Sadowsky (Warwick) Onboard Preamp - The ULTIMATE Jazz Bass Preamp Guide - LowEndLobster Fresh Look

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Hey everyone! For the third installment of the ULTIMATE Jazz Bass Preamp Guide, we'll be taking a look at a legendary Jazz preamp - The Sadowsky Onboard Preamp. Now this is a newer designed produced in collaboration with Warwick, instead of the old series made in the USA. Let's check it out!
Sadowsky Onboard Preamp: www.fretnation.com/sadowsky-b...
The ULTIMATE Jazz Bass Preamp Guide:
Intro: • The ULTIMATE Jazz Bass...
Lusithand NFP: • Lusithand NFP Filter P...
J Retro Deluxe: • John East J-Retro Delu...
Sadowsky: • Sadowsky (Warwick) Onb...
Audere Jazz: • Audere Jazz Series 2B ...
Audere ProZ: • Audere ProZ JZ6D Pream...
Finale/Final Thoughts: • Finale & Final Thought...
This bass and all my other basses with rounds are strung with MJC Ironworks Nickel Plated Stainless Steel 45-105(125) unless otherwise noted. Check them out at www.mjcironworks.com
Info on my signal chain, setup and more: • FAQ: My Signal Chain, ...
Discord: discord.gg/dzrFMzD
Facebook: LowEndLobster
Twitter: @LowEndLobster
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[@philipmcadam5339]

Good morning Lobster, Thanks for the excellent series. I do enjoy the education. This is definitely one of my three favorite pre-amps so far.

[@michaelkeefer4293]

Simple , effective and sounds really good! This is my favorite pre-amp so far.

[@randombassplayer_07]

I love this preamp! It brought my bass to life!

[@thebassbuilder]

I agree with you. This preamp just brings out the true tones of those pick ups. This is my favorite preamp so far.

[@RobMLyon]

After picking up a new Sadowski Met ex, I have decided to add this preamp into my Sandberg Tm, it will def add some definition and clarity. Thanks for your awesome videos Lobster!!

[@stephenclarke9512]

I agree lobster, that preamp is the Bomb, simple and straightforward, great review as usual bro😆👍🏾

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Stephen!

[@johnglynhughes4239]

Great preamp - simple, useable and sweet!

[@11560rafael]

Congratulations on the video, it has helped me a lot to strengthen the decisions I made a while ago. I always had the idea of ​​buying a Sadowsky bass but opted for another option. I currently have three basses. A marcus miller made in Japan that I changed the preamp to an onboard SPB 1 and the pickups to Lollar and it was a great idea. I also have a first generation Sire V7 and a passive V5 to which I connect an SPB 1 pedal with DI output ( If you like the Sadowsky preamp and you have a passive Jazbass I think this pedal is a good option )

[@villusive]

amazing videos man !

[@keypicker]

Thanks! Your video really helped me install a Sadowsky VTC preamp in my bass -

[@LowEndLobster]

I'm glad!

[@angusorvid8840]

Sadowsky makes incredible instruments. Some of the finest guitars and basses on the planet. Their guitars also come with preamps.

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Thanks Lobster 🦞🦞 much appreciated

[@TheBartostock]

I have this preamp in my Japanese Fender Marcus Miller (with a front jack, btw) and it made the bass more versatile, giving it the missing passive tone control. I've heard that the pre-Warwick Sadowsky preamps were more responsive and better built, but I'm quite happy with what I got, especially since no other preamp has the passive tone control working with either/both pickups in both active and passive modes.

