DESCRIPTION

The Sadowsky Onboard Bass Preamp is an industry standard. This is the exact circuit that Roger Sadowsky has installed in his high-end, custom shop builds in New York City for decades. It has remained a favorite for gigging professionals, session players, and touring bassists throughout the years. The primary reason for that enduring legacy is simple: it works flawlessly in a mix.

The secret to why this specific circuit sounds so incredible lies in its FET-based architecture. Field Effect Transistors operate and respond very similarly to vacuum tubes, which is exactly what gives this preamp its signature harmonic richness and glassy snap. What makes this preamp so brilliant for the working bassist is its straightforward, player-friendly design. You get a Bass boost, a Treble boost, and a highly musical Vintage Tone Control (VTC) that operates entirely passively.

The VTC is particularly useful because it acts just like a standard passive tone knob, allowing you to roll off the high frequencies before they even hit the active boost stage. Combined, these three simple controls give you a wide range of usable tonal options that guarantee you will sit perfectly in any band context. Because there are no complicated mid-sweeps or overlapping frequencies to fight with, you can dial in a mix-cutting modern tone in seconds. You simply roll up the bass for weight, push the treble for articulation, and use the passive tone roll-off to tame the highs if you need a warmer, old-school thump.

If you are actively looking to upgrade the electronics in your Jazz Bass, this is a road-tested option. It is incredibly easy to use, eliminates gig-time EQ anxiety, and sounds great. It allows you to bring the highly coveted Sadowsky mojo directly to your favorite J-Bass.

From Sadowsky

Sadowsky's drop in preamp is perfect for adding that Sadowsky sound to J-style basses with a plate. The potentiometers can also be removed from the plate for rear installation for basses with a control cavity.

This preamp is a completely prewired system offering the same controls and preamp as all Sadowsky Basses: vol, pan, bass boost, treble boost, and vintage tone control (see below). The preamp can be installed with the included control plate or mounted through a rear control cavity in either a 4 in line or diamond pattern.  Installation requires a side jack and a battery compartment.

What is a VTC (Vintage Tone Control)?: “It works just like a standard Fender® tone control. It is a passive control in which 10 is flat and as you roll it down it knocks off a broad swath of high end to give you a warmer tone. Although the control is passive, it functions with the bass in either active or passive mode. A little rolled off knocks off a lot of string noise. All the way rolled off, it gives you a lot of that "motown/flatwound" sound.” — Roger Sadowsky

CONFIGURATION

2 Pickup, 4 Knob: Master Volume - Balance -- Vintage Tone Control (Push-Pull) -- Treble/Bass Stack