planethead Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 Hello Im thinking seriously about ordering one of Sadowsky's NYC basses rather than the Metro series. I've seen a few threads praising Valenti (personally not so keen on the headstock style). Does anyone out there have direct experience dealing with either of these companies. Really want pointers on the process. Specifications, shipping etc. I've scoured the official websites. But first(second) hand knowledge would be useful. It will probably be Swamp ash body maple neck (not sure about blocks yet) and possibly the p/j pickup combo. I have a '98 Fender Am std Jazz with same specs (except pickups) Any thoughts, suggestions or experiences gratefully received. TIA PS I had good experience ordering Sadowsky preamp/DI. V good service both from them and FedEx so I don't have any doubts re integrity of company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 (edited) Tayste has 3 Valenti's - shoot him a PM and he can tell you about those. There's quite a few comparisons of Valentis / Sadowskys over on www.talkbass.com/forum. Valenti's are about half the price of an NYC Sadowsky, and offer great bang for the buck. Personally I'd go for a NYC Sadowsky. I'm planning on ordering one soon - unless the GAS winds change. Finally, remember that whatever you import to add about 22% for import duty and VAT - that'd be a nasty bang if you weren't ready for it. FAKEDIT: There's also a nice Valenti for sale here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=11362"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=11362[/url] Edited January 20, 2008 by Toasted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted January 20, 2008 Share Posted January 20, 2008 I'm sure they are both lovely. I know which one you are more likely to get your money back out of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
largo Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 You won't get blocks on a NYC Sadowsky, otherwise I may have been tempted myself. Why not just buy Warmoth parts and put in Sadowsky electronics, isn't that the same thing. Hehehe ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzlovski Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 (edited) Hi Planethead, Just thought I'd let you know about my Sadowsky experience. I try and get over to New York once a year, and after dragging the missus around all the Bass Boutiques of Manahatten last January, we got a yellow cab over the bridge to Brooklyn to the Sadowsky workshop. We were warmly welcomed by the Roger Sadowsky and his dog, offered a drink and ushered into their 'sound room' where we encouraged to play everything and anything for as long as I wanted ! I left Brooklyn without making any hasty decisions about facing woods, fingerboard etc, but was back in touch with them as soon as I got home. Kevin Drexler is their Sales guy out there and was very attentive and couldn't help enough. Although they are a well respected brand I got the feeling they were genuinely interested in making sure I got exactly what I wanted, and were very precise in clearing up any concerns I had. Kevin obliged me by e-mailing pictures of the woods he'd selected for me, and this kept me from chewing off my fingers whilst waiting for the bass to be built. I had regular updates from Kevin every month telling me what his team were up to with my plank of wood.... $Deposit was minimal, with payment on completion and with the $ currently poor against the £ its a good time to buy ( if you have GAS its always a good time to by ) The build took a good 6 months, was shipped using fedex and arrived safe and well last October-ish. At first glance, the bass is a classy looking jazz... but once you get to play one, the bass is second to none that I've played IMHO, from the finish , the balance, the tone, the whole bag. I have played various Warwick's (Thumb basses mainly) for the best part of the last 10 years, and couldn't imagine something surpassing these by such a margin bit they do! I ended up having a 4 string Jazz, with swamp ash body, faced with AAA quilted maple, '59 Burst, Ebony fingerboard, abolone dots, D-tuner, VTC (std). Pricey, but worth the wait and worth the brass!! If you need any more info or any more of my heavily biased opinion....shout up ! Dazz Edited January 23, 2008 by Dazzlovski Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noisyjon Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 [quote name='Dazzlovski' post='125873' date='Jan 23 2008, 12:58 AM']Hi Planethead, Just thought I'd let you know about my Sadowsky experience. I try and get over to New York once a year, and after dragging the missus around all the Bass Boutiques of Manahatten last January, we got a yellow cab over the bridge to Brooklyn to the Sadowsky workshop. We were warmly welcomed by the Roger Sadowsky and his dog, offered a drink and ushered into their 'sound room' where we encouraged to play everything and anything for as long as I wanted ! I left Brooklyn without making any hasty decisions about facing woods, fingerboard etc, but was back in touch with them as soon as I got home. Kevin Drexler is their Sales guy out there and was very attentive and couldn't help