[@dupajas4671]

It’s actually quite easy to incorporate a passive tone control into a modular preamp that uses passive volume controls - preamps like Aguilar OBP’s, Nordstrand, Bartolini, etc. It could have even been done to the original FMEQ preamp in your Miller bass - swap one of the OEM volume pots for a Stacked 250k pot. And use it as a dual volume or Volume/Tone stack. The other OEM pot could be used as either a dedicated tone pot or the other volume…depends on what you’d want…with minimal wiring modifications, it’s a great upgrade for ANY preamp that doesn’t have a Passive Tone Control. Preamps that use Active volume and/or blend controls like the Duncan STC, you can’t, which is why it doesn’t have an Active/Passive switch. Good thing the Audere preamp, which uses Active Volume and Blend controls, already has the passive tone circuit in it. Anywho, I seem to be gravitating to simpler 2-band Boost-only preamps with PTC (or VTC) for Jazz basses. I have a Fretless that I put together from parts with a Rudy Pensa 2-Band-Boost-Only preamp I had since 1997, along with pickups out of a Fender Marcus Miller V. Added the passive tone and it is marvelous. I would be curious to see how an Aguilar OBP-1 (with PTC of course) fares in a Jazz. The OBP-1 is a FET preamp based on the classic “Fender tone-stack”, as is the Sadowsky. Most modern preamps are op-amp based with cut/boost. I think the Sadowsky is also FET.

[@TheBartostock]

@@dupajas4671 thanks for the advice. The thing I like about the Sadowsky preamp was the VTC option. What I don’t like about it is the that preamp seems to have taken the sparkle out of the bass. I loved the full-open sound it had with the original preamp and now it doesn’t sound like a Fender Marcus, which I regret. If there’s a way I could put the original preamp back AND have the tone knob option WITHOUT affecting the trademark full-on sparkle, I’ll go for it.

[@ragetoca]

They were definitely better made and they felt better

[@Ceremyjohen]

Dude! This video saved my ass. Thank you. It is indeed a lovely device.

[@LowEndLobster]

I'm so glad! The Sadowsky preamp rules!

[@Ceremyjohen]

@@LowEndLobster I bought an active jazz body (with a battery box and side mounted jack hole already drilled - didn’t want to mess up my warmoth) just for that preamp to match with a set of stewmac’s Golden Age Jazz pickups. I had to write back to Thomann to disregard my request for a refund.

[@whodaman5]

Thanks for the Vid. Just fitted one to my V7 (series 1) and I agree - just easier to drive. I'm running it at 9V (based on comments I've seen from Mr Sadowsky that it makes basically no difference. I've kept the original two-port battery set-up and just used a 9V connector shorted out to complete the circuit - so easier to re-instal the original if ever I come to sell ( I won't!). The trickiest bit was where to put the processor. I turned it on it's side and placed it between the volume and blend pots - and put it together in that position (ie - I couldn't slide it in assembled - I put the board on one side and then plugged it in through the gap. Anyway - thanks again!

[@asingardenof]

I think this pretty much confirms my intention to drop one off these into my Gen 2 V7 (not the vintage). I do like the stock preamp but not massively so, and for a muggle like me there's just too much tonal variety on offer. I'd be after something that could do one thing but really well and this is it.

[@sicilianmammalian]

Great video! We need a ultimate jazz bass pickups guide someday like the rays

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you! Don't you worry, we'll definitely be doing that!

[@chriscuthbertson]

I'm happy with bass boost and a passive tone. I never want to cut the bass or boost the treble.

[@glenndjubilee]

I agree that it accentuates the Jazz bass qualities. I like all of them so far especially the Lusithand.

[@mikeprattmusic]

Loving this preamp series Lobster! I love the pre in my Sadowsky bass. People view the lack of a mid control as a negative, but I think it gives a purer tone, and I try to avoid as many eqs in my signal chain as possible. To a large extent you can balance the mids by turning both the treble and bass up/down together, then tweaking the volume to compensate.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Mike! Glad you're enjoying the series :)

[@RobMLyon]

I totally agree, I even turn the mids down on my bass head. It’s a perfect preamp

[@1okanaganguy]

Perfect addition.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you :)

[@vassili87]

I'll be installing the VTC asap.

[@Below-Average_Joe]

I love the Sadowsky’s simplicity.

