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2023 Sadowsky Metro Express Basses

Are you willing to try a 2023 Sadowsky Metro Express Bass?

  • Yes

    Votes: 218 76.0%
  • No

    Votes: 60 20.9%
  • Once Bitten, twice shy

    Votes: 9 3.1%

  • Total voters
    287
  • Poll closed .
These should sell well. The "roasted" maple looks very light in the pics. Almost like, put a pallet of maple under a tarp, light a can of sterno for five minutes, ta da! Roasted Maple! I'm sure some will complain that they are a thousand dollars, but that's 2023 one thousand dollars, not 1993 one thousand dollars. Is the preamp a legit Sadowsky preamp or different electronics?
 
Metro Express vs. Metroline?
ML is Warwick made, correct?
Who makes the ME?

MetroExpress is made at Warwick's Chinese facility. As others have said, the Chinese will produce at the level you tell them to. MTD Kingston's and Dingwall Combustion's show what they are capable of doing. MetroExpress is suffering from the fact that you don't a second chance to make a first impression. Warwick/Sadowsky knows it is in their interest to make very competitive basses around the $1K mark and I think they are doing just that.
 
I just don't understand how Roger would put his name on such product to begin with -my guess is Warwick took 100% control of the brand-, but I'd rather help Indonesia's economy and get a Squier for much lower price.
From what I've seen on reviews, their fit and finish and quality control is better than even the Fender CS.
With the savings, you can upgrade pickups to the ones of your preference and even install an Audere preamp.

PS: I am not bashing Sadwosky -I own one of their NY instruments- but just thinking out loud.
 
I just don't understand how Roger would put his name on such product to begin with -my guess is Warwick took 100% control of the brand-, but I'd rather help Indonesia's economy and get a Squier for much lower price.
From what I've seen on reviews, their fit and finish and quality control is better than even the Fender CS.
With the savings, you can upgrade pickups to the ones of your preference and even install an Audere preamp.

PS: I am not bashing Sadwosky -I own one of their NY instruments- but just thinking out loud.

Yes, Warwick owns Sadowsky now, for all practical purposes. That does not mean that Warwick wants to produce trash and label it Sadowsky. A company having issues with the rollout of a new product is not unheard of, especially considering that it was around the time that Covid struck and traveling to China to oversee production was a very, very serious problem.

Warwick has nothing to gain by trashing the Sadowsky name. Roger Sadowsky probably was not keen on a $1K import. I know he told me here on TB that he did not favor it years ago. That said, it makes sense to make a quality bass with Sadowsky features at this price point, given Sire's success. Personally, I have been very happy to own a bass with a Sadowsky neck profile and preamp at this modest price. Those who can afford higher quality versions of Sadowsky's should buy them.
 
I have a 2020 MetroExpress JJ5-21 - labeled as B-Stock. Complaints:
  • The "USED" stamp on the back of the headstock. I get labeling it as B-Stock somehow, but stamping into the wood that hard??
  • The string tree. I really hate the string tree. Really.
  • Morado fretboard looks a lot better having been oiled.
That's it. I might upgrade the electronics to include the VTC, but I've had it for over 2 years and haven't done it yet so it will probably never happen.
 
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From what is displayed on [Invalid or Expired Link Removed], looks like there will be lined and unlined options for fretless and be a morado fingerboard.
Screen Shot 2023-07-14 at 9.59.14 AM.png
 
Yes, I would try one ,i like the sadowsky line. Always wanted a real one.
These are Indonesian made. Lot of similarities in all Indonesian made basses. They use very few parts suppliers, in other words, lot of them have the same parts. Wood may be cut a little different shape, but from the same tree!
Are Indonesian basses made good? Yes, would I consider one? Yes, but it's not going to be 10 times better than my other indo made basses.
 
Roger Sadowsky probably was not keen on a $1K import. I know he told me here on TB that he did not favor it years ago.
This pretty much confirms your assumption. However Warwick does not own Sadowsky. They do control everything outside the US and under that umbrella they do it their way. Is it still Sadowsky instruments? Depends who you ask. It wasn't a question with the MIJ instruments.

 
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Yes, I would try one ,i like the sadowsky line. Always wanted a real one.
These are Indonesian made. Lot of similarities in all Indonesian made basses. They use very few parts suppliers, in other words, lot of them have the same parts. Wood may be cut a little different shape, but from the same tree!
Are Indonesian basses made good? Yes, would I consider one? Yes, but it's not going to be 10 times better than my other indo made basses.

Interesting; maybe my Chinese RSD will be a collectible someday.:D