Sadowsky 5 String Jazz Style

I bought mine in July of 2002. It was a used bass that somebody had purchased, and returned for a Modern Jazz 5. It has a 21 fret neck (up to high e) with maple fretboard, with Swamp Ash body, some type of highly figured top (quilted maple?), and famous Sadowsky pickups and preamp. I had him reverse the pickup pan pot and add a vintage style tone control with capacitor, a $100 option and well worth it.

I can easily go from slap bass to Tool-style mid scoop to Jaco to huge reggae bottom end to vintage blues growl just with the controls on the bass. It sounds amazing whether you're slapping, finger style, wonderful, clear chords, or even with a good thick bass pick. Everything you do with this bass sounds unbelievable, and it sounds good through any amp. The bigger the PA I put it through, the better it sounds.

Everything on this bass was built with the highest quality. Not a single screw was crooked, the neck is stable, the bridge is solid, the pickups feel great, the frets are tough even with stainless steel strings, very high quality.

I've gigged nearly every weekend on this bass for almost 2 years with not one single problem. Even my original German Warwick (before they started selling cheapo models in GC) needed more work than my Sadowsky! I just switched to a cheaper backup because I don't think I'll ever need it.

They're great! I bought it from Roger himself, they send me christmas cards occaisionally. I get my strings from them as I can't find decent strings anywhere in Boston, and they're really great to deal with!

I've been playing for 11 years, gigging steadily for 7. Toured the midwest for a while during college and I have a degree in theory/composition. My current amp is an SWR Redhead with a custom preamp tube. It's fairly cheap and small and does the job nicely. I sometimes run the Sadowsky through an EBS Octabass octave pedal, Boss SYB-something Synth pedal, or Lovetone Meatball. The pedals help with the dance tunes that we play in some of the better clubs in Boston, but the bass sounds great through any amp or PA. It's by far the best bass I've ever played or heard, a true world class instrument and I consider myself lucky to have it. When I was shopping I played Laklands, Tobias, Ken Smiths, a Pensa, and my current Warwick, and this bass blew them all away, hands down. Go to Brooklyn and check one out, you won't regret it!

The Sadowsky 5 string features is as follows: 1. The body is made of quality swamp ash maple. 2. The neck consist of 21 frets. A hard rock maple neck with a maple fingerboard. 3. The pick - ups I truly love. They are of a Sadowsky design (or his spec's)with exposed poles. Very classy looking. 4. The pick ups are active, which a 9 volt battery is required. The bass has a switch which de-activates the battery. 5. The body top consist of a quilted maple which goes hand in hand with the Cherry burst color. To me a beautiful combination. 6 The bridge is also a sadowsky design which includes a quick string change capability. A helpfull combination when changing strings in a pinch or taking your time and not scratching the beautiful finish near the bridge itself (Come on you know what I mean, you've done it too). 7. The hardware, sadowsky gives you three choices. Chrome, Black and Gold. I decided on the gold because it enhanced the bass finish. 8. Sadowsky give's you a choice regarding a bass case. Either the soft standard type case or a larger, and stronger traveling case. The traveling case would help if you had to put it in a bagage compartment. Either is included in the price. 9. Strap locks are included but you don't have to put them on. 10. I wanted a pickguard because it feels better if you slap. It give's it a little elevation but I did not want screws in the body (Although he has a vintage model which has a pickguard similar to the old fenders). So instead he made a clear hard plastic that is half the size of a standard pickguard and used a thin clear tape that hugs the bass. And at a small distance invisible to the eye. It does not hide the finish either.

Ultimate Bass Sound? A good question. We all are in a quest for the ultimate sound. Many times we spend large amounts of money only to later on going back to our original dream bass. But there are considerations we must examine. First of all there is a standard sound. Yes ... without question there is a standard sound and most of us know what it is. It is widely used in live situations and used most often in recordings. A Fender? Well... Yes. Well all of you Wal, Warwick, MTD, Tobias, Music Man, Gibson, Fedora, etc etc etc believers calm down, I don't want to start a Bass War. But take in consideration that many Bass Luthiers respect Leo Fender. You have too. Mr Fender started out really making and creating a bass without knowing what to expect. He used woods that were available not knowing fully its acoustic properties. Even the 34 inch scale was not a 25 year study on the strings tension to its accordance with string vibrations to the sound of the wood to the, etc etc. He really was hitting and missing. But he created a standard. He created a beautiful sounding pleasing to the ear bass. He was creative in that there was nothing else around that hit a musician or soon to be a bass player into a ... Bass Player. Even today with all the different basses many luthiers will discuss what knobs to turn on there bass, to get a fender type sound. Most recording engineers expect a fender to be at least one of your basses. If not the most prominant. And ask them if you were to have only one bass which one would they say. You know the answer. Its a standard sound. By now you are saying. What does this have to do with a Sadowsky? Its not a Fender right? Well yes and no. It has all the Fender Characters but a step up. All the sounds but a step up. All the warmth but a step up. It did not change the standard but it raised it a step up. Its a Fender allright, But a Fender on steroids. If you have one you know what I mean. If you don't.. I suggest you save and buy one. You will not regret it. I promise you that.

The Bass was set up perfectly. String height was excellent. It was not close and not far from the neck. The pick ups are truly amazing and my hats off to roger for develping these beauties. They sound great and are adjusted to the perfect height. I will not adjust them as I do not want to change anything. What totally amazed me was when I opened the back plate and witnessed all wires and controls perfectly fitted. Clean as a babies a--... Well you know what I mean. The Finish is without a flaw. Perfect. Can't get it better than that.

Reliable and Durable? If a Fender can take brutal abuse over the many years since its creation the Sadowsky can hold up to a Rino Charge. True it has not been around as long but it is rock solid. It does not move. The neck is stable, the knobs are strong, the finish show no signs of wear and Its nice to know if you are carrying one bass its not going to give you any problems. But carry an extra set of strings.

Roger I believe thinks all his basses are his babies. Whenever you call him and he is at his shop, he will spend time with you. I needed a quick adjustment and he saw the bass the next day. He will not sell you a Bass unless it meets his specifications. And he will not leave you stranded when you buy one of his basses. You can count on that. Oh and by the way he working associates are the best.

10 + The sound, the feel, the looks, the reliability, the durability, and customer service is A number 1. I suggest you buy one. It is without question the most sort after sounding bass available.