[@maciejbrusio8321]

I'm waiting for an outboard version of this preamp to be delivered :) It indeed sounds nice with a Jazz Bass.

[@wren23_bass-synths]

They do. It's the SBP-1 preamp pedal. It's around $300

[@maciejbrusio8321]

@@wren23_bass-synths I ordered SBP-2 for around 100€.

[@wren23_bass-synths]

@@maciejbrusio8321 I'm sure even with exchange rates that's cheaper than $300

[@TheAlfaproyect]

If you think that it accentuates the J Bass sound my point of wiew is that maybe is because the bass has a mid scooped sound and by not having a mid control you are not bringing that mid frequency up. At least that is what I've heard on my V3. The Sire pre amp gives it a mid bump

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Pablo!

[@paulorr7471]

Very nice. Very nice. Very nice.

[@horatiusilasi3796]

Nice sounding preamp!. It does have the Sadowsky Tone. Really good bang for the buck. Have you ever tried the Mike Pope Flexcore preamp? I put one in my Fender Marcus Miller 5. Still got the Marcus tone if you want/need it, but now it can also do tons of other stuff. To my ears it's the most musical preamp out there, but also pretty expensive. Thank you for these series!!

[@PorchBass]

Boost only is better IMHO This sounds great and won't overpower your existing pedals etc

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks James!

[@ThatOtherAndi]

Nice playing as always, thouroughly enjoyed the detailed installation guides as well. Top notch content! Yeah, I think this preamp isn't for me xD In your case it sounded 100 times better than the two Sadowsky basses I have tested the other day. Your signal didn't have any buzz like the two specimen I have tested. But still i find the top end of that preamp sounds harsh, though in your case the sounds with rolled of trebble were very good. So far i liked the Lustihead filter preamp the most. Wicked sound! Gonna watch tomorrow's video and then going to decide which preamp to get for my Sandberg Electra TT4. Keep up the good work!

[@daltonbell2907]

Good preamp

[@peekaboo4390]

Very interesting concerning my never ending quest for tone. I have 2 jazz basses one with an Audere and the other with a Noll. But I am liking this Sadowsky's tone quite a bit.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Dai! The Sadowsky is one of my favorite Jazz preamps. It's in my personal Sire V7 Vintage w/ DiMarzio Area J pickups... I loooooooove it. I also have the USA Sadowsky in my Valenti

[@peekaboo4390]

@@LowEndLobster My crazy nice 94 MIJ 62 RI silver series Jazz has the dimarzio's and an audere pre.. it is insanely good and has seen every road house in Texas, beat up and played hard .. no need for that custom shop finish, all natural on this one. I picked up a dirt cheap Fender 24 deluxe Jazz that needed some love and installed the Noll 4xm as the original pre amp was toast. The Noll is very powerful and has transformed the bass to what I think Fender had originally intended it to be.

[@rqkeating]

Seeing the previous videos where the battery compartment wasn't used, then this one using the battery compartment, I feel it would be a good idea to always use a battery compartment (if you have that option.) That would keep all the wire connections to the controls safe (by not having to move them around) each time you change/check the battery. Just my 2 cents. Good series of videos!

[@LowEndLobster]

You're 100% right! I would normally use the battery compartment, I just didn't want to make extra work for myself in this instance dealing with 5 preamps. But you are absolutely right! Great comment Russell

[@thierryfidaleo9681]

J

[@brookallen-brower3683]

This guy is awesome

[@aldito7586]

Sounds real nice LEL. I like it ! Leave it to Roger Sadowsky to make great sounding bass gear.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Al :)

[@bizibetiko9778]

That Sadowsky sounds great. I really like Audere Preamps, but I think I may have to acquire or build another jazz bass just to give me an excuse to pick up one of those Sadowsky pre's.

[@robertlusk8423]

I had the 4 eq audere years ago, once I got the Sadowsky, I sold the audere, the audere sounds sterile compared to the Sadowsky, my Sadowsky will never come Out of my bass, it’s that good, it sounds so much more lively than the audere

[@jamesmarkham7489]

Maybe as a complementary series. You could do preamp pedals for passive bass eq’ing?

