thodrik

I haven't played one myself but a guy I know changed from playing a five string Musicman Stingray to a five string Clover Avenger. He said that the Clover quality is pretty top notch for build quality and compares wellwith pretty much any US brand. I would suggest trying one to see if you like it. Once you get over a certain price point when buying new, pretty much all basses are going to well made with decent parts and electronics. After that what sounds 'good' is a matter of personal preference which can vary wildly. Try doing a search for 'Sadowsky Metro' on this site to see examples of this! My personal feeling is that the active tone circuits and pickups made by Fender are not of the quality as other 'souped up' Jazz bass designs like Sandberg and Clover etc. Sorry for any thread derail but is there/was there any connection between Sandberg and Clover? I only ask because the Fender-based designs look really similar, right down to the Delano pickups.

[quote name='bobpalt' post='1337225' date='Aug 12 2011, 06:29 AM']Its quite puzzling really why some "boutique" basses really drop in value so quickly. As well as Roscoes, Pedullas dont do well on the second hand market (when comparing their value against new cost), neither do Stingrays, Skjolds, Dingwalls, Mayones, even ACGs. Why is this? They are worth every penny of the new cost, so why the huge drop in value the minute you carry them out of the shop? Only Wals, Foderas and Fenders seem to actually hold their values in general (although I'm sure there are more). Very odd. Bob[/quote] I'm pretty glad of this, otherwise there would have been no hope of me owning a Vigier Arpege! I'm not sure I would ever buy a bass as an investment, save buying a pre-CBS Fender if I somehow get really wealthy, so the idea of a bass declining or rising in value is a bit pointless for me. Its not like I'm going to sell anything anyway unless I'm really struggling.

I had never really looked at the Roscoe stuff seriously as in my mind I always thought 'prices probably comparable to Fodera' when I saw pictures. But I just looked at the Bass Direct site and WOW! The Century Standard series is both stunning looking and looks bloody good value for money for a top quality made in the USA bass! I would certainly love to try one, though owning one is probably realistically out of the question bar selling/trading my other gear.

I would suggest it would cause a lot less bother to either play all the 'standardish' songs at either concert pitch or using 'E flat' standard tuning. If nothing else it allow the gig to have more of a flow and would mean that there would not be constant changes of instruments/tunings for each song, which I find to be a pain when watching gigs/ At least then you could get down to 2 four string basses, one in standard/E flat and one in D, where you could probably use for drop C tuning when needed. Failing that if the style of music is such that you don't need a 'tight' low D or C, you could just downtune the E on the standard four string. I used to do this before I changed to fives, but I was using using fairly hefty strings for standard tuning anyway (50-110 roundwounds, I just liked the tone). The benefits are that you can get the low note that 9 times out of ten 'will do' for the purposes of a particular song and you only have to tune one string rather than four. The annoying bit is that basically you have to transpose the song and get to grips with sometimes strange fingering, meaning that you have think through your parts a bit. Also compared to a good B of a five string, the sound is not going to be as tight.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1331434' date='Aug 7 2011, 09:53 PM']Haha, not this year! I think it was Summer 2009...when I visited a friend. I must admit the quality of each Sadowsky I tested was very good. I think Fender lose a lot of sales due to the fact that we have to 'try' before we buy, everytime, whereas with Sadowsky I bet 99% of them are spot on.[/quote] I agree on that. I have only played one Sadowsky that I thought was a bit iffy and that was about 4-5 years ago. The only problem I had in finding one was getting the finish and model I wanted. In terms of Fender I think you think that you could line up 5 basses of the same model and finish, they would feel like entirely different basses! That is the magic of Fender though and makes it all the better when you find one that feels right. I still think that when you actually find a really good Fender there is not much that can beat it, including the Sadowsky. Its just that after looking for about 5 years of searching I thought the Fenders I tried where nowhere close to the Metros and Sandbergs I tried, including a few late 60s and 70s Fender models. Hell the Metro prices didn't loook that bad compared to the costs of 70s Fenders now! My 1978 P cost me £390 in 1999! Even though that was a good, I find it hard to justify paying £1500 to £2000 for a late 1970s Jazz, knowing the flexibility of the modern interpretations of the Jazz.