enough. Although they are a well respected brand I got the feeling they were genuinely interested in making sure I got exactly what I wanted, and were very precise in clearing up any concerns I had. Kevin obliged me by e-mailing pictures of the woods he'd selected for me, and this kept me from chewing off my fingers whilst waiting for the bass to be built. I had regular updates from Kevin every month telling me what his team were up to with my plank of wood.... $Deposit was minimal, with payment on completion and with the $ currently poor against the £ its a good time to buy ( if you have GAS its always a good time to by ) The build took a good 6 months, was shipped using fedex and arrived safe and well last October-ish. At first glance, the bass is a classy looking jazz... but once you get to play one, the bass is second to none that I've played IMHO, from the finish , the balance, the tone, the whole bag. I have played various Warwick's (Thumb basses mainly) for the best part of the last 10 years, and couldn't imagine something surpassing these by such a margin bit they do! I ended up having a 4 string Jazz, with swamp ash body, faced with AAA quilted maple, '59 Burst, Ebony neck, abolone dots, D-tuner, VTC (std). Pricey, but worth the wait and worth the brass!! If you need any more info or any more of my heavily biased opinion....shout up ! Dazz[/quote] Any chance of a nice picture of this lovely sounding beast please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzlovski Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 You're absolutely right !... Its high time I took some pictures of my Sad' and shared them with the rest of you. It really is Pornographic IMHO Stand by yer beds boys and girls. (now where's that bl**dy camera ??? ) [quote name='jonthebass' post='125910' date='Jan 23 2008, 08:40 AM']Any chance of a nice picture of this lovely sounding beast please?[/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwbassman Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 (edited) pics are a good shout - know I'd like to see them Edited January 23, 2008 by jwbassman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzlovski Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 The day it arrived, I wanted to get the Pics up. That was 3 months ago. Very shabby performance by me I'm afraid I'll have these up by tomorrow. For sure. It's rehearsal time for me now, so everything has to be in the car in the next 10 mins !! Gotto go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7string Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 Jazz basses are not my thing at all.... However, I've played a Sadowsky Metro and it was extremely good. Sadowsky have an incredibly loyal following and if the Metros are anything to go by, I can understand why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzlovski Posted January 23, 2008 Share Posted January 23, 2008 I too had previously tried various Jazz basses and found the string spacing , body size and general look a bit retro at the time and stayed true to my Warwicks and Spectors. I know this is all opinion and everyone will have comments to make, but I found the Sadowsky's lighter, smaller (7/8ths full size I think?) and very easy to handle considering I was used to the figure-hugging, small-bodied Warwicks and the like. The Sadowsky tone was, and has been for me superior to the basses I'd played previously and offers the retro sound with the Vintage Tone Control, but has the mid range growl and punch that the Warwick has too. Each to their own I suppose, and I intend to continue trying basses to make comparisons until I find something that impresses me more (but it has to be said, Its going to take one hell of a bass to make me put down the Sadowsky!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Get a GB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran Diaz Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 You're probably looking for something like this: As Dazz said: excellent instruments with #1 customer support. I've had 6 Sadowskys shipped from NYC and never had a problem. All of them wonderful basses. I have a fretless on order at the moment. Basically a twin brother to this PJ but with ebony board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzlovski Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 Darn It My camera skills stink guys ! ......but you get the general idea. I'm gonna take some pics when the sun comes up and post 'em in the Porn section , the crappy lighting at this time of day makes it look orange. My latest arrival ! :wub: [attachment=5179:Sad1.jpg][attachment=5180:Sad2.jpg][attachment=5181:Sad3.jpg] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwbassman Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 That needs to be in the porn section - lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
