Bass Gear Review

Reviewer	Manny Lauria
Manufacturer	Sadowsky
Model	21 fret 5-string
Price	$2,100.

Neck Type	maple, one-piece bolt-on, satin finish
Fingerboard	morado, fretted
Body Type	swamp ash w/quilted maple bent top
Finish	cherry sunburst, high gloss finish
Pickup(s)	Bartolini passive J-J humbucking pickups w/Sadowsky preamp
Controls	volume/pan/treble boost/bass boost and active/passive switch

This is my third high-end 5-string (preceeded by a Modulus SPi and a pre-Nashville Tobias Classic), and will undoubtedly be my last. The instrument is light, (with a very slight neck dive) acoustically loud and flawlessly constructed. Its sound cuts through beautifully in either active or passive mode, and the preamp/controls will deliver virtually any tone you could want. The neck width is on the wide side (which is fine with me), and has a comfortable shape; sort of "U"-like, which feels great under your thumb. I have received more complements on the sound of this instrument than I can list here. Roger Sadowsky is the most customer-oriented bass builder around; he'll treat you like you're Marcus Miller even though you're a total unknown. The price has gone up since '94, and you'll wait awhile to get one, but don't let that stop you. (P.S. - I had him rehab my '76 Jazz, which now sounds great.) (P.P.S. - His strings are a terrific buy.)

Construction	100%
Playability	100%
Appearance	100%
Sound	100%
Value	100%
Cust. Service	100%
Overall	100%