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Club Sadowsky!!!

#56,301
NBD: Took delivery of a mint used Oct 2018 #8207 today. Very beautiful '59 burst on roasted body, neck, headstock. Ebony board, soap bars. This thing shouts "quality musical instrument". Hardware was changed to black by the shop before shipment to the original owner.

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Then, organizing my Sadowsky files, I think I learned today that a) I have a Sadowsky bass problem, or b) Roger needs to start a frequent flier program. I think b. is the correct answer. Two remain in the stable. This one above and a black pearl VW NYC Satin 5-21.

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Since 2019, looks like I've purchased 4 new instruments from the NYC shop including 3 Satin series and a Metro Express model.
 
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#56,302
rowsi said:
"sprung" tapers are new to me. Is it some kind of "unwinding" at the tapered end?
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Yes. basically, on a tapered string, the outer windings are "held" to the inner windings by a crimp or extra tight few windings. If that "bond" is broken and comes loose, then you have the outer winding "rattling" against the inner layers of the string. It can also have symptoms of excessive overtones due to the string not vibrating in a uniform way.
 
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#56,303
Vic said:
The taper is "sprung". I've had a (very) few of these. Usually, they'll replace them for free. The other thing to be careful of with any tapered string is don't "twist" it when you string it up. That can cause the problem if the string wasn't originally defective.
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I’ve heard the not “twist” advice applies to non tapered strings too.
 
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#56,312
rowsi said:
However, I did find a little something to complain about:[...]
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Quoting myself as I discovered another little something, which is actually quite ridiculous. My MetroLine Modern 5-24 shipped with Warwicks "Easy-Access" cover for the electronic compartment. This cover has no screws but snaps into a kind of frame. For opening this cover you have to press two latches (or something like that). Don't you know: one of those broke immediatly when I opened the electric compartment the first time. I don't know why this cheap piece of plastic is installed on an instrument for more than 3 grand (talking €uros here). The shop better sort this out, this is unacceptable.

On the sunny side: The woodwork is impeccable and playing the bass is pure bliss. I will definietly keep it, but the problems need to be sorted out.
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Obligatory family shot with my other bass and electric guitar:
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Fun fact: my electric guitar is heavier than the Sadowsky :D
 
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#56,313
rowsi said:
My MetroLine Modern 5-24 shipped with Warwick's "Easy-Access" cover for the electronic compartment. 2 latches. 1 broke when I opened the compartment 1st time.
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Condolences. Sad news for sure. Warwick's used that pitiful design for decades, even though it's known for failure. My workaround on several of their basses is to make a "lift tab" from a thin strip of strong tape, placed over the broken latch(es).

It's a miserable solution to a pathetic design, but it works (sometimes). The times it hasn't has resulted in use of a flashlight on a dark stage at the end of a gig, looking for the cover that fell off the bass to the floor. "Where the heck is it. . Why Warwick, why?"
 
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#56,314
staccatogrowl said:
Condolences. Sad news for sure. Warwick's used that pitiful design for decades, even though it's known for failure. My workaround on several of their basses is to make a "lift tab" from a thin strip of strong tape, placed over the broken latch(es).

It's a miserable solution to a pathetic design, but it works (sometimes). The times it hasn't has resulted in use of a flashlight on a dark stage at the end of a gig, looking for the cover that fell off the bass to the floor. "Where the heck is it. . Why Warwick, why?"
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An American I knew who worked in German industry for years once opined they will never ever admit a mistake. No matter how egregious. Live with it or walk.
 
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#56,315
rowsi said:
Good day to the beautiful people of the club Sadowsky hive mind. First hings first: I'm requesting club membership.

View attachment 4319715

Unfortunately my phones camera and my photo taking skills are subpar and don't do justice to this beautiful 2021 limited MetroLine Modern 5-24. This one is #58 of 100. The workmanship on this unit is impeccable, it is positively eery. I'm pretty sure it is the first instrument I've ever owned which was without a flaw upon receiving it (even my Mayones guitar had a very minor issue).
And it is stupid light. Sadly, I don't have access to a suitable scale (laboratory micro scales aren't useable here), but it feels to be less than 4 kgs, which translates to less than 8.8 lbs for you 'mericans.

However, I'm not sold on the blue label steel rounds. I'm used to playing TI jazz flats and the roughness of the rounds is unpleasent. Furthermore, the sound of the steels lacks depth, even my female (who doesn't like the looks of the bass - heresy!) noticed it.
Hence my question: What strings are you guys putting on your Moderns instead of steels?
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You are #575. Welcome to the club and good luck fixing that minor problem.
 
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#56,316
I recognize I'm late to the party on this one... saw it tonight in the "recently sold" section on the website... but wow! I usually don't care for a caramel burst, but this one's very light on the caramel... and it fits the instrument soooooooo well with the gold guard and the all maple neck. Dig that it's a 5.

I love this bass... just beautiful!


7577 caramel burst w: anodized gold pg1.jpg
 
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#56,318
roller said:
I recognize I'm late to the party on this one... saw it tonight in the "recently sold" section on the website... but wow! I usually don't care for a caramel burst, but this one's very light on the caramel... and it fits the instrument soooooooo well with the gold guard and the all maple neck. Dig that it's a 5.

I love this bass... just beautiful!


View attachment 4322800
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I wanted that one bad.
 
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#56,319
roller said:
I recognize I'm late to the party on this one... saw it tonight in the "recently sold" section on the website... but wow! I usually don't care for a caramel burst, but this one's very light on the caramel... and it fits the instrument soooooooo well with the gold guard and the all maple neck. Dig that it's a 5.

I love this bass... just beautiful!


View attachment 4322800
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For many years I've been toying with the idea of adding a anodized pickguard to my bass. What you guys think?
Sadowsky NYC UVPJ4_black vs gold pickguard.JPG
 
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