Club Sadowsky!!!

[nickpc]

The biggest savings is in the cost of Chinese versus American or German labor. I bet the Chinese factory could make basses so nice for sub $2K that buying a German Metro would not make sense.

I can upgrade the pickups and electronics in my RSD ME and still not be at the price of a German ML, so they (smartly) are making sure there are other differences to justify the prices. At the same time, if your budget has you looking at a RSD ME then you're looking at a really solid choice, which is great.

The main theme here is that all of the current Sadowsky models have quality and features at various price points and target audiences. It's what RS envisioned and hoped for in the restructure.

Exactly!

 

[pepj]

That the price of Sire V7.

 

[Breeze3]

That the price of Sire V7.

I have and still have a 2006 Metro RV 5 , I picked up a Sire P7 to see if I would like a PJ as I had played a few back in the 70s and 80s and always was impressed with the sound possibilities . As soon as I could I picked up a NYC Satin Series VW 5 string and sold off the Sire .Yes the Sire is bang for the buck, blah blah blah but not even close for feel, sound and fit and finish plus the fact it was a heavy bass. I have not played a RSD but would think it's a better choice than the Sire IMHO.

 

[Pet Sounds]

The main theme here is that all of the current Sadowsky models have quality and features at various price points and target audiences. It's what RS envisioned and hoped for in the restructure.

I'd still like to see a Sadowsky in the $1600-2200 range. I find it odd that there's such a huge leap in price from entry level to the next notch up. Glad I have my Japanese Metros.

 

[Addison]

I'd still like to see a Sadowsky in the $1600-2200 range. I find it odd that there's such a huge leap in price from entry level to the next notch up. Glad I have my Japanese Metros.

My German Metroline 5-21 “Vintage Standard” … or whatever you want to call it - it wasn’t custom shop or masterbuilt, but the next level down - was $2700. That’s not way out of your range.

 

[Tim1]

I am such a huge fan of my Japan metroline that I find it hard to believe that an NYC could improve on it.

 

[Mark Ambler]

I am such a huge fan of my Japan metroline that I find it hard to believe that an NYC could improve on it.

Apparently the only difference is the custom options regarding finish, wood, pickups. So providing you are happy with the specs of the Metrolines and don't require any custom options, Metrolines are the way to go.
If Sadowsky brought out a line similar to theJapan Metroexpress, there would be little point in buying a MetroLine, other than chambering, they're pretty much identical, and would compromise MetroLine sales, imo.

 

[EagleMoon]

Was just perusing the Guitar Center used section and ran across this:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Is this a rebranded RSD?

 

[rowsi]

Was just perusing the Guitar Center used section and ran across this:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Is this a rebranded RSD?

Why would it be a rebranded RSD? It says MetroLine on the headstock, the string tree checks out, just-a-nut checks out, stacked controls for bass/treble for the preamp check out, the serial number and branding on the backside check out.
Only irregular thing that stands out are the strap pins, but those can be exchanged easily by anyone for any number of reasons. Cavity cover is not the quick access thingie, but early German MetroLines (serial number says made in 2020) didn't have those yet.
I wouldn't buy it for the price, as you can pretty much get a new one at this pricepoint.

 

[EagleMoon]

Why would it be a rebranded RSD? It says MetroLine on the headstock, the string tree checks out, just-a-nut checks out, stacked controls for bass/treble for the preamp check out, the serial number and branding on the backside check out.
Only irregular thing that stands out are the strap pins, but those can be exchanged easily by anyone for any number of reasons. Cavity cover is not the quick access thingie, but early German MetroLines (serial number says made in 2020) didn't have those yet.
I wouldn't buy it for the price, as you can pretty much get a new one at this pricepoint.

Just something about it looks “off”. The logo position looks strange. Could just be me and it is early and no coffee yet.

