Club Sadowsky!!!

[MikeBass]

Well, lets see if we can start this without all the trouble that has plagued other threads about this.
So before you spam or troll or whatever, please read below.


I'll start with this post from Mr.Roger Sadowsky himself:
Regarding the "Sadowsky basses are just parts basses" debates that continue to go on here, here is an explanation, from Roger himself:

It's been a while since I posted this. It also addresses the Fender vs Originality questions. Here it is again for Mark and any other newbies on Talkbass!:

1) Several people have posted and commented that Sadowsky uses Warmoth parts. I would like to address this for what I hope will be the last time. I did use some Warmoth parts during the 80's and have ordered an occasional neck from them for some of our repair customers during the years. However, Sadowsky has not used any Warmoth necks or bodies on their basses for at least the last 10 years.

2) Regarding subcontractors....Many instrument companies use subcontractors. It is very difficult to balance quality and maintain costs. If we were making every body by "hand" (which no one really does), costs would be absurdly high and consistancy would be very low. The average cost of a CNC machine (a computerized carving machine), with software, is about $125,000.00. Because that is beyond the means of most of us "smaller" guys, there are companies that own these machines who make parts for the "rest of us". Sadowsky, Lakland, Lull, Turner and lots more of us use various subcontractors. I know this takes some of the "romanticism" out of the process for you, but that is the way it is.

Regarding our electronics---when you go through hundreds of circuits a year, you don't hand wire each one by hand. You design the circuit, make the prototype, and then you outsource it to a shop than just makes circuit boards!

I had to make an important decision about 20 years ago. I could set up shop where I could do all the woodworking by myself. This would have meant locating where there are very few professional players. Instead, I chose to locate in the middle of Manhattan, where the top players could easily get to my shop. As long as I had good subcontractors I could depend on, I felt it more important to have the one-on-one and the indespensible feedback from the top players. This was also motivated by the fact that I still do a lot of repair and restoration work. I have never regretted this decision. It is hard to make a "working musician's" instrument if you don't have many working musicians to interact with.

I build a Fender style instrument because that is what my clientele demands of me. 20 years ago, it was almost impossible to walk into a studio in NYC with anything other than a Fender. In fact the Union directory had two bass listings: Upright Bass and Fender Bass! All electric basses were referred to as Fender bass. There was a great deal of pressure on the bassists to only bring a Fender to a session.

If I had a couple of million dollars, I could set up my own manufacturing facility outside of the city, but I can only be in one place at one time so it works just as well to use the subcontractors.

Keep the following in mind: We purchase all of our wood directly. We hand build all of the "prototypes" that get sent to the subcontractor. We own all of the fixturing and programming. We continuously monitor the quality of our parts to be sure they are worthy of the Sadowsky name.

The bodies come into our shop unsanded. We do all of the edge contouring, finish sanding and hand fit every neck pocket to get a perfect fit to our necks. Many of our bodies get additional routing and shaping done in our shop.

The necks come in unsanded. We true each fingerboard one at a time, fret the necks, dress the frets, finish sand the necks, and spray the necks. On custom orders, we hand shape the neck too.

Our assembly process is impeccable with regard to the quality of our components and workmanship.

So I hope you can see that we definetly are a "hands-on" shop. I could not have achieved the reputation I have if I were simply buying a neck and body and "screwing them together". I think anyone who has had the opportunity to play a Sadowsky can appreciate the quality of the instrument. That doesn't mean they are for everyone---instrument choice is very subjective. What is nice is that all of us....Sadowsky, Lakland, Mike Tobias, Spector, Fodera, etc....all have lots of players that think we make the best instrument in the world! It's kind of perfect that way---don't you think? You don't have to disparage the other builders just because you prefer someone else's instruments.

Lastly, many people speculate on this forum about issues related to Sadowsky without ever bothering to email me directly with their question. I am here and I am happy to answer all of your emails individually.

Hope this clears things up for some of you.

Sincerely,

Roger

<edit>
The list so far (as of Feb 16, 08)
1 - Roger Sadowsky
2 - MikeBass
3 - AJ Brown
4 - kobass
5 - thehurlatron
6 - dragonbass
7 - 5stringwonder
8 - JRBrown
9 - Nino Valenti
10 - Alexander
11 - Jim Carr
12 - BEADG
13 - Munjibunga
14 - Steve
15 - rob2966
16 - ric426
17 - Dan Knowlton
18 - Chunk-O-Funk
19 - burk48237
20 - Marcus
21 - bikeplate
22 - ogyen
23 - grooveguru
24 - Joeykun
25 - MAJOR METAL
26 - tommixx
27 - albass111
28 - JansenW
29 - Drucocu
30 - Steve Clark
31 - Rhythm5
32 - Fender32
33 - jazzbo58
34 - KPO2000
35 - FbassDave
36 - abngourmet
37 - HiFi
38 - frandiaz
39 - PocketGroove82
40 - Alistair R
41 - Jeff Rader
42 - Baird6869
43 - JOEY SQUID
44 - Russell Bergum
45 - KJung
46 - BigMikeW
47 - steve9000gi
48 - Dirty Dave
49 - Big String
50 - Jerry J
51 - OpaqueBass
52 - phatbass30
53 - bmc
54 - Sean Baumann
55 - tombowlus
56 - Mr_Dave
57 - mlowe
58 - pedroferreira
59 - AxtoOx
60 - maconbass
61 - jokerjkny
62 - simongpaez
63 - BassSlave
64 - JimS
65 - Squish
66 - Craig Garfinkel
67 - BOOTZY
68 - thewanderer24
69 - Bassboy
70 - McHack
71 - chingas
72 - basscollection
73 - bugbass
74 - Cory
75 - Cheesewiz
76 - svtb15
77 - coelho
78 - gillento
79 - mero
80 - justabass
81 - Jeff K
82 - Vic
83 - mrDOS
84 - pstyle
129 - Funnyfreddie

 

[MikeBass]

Let the fun begin!!
Pics, specs, stories!!!!!!!

