Sadowsky Metroexpress

Bought this used off a TBer. Is intended to be an "appetizer" for me while I await the build of a NYC Sadowsky.

Comfortable and balanced with no neck dive. Back of the neck feels VERY nice and zero stickiness. Unplugged the bass was nice and resonant. It came to me with new or close to new stings with helped with its impressiveness. Clearly set up nicely and to make the musician comfortable - beautiful and comfortable fretwork. Great fit and finish. Even unplugged slap/pop sounded good. This color combo was not my number one choice of the MetroExpress options, but given it was used and I was on the lookout, I snapped it up. Looking back i like this color combo better than I used to. I also prefer a darker fingerboard, but the combo of this lighter Morado with the blue is working for me. My first impression was it didn't feel like 7 lb 14 oz, however, now comparing it to my other basses it's definitely lighter, plus I have never tried to weigh it myself. Regardless, it's a comfortable weight.

Played it through a Fender Rumble combo at home, a GK MB500 + Fender 2x10 at rehearsal, and then the Rumble combo at a gig.

At home at lower volumes the tone far exceeded my expectations. Instantly liked what I heard, and got many varieties of useful tones; best I can describe is it seemed none were "cannot use that", rather they were all variations on "good" to give one variety. I was skeptical and worried about having a pre-amp; I've been playing passive jazz basses for the past give years, and have grown to love them. I was a little surprised soloing the bridge pickup wasn't as burpy as I expected. Also surprised the pickup blend knob worked in the direction it does.

At the first rehearsal (in a big church), I got a bit lost in the options, and ended up too loud and with too much clank. I didn't resolve it that night. Needed to keep the treble and bass boosts off, roll off the tone, and play over the bridge pickup. Often bypassed the preamp.

In hindsight, I needed to back off the volume on the bass (I'm used to diming my controls, then rolling off tone on the bass and adjusting volume at the amp). At the next rehearsal that did the trick; I played through that Rumble combo with my usual settings, and found I was able to explore the tones a lot more, use the preamp, and even get a bit of treble boost. Also made me aware of some semi-bad right hand form on my part; when I play over the neck pickup I can produce a fair amount of clank, and this bass shows that off. Slap + pop tone was to die for.

At last night's gig I was VERY happy. Plenty of snarl and growl. Soloing the bridge pickup was gave the desired burpy! Ended up playing it the whole night instead of using it part time as planned. I think I figured out my "normal home" with the controls. Very comfortable for a 3 hour gig!

Came with an impressively light and nice soft case. I'm not sure if that comes standard with brand new basses, but I am happy; I often use a two bass gig bag but will consider this harder case.