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Sadowsky pedals are excellent 👍

[@LowEndLobster]

Great suggestion! I do plan on making the foray into pedal videos in the future :)

[@russellzauner]

@@LowEndLobster *chuckles in Chase Bliss Audio*

[@CordScott]

Not a new design, but it sounds amazing. Even the baked in sound, before any tweaks is great.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Cord!

[@TSBASSIST]

Really enjoying this series so far. Think you'd do a separate guide for J pickups?

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you! You know it :)

[@mbberry135]

@@LowEndLobster I was thinking of using Lace, or Lipstick, or Quarter-pounders in my 1st Jazz build. I was going to use Obsidian Wire and maybe real Gender body and neck and Pickup Covers. Sincerely Mike B. B. From Philly P.A. U.S.A.

[@averyweissman4093]

It's funny how similar it sounds to the Sire preamp. Really a testament to Sire's quality.

[@TorbenMougaard26]

Nice T-Shirt :)

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you!

[@alexaubach9513]

Absolutely loving your preamp reviews Lobster! I am seriously thinking in this one for upgrading my Sire V7 Vintage II as I love the simplicity of the controls and the naturality bringing up the classic jazzbass tone. However, I'd like to ask you which are the major differences between running it through a 9V or 18V battery. Thank you so muuuch!

[@feritkeser]

Lobster şu soruya cevap versene bro... Bu preamp ı 18v bağlayabiliyor muyuz?

[@FernandoPerez-ou5pw]

@LowEndLobster Hi Lobster thank u for this video. I’m looking forward to install this preamp on a fender deluxe jazz bass v 2013. Sorry for the dumb question but I haven’t never soldered electronics on a bass. My question is related to the battery harness. You said that you used a 9v harness and it seems that u brought a new one instead of reusing one of the existing ones . Why not use one of the existing ones ? . The other question is regarding the location where the grounds are supposed to be solder. You pointed down to the bass somewhere in the cavity. But then you wrote that grounds go in the back of the pickup blend knob. Could u clarify that for me please? Do you solder all of them together? Like your page man. Thank u

[@johndelong9230]

Successful swap, I would compare to Sire stock preamp with a boost on top. My Favorite is still first preamp swap, looking ahead to next.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks John!

[@bustedfender]

My Fender Marcus Miller plays beautifully, but the boost only preamp was a bit of a bludgeon. An Aguilar OBP2 was a much more flexible addition.

[@garciasband]

Hi! Great Video! What is your absolute favor preamp for jazz bass? Thanks! 🎸🎶🎵

[@alexkidd4144]

I just came across a moon jb-5a that has had its bartolini xtct preamp replaced with a sadowsky. Wondering if I should pull the trigger 😅

[@rexsacia1522]

Have you ever thought about checking out herrick pickups? They have an 8 coil humbucker and a 4 coil split-p pickup

[@LowEndLobster]

Yes! Great question. Trying to make that happen :)

[@user-eh1yv9cp4h]

Hi. Thanks for nice movie,Mr.lobster. By the way,How did you installed this preamp in 18v? I have no idea for a probrem of battery connectors.

[@57precision]

I wonder if the pot bushings are long enough to install in a rear-routed Warmoth jazz body?

[@josevalles1403]

I have a J-Retro on my American deluxe but, which one you think is better after tested them?

[@Steel_the_Free]

8:11 Of course should a 376 degree F. ball of molten solder accumulate enough mass too large for gravity to ignore and then make the 32 ft/sec/sec 4 inch journey to the most looked at part of the bass, the resulting burn scar won’t change the bass’ tone. The downside is to be reminded of what you could have done to have avoided this eye soar every time you play with the pre-amp knobs.

[@joniltonsouza9338]

Hello lobster! I have a doubt about the Sire V3 and V7 pickups and I've never seen anyone comment on reviews, are they the same or is there a difference? Could it be that the V3 is ceramic and the V7 is alnico?

