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Sadowsky NYC Bass

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Page last updated Aug 10, 2025

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Description

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The Sadowsky NYC Bass is a staple in the world of high-end electric bass guitars, revered for its exceptional craftsmanship and custom hand-wound pickups. Designed with the discerning bassist in mind, this instrument combines modern innovation with classic aesthetics to deliver a rich and balanced tonal palette. The NYC series is crafted in Sadowsky’s New York City workshop, ensuring that each bass is meticulously built to meet the highest standards of quality and performance.

This bass is renowned for its ability to cut through the mix while maintaining a warm, full-bodied sound, thanks to its proprietary electronics system. The lightweight body and sleek neck design offer superior playability, making it comfortable for long performances or studio sessions. Musicians appreciate the attention to detail, from the precisely set frets to the flawless finish, allowing for an inspiring playing experience.

The Sadowsky NYC Bass is not just an instrument; it's a statement piece, offering a seamless blend of form and function that caters to both seasoned professionals and passionate enthusiasts. Whether you're laying down tracks in the studio or performing live on stage, this bass is engineered to enhance your musical expression.

Key Features:

Custom hand-wound pickups
Proprietary electronics system
Lightweight body with ergonomic design
Sleek neck for enhanced playability
Crafted in Sadowsky’s New York City workshop
Renowned for warm, full-bodied sound

Videos

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Griglak Juraj

Juraj Griglak bass solo on Sadowsky NYC alder/brazilian rosewood

Griglak Juraj

R.S.Riverman - bass cover on NYC Sadowsky

Jozef Madola

SADOWSKY BASS NYC FUNK...

Wayne's World Of Bass

Reviews

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Sadowsky NYC Bass.

Features and functionality

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Sadowsky NYC basses often include versatile electronics with a modern tone, but users note they lack a traditional vintage jazz sound.
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Sadowsky basses are known for a passive fallback feature, initially novel, now common among other builders.
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Comparisons

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Sadowsky's modern models have a higher output and offer a more pronounced tone in dense mixes compared to passive Fender jazz basses.
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Sadowsky basses are recognized for their smaller body designs compared to traditional Fender jazz basses, an evolution by Roger Sadowsky.
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Sadowsky's MetroExpress line is considered superior to Fender’s Player II line, praised for better necks and pickup output.
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User experience

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Players find Sadowsky models offer exceptional playability, with some describing the playing experience as almost "cheating" due to their ease and responsiveness.
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Some players find the Sadowsky necks too soft, preferring the solid feel of Music Man StingRays for hard playing styles.
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A user reported disappointment with a $4k USA model due to excessively high setup and a lack of desirable tones within a short play session.
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Build quality

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The knobs on Sadowsky basses are noted for turning too easily, causing accidental changes to settings.
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Some players find the knobs on Sadowsky basses feel cheap, detracting from the premium build quality expected at the price point.
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Setup and maintenance

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Owners report minimal maintenance needs, with only seasonal truss rod tweaks required, and a unique experience of consistent string preference post-setup.
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Use cases and applications

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Sadowsky basses are preferred for their lightweight and resonant qualities, with a specific 4-string model weighing under 3.7 kg.
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Value and pricing

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It's noted that Sadowsky basses are in a similar price range to high-end Gibsons and Canadian Dingwalls, indicating competitive pricing within the premium segment.
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Sadowsky's pricing reflects the low production volume and the premium placed on craftsmanship, with some perceiving a point of diminishing returns around $3k USD.
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5.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 2 Ratings

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Artist usage

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Marcus Miller

Bassist, Composer

Scritti Politti

Verified via YouTube

Marcus owns a few Sadowskys, fretted and fretless. Here he is playin a 4 with the Jamaica Boyz!!!

Colin Greenwood

Bassist

Radiohead

Verified via Bass Magazine - The Future of Bass

Listed in this March 29, 2019 Bass Magazine article.

Basses Touring: 1963, 1972 & 1976 Fender Precision Basses; new additions: Sadowsky NYC Bass, Lakland Donald Duck Dunn Bass; home basses: 1962 Fender Jazz Bass, Sadowsky Metro Bass, South Korean student upright, Ned Steinberger electric upright

Rig Ampeg SVT-VR, Ampeg SVT 810, Ampeg B-15RW, Ashdown ABM 300 EVO II, Ashdown 410H & 115 cabinets

Pedals Lovetone Big Cheese, Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver

Synth Novation Bass Synth, Roland PC-500

Picks Dunlop Tortex

Bernard Edwards

Bassist

The Power Station

Verified via YouTube

Per this 1992 television appearance, Edwards can be seen playing a 4-string Sadowsky NYC.

Best shots are 7:40 and 8:03. The shape of the headstock identifies it as a Sadowsky and the year of the performance along with the flame (maybe quilt?) Maple finish identify it as a 4-string Sadowsky NYC w/ rosewood fretboard.

Brian Marshall

Bassist

Alter Bridge

Verified via Sadowsky

Brian Marshall is heavily endorsed by Sadowsky. In a September 2012 interview for Bass Guitar Magazine, Marshall has said:

"I’ve played Sadowsky basses for ages. When I was in Creed I was going through a number of Fenders. Basically they just wouldn’t stay in tune and I often ended up smashing them up! I love the feel of a vintage Fender, though. My tech at the time told me about Roger Sadowsky, and we stopped by his workshop when we were in New York. I tried one and just fell in love with it. So I bought it and custom ordered a couple more 4-strings. Then when Alter Bridge started the guys suggested I try 5-string bass. I was reluctant but it really adds more depth to the sound. So I got a few 5-strings from Roger. Sadowskys are all I play live. They play great. They have that feel of a vintage bass, but with a modern sound. You can do a lot with the EQ, run it passive or active, though I always run it passive."