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Ahh, gotcha. The neck pickup on the modern is pretty throaty. If you were serious you could swap it out for an EMG 35P.
pretty sure the NYC shop does not try to stock Metros. They rely on the dealers to order, and then build to orders. Any Metros that end up in NYC shop are probably either last-minute cancellations, or prototypes.
mark beem
Wait, how does this song start again??
^ Agreed!
For me, though it looks gorgeous on the screen the pairing with a showy top & differing grain patterns is too gaudy & audacious to wear. Paired with a solid color howevr, maybe shoreline gold or something with complimentary tones to the roasted neck would've possibly resulted in a purchase. A solid pastel such as powder blue or even coral pink would look ideal to me - still showy, but not over-the-top with patterns.
Looking at this bass and others in the stock update, it always pains me to see the pick guards - especially clear on a fancy top - installed without instead getting the buyer's input first with respect to whether they want a 'guard at all. In every instance, I'd say "no" if given the choice.
For me, though it looks gorgeous on the screen the pairing with a showy top & differing grain patterns is too gaudy & audacious to wear. Paired with a solid color howevr, maybe shoreline gold or something with complimentary tones to the roasted neck would've possibly resulted in a purchase. A solid pastel such as powder blue or even coral pink would look ideal to me - still showy, but not over-the-top with patterns.
Looking at this bass and others in the stock update, it always pains me to see the pick guards - especially clear on a fancy top - installed without instead getting the buyer's input first with respect to whether they want a 'guard at all. In every instance, I'd say "no" if given the choice.
I know what you're saying, sort of. I only own one bass with a fancy quilty top, but that's partly because I'm not a fancy player. The other reason is because scuffed paint doesn't bother me nearly as much as scuffed quilt (or whatever).
As for the guard: it's a vintage bass so the clear guard makes sense to me, especially with the control plate present. Anyone who wants to avoid a guard entirely can order the exact bass he likes, and no-guard no-plate models are offered frequently... such as this recent one:
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I'm not a fan of pick guards on most highly figured tops. I just find they kill an otherwise nice top. I get the aesthetic appeal of having a pick guard for a "classic" look, but otherwise I don't see the point (especially now that the neck pockets are cut deeper. Different strokes and all but a pick guard on a non-classic looking top is a deal breaker for me.
^ True, but what's classic about a figured top?
I understand these can be ordered no-plate & no-guard. My NYC is a "Standard", no plate or guard. I'm also among those who like the plate & no 'guard look (and ideally no 'guard holes).
Admittedly a 'guard wouldn't be a deal-breaker, but it's a bummer. By leaving the 'guard off those in stock, they increase the chance of selling however slight that increase may be. Maybe it merely increases debate online as to which looks better, which totally equals exposure and sales, if showing pics of new basses with and w/o the 'guard (taped on). Simple marketing. No cost. Occasionally saves time of drilling holes & installing the 'guard.
I'd never order and wait 4-6 months for a bass. I'd impulse buy in stock possibly despite not needing another high-end bass, and impulse buys of that type have gotta be a significant portion of sales. Just sayin'.
I understand these can be ordered no-plate & no-guard. My NYC is a "Standard", no plate or guard. I'm also among those who like the plate & no 'guard look (and ideally no 'guard holes).
Admittedly a 'guard wouldn't be a deal-breaker, but it's a bummer. By leaving the 'guard off those in stock, they increase the chance of selling however slight that increase may be. Maybe it merely increases debate online as to which looks better, which totally equals exposure and sales, if showing pics of new basses with and w/o the 'guard (taped on). Simple marketing. No cost. Occasionally saves time of drilling holes & installing the 'guard.
I'd never order and wait 4-6 months for a bass. I'd impulse buy in stock possibly despite not needing another high-end bass, and impulse buys of that type have gotta be a significant portion of sales. Just sayin'.
My quilt-top bass (not a Sadowsky) has no pickguard, but I can understand why someone would choose a clear guard over no guard. I've seen a number of boutiques that were well-used as slap machines, and the fancy figured maple tops had turned dark grungy gray in large areas where the finish had worn away. If I was a heavy-duty slapper I might well have gone with a clear guard instead of no guard to prevent this, but I don't slap much.
Edit: The boutiques I referred to looked very close to V. Wooten's:
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Saw some photos, somewhere, of lightly smoked pickguards over fancy Sadowsky tops…the notion of a lightly-smoked pickguard seems like a good compromise, so that there is some degree of contrast, but the lovely features of the wood still shine through in a manner consistent with the rest of the axe. To me, the clear pick guards look goofy, although I get the sense that something is needed when you have an old-style chromed J-bass control panel on board.
I've played J-basses over 20 years and can't imagine why that would be needed due to the control plate.
WWJD? http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/31000000/jaco-jaco-pastorius-31075756-490-600.jpg
To me, it's a visual thing; without a pickguard, the chrome baseplate just kind of floats. Truthfully, with a snazzy cap wood, the knobs without the chrome baseplate look a lot better, IMO, IME, YMMV, etc.
Edit: The boutiques I referred to looked very close to V. Wooten's:
Vic's bass makes me sad. I want to go give it a hug and tell it that it'll be ok and then fix it... Put some oil on it or rub on a lacquer or tru-oil or heck, sharpie and nail polish... Something... I get some people dig the "well loved" look but still... Poor thing.
Here is my new NYC that I just picked up a couple weeks ago. Sounds great, plays great, nothing more I could ask for.