[@Hi-xs7wm]

♥

[@LowEndLobster]

:)

[@ciudadindustrial]

Has anyone tried the pedal version on this preamp? Looks like a good option to get the Sadowsky preamp tone without doing any mods on the bass

[@bassnyc1]

Hey Lobster, What's your "go to" setting for the Sadowsky preamp? I always feel like I'm not taking full advantage of mine. If you think of the setting from 1-10, I only set my treble on 1 and my bass on 2. Do you or anyone else reading this have some suggestions?

[@LowEndLobster]

Great question! Honestly it depends on the pickups. With the Sire pickups, I found myself not touching the treble too much as they're pretty bright already. The Dimarzio Area J's handle the treble boost a little better without being as harsh. Bass is usually a 25-50 percent boost though

[@ikramshehu8048]

Very good preamp. That's see something more advanced like noll tcm 3p (b2043), please

[@LowEndLobster]

Great suggestion! I've heard awesome things about Noll preamps. Will check one out in the future :)

[@ikramshehu8048]

@@LowEndLobster one more thing, I think that there should be an ergonomic category for bass, there is a ton of complaints among bass community about back pain which is not only because of the weight of the instrument but even the ergonomics of the instrument so the question is there anybody who produces an ergonomic bass guitars is interesting to know, and even the once which are produced some are more ergonomic than others, I think this will be a good aspect of reviewing of any bass guitar.

[@MarcG7424]

I remember the review of the squire contemporary jazz bass which also had a boost only preamp you didn't like the fact that it was boost only but feel differently about the Sadowsky which is also boost only I'm thinking there is just something about Squier/ Fender that you don't like since they never seem to get any positive reviews from you

[@motivation89742]

I have an American elite j bass but don’t like the preamp. I’m thinking about installing the sadowsky!

[@LowEndLobster]

Highly recommended!

[@motivation89742]

What preamp would you sugguest for passive j bass with jack on the body of the bass?

[@LowEndLobster]

J retro or Jtone from John East

[@KristopherCraig]

You were in fast motion when you installed the preamp. I’m really struggling on where to put the preamp sticker module thing? My cavity doesn’t seem big enough to install all the wiring.

[@LowEndLobster]

I didn't use the adhesive and just strategically placed it in the cavity. It should and you should be able to bend the wires a little bit to get everything fitting. If you are worried about contact with the PCB, you can cover it with some electrical tape

[@KristopherCraig]

@@LowEndLobster wow thank you so much for your reply! I wasn’t expecting it. I’m going to give it another try tomorrow, I got a little too frustrated today. I had actually purchased it to put in my Dingwall, along with some old Bartolini pickups, but the Neve for the Dingwall is coming soon and will be similar. So, it goes in the Squire Jazz with a bad ass bridge and Dimarzio pickups. Can’t wait to hear it. My bass player on the ship has a Sadowsky with this same preamp and it’s incredible. Thanks for all your videos and your response.

[@davedupuis2069]

You forgot to make us change your claw in yesterday's video, lol...fyi

[@LowEndLobster]

Doh! Thanks Dave

[@krispendleton4662]

"Hey 😜" lol.

[@russellzauner]

it's more clattery than burpy, gets some nice wool on it tho for a j bass. Little spit on the end but it's not like spittin fire, more like spittin needles. this is again a little on the thin side to me, as far as roundness and body, but there's only so much of that one wants, again, for a j. it's almost thick enough to make me jones up for a p bass but that is not what this is about, otherwise I would say it comes a tad short of the nice bumpy boofy tones (but it touches some of them a little better than the average j bass). It will be nice to see all the clips next to each other and hear them end to end together. I can't really make a comparison between this and the filter based design - they're two different animals. I'm sure that an ideal j tone and timbre can be dialed in with the filters, but it's a completely different type of tweaking and when it goes to its edges, as you've demonstrated, it becomes radically dynamic compared to your simple eq-based preamp and audio taper pots lol it's almost like stomping on a wah pedal or flipping on an envelope filter or even dicking with the delay pedal so the regen flips out the feedback loop... too bad I can't just put the preamp in a stomper and then hook up a couple of the knobs to an expression pedal/midi switcher

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Russel! Yeah that was the thought I had in regards to true 'comparisons' between these. You can't really evaluate the filter the same way as the EQ.

