Club Sadowsky!!!

[pb9717]

My RSD arrived last Friday and what a buzzkill experience it has been…..

I was super excited but have been disappointed altogether. So much that I’m afraid to try the German Metroline.
In all fairness it’s an April 21’ model but it seems to be a later iteration.
The nut measures 1,8 inches rather than 1.875 and the frets are .108 wide instead of .094
I have no means to measure their height accurately.
The Just A Nut is glued assymetrically and is poorly filed. Needs work. The neck finish has a defect where they went through it when buffing most likely. The body finish is flawless and the pickguard is great. The bridge plate while a clone of the original, is poorly machined and the saddles don’t align and have minor gaps. The truss rod seems to be working just fine. The fretboard is a very nice piece and very thick but seems to be either polished or finished up to the 10th fret but not all the way. The electronics are quite noisy when not touching strings which indicates mediocre shielding. I suspect the paint has a high resistance, since there is no beep on the continuity test (bridge and jack ground) and measures sth like 1300Ohms.
The active setting has at least 6dB higher output than the passive but to me seems like the passive is super low output rather than the opposite. Both my 55-60 & V7 are way hotter passive than the RSD.
Because there is also a significant lack of high end zing, I can’t help but wonder whether there is a 25K/100K volume pot used. (Maybe the lack of high end is a trait of the Okume body??)
The thing is that the bass acoustically sounds good. Punchy full and tight.

I’ll have to send it back to Thomann and ask for a refund.

I have nothing but respect for Mr. Sadowsky and know how amazing HIS instruments are. I’ve played US versions.
Do you believe I got a dud?

The earlier Chinese Metro Expresses were plagued with quality issues. I got a Metro Express Verdine at the beginning of this year ( from Thomann as I couldn’t locate a single one in the US at the time) thats been the complete opposite experience. Electronics are dead quiet. QC seemed to have been addressed on the build. I added a VTC as I needed to roll off the more than adequate highs, and I too have the Okoume body. I’ve A/B’s this bass against multiple units from Cort, Bacchus, Squier, Yamaha, and have found the sound to be far superior to any of them. With the pre now duplicating the Metroline/NYC versions, and the playability being dialed in perfectly to my tastes, I feel this particular bass is an excellent value.

In regard to the German Line, your fears are unfounded. Those basses cost triple to four times the cost of the Chinese line, and Roger is very conscious of how they’re made. The QC on them is the same as any of the high line models.

 

[Spidey2112]

I feel this particular bass is an excellent value.

In the end, this is all that matters... well, no polyps, of course.

 

[HeavyJazz]

^^Origin and price matters. To state the obvious.

Carry on.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

Can’t expect champagne and caviar dreams on a Kool-aid and sardines budget.

There are fancy sardines (and assorted canned seafood) called conservas (usually imported from Spain and Portugal) that ain't cheap

I have yet to see artisan Kool-aid... yet...

 

[KaseOfBass]

There are fancy sardines (and assorted canned seafood) called conservas (usually imported from Spain and Portugal) that ain't cheap

I have yet to see artisan Kool-aid... yet...

Other contenders for my example were Vienna sausage or potted meat

 

[Bigoo7e]

Hello, this is my first post on this thread.

I just recently got a Chinese made RSD MetroExpress four string P/J hybrid made in 2021.

I’ve been getting a lot of noise out of the bass. The treble knob when it’s cranked doesn’t help this, rolling off of it helps a little but you can still hear it. The noise is still present when I touch the strings, bridge or even the pickups.

It doesn’t sound like a single coil hum, but different. If my cellphone is within 2-3ft of the bass it makes even more noise. When I put the bass into passive mode the noise seems to completely go away… albeit since the volume of the basses output drops I haven’t played through my amp at the same volume as if it was in active mode.

I’m not sure if this is a pickups, preamp issue or maybe a shielding issue. I have little to no experience dealing with this. I recently picked up a VTC from a buddy here on TB and I don’t want to drop it in, if it’s not the preamp and one of the other two potential issues.

One buddy out of state suggested I use a multimeter to check the pickups. I don’t own one or even know how to check that, so at this time that is off of the table.

Any assistant with this would be greatly appreciated, thanks for everyone’s time in advance.