I'll start. Here's my 2000 NYC standard 5.
Ash body, rosewood fingerboard, Sadowsky single coils, VTC.

 

[Andy Brown]

I'd love to join. Here are my two:

#4311 - Sadowsky NYC Standard 5 - I bought Jazz this two years ago, sold it, and recently bought it back. I love it.

* Quilted/Spalted Maple over Ash
* Ebony Fingerboard (no dots)

#4770 - Sadowsky NYC Modern 24-5 - This one is a really nice complimentary departure from the Jazz. I recently strung it E-C and the action is ultra-low. Incredible. One of Roger's Featured Instruments.

* AAAA Quilted Maple over Ash
* Birdseye Maple Board with Vintage Tint
* Nordy Big Singles

 

[kobass]

I'm in. Here is my NYC Standard 5 (quilted maple on mahogany body/ebony fb)

I have an NYC Modern 24/5 on order due in sometime in March. Spalted maple on ash (natural finish/birdseye maple fb w/vintage tint/Nordy Big Singles/black hardware). I had to have one after playing Andy's (above).

Here is the body:

cheers,
Kevin

 

[thehurlatron]

Here's my second Sadowsky. Not quite the NYC lookers some of you have, but I dig it. RV5 in Lake Placid Blue, Sadowsky HC with VTC, and "upgraded" tort guard.

 

[Andy Brown]

Here's my second Sadowsky. Not quite the NYC lookers some of you have, but I dig it. RV5 in Lake Placid Blue, Sadowsky HC with VTC, and "upgraded" tort guard.

I'm really digging the tort with the LPB... nice bass!

 

[Andy Brown]

Here is the body:

So when is this sucker gonna be done Kevin? I can't wait to play it.

 

[dragonbass]

Here we go....

Ultra Vintage 4, Full size Alder Body, Brazilian Rosewood Board, Sadowsky Single Coils, Fiesta Red.....

Ultra Vintage 4, Full size alder body, Brazilian Rosewood Board, Nordstrand Big Singles, Teal Green Metallic....

P Bass 4, Alder body, Maple Fingerboard, Sadowsky PJ pickups, Natural....

And.....My custom that I just started...(of course on a Alder body).....

Rob

 

[5stringwonder]

Could be joining soon..have a Sadowsky Tokyo on the way..

 

[JRBrown]

Mine.

I replaced the orginal pups with Nordstrand NJ4SV split coils and sold the Sadowsky humcanx set (no looking back).

Now that Sadowsky uses Nordstrand pups, does this make mine factory specs?

 

[kobass]

So when is this sucker gonna be gone Kevin? I can't wait to play it.

Did I say you could play it?

j/k

I ordered it in early September. At the time, Kevin told me that they were running pretty close to six months. I upgraded the fretboard to birdseye maple a couple of weeks later, so that pushed the delivery out a little. I'm guessing sometime in March.

 

[Nino Valenti]

Here are mine:

 

[Andy Brown]

Did I say you could play it?

j/k

I ordered it in early September. At the time, Kevin told me that they were running pretty close to six months. I upgraded the fretboard to birdseye maple a couple of weeks later, so that pushed the delivery out a little. I'm guessing sometime in March.

Ah... my favorite birdseye... and just in time for my birthday!

 

[Alexander]

Here we go again!

Can't say enough good things about this bass!

 

[Jim Carr]

Here's mine:

 

[BEADG]

If Metro's are welcome, here is mine.
Thanks,

 

[Jim Carr]

Oh heck, one more pic...with feature list.

quilted maple top
9" fingerboard radius
dark transparent cherry finish
Brazilian rosewood fingerboard
parchment pickguard
chambered Alder body
amber tint headstock
vintage tone control

 

[roadkill2309]

Jebus, what nice basses! I can't wait to get in on this Sadowsky action...

...of course, I'm going to get my bum to NYC to try them out before I actualy drop my cash on one... unless Sadowsky offers custom neck thicknesses? Does anyone know?

But man, Alexander's blue beauty stomps all over my dislike of pickguards.

 

[ibanezcollector]

Mike that is one of the sexiest Sadowsky's I have seen to date.. Good Lord she is just Beautiful.. Simple yet so Elegant..

Ahh man now where can I start pinching pennies.. I mean dollars.

Nice basses everyone.. I hope one day a poor sap like me can join ya.

 

[Munjibunga]

I'm always up for posting my 25th Anniversary 5-24 and the Tuxedo Bass. Both have ebony fretboards. The Tuxedo is alder while the 25th is koa on mahogany. The dots on the 25th are abalone.