Sadowsky P sound

[Stealth]

So my goto bass is my amazing iSadowsky MetroLine 24-4 Vintage Ash. Perfect in all aspects but one. I would like a more P Bass thump out of the neck pickup . So I’m thinking my options are :

Fit a drop in replacement j style pickup in the neck position but what would work ?

 

Get a new pickgaurd made but where ? And get a rout done for a Seymour Quater pounder. Any recommendation's for a good luitier that could do this in the midlands?

 

Obviously the first option would be my preferred ,

 

 

[Misdee]

To be perfectly honest with you, I think if you go the route of trying to turn your bass into a PJ there is a good chance you could end up ruining a bass you are almost perfectly content with, neck pickup not withstanding. Whilst you may get a Precision Bass tone available to you, PJ configurations have their own inconsistencies that may well annoy you more than the unsatisfactory-sounding Jazz neck pickup does at the moment.

 

Let your Sadowsky be a Jazz Bass and get yourself a P Bass to keep it company when you can might be the best compromise.

 

 Forgive me if I am stating the obvious but are you sure the existing neck pickup is adjusted to the appropriate height ect? That could make a huge difference if it isn't. Sadowsky pickups are top quality in my experience, so the neck pickup should sound okay in terms of output and tone, even if it'll never be a P Bass. 

 

 If you do decide to change the Jazz pickups you will probably get better results changing both pickups rather than just one, but no Jazz neck pickup will sound like a Precision. It's in a very different position.

 

I'm assuming you've got Sadowsky Hum Cancelling pickups at the moment. A true single coil  like is on the Sadowsky Will Lee will give a beefier sound with more  prominent mids, generally speaking. It doesn't sound like a P Bass but it does have a bit more growl and presence than the more modern hum cancelling pickups.See what you think:

 

 

 

Edited 7 hours ago by Misdee

[chris_b]

I'd keep the Jazz bass and buy a Precision. If you really have to, I’d replace the pickup in that.

 

I own a Sadowsky Metro Jazz and wouldn't change a thing. I also play a PJ. Those two have been my joint #1 basses for 8 and 14 years respectively.

[HeadlessBassist]

I like all my Jazz basses just how they are. They have a rich tone of their own, and I wouldn't really change it. As others have said, to butcher your main bass which for the most part you seem to really enjoy would be a shame. 

 

I recently (last week) acquired an early Nate Mendel signature Fender Precision with the aforementioned SD Quarter Pounder. That does have some serious punch. Maybe get something similar for when that extra punch is needed?

[Doctor J]

Trade it for a Sadowsky PJ.

[Lozz196]

Having Jazz pickups with a series/parallel option beefs up the sound a good bit, as only electrics can be put back to stock easy enough.

[LukeFRC]

For many years now my main bass has been this Sadowsky metro will lee - it's a bit of a unicorn in that it doesn't really sound like other Sadowsky I have tried and I love it. 
However if you took all my basses away from me and told me I could only buy one - it would be a precision and I went on a long search for what I wanted... and now have this Jazz and a Precision. 

I seriously seriously suggest buying a P bass of some kind - don't devalue or take away from what the Sadowsky is doing - it does its thing and it does it well. 
A P bass is a different thing, and in my book at least is better with a vintage bridge and passive electronics .... 
A passive Sire P bass can sometimes be found for not much more than the cost of switching the pickups pickguard etc and paying for someone to rout your bass and install for you.