Sadowsky Ultra Vintage Strat

[sadowsky]

First of all, I would like to thank everyone for their kind words about Sadowsky Guitars in various posts on The Gear Page.

As most of you know, I am one of the few guitarmakers who use an active circuit in my guitars. It is a midrange boost control with a full and complete bypass switch.

My question is: How many of you would be more inclined to purchase a Sadowsky Ultra Vintage S style guitar if it did NOT have a preamp?

Thanks for your input.

Roger

[Thor]

Roger,

It is great to have you here in the Gear Page community - I love your work, and am hoping to own one of your basses in the not-to-distant future.

I think that this kind of post should probably go down in the Dealer's area - but for what it is worth - I think that your preamps are great, and one of the things that helps to set your instruments apart.

Cheers,

Edward

[Jim S]

The short answer: NO PREFERENCE.


I would not be more inclined to buy one with or without the preamp. Because I'd buy one no matter what. If you discontinued the preamp totally, I'd still buy Sadowsky guitars. Keep the preamp, I'm still getting the guitar. As an option I'd obsessively go back and forth every day on the decision.

I have 5 Sadowsky and 2 on the way because they play great and sound fabulous. I prefer to have the onboard preamp (OBP) only by a small margin. It's completely by-passable and if the battery dies (like every two years) you can still play and your signal is uninterrupted.

For some it would depend on how much less the guitar costs w/o the preamp. Is it $20 cheaper, $200 cheaper, $2000 cheaper ?

Another consideration: is the person a straight into the amp or pedalboard player. The former (me) find the OBP nice for a variety of reasons. But if you have a pedalboard with 4 boosts, 2 overdrives, 3 distortion boxes, and 2 oz of weapons-grade plutonium in a box, then you would not be inclined to need/want the onboard preamp.

Another factor to consider: to the best of my knowledge the only other luthier to routinely have an OBP in a guitar is Tyler. I think that OBP is powered by the headstock. ;)

[Dana]

If I were in the market to buy one, I would prefer it without the preamp.

[Martin Horne]

I agree with Jim S. My main concern is that a guitar plays and sounds great. If it does, I'm happy pre amp or no pre amp.

[shoe]

I think the preamp is a great way to make a vintage guitar be so much more versatile. So to that point, removing it would remove a big reason why I like your guitars.

[Balance]

If I were in the market to buy one, I would prefer it without the preamp.

That's the way I voted. If I'm looking for a completely vintage vibe, then I'd want it without the preamp.

But the guys who own Sadowskys seem to disagree, and they have experience with the guitars that I don't.

[StuBrew]

Hmmm, I really like the preamp on mine, very useful, but if I was going to buy another Sadowsky I would probably have it without, although if I didnt have it on my current one I would look into having it on board.

[cochese]

I don't own one of Roger's guitars but as a NYC player have played them from time to time. The one I tried with a preamp was a Strat Style with Bardens in it. I thought the preamp worked quite well and was not changing the tone when off. I've played Tyler's with a preamp that were similar.

My 2 cents would be to offer it as an option. Some guys just hate batterys in their guitars.

[mbrown3]

Have you tried some with the preamp and without, and was there any tone difference on the magnetics between them? That would be my concern. If the same guitar sounds the same with or without it turned on, that's one thing. But if there is a difference between two guitars, one with it installed, one without, then that would be interesting. Obviously, go with the better one (of course, "better" is subjective). If they all sound the same, then I would just leave the option on and let people not use it if they don't want to.

[TiEsQue]

Assuming the preamp is fully transparent when turned off, I prefer the preamp.

[Jim S]

Assuming the preamp is fully transparent when turned off, I prefer the preamp.
I find that it's transparent.

[Mister John]

With a name like Ultra Vintage I'd think you'd go without the preamp.Just a thought.Nice guitars BTW......

[MOJO]

I would say if you have the option of shuting off the pre-amp and it really has no effect on the tone when it's not on...leave it in the guitar..

[adamg]

Hi Roger,

If it is true-bypass then this would be a non-issue for me.

I have also sent you a PM with an unrelated question.

Thanks,


Adam

[Jerrod]

With a name like Ultra Vintage I'd think you'd go without the preamp.Just a thought.Nice guitars BTW......

Or maybe it's a Vintage guitar with Ultra features. :eek:

[Neill]

preamp me

[Cory]

Roger,
I've got agree with Jim S. I'd buy another one whether it had a preamp in it or not. I use my Vintage Sadowsky Strat with the preamp off about 60% of the time. I do love having it though. Comes in MIGHTY handy when you only want to take one guitar and be able to cover a lot of ground.