 

[SzunaP]

My RSD arrived last Friday and what a buzzkill experience it has been…..

I was super excited but have been disappointed altogether. So much that I’m afraid to try the German Metroline.
In all fairness it’s an April 21’ model but it seems to be a later iteration.
The nut measures 1,8 inches rather than 1.875 and the frets are .108 wide instead of .094
I have no means to measure their height accurately.
The Just A Nut is glued assymetrically and is poorly filed. Needs work. The neck finish has a defect where they went through it when buffing most likely. The body finish is flawless and the pickguard is great. The bridge plate while a clone of the original, is poorly machined and the saddles don’t align and have minor gaps. The truss rod seems to be working just fine. The fretboard is a very nice piece and very thick but seems to be either polished or finished up to the 10th fret but not all the way. The electronics are quite noisy when not touching strings which indicates mediocre shielding. I suspect the paint has a high resistance, since there is no beep on the continuity test (bridge and jack ground) and measures sth like 1300Ohms.
The active setting has at least 6dB higher output than the passive but to me seems like the passive is super low output rather than the opposite. Both my 55-60 & V7 are way hotter passive than the RSD.
Because there is also a significant lack of high end zing, I can’t help but wonder whether there is a 25K/100K volume pot used. (Maybe the lack of high end is a trait of the Okume body??)
The thing is that the bass acoustically sounds good. Punchy full and tight.

I’ll have to send it back to Thomann and ask for a refund.

I have nothing but respect for Mr. Sadowsky and know how amazing HIS instruments are. I’ve played US versions.
Do you believe I got a dud?

Probably it's a dud. At the cheaper range you need more luck for an adequate instrument. I think RSD logo will remain on these stuffs until such defects occur.

 

[GregC]

My RSD arrived last Friday and what a buzzkill experience it has been…..

I was super excited but have been disappointed altogether. So much that I’m afraid to try the German Metroline.
In all fairness it’s an April 21’ model but it seems to be a later iteration.
The nut measures 1,8 inches rather than 1.875 and the frets are .108 wide instead of .094
I have no means to measure their height accurately.
The Just A Nut is glued assymetrically and is poorly filed. Needs work. The neck finish has a defect where they went through it when buffing most likely. The body finish is flawless and the pickguard is great. The bridge plate while a clone of the original, is poorly machined and the saddles don’t align and have minor gaps. The truss rod seems to be working just fine. The fretboard is a very nice piece and very thick but seems to be either polished or finished up to the 10th fret but not all the way. The electronics are quite noisy when not touching strings which indicates mediocre shielding. I suspect the paint has a high resistance, since there is no beep on the continuity test (bridge and jack ground) and measures sth like 1300Ohms.
The active setting has at least 6dB higher output than the passive but to me seems like the passive is super low output rather than the opposite. Both my 55-60 & V7 are way hotter passive than the RSD.
Because there is also a significant lack of high end zing, I can’t help but wonder whether there is a 25K/100K volume pot used. (Maybe the lack of high end is a trait of the Okume body??)
The thing is that the bass acoustically sounds good. Punchy full and tight.

I’ll have to send it back to Thomann and ask for a refund.

I have nothing but respect for Mr. Sadowsky and know how amazing HIS instruments are. I’ve played US versions.
Do you believe I got a dud?

Giving a like in sympathy and because it's not always easy to post a review like this on TB.

 

[GregC]

No excuse for something that’s unplayable, but you can’t “fine-tooth-comb” any instrument at that level and expect perfection. It’d be like buying a Squier Affinity and swearing off buying anything Fender because of all the imperfections of the Squier. Can’t expect champagne and caviar dreams on a Kool-aid and sardines budget.

I understand the point about relative expectations. But the poster didn't express any doubts about higher-priced Sadowskys. And in fairness, the RSDs cost three times as much as a Squier Affinity.

 

[KaseOfBass]

I understand the point about relative expectations. But the poster didn't express any doubts about higher-priced Sadowskys. And in fairness, the RSDs cost three times as much as a Squier Affinity.

I was super excited but have been disappointed altogether. So much that I’m afraid to try the German Metroline.

Not to be contrary, but it sure seemed doubts were expressed

Either way, my point was simply to not dismiss the German Metros based on a bad experience with a RSD bass, but don't expect a German Metro out of a RSD either.

