked bass/treble knobs as a normal active bass would. This knob STILL works though in active mode, so you can use it to achieve a darker sound, and then operate the stacked treble knob from there.

Tonewise, it is the voice of God.

Completing my education on the whole "Sadowsky is a glorified Fender thing"
I got a quote on a Lake Placid Blue Fender to be built with Fender Custom shop J-Bass specs (and built at the Custom Shop), and the quote was around
FIVE THOUSAND dollars! So, in order to compare apples to apples, the top of the line Fender built to spec is almost 2 thousand dollars more expensive than the top of the line Sadowsky!

Pics:
http://www.peterduncan.net/Sadowsky_Vintage_5

Also, I got a chance to view the new metro line. These are virtually the same bass as the NYC line, but half the cost. Anyone who seriously has always wanted a Sadowsky but couldn't afford the coin should check these out. Roger was emphatic that they are manufactured to the same specs as the
NYC line, and by the looks of it, I agree completely. There is NO difference in the bass, construction wise. (I think his NYC shop will become more of a boutique shop and have the normal color selections manufactured in Japan by his partner Yoshi).

For basses, I can pretty much afford whatever my little heart desires. I have just fallen out of fashion with the figured tops.

Yeppers...that is why when Roger showed me this body blank, I knew it was the one! Just a nice subtle grain, good old ash body...

Actually, I just had a very good dialogue with Fender Customer Service over my SWR amp that took a dump. So maybe they've gotten it together now.

Heh...I was SO ready to snap up a Lake Placid Blue Sadowsky Metro J-bass but who other than Nino had it reserved!

"DavePlaysBass" < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > spake thusly:

I'm down in Castle Rock, so Ft. Collins is a *bit* of a haul. Is that your home base?

Never had use for a luthier. I play Zons.

/ducks for cover

Seriously, though....only stores I've been to are Rockley Music (high end stuff like Ken Smith, Epifani, but pricey), Drum City Guitar Land (Played a nice Fender Marcus Miller 5 there and a sweet MM Fretless. The owner's a great guy. Big Modulus dealer.) and Robb's Music in Boulder. Bought my Eden cab there. A steal.

Keep meaning to check out Music Gear Guys, as they're Surine and Benevente dealers, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

I try to stay away from GC at all costs. Use Pro Sound if I need cables, mics, etc. Buy my strings online.

Hey, I just realized that I can now say "Zons", plural, thanks to Mr. Kloka!

oh how i long for a sadowsky. you lucky puke.what a nice girl.

Heh...I am sure diamonds look like something you could add to your coffee as well, don't they? To the eneducated eye, this would probably be the case, hence, not everyone can appreciate a Sadowsky (Hell, even I couldn't at first).

Trust me, when you see this bass in person, it looks nothing like a cheap
Fender. Even my girlfriend takes one look at the Sadowsky compared to my
1800 Fender Custom Shop basses and says, "Oh, you can tell that one is much higher quality..." "How can you tell?" I ask. "I don't know, just something about it just seems much nicer than the others..."

Truly... I'm currently downsizing because my ampeg rig won't fit anywhere in the new apartment.

At least I get to keep the wife

Absolutely not PD...that wasn't my point. All I was saying is that the two are priced about the same.

Well aren't you mama's special little angel?

Spoken like a single man. Nice score with the Sadowsky, I suppose, but I haven't played a Sadowsky that made me want to buy it over a good stock Fender Jazz.

i'm so glad you had the opportunity to give the Sadowsky's a chance.

they are my FAVORITE fretted bass by far!!!!

nothing wrong with taking a tried and true recipe and perfecting it.

i love my 4 AND 5 Sads. for some reason, i'm partial to the Vintage 4.

the tone is deceiving, until you record some tracks with it.

its just magic!!!! Roger is a dream to work with. and i'm honored to have 2 of the world's finest basses in my collection.

hat's off to you PD, for being able to cast aside your previous stance and be honest about your experience at the cost of sounding contradictive.!!!!!

shit, Roger spent years tweaking WORKING players gear to sound
PERFECT!!! it only makes sense that he could produce a product that would reflect an engineer's dream!!!

congrats!

oh, i've said this befo'...Roger's '59 BURST JUST FU**ING KILLS ME!!

I know the 4 string Vintage was around $1800...so I imagine the 5 string is around $2,000.

