Sadowsky Metro with Badass V bridge upgrade?

Fatguy · #1 12-19-2010, 04:06 AM

I'm thinking about replacing chrome hardware with black to get that iconic "Sadowsky look" on my MS-5. Metro's Gotoh bridge is kinda custom made an impossible to find so I came to idea of getting Badass V instead. Badass improved sound and feeling on all of my basses so far but will it do the same on Sadowsky which is kinda perfectly balanced and so superb in all senses?

TomA1234 · #2 12-19-2010, 04:51 AM

Why not contact Roger and see if he can get you the original bridge in black?

Fatguy · #3 12-19-2010, 06:30 AM

That's an option but I'm still courious about that sound & feeling improvement with Badass

JeanBG · #4 12-19-2010, 06:52 AM

You can't get the original bridge, so you will have to look at other brands. Let me know what you've used and if it changed the sound in any way. I'm also interested in changing to black hardware.

Billy K · #5 12-19-2010, 08:54 AM

you could send your bridge out for powder coat.Gunsmiths do it and I dont know about other places to do powdercoating but I am sure that is what most black bass components are. Paint does not hold up. Powdercoat is some sort of electrolosis application.Turn around time about a week with the gunsmiths.Yost gunsmith in Az.does it

Chasarms · #6 12-19-2010, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy K

you could send your bridge out for powder coat.Gunsmiths do it and I dont know about other places to do powdercoating but I am sure that is what most black bass components are. Paint does not hold up. Powdercoat is some sort of electrolosis application.Turn around time about a week with the gunsmiths.Yost gunsmith in Az.does it

You can not practically and effectively powder coat over something that has been chromed. Powder coat needs the raw surface just as the chrome did when it was bonded.

As to the OP, I don't think the holes will match up. So, you're going end up drilling the bass. IMO, that's a bad idea on an instrument of that level of quality. For what you spend on new hardware of similar quality and the loss in resale, you could probably come really close to replacing the bass with a true NYC.

Lesfunk · #7 12-19-2010, 01:45 PM

It's your bass. Do what you want. Plus you're not going to devalue it. It's a Sadowsky Metro, not a 1963 Jazz Bass.

P. Bass · #8 12-19-2010, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy K

you could send your bridge out for powder coat.Gunsmiths do it and I dont know about other places to do powdercoating but I am sure that is what most black bass components are. Paint does not hold up. Powdercoat is some sort of electrolosis application.Turn around time about a week with the gunsmiths.Yost gunsmith in Az.does it

I wonder if gun blue could be used over the chrome. That would look great if it was done to the tuners & chrome knobs as well. There are many varied bluing treatments to choose from that I've often wondered about.
B.

Billy K · #9 12-19-2010, 02:07 PM

Yost removes the chrome before powdercoat.they dip the part so you can keep your original part and have it black.

Chasarms · #10 12-19-2010, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lesfunk

It's your bass. Do what you want. Plus you're not going to devalue it. It's a Sadowsky Metro, not a 1963 Jazz Bass.

Of course do what you want. But, I do contend it would bring less on the used market if altered.

Lesfunk · #11 12-19-2010, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasarms

Of course do what you want. But, I do contend it would bring less on the used market if altered.

I'm only going by anecdotal experience. I have sold 2 that I put BAIIs on and easily got my exact asking price on both.
Plus they play and sound better than an unaltered one.

levis76 · #12 12-19-2010, 02:21 PM

+1 on contacting Sadowsky. They may be willing to exchange your chrome hardware for black hardware if it's in decent shape. I did it with a Spector several years ago. I sent in my gold hardware and they sent me black hardware at cost+shipping. It was great, no drilling and I used my back up bass for about a week and a half while waiting for the new parts to arrive.

Chasarms · #13 12-19-2010, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy K

Yost removes the chrome before powdercoat.they dip the part so you can keep your original part and have it black.

Powder coating is just what it sounds like. A black powder is made electrically attractive to the part so they bond. It is then heated in a form of kiln to "melt" the powder into a homogenous coat.

I have also heard of stripping the chrome which is why I chose the word practical. Of course "worth it" is always relative, but it seems a bit of a reach. I would wager it would cost more than the bridge itself.

Chasarms · #14 12-19-2010, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by levis76

+1 on contacting Sadowsky. They may be willing to exchange your chrome hardware for black hardware if it's in decent shape. I did it with a Spector several years ago. I sent in my gold hardware and they sent me black hardware at cost+shipping. It was great, no drilling and I used my back up bass for about a week and a half while waiting for the new parts to arrive.

Many have inquired for the same purpose. Sadowsky does not offer their NYC hardware for sale. Further, there are some subtle variances in Metro and NYC. They are effectively the same and of the same quality, but not of the same source. They would interchange but are not the same.

Lesfunk · #15 12-19-2010, 02:28 PM

On the powder coat idea, I have a friend who works a Harley shop. They routinely send batches of parts to be powdercoated. I could have a bridge done for probably under twenty dollars when sent out with a bunch of other parts.
You might ask around the bike shops in your area.

Fatguy · #16 12-19-2010, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasarms

Of course do what you want. But, I do contend it would bring less on the used market if altered.

I don't agree - many people would have a Metro with black HW rather than chrome. As for altering; the modification would be reversable except for 6 screw holes which I don't think they would really make some difference.

I asked Roger and got a prompt reply with detailed advice how to clean the original bridge. I'll do that and then immediately start to save money for a NYC with black HW

:-)

Lesfunk · #17 12-19-2010, 02:48 PM

Good Luck and have a wonderful Christmas.

Chasarms · #18 12-19-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatguy

I don't agree - many people would have a Metro with black HW rather than chrome. As for altering; the modification would be reversable except for 6 screw holes which I don't think they would really make some difference.

I asked Roger and got a prompt reply with detailed advice how to clean the original bridge. I'll do that and then immediately start to save money for a NYC with black HW

:-)

Since it's your bass, your opinion certainly matters the most!!!