Sadowsky M5-24

This bass is loaded with features:
Hipshot ultralight tuners
two soapbar pickups
bass and treble boost
24 frets
quickchange bridge (Hipshot)
Trussrod wheel (coolest thing ever
Ash Body, wonderful natural finish, gorgeous grain
Maple fingerboard on maple neck
Bolt-On neck (like all Sadowskys)
Japanese Made metro model
34 Inch Scale

My Sadowsky story is that I have played a Lakland 55-94 and I thought I would never find a bass that I liked better. Then, I walked into a music store in Nashville, and they happened to have a M5-24 on the wall. I thought " I've never played a Sadowsky before, I'll give it a shot." Within about 5 seconds of pluggin it in, I knew I had found my sound. I need a sound that has a lot of fundamental thump and punch, yet is also clear and singing. I have never hear a bass acheive this better. The Lakland is a great bass, and has a midrange growl that is very cool and useful, but it doesn't have the low-end power that I need. First of all, the bass is dead quite. Absolutely no noise or hum of any kind. The quietest bass I have ever played. I run this bass through a Black Finger Tube Compressor (best compressor ever BTW)
into a BBE 428 Sonic Maximizer, than into a EA I-amp 800 into two Aguiltar GS-112 cabs. This setup has finally yeilded the tone I have been searching for for years. The Sadowsky was the missing link. It is very powerful, with a wonderful preamp. The bass knob adds warmth and depth, the treble know adds zing and presence. The neck pickup is my favorite for live playing, deep and punchy, and both pickups blended is my favorite setting for recording. My band just finished a demo yesterday, and the amazing tone I got prompted me to write this review. I recorded direct through the DI out of the I-Amp 800 into the board. The bass tone was deep and full and really sits in the track well. It has a way of filling in the bottom end without being muddy or boomy. This bass is so punchy, that you get a monster grove with the kick drum. I found that if I added a little midrage boost to the tone, it recorded even better. I have a lot of bass boost from the Bass, and also the BBE, so I needed some mids to add attack. Then I got the perfect tone. Powerful, punchy, clear-rock and roll all the way. The most amazing part was a section in one of the songs where I play alot of tenths. So beautiful even up into the higher registers. Much clearer and sweeter than the Lakland. Roger S doens't believe in 35 inch scale, and I think this is why. Certain parts that sounded a little twangy on my Lakland just sing on this bass. But what about the B string? I love it. It is not as thunderous as the Lakland, but that is actually a benefit. In the music store, the Lakland B would be more impressive, but in live situation and especially in recording, those low notes are so powerful they overwhelm, and aren't as usable. The M5-24 B is tight and punchy, and better balanced with the other strings than either my Lakland or my Modulus Q-5. One song we do ends with a low D, and my bandleader said "You weren't getting that sound from the Lakland" when he heard the playback. That is the best compliment of all. Also, although I am not really a slap player, this bass has the best slap tone I have ever heard. I think this bass is very useful for a wide range of circumstances. For my alt-rock band it is perfect. I will not be selling this bass.

Action was too low when I got it. But a quick raise of the saddle and that was fixed. The neck is amazingly straight, with a very comfortable radius. I have small hands, and my hands would be very tired after a long rehearsal on my Lakland. I have no fatigue at all with the Sadowksy. It is the most comfortable bass I have owned. Lighter than the Lakland, and it hangs on the strap better. The setup was wonderful, and every note sings. Fretwork was perfect, no complaints. Preamp pots are solid and high quality feeling. Finish is very nice poly over natural. No complaints.

Solid as a rock!

Always good service from the people at Sadowsky. I ordered the VTC which I will have installed next week and they did a great job sending it out quick.

I can't imagine anything I could like better. I kinda miss having a midboost, but Roger says the two band pre sounds better, and it definetly sounds better than the Bart 3 band I have in the Lakland or Modulus. More usable. I can't imagine life without this bass now. If it were lost I would cry like a little girl and charge a new one on the credit card. My favorite feature is the amazing neck which takes the five string into new levels of comfort for a guy with small hands. Not bad for an import. Hats off to the metro team!