Sadowsky 4-String Jazz Bass

This is a 2005 NYC Sadowsky Vintage 4 with ash body, birds eye maple neck, hum cancelling pick-ups, vintage tone control, natural finish w/white pick guard. The Sadowsky pre-amp can be bypassed and the controls are volume/volume/tone/bass and treble stacked boost. It came with a light weight custom molded case. I bought it used.

I replaced an American Fender P/J unit that I liked very much. It just doesn't sound very good any more compared to the Sadowsky and I have no idea how old the strings are on this bass. It has a diverse range of sounds including Jaco like to near P- bass. The vintage tone control is excellent and offers even more sound variations as does the treble/bass boost. The preamp is quiet. I find it useful for finger style rock and funk and it does have a great slap tone although I don't play that style. I think slappers would love this bass. I would say that it is good at getting lots of different professional sounding tones but doesn't do extremes of vintage or modern tones which is fine by me. I haven't taken it out yet but it sounds great through my Eden Metro and a GK 400RB/Aguilar cab.

Everything is top notch. One of the pots doesn't turn smoothly but this thing is used.

Don't know yet although the tuning stays right on where my Fender needed tuning frequently.

Called them just once and they were very willing to answer questions.

I've been playing 5 years. I have no idea what I could possibly get that I would prefer over this Sadowsky. I'm guessing it would be something that offered a different sound. i.e. p-bass. I would of ordered a different finish if I had bought one new. I was going to buy a Metro which are about the same price as this one was used.
I tried a lot of basses before buying this one. There is some great stuff out there for a $1000-$2000 but they do have shortcomings such as some lower quality components, narrower range of sounds, heavier, etc.

Sadowsky 4 string fretted jazz bass made in NYC.

Primo AAA quilt maple top on swamp ash body finished in caramelburst, highly figured birdseye maple fingerboard on maple quarter sawn neck, Sadowsky gold hardware w/ straplocks, dual Sadowsky hum cancelling J pickups with on-board Sadowsky preamp.

Four knobs (volume, pickup blend, passive tone, stacked active bass & treble) and preamp bypass mini-toggle switch.

Sadowsky gig bag

I play mostly funk and also rock, blues, metal, alternative (which is rock if you ask me). This bass is superlative for all musical styles. In my opinion this is the best sounding jazz bass on the planet. It is so tight and punchy, well-defined beautiful lows, mids, and highs, the tone controls and pickup blend yield incredible versatility. The sound across and up and down the neck is even with no dead spots.

For slap and pop, it starts and ends with Sadowsky.

My only dislike is that playing it is addictive!

Perfect. No flaws.

The preamp is AMAZING. Simple but incredibly effective. It gives the bass a larger than life 3D sound. Big, punchy, crisp, tight, defined. Not boommy, muddy, or harsh.

Neck pockets don't get tighter than this. The fretwork is unparalleled. The neck feels very good and is very hand and finger friendly.

The figure on the woods is to die for. It certainly rivals any PRS private stock model if not exceeding them (I know PRS are guitars but in regard to figured woods PRS is a relative benchmark for many folks). The perfectly bookmatched quilt is 3D and doesn't fade out along the top but is evenly distrubted over it. Sadowsky has the most amazing figured birdseye I have ever seen (and I've seen a lot of instruments, both mass produced and custom from independent luthiers).

The caramel burst finish is gorgeous.

This bass should last forever. The strap buttons are solid and interposed between them and the body is a small piece of felt preventing the straplocks from potentially marring the finish.

This bass is new but I can't imagine needing a backup ever needed.

Sadowsky arguably has the best attitude in the business.I know this firsthand as this is the 4th instrument I have purchased from him. His customer support is phenomenal: accessible & expert. Roger works with many folks in the big league like Will Lee, Marcus Miller, Jason Newsted, Tom Hamilton, etc, etc (see his website www.sadowsky.com) and click on the "Artists" link. Nevertheless, he treats the most unknown amateur individual with undivided attention and respect.

My bass cost a lot more than most Sadowsky basses because I asked Roger to put on the best AAA quilt he could find, the most primo figured birdseye maple fingerboard, and gold hardware. This boosted the price by about $800.

I tried many brands but this bass had the best tone and craftsmanship that I could find in a jazz style bass.

The bass is unequivocally worth every single penny. For a lifetime of the best j bass tone, unparalleled playability, fit and finish, superlative service, and countless big smiles from me, it is worth it.