bassaussie

There's one issue that could swing you one way or the other before you try either bass. The Sadowsky has a 34" scale, the Lakland is a 35". That point alone can could eliminate either bass, depending on what you prefer. I think what the guys above said is correct, though. With basses like this (and the money required to purchase them), you really should try them out first. That being said, I'm a big fan of Sadowsky basses (I own two), so I'll say Sadowsky.

[quote name='bassman2790' post='228874' date='Jun 29 2008, 09:21 AM']What do you think?[/quote] At the very minimum, the neck and tuners are replacements. The tuners are the sort you'll find on a lot of Korean instruments, that's a definite - and they match the string guide, also of that origin. The giveaway on the neck is the headstock shape - see the curve directly under the word "Precision", it's far too "curved" for a Fender. Add to that that he's using a early 70's "Precision" logo with a silver "Fender" logo - the "Fender" should be black. Finally, I think that the little logo after the word "Bass" is the "Offset Contour Body" logo, which is a nice touch, only that logo was only put onto Jazz basses!! Just a typical example of some applying a Fender decal and not doing their research to make sure it's correct. I'm not sure on the body, maybe someone else could add a comment? I'd be very cautious with any bids on this. Having said that, it's starting at 99p, and I'm sure the bass plus case has got to be worth at least £100, so it might be worth watching.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='221257' date='Jun 18 2008, 11:36 AM']Although he is still presenting an overinflated opinion of this bass. I don't want to harang this guy but I don't believe his BS story, I believe he intentionally set out to rip someone off and after getting busted he's toned it down. good copy - NO collectors item - NO... not in the sense that's implied anyway[/quote] I tend to agree. My initial posts tried to get away from any finger pointing, as there's always a chance that the guy made an honest mistake, but the more I look at this, the more I think he was most probably trying to pull a fast one, is only backing down now as he got sprung, yet is still trying to imply that this bass is something more than it is. Strange thing is this. He's got perfect feedback on Ebay, so why would he want to screw that on a cheap Fender copy? Pretty stupid move, if you ask me. Especially these days, where the buyer can always leave him a negative, but he can't do the same back.

[quote name='aceuggy' post='221304' date='Jun 18 2008, 12:25 PM']Spooky! I've just ordered the revised edition of the Bass Book. [/quote] If you want to learn about vintage Fender basses, then get "The Fender Bass - An Illustrated History" by Al Molinaro. It's the best book around for that topic.

This situation reminds of something that I stumbled across a few years back here in Portugal. There's a couple of blokes who deal in the shadier side of vintage guitars here, and they'll try anything on if they see a buck in it. One's a dealer who knows next to nowt about vintage guitars, other than that they're worth a lot of money, and the other is a collector who know's his stuff, and therefore knows how to do forgeries good enough to fool less experienced people. So, one day I walk into the dealer's shop, and he's got an old Fender Musicmaster bass in there which he's charging something like 1000€ for. I had a look over it, and it's got this dodgy looking neck plate on it that's been made to resemble a pre-CBS neckplate, so it's simply got a serial number, nothing else. I asked him where he got the bass from, and finally got it from him that he'd got it from the dodgy collector. I then asked him what year he thought it was, and he assured me it was a 1960 Fender Musicmaster bass. I told him that was very nice, and that it was probably worth more than he was asking, especially since Fender didn't start making Musicmaster basses until 1970! He then told me that the bass was most probably a prototype. I told him I seriously doubted that, and when he asked him why, I explained to him that, when the bass had been in my possession (you see, I was the person who originally brought the bass into Portugal!!), it had had a neck plate on it that dated it to around 1974!!! He asked me how I could be so sure that it was my old bass, so I told him that if he looked under the pickguard, which apparently he hadn't previously done, he'd find that the body had been routed out for a Precision pickup, and not routed very well at that! I'd sold the bass to a friend, who had then sold it to the collector. The collector had taken the original neck plate off, placed a forgery on there (and, trust me, it was a really bogus looking neck plate), then sold it to the first unsuspecting victim - the dealer. Now, I didn't feel too sorry for the dealer, as I knew a guitar repairman that he would send all sorts of things to for the repairman to doctor up to look like Fenders and Gibsons. But his mistake was that he simply dated the bass based on the neckplate, and didn't confirm some other fairly obvious points - ie. did Musicmaster basses exist in 1960?!