 

[GregC]

Not to be contrary, but it sure seemed doubts were expressed

Either way, my point was simply to not dismiss the German Metros based on a bad experience with a RSD bass, but don't expect a German Metro out of a RSD either.

Whoops, I missed that line!

 

[Loepie]

My RSD arrived last Friday and what a buzzkill experience it has been…..

I was super excited but have been disappointed altogether. So much that I’m afraid to try the German Metroline.
In all fairness it’s an April 21’ model but it seems to be a later iteration.
The nut measures 1,8 inches rather than 1.875 and the frets are .108 wide instead of .094
I have no means to measure their height accurately.
The Just A Nut is glued assymetrically and is poorly filed. Needs work. The neck finish has a defect where they went through it when buffing most likely. The body finish is flawless and the pickguard is great. The bridge plate while a clone of the original, is poorly machined and the saddles don’t align and have minor gaps. The truss rod seems to be working just fine. The fretboard is a very nice piece and very thick but seems to be either polished or finished up to the 10th fret but not all the way. The electronics are quite noisy when not touching strings which indicates mediocre shielding. I suspect the paint has a high resistance, since there is no beep on the continuity test (bridge and jack ground) and measures sth like 1300Ohms.
The active setting has at least 6dB higher output than the passive but to me seems like the passive is super low output rather than the opposite. Both my 55-60 & V7 are way hotter passive than the RSD.
Because there is also a significant lack of high end zing, I can’t help but wonder whether there is a 25K/100K volume pot used. (Maybe the lack of high end is a trait of the Okume body??)
The thing is that the bass acoustically sounds good. Punchy full and tight.

I’ll have to send it back to Thomann and ask for a refund.

I have nothing but respect for Mr. Sadowsky and know how amazing HIS instruments are. I’ve played US versions.
Do you believe I got a dud?

German MetroLines are great. On par with the Japanese ones, and they were on par with NYC ones. So don't be afraid of that. For the RSD you could say "the later, the better". Maybe you had a bit of bad luck with your RSD. Aneway the RSD logo will disapear next year according to Roger. If someone is looking for a 4-string, I'm selling my Japanese Vintage MetroExpress '59 burst (ME830). I'm located in the Netherlands Europe. Price is € 1.500,-

 

[5StringPocket]

Hello, this is my first post on this thread.

I just recently got a Chinese made RSD MetroExpress four string P/J hybrid made in 2021.

I’ve been getting a lot of noise out of the bass. The treble knob when it’s cranked doesn’t help this, rolling off of it helps a little but you can still hear it. The noise is still present when I touch the strings, bridge or even the pickups.

It doesn’t sound like a single coil hum, but different. If my cellphone is within 2-3ft of the bass it makes even more noise. When I put the bass into passive mode the noise seems to completely go away… albeit since the volume of the basses output drops I haven’t played through my amp at the same volume as if it was in active mode.

I’m not sure if this is a pickups, preamp issue or maybe a shielding issue. I have little to no experience dealing with this. I recently picked up a VTC from a buddy here on TB and I don’t want to drop it in, if it’s not the preamp and one of the other two potential issues.

One buddy out of state suggested I use a multimeter to check the pickups. I don’t own one or even know how to check that, so at this time that is off of the table.

Any assistant with this would be greatly appreciated, thanks for everyone’s time in advance.

Welcome to Talkbass. There is quite a bit of useful information in the basses and pickups forums on potential causes and fixes for the noise problems you are describing. Use key words and phrases in the search function to find relevant info. There may be more than one source among the several you listed. Is there a good guitar tech within driving distance? It would cost a bit but save you time and frustration.

 

[2thAche]

My RSD arrived last Friday and what a buzzkill experience it has been…..