I think a lot of people that go to gigs etc tend to see with their eyes. If I saw a band at the pub that were playing mustang sally etc and the guy was playing a top of the line Warwick, obviously I would assume that the player has invested a lot of money into furthering his interest in playing bass, even if he knows he isn't going to make a living playing bass. This for me is a good thing. Sometimes bands are very conscious of how they appear on stage and everybody has to have a certain 'look' to them. In that case maybe bringing the Anthony Jackson Fodera and wearing a full suit and tie combo isn't the best idea when playing in a vintage rock band where the rest of your band are playing vintage gear and wearing jeans and t shirts. Whether you are opposed to the notion of people hearing with their eyes or not, this does happen. However, if you are playing covers in your local pub, or play in a band that doesn't feel that its instruments have to look a certain way, then play what you want. For me the issue of whether the bassist in question is 'worthy' enough to play an instrument is neither here nor there. A bassist that can't keep time or hit the right notes is going to struggle just as much on a Westfield P copy as he/she will on a boutique bass.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1330961' date='Aug 7 2011, 02:33 PM']To be fair, as much as gg have great stock, one of their stores had the Sad's right in the window with bright summer sun shining directly on them, and it was like this for months. Their sales chap also said 2-3 had chips from players testing them out. I think I'd feel safer getting one direct, but I'm struggling to justify it at the moment when I know IF I found a decent AS Fender I'd be happier with the tone. I'm quite a build quality fanatic.[/quote] Seems that way way! I suppose that if I find a bass that plays well, I'm always willing to ignore cosmetic damage, as it is going to happen sooner or later regardless of well I try to look after it. Also, I always fear that when ordering something in, there is the fear that the bass could be not as good as the one I liked in the shop that was a bit damaged. This probably happens more with Fender than Sadowsky, but from years of playing Fenders that worry is usually going to make me a 'try before buy' guy. If I found a few chips etc on a bass though, I would use that for the purposes of looking for a discount or getting a few extra things with the purchase (strings, straps, leads etc). I got a few extras thrown in when I bought mine just for the fact the bass arrived three days later than originally planned. I can't speak for the other GG stores, but I've never had a problem with the Glasgow branch. If you would be happier with a Fender though, I would just keep looking for one. No point trying to justify buying a bass that doesn't really do it for you tonally, especially when it comes with the price tag a Sadowsky does. What is all this about summer sun though? Can't say I've seen much of it myself lately!

I think that you can order direct from Sadowsky to reserve an incoming Sadowsky model. Probably the Gallery in London too. I would think Guitar Guitar could do it as well (ie reserve one of the next incoming models from their next shipment of Sadowsky Metros), though obviously you would have to be fairly adamant that you were looking to buy it rather than just try it out. Guitar Guitar were really helpful with me in securing the model I wanted, so I wouldn't see it being a problem. However is a 'brand new' brand new bass going to be that much better than the ones in the shop? I know we can get into large conversations about temperature and humidity, scratches etc, but if you have a tried a bunch of Metros and not found one that you have really liked, I'm not sure that ordering a slightly newer model of a bass will get you a bass that you like. Also, given that the price of Metros goes up with each new shipment, is it really a wise move to wait a few moths if the model you are interested in is already in stock?

Generally pretty happy with my rig. Would possibly like to swap my Trace Cabs for an EBS 2x12 or 4x10 to go with the Fafner, but nothing major as that has been my opinion for the last 2 years, so I can obviously live with my current rig. However when I look at the Matamp Porn thread or see somebody selling an all valve SVT/Orange, my head gets spinning in a bad way.

My rules of thumb (I have 2 thumbs, so 2 rules): 1. Unplug when you are done. 2. Play about with the knobs until it sounds good. I have no idea how long batteries last. I changed the stock battery in my Sadowsky after a year and a half. Though I have no idea how much it was played before I bought it new from the shop. When the bass sounds less good than it usually does, then it is time to change the battery.

