Founded in 1979 by luthier Roger Sadowsky, Sadowsky is a New York-based instrument maker renowned for its high-end electric bass guitars, electric guitars, archtop guitars, and onboard preamps. Roger Sadowsky began his career apprenticing under luthier Augie LoPrinzi in 1972, later running a repair shop in Manhattan where he became the go-to technician for New York's top session musicians. His custom active electronics and meticulous setups earned a devoted following, and in 1982 he built his first bass from scratch — a PJ 4-string for bassist Will Lee. The resulting "Sadowsky sound," rooted in refined Fender-style designs enhanced with proprietary active tone circuits, became a staple among professional bassists.

The company's NYC Custom Shop, located in Long Island City, Queens, produces handmade basses in multiple configurations — including the Ultra Vintage, 21-fret, 24-fret, and Single Cut models — as well as S-Style and T-Style electric guitars, the Broadway line, electric nylon string guitars, and archtop guitars like the Jim Hall model. Signature bass models bear the names of Will Lee, Verdine White, Tully Kennedy, and Jason Newsted. In 2019, Sadowsky entered a licensing and distribution agreement with Warwick to produce MetroLine, MasterBuilt, and Custom Shop bass guitars in Germany, broadening access to Sadowsky instruments at various price points.

Sadowsky instruments are played across genres by artists including Will Lee, Verdine White (Earth, Wind & Fire), Jason Newsted, Ben McKee (Imagine Dragons), Hugh McDonald (Bon Jovi), Tal Wilkenfeld, Marcus Miller, Pat Metheny, Andy Summers (The Police), Lee Ritenour, and the late Jim Hall, Prince, and Walter Becker (Steely Dan).

Sadowsky has 84 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Electric Basses, Solid Body Electric Guitars, and Strings. Their gear is featured by 69 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Jazz, and Pop. Notable users include Hugh McDonald, Jimmy Bruno, and Jason Newsted. Most Sadowsky products sit firmly in the high-end, boutique range.