I was super excited but have been disappointed altogether. So much that I’m afraid to try the German Metroline.
In all fairness it’s an April 21’ model but it seems to be a later iteration.
The nut measures 1,8 inches rather than 1.875 and the frets are .108 wide instead of .094
I have no means to measure their height accurately.
The Just A Nut is glued assymetrically and is poorly filed. Needs work. The neck finish has a defect where they went through it when buffing most likely. The body finish is flawless and the pickguard is great. The bridge plate while a clone of the original, is poorly machined and the saddles don’t align and have minor gaps. The truss rod seems to be working just fine. The fretboard is a very nice piece and very thick but seems to be either polished or finished up to the 10th fret but not all the way. The electronics are quite noisy when not touching strings which indicates mediocre shielding. I suspect the paint has a high resistance, since there is no beep on the continuity test (bridge and jack ground) and measures sth like 1300Ohms.
The active setting has at least 6dB higher output than the passive but to me seems like the passive is super low output rather than the opposite. Both my 55-60 & V7 are way hotter passive than the RSD.
Because there is also a significant lack of high end zing, I can’t help but wonder whether there is a 25K/100K volume pot used. (Maybe the lack of high end is a trait of the Okume body??)
The thing is that the bass acoustically sounds good. Punchy full and tight.

I’ll have to send it back to Thomann and ask for a refund.

I have nothing but respect for Mr. Sadowsky and know how amazing HIS instruments are. I’ve played US versions.
Do you believe I got a dud?

So, it sounds good and plays good, but there are detail problems? Sounds like you're looking for an NYC at an RSD price point. You're not going to get that.

 

[ck6781]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone.

Maybe I was unlucky and got the short straw that QC missed.
Under no circumstances was I expecting a boutique instrument for €1000. Nevertheless as an experienced professional I can’t help but think that these basses are subpar not only @€900 but even @€500. I’ve played and serviced at least 20 V7s and V3s (I recommend them to a lot of students) in the last 5 years and not one of them had immediate attention issues. That’s why I generally recommend them. Because of their consistency. They’re far from perfect. But at least the play well out of the box after a minor truss rod and bridge tweak. The same pretty much applies to Indonesian Squier, Ibanez and Yamaha.
I believe that is who RSD has to compete against in the sub €1000 market.

 

[ShadowGroover]

@ck6781 : I totally understand your disappointment. You have reasonable comments and expectations. It seemed that RSD quality improved greatly after the initial run. That you have received a problematic more recent bass could simply indicate that one bass was released that shouldn't have been. Maybe the best news is that you're able to return the bass for a refund. No harm, no foul.

Wouldn't it be great if you could walk into a shop, play several of the models you are interested in, pick the one you like best, and then be happy with that bass for a long time? I've had such experiences, and hope something similar for you.

 

[Loepie]

German MetroLines are great. On par with the Japanese ones, and they were on par with NYC ones. So don't be afraid of that. For the RSD you could say "the later, the better". Maybe you had a bit of bad luck with your RSD. Aneway the RSD logo will disapear next year according to Roger. If someone is looking for a 4-string, I'm selling my Japanese Vintage MetroExpress '59 burst (ME830). I'm located in the Netherlands Europe. Price is € 1.500,-
View attachment 4867398

It's in the classifieds now.

 

[Bigoo7e]

Welcome to Talkbass. There is quite a bit of useful information in the basses and pickups forums on potential causes and fixes for the noise problems you are describing. Use key words and phrases in the search function to find relevant info. There may be more than one source among the several you listed. Is there a good guitar tech within driving distance? It would cost a bit but save you time and frustration.

Thanks for the tip... I do have some contacts I could take it to but figured I would check here first. I was hoping swapping the preamp out would solve my issue, but I didn't want to pay someone to do the swap and it not fix the issue I am having.

 

[5StringPocket]

Thanks for the tip... I do have some contacts I could take it to but figured I would check here first. I was hoping swapping the preamp out would solve my issue, but I didn't want to pay someone to do the swap and it not fix the issue I am having.

Your concern is valid. Since the bass seems quiet in passive mode the pickups are probably good, but I’d increase the amp’s input gain and play through it at decent volume while changing position to see if the noise level is acceptable. If it is then the preamp or lack of proper shielding/grounding in the electronics compartment may be your problem.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I’ve been getting a lot of noise out of the bass. The treble knob when it’s cranked doesn’t help this, rolling off of it helps a little but you can still hear it.

Sorry if this has already been mentioned, but the active EQ on the Sadowsky preamp is boost only. "Cranked" treble will result in a ton of boost, and I'm not surprised that it also results in noise. Have you tried the bass with treble set flat? Flat would be fully counterclockwise.