I don't get it. She said that she liked the green colour, but still thinks that my Trace Elliot stuff is still ugly! (well, it is in comparison) I was thinking that when the times comes that I can afford one, I could order an 8x10 that incorporates a foldable shoe rack on one of its sides, so when its at home it can stacked on its side and act as a nice funcitonal bit of furniture.

I do like the look of the Precision. For the price though (compared to the other Fender models) you can't really complain too much. I'm thinking it could become a good midpriced doom instrument when it comes down to drop tuning a four string. I don't like the look of the jazz to be honest, I think that having humbuckers on both models would 'look' better, but the proof will (or should be) be how they sound. I don't like the chrome finishes either, but that is just me.

[quote name='Wooks79' post='1320579' date='Jul 29 2011, 03:56 PM']So here is the set - Happy bunny! [/quote] Showed this to my my girlfriend and she said 'Wow, that is pretty'. Yet she describes my gear as 'that crap in hallway that takes up space where I want to put a shoe rack'. Congratulations, it really is stunning.

I have seen a lot of high quality gear at gigs in Glasgow from 'local' bands over the years. Yes I have seen a lot of Fender basses and Ashdown and Ampeg amps cabinets, but that is pretty high quality gear that is tried and tested. I have also seen a lot of gear that I wouldn't consider 'boutique' but rather 'harder to find in shops around Glasgow': SWR, Orange, Mesa, Aguilar, EBS. I have had a few people ask before the gig if my Sadowsky was a 'cheap Fender copy'. Though to be fair, two out of three of those words were kinda right! In terms of the pub scene I can only go with what I have seen in Orkney over the years. Fair amount of Trace Elliot, Ashdown and Ampeg for amps. In terms of basses I have seen a lot of Fenders, Gibsons, Musicmans and a few Warwicks. I have never seen or heard a Hiwatt bass amp though!

83lbs so it is hardly lightweight. It will probably sound great though, its a Bergantino! For that kind of footprint and weight though I would probably go for a 4x10 or 6x10. Am I the only one that thinks that they might as well have added a third speaker so it would be a vertical 4x10, much like two 2x10s stacked end on end?

[quote name='hairyhaw' post='1322253' date='Jul 31 2011, 04:30 PM']I sometimes tune the bottom string of my Jazz (105) down to C. It's workable but I doubt it'd be much use any lower. I'd tinkered with the idea of getting specific strings but I decided against as I just don't drop down enough to justify it.[/quote] Yeah I'm the same. There also doesn't seem much point ordering a specialist drop tuning set if I am only downtuning one string where as the rest are played in standard. I have started using the Billy Sheehan rotosounds that have a heavier E string (110). However to be honest, I don't notice a massive improvement on the drop D than compared to a standard 105. I find that the tension in Rotosounds are the best of the 'standard' off the shelf strings I find in music shops for downtuning on a four string, as usually retain a decent amount of tension. I have been interested in trying the DR DDT strings, but the expense has put me off. I have pretty much reverted to five strings now, and trying to keep at least a 130 for the B and 105 for the E, just so I can do drop D or drop A if required.

[quote name='charic' post='1322174' date='Jul 31 2011, 02:58 PM']I'm waiting for some newtone strings to arrive. They're making a set for specifically tuning down to CGCF. 110 Low C string. Will report back when/if they finally arrive....[/quote] I've heard about those strings, very tempted to try them on my 78 Precision, just wondering if this would require a lot more tension than the neck could handle! With a standard 105-45 set of roundwounds drop D stuff is easy. I can get a 'useable' B out of this gauge on my Sadowsky Metro, but not other basses. Once you try a proper B string though (120-130 etc) you do notice a massive difference though.

I think that all the post-Peavey buyout TE cabs have speakon and jack connections. Before that it was jack XLR. The TE cabs are good quality and work well with different amps. I use the same setup with an EBS Fafner and have tried a few Ampegs, Gallien Krueger and Mesa amps through them too, all sounding good. I might have to move them on soon though, I really don't need a full stack since moving to three piece bands!

Yeah, I saw one in Guitar Guitar Glasgow the other day. Some pretty bad matching of body woods-aside, it looked to be pretty good value for money for a five string. I think it was going for around £280 or so. I didn't play it but it did catch my eye for a low cost back up 5 string bass.