I know sounding alike has nothing to do with feel or build quality, but they sound nearly identical.
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Chinese vs. German Sadowsky Modern
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
I know sounding alike has nothing to do with feel or build quality, but they sound nearly identical.
Blindfolded I would not be able to tell them apart based on sound for sure. While I’ve never played either one I’m guessing they would at least feel a little different to play. No a huge difference but some for sure. I’m basing this on having owned and played a to of basses that had high end import versions of the “nicer” model built in the U.S. On average the more expensive bass tends to have better attention to details in its construction and the overall feel is more “solid” for lack of a better word. If you know you know they say. Whether or not that’s always worth the price difference is highly debatable, depending on a bunch of variables.
The Metroline has 19mm spacing, the Metro Express is 18mm. The Metro Express does not come with a VTC while it is stock on the Metroline. My MX has smooth fret ends, but I can certainly feel them. I cannot feel fret ends on the Metrolines I have played.
This video really has me thinking I would get more out of a Metroline Jazz or P/Soapbar bass instead of another Modern. Who knows what I will do this fall.
Knowing that the sound quality is there is wonderful.
But feel can make a big difference to some players. While a player can adapt to different scale lengths, neck shapes, string spacing, ect…… that doesn’t mean you will be able to play your best with certain spaces.
After years of thinking I was fine with 17.5 mm spacing on my basses, I had the shock of my life when I experienced a bass with 19mm spacing and the perfect neck profile for my hands.
I had played 19mm spacing on 4 MTD basses that I owned. But it just wasn’t a perfect fit with their neck profile and fingerboard radius. I also auditioned a few Sadowskys. 19mm on those was just too big for my small hands. But after years of watching a player with small hands and stature just kill it on his 19mm spaced Fodera, knowing I loved the sound, I decided to take a chance and buy one to audition. I had never seen one in store to try. It paid off.
I can play things with such ease and that bass fits my hands like a glove. If I had listened to people saying the necks are chunky , they are heavy, 19mm is too wide, I wouldn’t know what I know now.
My point is going with that extra 1mm spacing , that fret technology, might make it worth the investment. It might not.
My suggestion , buy from a store with a good return policy if you can’t find one local to try. Do an A/B comparison and judge for yourself.
That Fodera certainly has been a revelation for you! I’m glad you made the move. I have yet to play a German Metroline five string. So far, I have played three four strings. Years ago, a TB member let me borrow a Japanese Metro and I loved that bass.
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It's Video online who knows what poster or YouTube especially does to overall sound that would make it difficult to properly detect nuances in tone especially if both at least good quality and similar
Already mentioned here feel playability overall build quality
BUT need to compare playing through your gear which you know
or at least at Store using the best gear they have available
It would be easy to make a Video where a Squire or Harley Benton Sounds as good as Sadowsky NYC or Stingray Special and similar has been done
Already mentioned here feel playability overall build quality
BUT need to compare playing through your gear which you know
or at least at Store using the best gear they have available
It would be easy to make a Video where a Squire or Harley Benton Sounds as good as Sadowsky NYC or Stingray Special and similar has been done
Excellent advice! Some people adapt very well to differences in neck dimensions, string spacing etc., without even skipping a beat. Yes try it and see. I have seen some people with smaller hands move around effortlessly on larger necks. YMMV. I would love the experience a fodera some day. The Sadowsky Metroline would probably be my choice because of the increase in build quality which is something you just feel, just my two cents, which I have experienced with my USA Lakland as opposed to the Skylines.
Other than the woods used and the VTC, plus some occasional QC issues, I do not think you are going to find a noticeable difference between the two instruments. If you are lucky, as I was, and get a good Chinese version (MetroExpress Hybrid) the biggest difference you will notice is your bank account balance after the purchase.
I’m going to buy a Metroline, the question is will it be a JJ or another Modern?
Agreed,
Before I finally found a Lakland 55-94 Lined Fretless I had a Lakland 55-02 Lined Fretless. There are differences between the two. A Flat Sawn Neck vs Quarter sawn neck, hand fret work, a lighter body, Hipshot USA vs Hipshot licensed, a bone nut vs synthetic. All those differences do add up to a bass that’s very comfortable to play. The 55-94 has the original Bartolini Pickups and Preamp while the 55-02 had the LH 3 (Lakland Hanson) system.
Put those two basses behind a screen and I doubt anyone in the audience could hear a difference. As a player, a comfortable, easy to play bassmakes a difference in the music I hear coming from the bass as I play it.
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I know exactly what you mean. I am thinking about things I can feel more than things the audience can hear.
I’ve heard that the 5 string Metro Express neck is chunky. I wonder if that’s why they went with 18 mm spacing? I totally agree with you on the fret ends.
I hope you get to play those models you’re considering and it makes your decision easier.
I don’t understand the reasoning behind 18mm string spacing on the ME 5’s. Squire has made 19mm fives that were fine for the money.
A similar video where a bassist deep dives into his Chinese Warwick Rockbass vs his German Warwick:
Back in the day, the Chinese-made RockBasses were not quality instruments, but over time they've turned around. A lot of Chinese-made basses were not very good back in the day, but are getting a lot better. But many of us are still "one bitten, twice shy" about Chinese-made instruments and there's still plenty of garbage-quality stuff being churned out from that country.
Back in the day, the Chinese-made RockBasses were not quality instruments, but over time they've turned around. A lot of Chinese-made basses were not very good back in the day, but are getting a lot better. But many of us are still "one bitten, twice shy" about Chinese-made instruments and there's still plenty of garbage-quality stuff being churned out from that country.
I recently had the opportunity to play a Metro express Modern 5 a few weeks ago. The neck was a little thicker than what I'm used to, but it sounded great. Loved the sound and the B string. The very next day I played a used Metroline Modern 5 at GC. The neck was amazing compared to the Express, so I bought it before it got gone. And a big plus is, it's only 8.29 lbs. I'm 71 after all HaHa!!
I noticed a build difference on the neck of the Express. At the nut there is a slope from the nut down to the head stock thats not on the the Metrolines. I noticed that on other MXs as well. I'm not too comfortable with that. However I think they are good for the money. Just my take!!
I noticed a build difference on the neck of the Express. At the nut there is a slope from the nut down to the head stock thats not on the the Metrolines. I noticed that on other MXs as well. I'm not too comfortable with that. However I think they are good for the money. Just my take!!
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Maybe someone will put up a Video of German Metroline vs Sadowsky NYC that sound the same and we all can then feel good buying Metroline
I’m fine with 18mm. I mean, when I pick up a guitar that’s some tight string spacing!
You know we are waiting to hear from you on this. When is your bass due to arrive ?
A nicer neck and fingerboard is nothing to sneeze at! I’m pretty sure my MX is under 9lbs. Some of the Metrolines are too light and are really neck heavy. That can be a pain like it was with that Tobias Growler I had for a while.
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