Highly recommended, Dave. I just bought Rob's Sonus 5 fretless, which is considerably older ('96 IIRC, Rob?) He treats his instruments well. Great to deal with, too.

For a guy with a penguin fetish.

What are your recommendations in the Zon

Hey Dave,

Answer some of these questions, and I can make a recommendation:

-narrow or wide string spacing?
-34" or 35" scale?
-Soapbar modern tone, or traditional J-bass tone? Or how about MM tone?
-Wood or composite neck?
-4, 5, 6 (or more) strings?

As you know I am a huge Zon fan, and I also have never taken delivery on an instrument that wasn't less than 100%, and I am EXTREMELY picky about basses and build quality. Best thing about it is the most I have ever had to to from a delivery is raise/lower action, and adjust pickup height. That's it!
Super clean, punchy, amazing tone.

I have three Zon Sonus V's (1 fretless and 2 fretteds) and 3 Sonus Customs (one 6 string, one 5 string, and one 5 string fretless). The Customs sound more hi-fi (but still warm) while the Sonus' have more of a traditional
J-bass vibe.

Zons have a lot of options. Most agree that they sound more "natural" then the modulus'. A recommendation...if you get a composite neck bass, put nickel strings on them. SS tend to sound a little crisp.

Since you want a more passive-type tone, I would say go with the Sonus V. It is 34" and has "narrowish" string spacing, but not as wide as the Sonus 519 (19mm string spacing). The B string is mighty, and many have commented that the B on the Zon sounds as tight as any 35" scale out there. This bass is tough, has a VERY tough catalyzed poly finish, and VERY tough neck (stronger than wood). Fit/Finish are excellent. Customer service is very good (you talk to Joe Zon directly if there is a problem or if you have a question).

Roger.

Nice bass. Nice, nice bass. I want one. Congratulations.

Just curious: Since everyone knows this alter-ego of yours, are you ever switching back, or are you ta-da!!! GENOMEMAN forever?

Yes it is. Looks exactly like this: http://tinyurl.com/35lye
That's o.k., Joe Sanchez has an offer on the table. I'm in no hurry
You can have the next right of refusal. Go play one in the meantime.
Good luck with the house.

Careful there Peter. You're comparing the Fender CS Master Built bass's
"Retail" price to the Sadowsky's "Street Price".

A $5,000 retail Fender would sell for about the same as a new Sadowsky ($3,500
+/-).

Roger is somewhat unique in the business because he doesn't play the
"Retail/Street" shell game. His price is his price.

Steve "Dude" Barr http://www.schoolofbass.com May 6th - 9th 2004! http://www.TheDudePit.com
http://www.VintageBass.com

The Tokyos are different than the Metros. The Metros are EXACTLY like the
NYC models, only built in Japan. These models aren't on the website yet...

I'll check the m ail today...

"DavePlaysBass" < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > spake thusly:

Good luck finding one in Colorado. I haven't even seen a Lakland Skyline out here yet!

When you factor in the fact that a custom built Fender Custom Shop bass will set you back about 5 grand, a Sadowsky is a bargain!

Gigged with it last night (the Vintage 5). Excellent. Felt very confident all night. Only thing is the stupid strap locks swung around as I was putting the bass on, and I put my first "mojo" ding in the back of the neck (small, but annoying). Oh well...it is no longer perfect!

"DavePlaysBass" < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it > spake thusly:

Thanks for the info on the Aggies.

My hands-down favorite is the Sonus 5 Custom. I have a fretted Custom. Ash body with Myrtlewood top. Two dual coil pickups and some pretty sophisticated active electronics. Very versatile. Crystal clear sound, and great tone-shaping ability. You can go from a great Jazz tone to vintage midrangey honkin' P-Bass funk tone, to a piano-like tone...and everything in between. Nice tight B-string -- tighter than the Quantums I've played at any rate, and has more defined sound. Killer action. Lowest I've ever encountered on a fretted. Awesome bass.

I'd direct you to the AGB website to hear my soundclip of it, but the recording is horrible. Doesn't do the bass justice.

Congrats PD....Now you're comparing "Apples to Apples"!

That's gorgeous. I am feeling a GAS bubble forming. If you are looking for a buyer 2 weeks from now drop me a line at DavePlaysBass At Hotmail.com.

Anyone do a apples to apples comparison of the sound of a NYC to Japanese?
The website says the Japanese use different pups (single coil only I believe) and a different preamp. I wish I could find some to lay my hands on in Colorado.