[quote name='Bassassin' post='220539' date='Jun 17 2008, 12:54 PM']Had a reply: Which I'd say is fair enough, & hope he didn't get ripped off too badly. Although "Nedcallan" strikes me as a very strange choice of user name for someone whose expertise is not with guitars. Cynical me, eh? J.[/quote] It's hard to say whether he's a scammer or not, but if he's willing to accept what people have told him and relist it accordingly, then fair enough. Personally, I think he's just a poor bugger who got ripped off, but then decided to pass his loss onto someone else, doctoring the bass a little more to make it look a bit more realistic. Not the nicest thing to do, regardless of his own loss.

As said above, this is definitely not a Fender - it's early 70s Japanese, made in the same factory as Cimar. The pickup shape is what makes the source obvious, because of the rounded corners, and the tuning pegs are from the source as well (both pointed out by SJA above). There's other obvious signs - the headstock shap isn' quite the same as a Fender, nor the body shape. As regards the seller, the thing that I'm interested in is this. He currently has around 10 auctions, all with "User ID Kept Private". I'm always a bit suspect when a uses that option. So I checked his feedback, and particularly his most recent auctions, and it seems he's not used that option previously, it's just something he's gone for with this particular group of auctions. Obviously I have no idea why he's decided to suddenly use the Private Listing option, but it does seem convenient in relation to this bass. However, if I had to point to some damning evidence, I'd say this might be it. It's the last purchase he's made, 11 June 2008. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250249467610"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=250249467610[/url] His bass auction was posted 15 June. I don't now if he could've received the neck plate in time for those photos, but it all looks very questionable.

[quote name='7string' post='219386' date='Jun 15 2008, 07:41 PM']Somewhere here on BC, someone recommended this interview with Roger Sadowsky [url="http://www.behindthenotes.com/index.php/Featured-Video/Features/Bass/Roger-Sadowsky/menu-id-17.html"]http://www.behindthenotes.com/index.php/Fe...menu-id-17.html[/url] In it he discusses the Metro range vs. NYC. The Metro's have a limited amount of options, but are the same fit & finish as an NYC. Surprisingly, the NYC basses are chambered to keep the weight down and they have the option of exotic wood tops. It's a great interview (about an hour) and I apologise for not name-checking the BC'er who brought the interview to everyone's attention in the first instance.[/quote] I was going to link to this myself, it's a great interview. It's a bit long, but well worth watching if you're into Sadowsky instruments. [quote name='7string' post='219386' date='Jun 15 2008, 07:41 PM'][b]bassaussie[/b]- You're a lucky guy to own 2 (!) Sadowsky NYC basses [/quote] I know!!! I swear, I look at some of the basses I have, and I really do feel very fortunate to have been able to own them. The Sadowsky instruments really are wonderful.

I own 2 Sadowsky NYC basses, and owned a Metro for a period as well. One of my NYC basses is actually very similar to the one you bought, same colour and with the quilt top. Mine has black hardware and I also had the VTC installed when I bought it. To be honest, there's not a lot in it with regards to sound and quality. I was blown away by how good the Metro bass was that I had, it was right up there with the NYC basses. I guess if I was pushed for an opinion, I'd say the NYC basses just have this little "something" that I can't quite put my finger on, but it's VERY little - it's like the Metro is 95% the bass that the NYC is. The real difference comes down to the options - the NYC has all the different tops available, you can choose different pickup options, different radius' on the neck, different hardware options. Also, the NYC comes standard with the VTC, the necks have a graphite bar, and the bodies are chambered. Look at it this way - I certainly wouldn't have any reservations about owning another Metro, the ones I've tried along with the one I owned were all great basses.

