Fender VS Sadowsky

To me the price difference is totally worth it. Yes, there is the finish and the build, but also the tone!
Those high end basses have something way superior against the standard instruments. I've always found those Fender, Music man, Lakland.... basses great. But there was always a compromise in a way or another. This never happened with my Sadowsky's.
The tone is mostly the preamp though. Easy to either use the pedal version or drop the on-board version into a much cheaper bass and get “the Sadowsky tone”.
 
I understand. Sucks. Here's the deal though; I could never see the point to say a Fodera or a Sadowsky over my Fender Jazz or Precision. For me, it always seemed like overkill. I mean I know that they are outstanding basses - but I could never see the real difference in tone. This after many, MANY years of touring, playing 4-5 nights a week for 20 or so years, then playing locally 3-5 nights a week locally.

I have a friend who plays bass in our Church Worship band. Owns a Fodera. He saved for (literally) years to purchase his. He allowed me to play it several times and frankly, I still don 't get it. That doesn't mean that it isn't a wonderful instrument (it is) but unjustifiable to me. Just seems like buying a Ferrai while working for minimum wage, if you know what I mean. Besides, I would go ape-s*it crazy if it fell, or I banged in to something on stage - I would have a heart attack, and at my age, that wouldn't be a good thing.

Then there is my Wife.......................
I always thought it was me, still could be.
I'm kind of the same way, I have two things I look at, feel and sound. If it checks those boxes, I don't care the price. I only do if the price is not bringing much more to the table.

Similar to you, I have basses that I'm happy with. Not holy grail basses, just serviceable basses.

I got to check out one of my 'dreams basses', Sad Will Lee. On paper it seem to spec out as something I'd want, the convergence of vintage and modern, until I had one in my hands.

It was a great bass and all, good tone. I was expecting more from the feel and I get that's all me but it was nothing I could see justifying getting as the stuff I had was as satisfying, to me.

If it had that mojo that I was dreaming, expecting, hoping for, I'd plunked down the skrilla on the spot.
I guess I was expecting a 62 Jazz bass feel with vintage and modern tones. It had some of that.

It just didn't work for me, still a great bass :)
 
Last edited:
I understand. Sucks. Here's the deal though; I could never see the point to say a Fodera or a Sadowsky over my Fender Jazz or Precision. For me, it always seemed like overkill. I mean I know that they are outstanding basses - but I could never see the real difference in tone. This after many, MANY years of touring, playing 4-5 nights a week for 20 or so years, then playing locally 3-5 nights a week locally.

I have a friend who plays bass in our Church Worship band. Owns a Fodera. He saved for (literally) years to purchase his. He allowed me to play it several times and frankly, I still don 't get it. That doesn't mean that it isn't a wonderful instrument (it is) but unjustifiable to me. Just seems like buying a Ferrai while working for minimum wage, if you know what I mean. Besides, I would go ape-s*it crazy if it fell, or I banged in to something on stage - I would have a heart attack, and at my age, that wouldn't be a good thing.

Then there is my Wife.......................

I have to agree with you on this.
 
The issue of price point, value for money etc is only relevant when talking about certain new instruments. A Sadowsky is not that expensive when comparing to a pre CBS or a CS Fender bass.


Well, I look at it this way...if I had saved every penny that I spent on this bass and that bass through the years I could have probably bought 10 Sadowskys. However, at my age, at least for me, it just doesn't make sense. I was surprised when my Wife gave me the OK to buy a Lakland 5er...

Another way of looking at it is like a case (for the bass). Do you spend the cash for the Sadowsky and then lay her down into a $100.00 case? I mean, doesn't it make sense to go ahead and drop another 300 bucks and put her into that high end SKB case? You know, the one built to Mil Specs, wheels, TSA locks and you can stand on it?

See, I believe that it is all relative..
 
  • Like
Reactions: mickebas
Yes, it’s definitely very relative.
I’ve owned 3 Sadowskys, still have one in my possession but not sure how long. My 2 vintage Fenders on the other hand are much more precious to me and instruments that are +60 years old and still do the job really gives me a special feeling that’s hard to describe. The Sadowskys are more like buying a nice new car knowing you’ve gone for quality. In my opinion when comparing a new Fender to a Sadowsky the Fender (if it’s a standard model) will fall short in most aspects. And I don’t even use the preamps which is another area where the Sadowsky is superior.
With all this being said there are lots of nice Fender style basses out there (Lâkland being one of them) and if you find one that speaks to you, still the fun part is playing it regardless of what brand it is. I love both Fender, Sadowsky and my Lâkland. I try not to think of the nice house I could have bought for all that I invested in basses and bass equipment :)
 
Last edited:
I think I'd go by individual instrument rather than builder vs. builder in this particular case as I have seen very well made Fenders and relatively sloppy Sadowsky basses.

I'd try basses from both and get what feels and sounds best.
Currently owning 5 Sadowsky NYC's and having owned around 15 total Japanese and NYC, none were ever sloppy, like not even close. Please post a photo or video of these sloppy Sadowsky's.
 
Currently owning 5 Sadowsky NYC's and having owned around 15 total Japanese and NYC, none were ever sloppy, like not even close. Please post a photo or video of these sloppy Sadowsky's.

If there is one thing I might not be 100% fond of with my Sadowskys it’s the pickups. A bit on the cold side. But sloppy is not a word I could associate with Sadowsky basses. If anything they’re as far from sloppy as you can get... and I’m sure in some situations this may even be a disadvantage in itself :)
Sometimes some flaws can give a nice character. I know this is really far stretched and with experience you will probably know what you’re after and follow that feeling.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Buster Brown
Everyone's experiences vary. I've played quite a few Sadowskys, never seen a relatively sloppy one. I have seen many relatively sloppy Fenders, at all price points, including a Custom Shop Custom Classic I ordered and waited 9 months for. Swirls in the finish, the pickguard didn't match up to the control plate. I'll never buy another Fender.
In my experience I've yet to see a sloppy CS Fender, however I'm not saying a few haven't turned out well
 
I've owned 3 Sadowsky Japanese Metros and 1 NYC, all directly from the factory and none were even close to sloppy. I've owned MIJ, MIM and US Fenders through the years and they ran the gamut from sloppy to ok to dreamy. I'm not completely sold on the Warwick era Sadowsky yet so I can't speak of them with any solid opinion.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DJ Bebop
No, we can't. The Difference between the two that matters is the tone. So for me it's an easy choice: I just don't like the Sadowsky tone. But that does not help YOU make a choice. Only YOU can decide which tone tone does it for you. Both tones are very distinctive and each have their fans. So listen carefully and choose wisely grasshopper. No matter what you decide you won't be sorry.
I agree that Sadowsky has a specific recognizable tone that you either like or you don't.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jmm757
Why limit the search to just these two.
Plenty of options to check out and have good fun trying them.
Xotic XJ 1T, XJ Pro is the cheaper option.
Bass Mods K534 and upwards.
Lull
and etc etc.