Sadowsky
Encyclopedia
Sadowsky Guitars Limited (Professional Guitar Services) is a Queens
, New York
based high-end guitar
, bass guitar
, and preamp
manufacturer. The company took its name from the company founder, Roger Sadowsky. Sadowsky is an alumnus
of SUNY Geneseo, and built the business from the ground up, in 1979, after 7 years of guitar luthier
training. Initially, Sadowsky worked alone for years but as demand began to grow, his number of employees did, as well, and there are, as of 2011, currently 10 employees involved in instrument manufacturing excluding Sadowsky himself and Madison, the "chief of security" and company mascot
.
Sadowsky started out modifying vintage
(Fender) basses, which were at that time inexpensive, to improve their sound by adding more noise reduction technology and replacing the passive electronics with an active preamp, which increases the signal to noise ratio of the bass's signal. Once the price of vintage bass guitars began to take off, Sadowsky started creating entire bass guitars, and finally, requests for signature models.
The Sadowsky "NYC" line of instruments consists of 4 and 5 string bass guitars and 6 string guitars. The bass guitars have a 34 inch scale length with no current models offered in longer or shorter scale lengths.
The Sadowsky Metro line are the basic models of Sadowsky NYC basses made by Sadowsky Tokyo and offers most of the same features, minus the custom options, of the NYC line at a more affordable price.
Sadowsky, as of 2003, also offers a line of archtop guitars. There are currently 5 models available, the Jim Hall model, the Jimmy Bruno model, the semi-hollow model, the LS-17 (long scale/17" lower bout) and the SS-15 (short scale/15" lower bout). The various models are played and endorsed by many profesonal guitarists including, Jim Hall
, Jimmy Bruno
, Russell Malone
, John Abercrombie
, Leonardo Amuedo and many more.
Sadowsky instruments are used by high profile musicians including Willie Weeks
, who claims "the Sadowsky Vintage P/J 5-string with the reversed P pickup is his personal model.
Bassists Will Lee
and Jason Newsted
, who once placed a single order for nine Sadowsky bass guitars, are also known to use them, as well as Alter Bridge
and Creed
bassist Brian Marshall
, who has used them exclusively since 2004.
In 2007, Roger Sadowsky heard Australian bass player Tal Wilkenfeld
on the instrument, and she accepted an offer made by him as the official endorser of Sadowsky bass guitars. She still continues to retain this position, as of April, 2009.
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
based high-end guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, and preamp
Preamplifier
A preamplifier is an electronic amplifier that prepares a small electrical signal for further amplification or processing. A preamplifier is often placed close to the sensor to reduce the effects of noise and interference. It is used to boost the signal strength to drive the cable to the main...
manufacturer. The company took its name from the company founder, Roger Sadowsky. Sadowsky is an alumnus
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
of SUNY Geneseo, and built the business from the ground up, in 1979, after 7 years of guitar luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
training. Initially, Sadowsky worked alone for years but as demand began to grow, his number of employees did, as well, and there are, as of 2011, currently 10 employees involved in instrument manufacturing excluding Sadowsky himself and Madison, the "chief of security" and company mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
.
Sadowsky started out modifying vintage
Vintage
Vintage, in wine-making, is the process of picking grapes and creating the finished product . A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year. In certain wines, it can denote quality, as in Port wine, where Port houses make and...
(Fender) basses, which were at that time inexpensive, to improve their sound by adding more noise reduction technology and replacing the passive electronics with an active preamp, which increases the signal to noise ratio of the bass's signal. Once the price of vintage bass guitars began to take off, Sadowsky started creating entire bass guitars, and finally, requests for signature models.
The Sadowsky "NYC" line of instruments consists of 4 and 5 string bass guitars and 6 string guitars. The bass guitars have a 34 inch scale length with no current models offered in longer or shorter scale lengths.
The Sadowsky Metro line are the basic models of Sadowsky NYC basses made by Sadowsky Tokyo and offers most of the same features, minus the custom options, of the NYC line at a more affordable price.
Sadowsky, as of 2003, also offers a line of archtop guitars. There are currently 5 models available, the Jim Hall model, the Jimmy Bruno model, the semi-hollow model, the LS-17 (long scale/17" lower bout) and the SS-15 (short scale/15" lower bout). The various models are played and endorsed by many profesonal guitarists including, Jim Hall
Jim Hall
Jim Hall is the name of:* Jim Hall , jazz guitarist and composer* Jim Hall , Australian boxer in the late 19th century* Jim Hall , race car driver and founder of Chaparral Cars...