Hi, I own a couple of Sadowsky NYC basses, have owned a Metro, and have also tried out quite a few examples, so I'll tell you what I can. The two basses you've shown there are a UV70, as you said, and a Standard 5, which is a slightly different bass to the M5-24. Here's some pics from [url="http://www.sadowsky.com"]Sadowsky Website[/url] UV70 M5-24 Standard 5 Each model has the Sadowsky preamp, and you have options of ash or alder for the body, and maple or rosewood for the fingerboard. The UV70 is different in that it has a full sized Jazz body, block markers on the fingerboard, and the bridge pickup is a little closer to the bridge, in the 70's position. Pickups are humcancelling J/J, and the neck is 21 frets. The Standard model has a 7/8 size body, with the bridge pickup in the 60's position, which is a little further from the bridge than the 70's. Again, pickups are humcancelling J/J, and the neck is 21 frets. The Vintage series is pretty much the same bass, only with a pickguard and the Jazz style control plate. The M5-24 (maple fingerboard) and R5-24 (rosewood fingerboard) have a slightly different body shape again, closer to the 7/8 size. Pickups are two Sadowsky soapbars, and the neck has 24 frets. The UV70, Standard and Vintage models are based on a Jazz sound, with a slightly more moderntwist because of the preamp. The Modern model is a bit more aggressive sounding to my ears, and starts to move away from a typical Jazz tone. All have a very usable tone though, and comfort wise, they're great, as long as you like Fender style instruments. The thing I always like to point out on my basses is the fretwork, which is incredible. It's a small issue, I guess, but it's of such an amazing standard that I think it's worth noting.

[quote name='BassBomber414' post='219101' date='Jun 15 2008, 09:31 AM']Thanks for all your suggestions , keep them coming , I'm listening. The Stingray is interesting.The obvious build quality appeals but I've heard a few on You Tube and they have a very distinctive sound , which I like, but seems to lack the cutting crackle and growl that I need in my band.Or maybe they can be adjusted to that sound ? Although we are a 'Pub Band' (Pah ! ) our current drummer has a full set of top of the range DW drums which are magnificent but very very loud.So the guitarist is cranked right up as well , this means that my rig ( Yamaha BB414 and Warwick CL Combo 250 watts Neo single 15" with horn,Zoom B2 pedal set on A1- Hartke 3500 sound)is up against it.The Warwick sounds great at home but can sound a bit flabby with the band.I play with the Combo on flat settings but the sub sonic switch in and the 'high' switch in,the position switch on the BB414 set on both pickups and tone set to 7 or 8 giving a cutting , percussive sound that gets me in the mix big time but is then a bit lacking in the lows. If I back off the treble I have trouble hearing my own playing which is a problem for me as can't play perfectly from memory.We don't have monitoring - we stand in front of the amps.Is a Fender Jazz going to do the job ?? Maybe I'll just have to convert to the neck.I've thought about a secondhand Ric 4003 which seems like a beast. I know the obvious solution is to visit a music shop and try lots of basses but where I live the only local one charges top dollar ,is staffed by a lot of youngsters intent on showing off to their mates and having zero interest in spending any time whatsoever with any Grown Ups.Other music shops in the area tend to have two cheap basses hanging on the walls and make their money selling recorders to children.[/quote] OK, suggestion 2. I think your amp may be the problem. It sounds like it's not got enough power to compete with the drummer. Also, I'd suggest getting rid of the Zoom, and just going direct. About what you said, yes, the Stingray does have a fairly distinctive sound, but I think it'll provide the depth you need, as well as being fairly easy to hear. I'd disagree with the suggestion about getting the 3 band, though - I tend to think the 2 band preamp has a lot more thump. Other than that, I also liked Dr.Dave's alternative about putting a P neck on a J body, although I'm not so sure it would get you all that far away from the sound you're currently getting.

Have you ever tried a Stingray? I think that might suit your needs nicely, and with the used market as it is, you should be able to get one within budget.

[quote name='99ster' post='212537' date='Jun 4 2008, 02:04 PM']Mr Tune O Matic.... Many of you are probably aware of this US based 'character' on eBay - he sells a huge amount of very expensive vintage guitars, basses & parts. He is also the seller of a notorious refinished CAR Jazz that keeps being re-listed as a protest by it's unfortunate current owner. Just in case anyone here is tempted to buy anything off him - you should first take a look at t[url="http://contact.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ShowAllQuestions&requested=tune_o_matic&iid=360056705660&frm=284&redirect=0&ShowASQAlways=1&SSPageName=PageAskSellerQuestion_VI"]his reply he recently gave to a question on eBay[/url] There was an even worse reply to an eBay question that some guy posted on talkbass.com a while back (I think there may be a thread about him on there) - it was unbelievably abusive. He also trades as 'find it only here' - again for very expensive vintage parts. I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions about how deserving he is of any of your hard earned cash.[/quote] Thanks for the heads up, and especially for highlighting the other user name he uses, which I've come very close to buying stuff from.