[@russellzauner]

@@LowEndLobster this video made that SUPER clear. But if they did work the same way you have a very lazy or very disappointed amp engineer.

[@kahfigitar]

This vs obp1 please mr lobsy

[@LowEndLobster]

Ooh that is a great idea. Won't be for this series, but I'll try and make that happen in the future :)

[@tiagomoraisc]

Question: Would you swap a standard fender On board pre amp (Fender deluxe) to this Sadowsky pre amp? Is it worth it? That's the model i was more interested on .. Thanks for sharing !!!

[@LowEndLobster]

Great question TIago. I personally would. I've never been a fan of stock Fender preamps, and the Sadowsky is a stellar unit. Hope that helps :)

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Definitely if you plan to keep the bass if not a pedal solution might be the option

[@tiagomoraisc]

@@paultraynorbsc627 Thanks !!!

[@tiagomoraisc]

@@LowEndLobster Thanks again!

[@64jazz]

Hey, If I can sort of "piggyback" off of that question; I have a Fender American Deluxe 4, I was considering putting in a Bartolini preamp and pickups; Any thoughts or experiences with the Bartolini preamps? Thanks, Love your vids Dude.👊🏾

[@JohnGalarza-zq2re]

Can it got 18 volt? I wanna switch but I want it 18 volt! 😂

[@ricardojmestre]

Quoting Stone Roses, "this is the one"

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

The nr one records through 40 years got there because they are different/new. Bassplayer only focus on the ‘sound’ in your head. The past is the past.

[@zzipdrive]

The lobster hand is wierd

[@LowEndLobster]

I'm pretty weird

[@russellzauner]

Germany, China, same thing lol

[@russellzauner]

also, have an earworm Malxolm Brixkhouse - Rapture (Official Music Video) 2,456 views Premiered Sep 16, 2021

[@LowEndLobster]

XD

[@russellzauner]

@@LowEndLobster oh as soon as those hooks kick in on Malx's latest drop holy shit *involuntary clicks "loop" yet again on youtube video* so glad unlocking the truth finally broke their contract...

[@russellzauner]

8:10 you are NOT tinning a wire OVER your STRINGS? wait, that's not over, it's ON the strings. BROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@russellzauner]

Never let it be said that I didn't offer simple solutions after I calmed the fuck down after seeing that At the very least you can get a sheet of polyamide/Kapton that's used for 3D printing beds and *without removing the backing* slide it between the instrument and the rework. It used to be expensive but now everyplace carries sheets for almost nothing, since it's a consumable in that area of makerism. It will at least keep you from burning the finish but I can't say what even just the thermal exposure from hot flux dripped on it, much less actual solder (you better be using lead-free, too!), would do to your string life or the sound of them. I'd expect that a hot solder blob would cause the string to suddenly lose all its tension and whip whatever is in its path. You're wearing glasses, so you won't literally lose an eye. Probably. But dude lol dude...lol stop it okay this is EXACTLY why I avoid soldering livestreams.

[@LowEndLobster]

I live.. dangerously ;P

[@russellzauner]

if you want to teach people, don't teach them to be stupid and careless with their things or themselves, which only ends it sadness and misery. Teach them useful things that make them happy and filled with joy.

[@ragetoca]

That is the worst preamp design ever made by Sadowsky....those notches where you solder the pickups is bad engineering IMO.....basically you only get one shot at doing it right...I would suggest people solder a couple of short wires and then make the pickup connections to those wires and good luck fitting the battery and module in the existing cavity