, Jimmy Bruno
Jimmy Bruno
-Biography:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bruno started playing at the age of 7. He began his professional career at the age of 19, touring with Buddy Rich. Among his many credits, he is the only guitarist to have ever led Frank Sinatra's band...
, Russell Malone
Russell Malone
Russell Malone is an essentially self-taught swing and bebop jazz guitarist. He began working with Jimmy Smith in 1988, and went on to work with Harry Connick, Jr. and Diana Krall throughout the 1990s...
, John Abercrombie
John Abercrombie
John Abercrombie or Abercromby may refer to:*John Abercromby , 16th century Roman Catholic martyr, maybe fictitious*John Abercrombie , Scottish horticulturalist and writer...
, Leonardo Amuedo and many more.
Sadowsky instruments are used by high profile musicians including Willie Weeks
Willie Weeks
Willie Weeks is an American bass guitarist. He has gained fame performing with famous musicians in a wide variety of genres. He has been one of the most in-demand session musicians throughout his career. Weeks has also gained notoriety touring with many of rock's heavyweights throughout his career...
, who claims "the Sadowsky Vintage P/J 5-string with the reversed P pickup is his personal model.
Bassists Will Lee
Will Lee (bassist)
Will Lee aka William Franklin Lee IV is an American musician and bassist, best known for his work on the CBS television program The Late Show with David Letterman as part of the CBS Orchestra....
and Jason Newsted
Jason Newsted
Jason Curtis Newsted is an American bassist known for his work with Metallica, Voivod and Flotsam and Jetsam. Joining Metallica in 1986 after Cliff Burton's death, Newsted remained a member until 2001, making him the band's longest-serving bassist...
, who once placed a single order for nine Sadowsky bass guitars, are also known to use them, as well as Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge is an American rock band that was formed in 2004 in Orlando, Florida by lead guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall, and drummer Scott Phillips, who are all also members of Creed. Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Myles Kennedy, formerly of The Mayfield Four and the frontman...
and Creed
Creed (band)
Creed is an American rock band formed in 1995 in Tallahassee, Florida. Becoming popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the band has released three consecutive multi-platinum albums, one of which has been certified diamond, and has sold over 28 million records in the United States, with an...
bassist Brian Marshall
Brian Marshall
Brian Aubrey Marshall is an American musician and songwriter best known as the bassist and co-founder of the rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. He also co-owns a bed and breakfast called Mango Moon in Costa Rica.-Early life:...
, who has used them exclusively since 2004.
In 2007, Roger Sadowsky heard Australian bass player Tal Wilkenfeld
Tal Wilkenfeld
Tal Wilkenfeld is a bass guitarist who has gained worldwide attention performing alongside some of rock and jazz music's most notable artists...
on the instrument, and she accepted an offer made by him as the official endorser of Sadowsky bass guitars. She still continues to retain this position, as of April, 2009.
Selected list of Sadowsky Guitar and Bass players
- Russell MaloneRussell MaloneRussell Malone is an essentially self-taught swing and bebop jazz guitarist. He began working with Jimmy Smith in 1988, and went on to work with Harry Connick, Jr. and Diana Krall throughout the 1990s...
- Adam ClaytonAdam ClaytonAdam Charles Clayton is a musician, best known as the bassist of the Irish rock band U2. Clayton has resided in County Dublin since the time his family moved to Malahide when he was five years old in 1965...
- Walter BeckerWalter BeckerWalter Carl Becker is an American musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the co-founder, guitarist, bassist and a co-writer of Steely Dan.-Career:...
- Dave BronzeDave BronzeDave Bronze is an English bass guitarist. The musicians he has worked with include Robin Trower, Dr...
- Stu CookStu CookStuart Alden Cook is an American bass guitarist, best known for his work in the rock band, Creedence Clearwater Revival....
- Bernard EdwardsBernard EdwardsBernard Edwards born in Greenville, North Carolina, was a bass player and record producer, both as a member of the Funk/Disco band Chic and on his own. He died of pneumonia while touring in Japan.-History:...
- Gilberto GilGilberto GilGilberto Passos Gil Moreira , better known as Gilberto Gil or , is a Brazilian singer, guitarist, and songwriter, known for both his musical innovation and political commitment...