Pffft ..... bugger won't ship internationally!!! What's his problem?!!!!

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='201374' date='May 18 2008, 08:58 AM']blimey, what a steal. Must have been a fair few tyre kickers on that one then.[/quote] It's the sort of price that makes you think "sh*t, I should have had a bid"!!!! I bought one of my Sadowskys direct from Roger, and the other I got on Ebay from a seller in the US. Both purchases were over 4 years ago, and I can assure you both cost a lot more than this!! I would've thought that price was Metro territory.

[quote name='TimmyC' post='201290' date='May 17 2008, 11:01 PM']Anyone get this? Good price.[/quote] Good price? That's an amazing price!!! I recognise that user's name, and I'm pretty sure it's someone who posts on here.

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='200177' date='May 16 2008, 09:37 AM']I'm probably being picky and it shouldn't affect my judgement but... The fact that the screws from the s'plate have been reinserted into the holes means that I assume he has screwed them in so that they are flush with the surface (unless they were just put in for the pics but not sure why you would). This looks a bit ugly so if it was me I'd remove them... does this leave slightly enlarged, fairly unsightly holes OR if you were to fit a replacement s'plate (why would you with that timber) will the fact that the screws have been screwed down into the wood to a greater depth mean that when you fit a s'plate the existing screws will not bite as they aren't going in as deep. Does that make sense? Lush bass BTW[/quote] On basses like this, Roger will often put a clear scratchplate to allow the quilt top to show through. As for the screws that are in there, I can understand what you're getting at - looking at the picture, the seller appears to have screwed them in only as far as the depth of the original whole, so the head's are not sitting flugh, but are slightly raised above the body. As you said, though, if you remove them, it leaves the screw holes which look a bit bleh, so I'd be inclined to put the scratch plate back on. I've got two Sadowsky basses that are near on identical to this (one with the same finish, the other in trans blue, both with quilt tops), and they're absolutely awesome basses. If this stays around that price, it will be an absolute steal.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='198472' date='May 14 2008, 07:30 AM']£1500 so far with AGES to go. Do these people know what they're buying? Can the tell the difference between this one and the single-coil version? I hope they do...[/quote] Totally agree. I had one of these offered to me 3 or 4 years back, and I was curious as I'd never tried one. The bass was in very nice nick, which had me interested, and it played reasonably well, so all things looked good. Then I plugged it in, and the sound was bloody awful. I'm the first to admit, I'm mainly a collector these days, so sound shouldn't matter a great deal, but I just couldn't live with owning something that I had no interest in sonically. I guess it must come down to the whole "vintage = good" thing that's so strong these days. Thing is though, for the money it's at at present, it probably wouldn't be all that difficult to find a Precision from around the same era, and that would be a million times more usable.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='192248' date='May 5 2008, 02:27 PM']The Flecktones' "Sinister Minister." Scary stuff![/quote] I know a few Flecktones songs. Is that the piece that starts with these really haunting banjo chords? I'll try and check if it's the same song, but yeah, there's some great basslines in their work. I actually think I prefer Vic's playing with the Flecktones to his solo stuff.

[quote name='oldmallet' post='192232' date='May 5 2008, 02:00 PM']Rythm Stick is mega, saw The Blockheads at South Shields ampitheatre and they were stupendous. Norman Watroy is a helluva player.....mint. Hope you nail it 'cos I couldn't! [/quote] I'm getting there. Fortunately there's no pressure, I'm just doing it for bragging rights!!! But yeah, Norman's a monster player. One of the things I'm noticing is that when I'm playing, the 16s all sound very straight, whereas when you listen to him, there's this great swing to the part. Bastard!!!

I spoke to Roger Sadowsky a few times while I was waiting for my first bass to be made, and also after it had been delivered. Seemed like a nice guy, quite keen to keep his customers happy.