woolf Posted April 10, 2021 Posted April 10, 2021 (edited) I picked this up on this forum around Xmas time. It’s a modified, well used but not abused early example. Absolutely fantastic and versatile bass. I will add that it’s missing a small retaining black screw that secures one of the mini switches - it came to me like this unfortunately and I’m not sure where I can source a replacement. I’m open to any trade for a 4 string bass - ideally in the UK. Let me know what you’ve got. Price includes UK delivery. Please see my feedback on this forum. Description and pictures from previous sale: Here is a quite unique old Sadowsky J5. This beautiful light blue thing bas been played and modified but it remains to have that Sadowsky DNA all over the bass. Admitted, to some the adding of 2 ‘period correct’ Bartolini pickups may be an acquired taste but with a three way toggle switch per pickup it ads very musical tonal variations. The great early ‘94 maple neck, these necks are special really (Anderson?). The finish seems original to me, at some points it is becoming a bit greenish: same discoloring that happens with old blue Fenders. The neck seems to be refinished in a yellowish clear coating at some point. It’s done professionally. The pickguard seems custom made, don’t know by who. The bass has signs of playingwear all over but no abuse: generally speaking it looks pretty good. Most important is that it sounds and plays awesome, it is light (unchambered!) and well balanced. Other than mentioned modifications the bass seems 100% original. In the early nineties these Bartolini’s, Gotoh tuners and bridges were the ones that were used by Roger and they still work perfectly fine. The Gotoh bridge allows for afjusting the string spacing which I find to be a nice feature since I like the spacing to be just a little less than 19mm. The truss rod and the electronics work flawless as well and the frets have enough life in them for many years to come. The bass comes with an original Sadowsky soft case... Edited September 2, 2021 by woolf SOLD 6
roman_sub Posted April 17, 2021 Posted April 17, 2021 Interesting electronics. Are the mini toggle switches 1/ 1+2 /2 for each ‘pair’ of pickups? Are all pickups true single coils (or any of them split coils), and in which positions is hum cancelling?
woolf Posted April 17, 2021 Author Posted April 17, 2021 Q1. Correct - both are 1/1+2/2 Q2. As far as I’m aware they are all true single coils. Not sure about the hum-cancelling? Never noticed any hum in any position. Each pickup is a Bartolini 9W5 - there may be more info about these online.
woolf Posted April 17, 2021 Author Posted April 17, 2021 Just now, johnbiffa said: I presume truss rod is under scratchplate? Yep 👍
LukeFRC Posted April 17, 2021 Posted April 17, 2021 11 hours ago, woolf said: Q2. As far as I’m aware they are all true single coils. Not sure about the hum-cancelling? Never noticed any hum in any position. Each pickup is a Bartolini 9W5 - there may be more info about these online. Think the pickups are a coil per string.
peteb Posted April 17, 2021 Posted April 17, 2021 2 minutes ago, LukeFRC said: Think the pickups are a coil per string. Never heard of that before @LukeFRC
LukeFRC Posted April 17, 2021 Posted April 17, 2021 Just now, peteb said: Never heard of that before @LukeFRC I could be wrong! This bass looks lovely and went googling to find out what the Bart 9W5 and 9W4 pickups were, apparently Bartolini humbuckers with a coil per string... so five coils per pickup....Roger decribes them as linear hum buckers... I dunno, could be wrong. but low output so the black box is a bartolini booster before the Sadowsky preamp on the PCB https://www.talkbass.com/threads/club-sadowsky.390234/page-81#post-5800314 I don't know what that all means in practice but would love to try this one to find out!
peteb Posted April 17, 2021 Posted April 17, 2021 (edited) 7 minutes ago, LukeFRC said: I don't know what that all means in practice but would love to try this one to find out! Same here! Interesting bass, shame that I don't need another 5 string...! Edited April 17, 2021 by peteb
woolf Posted April 18, 2021 Author Posted April 18, 2021 Thanks @LukeFRC for the extra info 👍. FWIW - it does the active-jazz sound pretty damn well to my ears. Lots of clarity and beef where you want it 😉. 1
woolf Posted May 21, 2021 Author Posted May 21, 2021 Will consider all trades now - ideally with additional funds in my direction. 👍
woolf Posted June 24, 2021 Author Posted June 24, 2021 Lots of nice trade offers but really after something traditional and with 4 strings (Fender P or J , Musicman).
moley6knipe Posted June 26, 2021 Posted June 26, 2021 Sweet Lord. That’s my most perfectest Jazz that I have ever seen. I’ll be in touch after the draw!
woolf Posted June 28, 2021 Author Posted June 28, 2021 Reduced to £2100 for cash sale. £2500 - Trade value.
woolf Posted July 16, 2021 Author Posted July 16, 2021 7 hours ago, donzo44 said: Could you tell me the weight please. thanks. Yes, it’s 4.1 KG on my bathroom scales 😊 Lovely balance too.
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