Anyone that knows me knows that I am a fanatic for Roger Sadowsky bass guitars.  I’ve been playing the same M5-24 since 2006.  I call her Brownie because of her Sunburst color and she gets virtually NO downtime and has had one vaction in 5 years (when I played a Sadowsky MV-5 for a tour in South America)!!  We’ve toured 5 continents together and prayerfully we’ll be able to do more.  With all of that being said, I think it’s time to get her a little relief!!

I’ve been searching for another bass to try that could be a great backup to Brownie.  I know that the obvious solution would be to get another Sadowsky, which I will one day, but for now that price tag puts this idea a little out of reach.  The prices of those wonderful instruments have increased over the last five years and I have to admit that I faced a bit of sticker shock when I went back to start pricing basses.  I totally understand it though.

In the interim, I’ve researched almost EVERY bass manufacturer that exists.  I’ve even bought inexpensive basses and have modified them in search of a great backup/alternate bass.  The new Fenders are inconsistent in sound/feel, the older Fenders cost just as much as the new ones, the Squier’s feel/sound great passive but do not have any realistically usable preamps (if any at all), G&L’s are great but just don’t suit my taste or work load, Warwick necks are too small for my hands, and I’m not a fan of the Shecters,  ESP’s, Epiphone’s etc.  So that leaves a few options that could work in my world… Ibanez Premiums, the new Lakland AJ’s and the Carvin SB5000 / B50.

» Read more: New Bass Coming Soon…