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That's a neat performance (yes it's a semi). It reminds me of the Chick Corea/Gary Burton duets where there's a ton of contrapuntal interplay and harmonized, synchronized runs written into the music. Really nice sound from the guitar too.
I loved my SS-15. I needed to sell it to fund a more expensive purchase. It had a couple of annoying quirks (to me) but they were not deal breakers. Really fine guitar. What I have in its place now, sort of, is a PRS JA-15. Similar package, but a bit more versatile with two pickups and a metal bridge.
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11-12-2014 03:06 PM
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That's my idea too although I never played one. Expensive on paper but then every clip / record I hear with one sounds excellent.
Originally Posted by Jim Soloway
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Roger, I seem to recall you saying something about the shape of the heal that you didn't like. Is that right? Originally Posted by rpguitar
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Yes, Jim, for whatever reason the heel was awkward to me. It was kind of square and my upper fret access actually felt impaired by it. And I play a lot of different guitars, so I'm pretty adaptable to construction variations. I haven't had that issue with any other guitar, not even a bolt on Tele or Strat.
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Roger's guitars are worth every penny. It's just that for some of us, it's a lot of pennies :-). My suggestion to the OP is to buy used if the list price is too much. Sadowsky's go used for anywhere between 3400 and 3800$. Btw, where do you live in Germany? If you're close to Stuttgart, you could come by and try out my Jim Hall model. I know it's not the same as the ss-15 but you can get an idea of the build quality and sound. IMHO sadowsky guitars all have a very similar sound with the exception of the semi hollow.
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PRS JA-15. It´s a new guitar isnt it? Seems to be in the same league as the S-H by Sardowsky. I liked the McCarthy models, sounded very good. But I just hate the bird inlays, cant stand it... Originally Posted by rpguitar
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How would you describe the difference in sound (PRS JA15 to Sadowsky SS-15)? I understand that the PRS is more versatile, but in terms of basic sound?
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The SS-15 is more woody and has a richer acoustic tone for sure. However, the PRS 53/10 pickups are absolutely great, better than the custom DiMarzio in the SS-15. They have more overtones and compression. Just listen to Paul Jackson Jr.'s YouTube videos demoing the guitar. It nails the smooth jazz/groove sound that he's famous for.
The SS-15 definitely feels more like a proper archtop, and the ebony bridge plays a part there. But I feel the JA-15 has more nuanced electric tone and still has more archtop vibe in it than, say, a 335. It gets a really nice soft, warm sound yet with brightness and "life" in the attack. Both guitars do that to different degrees, with the SS-15 relying on an acoustic backbone to provide it, and the JA-15 leveraging its construction and hardware.
Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
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I bought a second hand SS-15 in the UK. I wanted a lightweight guitar and this certainly fitted the bill. Great sound amplified and for a thin hollow body not too quiet acoustically. The neck played like a dream. However, I had to send it back for a little fret work and when it came back it had developed an odd vibration. So I eventually got my money back and returned the guitar. While it was lightweight when slung round the neck on a strap it was a little odd to play when just sitting on my lap because of the small body size.
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I agree with Ian about playing the SS-15 seated. It was a bit awkward for me, too. I had no issue with the frets, though. In fact, it was the most perfect fretwork I've had in a guitar and I've owned in excess of 100 instruments. It's quite astonishing to experience that, actually. The guitar practically disappears under your fingers, and every single chord voicing frets cleanly and plays true.
My PRS is pretty darn close to that ideal, just a hair less so than the SS-15 was. Still beats most of my other guitars, even those that have had setup work done on them.
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I've had an SS-15 for a couple of years, play it every day and am still extremely happy with it. Like most guitarists, I have a list of things that would make the "perfect" guitar (for me). This one checks off everything on my list, and when that happens I don't mind paying more.
1. Easy to play. Nice medium neck contour, low action, perfect frets and setup. Comes with 3 bridges intonated for different types of strings.
2. Comfortable to play. 15" body size works well for me when seated. I can't play a fat guitar because of shoulder problems so the thin depth is good. Somebody mentioned that they didn't like the neck heel, but it's actually quite small and never bothered me.
3. Good acoustic sound. This guitar has a very satisfying unplugged tone for what it is. Louder than one might expect for a laminate guitar. I practice unplugged most of the time and it's just fine.
4. Good electric tone. I really like the pickup and tone control. I get a better "jazz" tone than on other archtops I've had, and it's much more resistant to feedback.
5. Perfect workmanship and materials.
6. Attractive. I just like the way this guitar looks. Very classy without a lot of bling.
7. Value. Should have good resale potential and hold a significant amount of it's value. Yes, it's expensive. Worth it for me.
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I have one of the Sadowsky tele's and its worth every penny. I have played a bunch of the hollows and semi hollows at his shop and they are the nicest guitars of that type that I have ever played. I'm sure there are a bunch of other company that are equal in quality but I have yet to try them.
One of his old builders is on his own now, his name is rob Radack. he is working on some beautiful looking semi hollows now, look him up for an alternative to Sadowsky.
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gsegal: "its worth every penny". I will not go into a discussion about labour value theoretically (and not marxist theory), but I understand what you want to say: you enjoy the "utility value" of the commodity (Gebrauchswert) very much! ;-).
Rob Radack has his own website: he´s doing the one man business! Cool stuff!
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Yeah,I have one of robs strats and its on the level of my Sadowsky and suhr guitar as well. I hear you though, the value is in the eye of the beholder Originally Posted by lapideusvir
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If anyone one finds a SS-15 in vintage amber(blond) forsale in europe let me know.
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That will be quite hard to find since I think the "blond" (natural) finish has not been standard production for awhile. I have yet to see a natural ss-15 picture on the net. Maybe you meant "caramel burst"? That could be "amber. Originally Posted by jazzgtrl4
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There are pics of one floating around. Search for sadowsky ss-15 amber. (I'm on a new phone at the moment.)
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Yes, Sadowsky discontinued the blonde finish, not sure why, it was my favorite. I've got a plain maple top, natural finish, Sadowsky Semi-hollow with P90's. Maybe I'll post a pic.
In the meantime, yes, I've got my first batch of hollow bodies coming up. Very different animal. Completely hand built by me here in Brooklyn.
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