Club Sadowsky!!!

[Fran Diaz]

Joining the club since last week!
German Metroline vintage jb. As good as they come
Paired with a Mesa Walkabout that I found for a very nice price and rumbles beautifully (especially after I replaced the fan)

#572 for you, sir. Welcome to the club.

 

[SadowskySteve]

Love this bass the more I play it. A combo of my pedalboard and a killer Neural DSP plugin makes for some amazing recorded tones!
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Hey Joey, what strings are you playing on this bass? Since we've run out of Sadowsky strings up here in Canada I havent landed on a suitable replacement for my Satin deluxe verdine white bass.

 

[Holdsg]

Labella is closest to Sadowsky flats IME.

 

[Bass Viking]

Hey Joey, what strings are you playing on this bass? Since we've run out of Sadowsky strings up here in Canada I havent landed on a suitable replacement for my Satin deluxe verdine white bass.

Were you buying strings from Club Bass by chance? Sadowsky are my favourite strings. I’ll probably order online from Best Bass Gear.

 

[Vic]

* I think there is graphite in the neck.
* has the new NYC spec thicker headstock, between these first two the g string response is very even.

Roger can confirm, but I'm pretty sure the Japanese Metrolines also had both of these features... maybe not originally, but more recently.

 

[Sadowsky]

Roger can confirm, but I'm pretty sure the Japanese Metrolines also had both of these features... maybe not originally, but more recently.

The Graphite was installed in all models as of Jan 2014 (#7222). They were phased in during the previous year.

 

[rmayer]

I also use the Sadowsky strings on my Sadowskys, the Blue Label Nickel Roundwounds and the Blue Label Flats on my Satin Verdine White. I would hope once Roger and Warwick get the distribution network in place the price for the flatwounds will get back to the "normal" range of $42-44 for a 4 string set. I wouldn't mind paying a bit more, but $77 is a little steep, and I get the whole supply and demand concept. Has anyone heard any news on this subject? Last I heard was that after the New Year things could be in place.

 

[Sadowsky]

I also use the Sadowsky strings on my Sadowskys, the Blue Label Nickel Roundwounds and the Blue Label Flats on my Satin Verdine White. I would hope once Roger and Warwick get the distribution network in place the price for the flatwounds will get back to the "normal" range of $42-44 for a 4 string set. I wouldn't mind paying a bit more, but $77 is a little steep, and I get the whole supply and demand concept. Has anyone heard any news on this subject? Last I heard was that after the New Year things could be in place.

It could be as late as the second quarter of 2021. The flats are costing a lot to make. At least you don't have to replace them often.

 

[rmayer]

It could be as late as the second quarter of 2021. The flats are costing a lot to make. At least you don't have to replace them often.

Thanks Roger. They're worth more than the $42, always thought they were a bargain. I did suggest Sadowsky gift certificates for my relatives asking about Christmas gift suggestions, so I should be covered.

 

[projectapollo]

I like the DR FatBeams as a great replacement to the Blue Label Steels that come standard on all new Sadowsky instruments.

 

[mcclurer16]

First impressions of a German MetroLine: excellent quality, a few differences. Some of the differences are clear improvements:

* I think there is graphite in the neck.
* has the new NYC spec thicker headstock, between these first two the g string response is very even.
* tuners are much nicer than the licensed hipshots
* nice light weight ash!
* deeper set neck pocket on standards

Some things are just different but not better or worse:

* the finish color I think is slightly different, has a cool vibe of its own.
* adjustable nut. Did I need that? It works well. It was adjusted too high when my bass arrived. It comes with the worlds smallest allen wrench that seems likely to get lost.
* MEC pots

A couple things I’m not thrilled about:

* the gig bag is not as robust as the old hard/soft case. There’s a bit of discoloration and rounding on a fingerboard edge that the bag is likely responsible for. Very minor!
* EQ knobs installed pointing the wrong direction. Easy fix.
* subjective but I like the old headstock logo better. The new logo is shifted toward the end of the headstock, I’d move it back.
* B string had a persistent rattle all up and down the neck even when bridge and nut were isolated. Easy fix just a bad string but it was pretty obvious and should not have passed inspection. I think the dealer threw in a set of new strings in the bag?? SITs?? I’m putting on my favorite strings anyway so its a non issue.

Overall I’m calling it a pretty substantial upgrade. Plays and sounds like it should, great new NYC trickle-down features. A couple super solvable tweaks could make it even better.

Thanks much for the helpful review. I was very curious about the “Warwick” Sadowskies...

 

[Laklandfan]

I like the DR FatBeams as a great replacement to the Blue Label Steels that come standard on all new Sadowsky instruments.

I’ll have to try them. I like the labellas, becaus The sadowsky have silk at the ball end that seems to be too thick to feed through my badass bridges. I use sadowsky on the bridges that do fit them.

 

[SzunaP]

About strings; I never tried a Sadowsky set, but curious. Since I 've bought an Ernie Ball Slinky to replace Rotosound about 20 years ago, I found it unbeatable. It gives the sound of the wood.
I tried some others, Elixir, Warwick, etc, but they lot worse than EB.
When I got my Metro M5-24 in June (secondhand), unknown set was on it. I was excited my first Sadowsky, marvellous sound, but a little bit felt 'dead'.
I changed the strings next day, and 'every puzzle have fitted...'

 

[AMJBASS]

I like the DR FatBeams as a great replacement to the Blue Label Steels that come standard on all new Sadowsky instruments.

Those are still my favorite strings, especially on a jazz bass. Haven’t tried the pure blues yet, but the Fatbeams are consistently good.

 

[Joeykun]

Hey Joey, what strings are you playing on this bass? Since we've run out of Sadowsky strings up here in Canada I havent landed on a suitable replacement for my Satin deluxe verdine white bass.

I still have a good supply of Sadowsky Blue Label Stainless Steels 45-105. I bought them like toilet paper during the pandemic!

 

[SadowskySteve]

Were you buying strings from Club Bass by chance? Sadowsky are my favourite strings. I’ll probably order online from Best Bass Gear.

Yes, the combination of my sadowsky with my Genzler rig, the blue label steels gave me the sound and punch that my ear desires. The flats are great but are too dark for my needs and preferences. I bought Dave out last year and he had trouble getting restocked. He moved on to Elrick strings which are good for my jazz but not quite working for my PJ.

 

[SadowskySteve]

I like the DR FatBeams as a great replacement to the Blue Label Steels that come standard on all new Sadowsky instruments.

Thanks, that will be next test.

 

[kittywithabanjo]

If guys are looking for flats I think Long and Mcquade Vancouver had a bunch of 5 string sets last time I was there.

 

[Dave Hill]

Good price on FatBeams at MF. <$20/set (4-string). +10% off with code “cyber”

 

[slagbass]

Yes, the combination of my sadowsky with my Genzler rig, the blue label steels ...... I bought Dave out last year and he had trouble getting restocked....

That's funny - I bought him out of the Blue Label Nickels. I thought it might be enough to tide me over for 2 or 3 years but at the rate I am gigging right now, they should last me until around 2089 or so.....