- Will LeeWill Lee (bassist)Will Lee aka William Franklin Lee IV is an American musician and bassist, best known for his work on the CBS television program The Late Show with David Letterman as part of the CBS Orchestra....
- Chuck LoebChuck LoebChuck Loeb is a guitarist who performs numerous styles of music, most notably jazz. Loeb's own solo projects have generally been commercially successful crossover jazz, which has "contemporary" or "smooth" jazz....
- Hugh McDonaldHugh McDonaldHugh McDonald may refer to:* Hugh McDonald , Australian musician* Hugh McDonald , member of the 1st Canadian Parliament* Hugh McDonald , American bass player...
- Brian MarshallBrian MarshallBrian Aubrey Marshall is an American musician and songwriter best known as the bassist and co-founder of the rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. He also co-owns a bed and breakfast called Mango Moon in Costa Rica.-Early life:...
- Marcus MillerMarcus MillerMarcus Miller is an American jazz composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Miller is best known as a bassist, working with trumpeter Miles Davis, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonist David Sanborn, as well as maintaining a prolific solo career...
- Jason NewstedJason NewstedJason Curtis Newsted is an American bassist known for his work with Metallica, Voivod and Flotsam and Jetsam. Joining Metallica in 1986 after Cliff Burton's death, Newsted remained a member until 2001, making him the band's longest-serving bassist...
- John PatitucciJohn PatitucciJohn Patitucci is an American Grammy-winning jazz double bass and jazz fusion electric bass player.-Biography:Patitucci is of Italian descent and was born in Brooklyn, New York, where he began playing the electric bass at age ten, composing and performing at age 12, as well as the acoustic bass at...
- Paul SimonPaul SimonPaul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
- Keith RichardsKeith RichardsKeith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
- Bruce SpringsteenBruce SpringsteenBruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
- Willie WeeksWillie WeeksWillie Weeks is an American bass guitarist. He has gained fame performing with famous musicians in a wide variety of genres. He has been one of the most in-demand session musicians throughout his career. Weeks has also gained notoriety touring with many of rock's heavyweights throughout his career...
- Verdine WhiteVerdine WhiteVerdine White is the bassist for Earth, Wind & Fire and the younger brother of fellow band member Maurice White. White is known for his high energy and dancing while playing his bass guitar during Earth, Wind & Fire concerts.-Early life:...
- Luis Espaillat
- Tal WilkenfeldTal WilkenfeldTal Wilkenfeld is a bass guitarist who has gained worldwide attention performing alongside some of rock and jazz music's most notable artists...
* (Official endorser of Sadowsky Bass guitars) - Jimmy BrunoJimmy Bruno-Biography:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bruno started playing at the age of 7. He began his professional career at the age of 19, touring with Buddy Rich. Among his many credits, he is the only guitarist to have ever led Frank Sinatra's band...
- Johann Asmundsson
- Jim HallJim Hall (musician)James Stanley Hall is an American jazz guitarist.-Biography:Educated at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Hall moved to Los Angeles where he began to attract national, and then international, attention in the late 1950s...
- Toshiya
- Greg LakeGreg LakeGregory Stuart "Greg" Lake is an English musician, songwriter and producer, best known as a vocalist and bassist of King Crimson, and the bassist, guitarist, vocalist, and lyricist of Emerson, Lake & Palmer.-1960s: King Crimson:...
- Tully Kennedy
- Michael RhodesMichael RhodesMichael Rhodes is a former rugby league player. Rhodes was selected for the Scotland squad for the 2000 Rugby League World Cup, but he did not play in any of Scotland's three matches.-External links:**...
- Lee RitenourLee RitenourLee Mack Ritenour is an American jazz guitarist who has recorded over 42 albums, appeared on over 3000 sessions, and has charted over 30 instrumental and vocal contemporary jazz hits since 1976. One of his most popular songs was the smash hit, “Is It You” in 1981. Ritenour is considered to be a...
- Mike Dean
- JuanesJuanesJuan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez , better known as Juanes is a Colombian musician who was a member of heavy metal band Ekhymosis and is now a solo artist. In 2000, his solo debut album Fíjate Bien won three Latin Grammy Awards.Juanes has sold more than 13 million albums...
External links
- Sadowsky.com
- Bosse Hellgren (website in Swedish)