 

[pepj]

I have and still have a 2006 Metro RV 5 , I picked up a Sire P7 to see if I would like a PJ as I had played a few back in the 70s and 80s and always was impressed with the sound possibilities . As soon as I could I picked up a NYC Satin Series VW 5 string and sold off the Sire .Yes the Sire is bang for the buck, blah blah blah but not even close for feel, sound and fit and finish plus the fact it was a heavy bass. I have not played a RSD but would think it's a better choice than the Sire IMHO.

I wouldn't expect a Sire to be anywhere near a 2006 Metro.
At least, I certainly hope not.

Not sure how RSD's compare but I think the pricepoint will be telling.
Sire's arent 'bad' for the money, but that doesn't make them 'good' in my mind.

 

[rowsi]

Just something about it looks “off”. The logo position looks strange. Could just be me and it is early and no coffee yet.

Good catch! Looks like they slightly changed the logo for the German MetroLines.

2020 4-string bass logo:

2021 4 string modern, 2021 and 2022 limited edition headstocks:

The older logo was curved a bit wheres the newer logo is straight. The logo of the bass you posted matches the older design.
Same with the 5-string basses. Headstock of my own german WL-5 (early 2020):

Versus my 2021 5-string modern:

 

[scubaduba]

Looks like there will be a masterbuilt MJ available.

 

[monkeyland]

Good catch! Looks like they slightly changed the logo for the German MetroLines.

2020 4-string bass logo:

View attachment 4814743

2021 4 string modern, 2021 and 2022 limited edition headstocks:
View attachment 4814746

View attachment 4814744
View attachment 4814745

The older logo was curved a bit wheres the newer logo is straight. The logo of the bass you posted matches the older design.
Same with the 5-string basses. Headstock of my own german WL-5 (early 2020):

View attachment 4814756

Versus my 2021 5-string modern:

View attachment 4814758

The early German basses had that curved logo. I seem to remember Roger mentioning that he was having them change it to the standard one pretty much right after the first batch was released.

 

[Breeze3]

Was just perusing the Guitar Center used section and ran across this:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Is this a rebranded RSD?

Appears to be a German built Metro

 

[Tim1]

Looks like there will be a masterbuilt MJ available.

So what is the difference between a Japan metroline made by specialist sadowsky luthiers and a Warwick masterbuilt?

 

[Mark Ambler]

So what is the difference between a Japan metroline made by specialist sadowsky luthiers and a Warwick masterbuilt?

¥¥¥ or €€€

 

[scubaduba]

So what is the difference between a Japan metroline made by specialist sadowsky luthiers and a Warwick masterbuilt?

German made Sadowsky basses can have options like:
• Chambered bodies and are overall at least a pound lighter on average than Japan Metrolines were
• Standard adjustable nut
• Masterbuilt's use much nicer woods including exotic woods
• Masterbuilt's can be ordered with ebony fingerboards, snakewood fingerboards, etc.
• Masterbuilt's can be ordered with fingerboard inlays like square mother-of-pearl
• Pickup configurations like the MM/J
• Oil finishes and gloss finishes
• All have hidden fret ends

Oh, and no Sadowsky basses are made in Japan anymore.

 

[Tim1]

German made Sadowsky basses can have options like:
• Chambered bodies and are overall at least a pound lighter on average than Japan Metrolines were
• Standard adjustable nut
• Masterbuilt's use much nicer woods including exotic woods
• Masterbuilt's can be ordered with ebony fingerboards, snakewood fingerboards, etc.
• Masterbuilt's can be ordered with fingerboard inlays like square mother-of-pearl
• Pickup configurations like the MM/J
• Oil finishes and gloss finishes
• All have hidden fret ends

Oh, and no Sadowsky basses are made in Japan anymore.

Thanks. I was aware of the last point and light weight is not a bonus for me. I was thinking more of the quality of the luthier in that masterbuilt implies a "master" as opposed to a standard production worker???

 

[EagleMoon]

The early German basses had that curved logo. I seem to remember Roger mentioning that he was having them change it to the standard one pretty much right after the first batch was released.

Glad it wasn’t my imagination that it looked different.