It's very sad but Will Lee is the most UNDERRATED bass player in history. This guy is an absolute living legend and his bass skills will ride with the very best of em.
As an owner of 3 of your basses, Roger I have to say getting down to your shop and shaking your hand and saying thank you for being the best in the business is on my list.
Still have my copy of the second Dreams album from the early 70's - my introduction to Will Lee. And many fond late night early 80's memories of the old Letterman show on NBC with Hiram Bullock and Steve Jordan in the band. Hitting home every night.
I remember one day wondering into Roger Sadowsky's shop in Times Square in the late 70's or early 80's and had no idea who he was. He was around 39 yrs old at the time and he explained that he built basses. He was very nice to me but I didnt want to take up to much of his time. I guess a few months later I kept seeing his ads in guitar player magazine and realized he was a major player in the industry.
I first heard Will and of him from his playing on Ace Frehley,s solo album back in 1978 so I knew of him when he really got well known. I like the look and style of his bass as it retains Jazz with some modern vibe but can play as he says it all. And Sonic Blue with Maple Neck is as good as it gets.
One day I’d like to own a Will Lee Sadowsky but I recently found my punch sound in a USA Spector NS-2J. I can’t imagine anything sounding more punchy but would still love to own a Sadowsky!
Great to see you 2 guys hanging. History there. I drove down to the shop from Boston, this summer, to have my WL5 serviced. Roger was on vay-cay, but the family really took care of me. Very cool vibe in the shop. I want to save up my $$ for one of the new cutaways. The lightest bass I've ever held. Please feature it in a video. Thanx!
Great interview!! My experience with the cover over the pickup is (I own a Fender P-Bass) the cover seems to "enhance" the magnetic field around the P/U and give the tone a distinctive quality. I a big fan of Duck Dunn and I try to get my tone to sound somwhat like Duck used to have. It's worked for me... the bass is a 62 P-Bass Vintage Reissue purchased in 1999. My goal is to eventually have you build me a copy of my bass in a 5 string. Have a great week!!
Come on man. You started in studios on a P Bass and I saw you live with a P bass in late 70's. Marcus rocked your world on a Jazz and YOU GOT THE BELL COVER idea from Marcus, Roger even nudges you to admit that--but you side step the admission. Well, Roger knows, and Marcus knows, the bell thing Marcus came up with 1st. You had NO BELL covers on your P Bass.
It's very sad but Will Lee is the most UNDERRATED bass player in history. This guy is an absolute living legend and his bass skills will ride with the very best of em.
As an owner of 3 of your basses, Roger I have to say getting down to your shop and shaking your hand and saying thank you for being the best in the business is on my list.
Great interview ! We need more materials like this one :) Best for Mr. Sadowsky and his team ! Great basses and great people since many decades !
Two greats, who have done so much for the bass world!
Still have my copy of the second Dreams album from the early 70's - my introduction to Will Lee.
And many fond late night early 80's memories of the old Letterman show on NBC with Hiram Bullock and Steve Jordan in the band. Hitting home every night.
I remember one day wondering into Roger Sadowsky's shop in Times Square in the late 70's or early 80's and had no idea who he was. He was around 39 yrs old at the time and he explained that he built basses. He was very nice to me but I didnt want to take up to much of his time. I guess a few months later I kept seeing his ads in guitar player magazine and realized he was a major player in the industry.
So much talent in both of these virtuosos.
I first heard Will and of him from his playing on Ace Frehley,s solo album back in 1978 so I knew of him when he really got well known. I like the look and style of his bass as it retains Jazz with some modern vibe but can play as he says it all. And Sonic Blue with Maple Neck is as good as it gets.
Great interview Roger!
One day I’d like to own a Will Lee Sadowsky but I recently found my punch sound in a USA Spector NS-2J. I can’t imagine anything sounding more punchy but would still love to own a Sadowsky!
That’s a cool testimony ✌🏽👍🏽
Great to see you 2 guys hanging. History there. I drove down to the shop from Boston, this summer, to have my WL5 serviced. Roger was on vay-cay, but the family really took care of me. Very cool vibe in the shop. I want to save up my $$ for one of the new cutaways. The lightest bass I've ever held. Please feature it in a video. Thanx!
Roger you are the best...from Italy regards.
Great interview!!
My experience with the cover over the pickup is (I own a Fender P-Bass) the cover seems to "enhance" the magnetic field around the P/U and give the tone a distinctive quality. I a big fan of Duck Dunn and I try to get my tone to sound somwhat like Duck used to have.
It's worked for me... the bass is a 62 P-Bass Vintage Reissue purchased in 1999.
My goal is to eventually have you build me a copy of my bass in a 5 string.
Have a great week!!
Is there a 5 string WL model with 22 frets and the mid eq? The other question would be could I afford it.
Very Cool .
excelete!
How can I buy this preamp for my Marcus Miller v7 Sire 5 string bass guitar
Cant believe he was 64 in 2016.
Will was already happening before Letterman …. He’s been on some great recordings way before …
What's he doing @ :09? It sounds like the pitch dropped? how do you do that?!
You push the neck outwards and the body inwards which mildly changes the angle od the neck enough for the bass to change pitch.
Billy Sheehan is the king of this. He drops the low E all the way to a D just from bending the neck!
Dennis Midkiff Damn
I first saw Jaco do this on his video Modern Electric Bass.
th-cam.com/video/iFHMo5xVbd4/w-d-xo.html
I don't think Will ever held a bass in his hands that long without playing it. He looks like he's itchin to stop talkin and just play.
Smoke lee
This is what happens when you mix mojo with master.
With all the money spent on Sadowsky basses they would be more aesthetically matching with the pickup cover colors.
Come on man. You started in studios on a P Bass and I saw you live with a P bass in late 70's. Marcus rocked your world on a Jazz and YOU GOT THE BELL COVER idea from Marcus, Roger even nudges you to admit that--but you side step the admission. Well, Roger knows, and Marcus knows, the bell thing Marcus came up with 1st. You had NO BELL covers on your P Bass.
That's funny! I'm a lot older than you think (and MM is younger than you think!) I was there (so was Marcus!) - ask either one of us....
I'd invite you to look at Will's website where most of his P basses have bell covers on them.