Club Sadowsky!!!

[kobass]

^^^^

Sweet bass!

 

[roller]

What is the approximate timeframe on when these preamps were phased out?

Our older preamps, on which the circuit board was covered in black epoxy or black paint, were actually too hot.

 

[MikeBass]

And the backwards balance knob will take some getting used to!

I have mine rewired to the “normal” way.

 

[macribas]

I have mine rewired to the “normal” way.

Same here.

 

[KenMoore05]

I like the way it’s wired. If it’s good enough for Roger, it’s good enough for me! Plus right now I only have Sadowsky basses, so it’s consistent.

 

[bucephylus]

Personally, I’m unable to discriminate which way the pan switch is wired on the recording or out in the house.

 

[MikeBass]

Personally, I’m unable to discriminate which way the pan switch is wired on the recording or out in the house.

Haha
Funny guy over here.

it’s just about consistency between my basses for me.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Its just a matter of getting used to it since it is different from everyone else

 

[rowsi]

Haha
Funny guy over here.

it’s just about consistency between my basses for me.

Its just a matter of getting used to it since it is different from everyone else

Dear sirs, 'tis be the club Sadowsky, not some shabby club Nondowsky. Owning Nondowskys is considered a cardinal sin around here.

 

[bucephylus]

Haha
Funny guy over here.

it’s just about consistency between my basses for me.

No explanation needed; I’m exactly the same. Just need to laugh at ourselves once in a while.

 

[wordwrite]

Here's my Sadowsky ... bought a few weeks ago at Chicago Music Exchange. It's a Hybrid PJ Bass 5-String with a Swamp Ash body. Nice and light and plays great. It will get its baptism during April, when our band has something like six gigs, a mix of openers and headliners. That's me on the left with Eric "razor" Retjer, the bass guy at CME. Great place, my wife is lucky I didn't walk out with the 51 P Bass I saw!

 

[MattLplaysBass]

It has been a few days since the blend knob wiring was brought up, good to see traditions continue

 

[MikeBass]

Dear sirs, 'tis be the club Sadowsky, not some shabby club Nondowsky. Owning Nondowskys is considered a cardinal sin around here.

Oh, I know the rules…….I started this club. LoL

 

[PeckBass]

Hi guys,

I recently bought a German Metroline VJ24-5, it’s a beautiful bass, and I really like the sound and feel of it. The bass has a chambered body and weighs 3.75kg which is very light. The only problem is that it has a small amount of neck dive. Original Sadowsky tuning machines are 80g per machine, which makes up about 400g total. What do you think, will switching to Hipshot USA Ultralites solve the diving neck problem? And which model should I buy that is compatible with the original tuners?

I have already tried a wider strap, it helps but does not solve the problem totally.

Two of these original Sadowsky tuners are also feeling too stiff.

I even wrote an email to Warwick but the answer was literary “This is the first time I hear that Sadowsky bass has a neck dive” and that was all.

Thank you all in advance!

In terms of straps…I have found that a strap that forms to your arm stays in place. Check out the Neotech Megastrap…they were the supplier for the original Sadowsky NYC neoprene strap. The neoprene forms to your shoulder and stays in place nicely on my 8 pound nyc 5-24. The latest version is more robust and almost 1/2” thick with strong leather ends. Good luck, hope this helps!
Mega Strap

 

[PeckBass]

In terms of straps…I have found that a strap that forms to your arm stays in place. Check out the Neotech Megastrap…they were the supplier for the original Sadowsky NYC neoprene strap. The neoprene forms to your shoulder and stays in place nicely on my 8 pound nyc 5-24. The latest version is more robust and almost 1/2” thick with strong leather ends. Good luck, hope this helps!
Mega Strap
View attachment 5004872 View attachment 5004873 View attachment 5004874

2022 Metroline WL5 in pic. Works well on that one too!

 

[macribas]

Direct replacement would be these: USA Ultralite® Bass Tuning Machine 1/2

According to Hipshot, they weigh 55 grams each.

https://docs.hipshotproducts.com/20675_ULTRALITE_1-2_CLOVER_KEY.pdf

I was going to say... I once weighted my USA against my LIC 1/2 Ultralites and they were the same weight.

I was assuming my German Sadowsky's tuners were branded Hipshot LIC Ultralites. They looked really similar. Now that I learned they are 80g each (and I just took one off to weigh it), I took a better look at them, compared to the LICs and realized they are not the same.

I was already finding it strange that myself and many others here were complaining about how "not smooth" these Metroline tuners were. Now it makes sense. They are not Hipshot LICs.

I could live with the extra weight, if the tuners worked well. The bass is not heavy as a whole. But I'm guessing that Roger is not aware of how bad these tuners are.

Now I'm probably going to upgrade these tuners myself. Shaving 5 oz and getting smoother tuners is worth it. Even going to LIC is already an upgrade.

 

[Stranger Danger]

My MIJ is a 2011 and has the Hipshot LIC tuners. They seem to work fine and are very smooth. I’m guessing it’s changed in the intervening years?

 

[macribas]

My MIJ is a 2011 and has the Hipshot LIC tuners. They seem to work fine and are very smooth. I’m guessing it’s changed in the intervening years?

I only know the German Metroline, which started in 2020. Probably Warwick has a different vendor for tuners.

 

[Bassadzijah]

In terms of straps…I have found that a strap that forms to your arm stays in place. Check out the Neotech Megastrap…they were the supplier for the original Sadowsky NYC neoprene strap. The neoprene forms to your shoulder and stays in place nicely on my 8 pound nyc 5-24. The latest version is more robust and almost 1/2” thick with strong leather ends. Good luck, hope this helps!
Mega Strap
View attachment 5004872 View attachment 5004873 View attachment 5004874

Thanks for the tip! I've already switched to GruvGear Solostrap Neo and it feels much better now. But I will definitely check out Neotech!

 

[KaseOfBass]

I was going to say... I once weighted my USA against my LIC 1/2 Ultralites and they were the same weight.

I was assuming my German Sadowsky's tuners were branded Hipshot LIC Ultralites. They looked really similar. Now that I learned they are 80g each (and I just took one off to weigh it), I took a better look at them, compared to the LICs and realized they are not the same.

I was already finding it strange that myself and many others here were complaining about how "not smooth" these Metroline tuners were. Now it makes sense. They are not Hipshot LICs.

I could live with the extra weight, if the tuners worked well. The bass is not heavy as a whole. But I'm guessing that Roger is not aware of how bad these tuners are.

Now I'm probably going to upgrade these tuners myself. Shaving 5 oz and getting smoother tuners is worth it. Even going to LIC is already an upgrade.

Agreed - weight I could deal with, but the the functionality of the OEM tuners on my German Metroline just wasn’t up to what I’ve experienced with USA or licensed Ultralites. I never found the need or want to replace the licensed Ultralites on any of the Japanese-made Metros I had in the past.

With that said, my German Metro MJ5 is a fantastic bass otherwise; it’s the one I’m playing the most now. At only 7.9 pounds, it’s extremely comfortable to play.