largo Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 (edited) Do Sadowsky offer different string spacings on their 5'ers ? I know 19mm is standard but I really don't like beyond 18mm. Edited January 24, 2008 by largo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7string Posted January 24, 2008 Share Posted January 24, 2008 That's a very cool bass. Kinda pimped retro.. that quilt is nicely subtle... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran Diaz Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 [quote name='largo' post='127361' date='Jan 24 2008, 11:04 PM']Do Sadowsky offer different string spacings on their 5'ers ? I know 19mm is standard but I really don't like beyond 18mm.[/quote] yes, they offer a narrower string spacing at the nut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 [quote]That's a very cool bass.[/quote] I'm afraid I'd have to disagree. It's a stunningly beautiful bass, very lovely indeed. Nicest SAD I've seen methinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzlovski Posted January 25, 2008 Share Posted January 25, 2008 [quote name='GreeneKing' post='127523' date='Jan 25 2008, 07:29 AM']I'm afraid I'd have to disagree. It's a stunningly beautiful bass, very lovely indeed. Nicest SAD I've seen methinks.[/quote] Thanks [b]GreeneKing [/b].. that's very nice of you to say so. I like it too. The depth of the quilt is amazing in some lights. [b]7 String[/b] "That's a very cool bass. Kinda pimped retro.. that quilt is nicely subtle..." Thanks for that too...... I like the thought of Pimped Retro. (I should've stipulated that on my order to Sadowsky......nice ) Dazz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee-Man Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 I have two NYC Sadowsky's and just sold my Valenti to ShaunB. All are excellent basses, but you can't compair NYC Sadowsky's and Valenti's. A better comparison would be Sadowsky Metro's and Valenti's. NYC Sadowsky's are a whole new level. However it is worth baring in mind that law of diminishing returns comes in to play with basses at this level (i.e. you pay twice as much for something only 10% better, but what a great 10% ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamthewalrus Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 [quote name='Dazzlovski' post='127325' date='Jan 24 2008, 09:24 PM']Darn It My camera skills stink guys ! ......but you get the general idea. I'm gonna take some pics when the sun comes up and post 'em in the Porn section , the crappy lighting at this time of day makes it look orange. My latest arrival ! :wub: [attachment=5179:Sad1.jpg][attachment=5180:Sad2.jpg][attachment=5181:Sad3.jpg][/quote] Dazzlovski....that is one very tasty piece of kit!!!! When I decided to go for a custom job, I'd thought about a Sadowsky - at the time they were about £3-4k for an NYC. I finally settled on an Overwater J5 (which is my baby), but if the lottery comes up, it's Sadowsky time! I bet you thoroughly enjoy playing that baby! Cheers, iamthewalrus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7string Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 Yup, I have to agree with that as well. Sadowsky are at the top of the tree if you want something more traditional looking. I remember many moons ago back at the Bass Centre in Wapping there was a beautiful Sadowsky on the wall. Superb quilt maple in caramel burst with a maple 'board. All I could do was just stare at it in wonder. Lottery-time, I'll have a Sadowsky as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yamahabass Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 (edited) I wouldnt get either basses, they are just 'parts' basses, sadowsky just screws the body and the neck plus hardware together. the parts come completely made and finished from places like Warmoth and Guitar Parts, so its a question of screwing a neck onto a body plus some fret work. Many will argue that he sets it up like a magician but you're paying 1000 dollars for the parts and 2000 dollars for the setup. Id rather pay 3000 dollars to Celinder or Sei to build me something by hand. Just my Opinion by the way. Edited February 2, 2008 by yamahabass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzlovski Posted February 2, 2008 Share Posted February 2, 2008 [quote name='yamahabass' post='132555' date='Feb 2 2008, 01:48 PM']I wouldnt get either basses, they are just 'parts' basses, sadowsky just screws the body and the neck plus hardware together. the parts come completely made and finished from places like Warmoth and Guitar Parts, so its a question of screwing a neck onto a body plus some fret work. Many will argue that he sets it up like a magician but you're paying 1000 dollars for the parts and 2000 dollars for the setup. Id rather pay 3000 dollars to Celinder or Sei to build me something by hand. Just my Opinion by the way.[/quote] mmm , not sure about this Yamaha-bass. Having been to Brooklyn, and been able pick out various bits of 'wood' for the body, fingerboard and facing veneers , I have to say your 'catalogue parts' bass seems a little off the mark. The pick-ups and electronics are their own, so there's not a lot left. Sure, they may outsource, tuning pegs, and some of the hardware, but I would suggest that there's a lot more of the Sadowsky (NYC basses anyway) that are made in situ. Where did you get your info from? I know the Metro series are a little cheaper and made in Japan but .......?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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