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Club Sadowsky!!!

A luthier builds a few basses by hand. Roger has worldwide production and distribution so he can just relax and build a few basses by hand, that's a good businessman if you ask me!
Regarding the new ME logo I think is a good move, think about it, with todays economy who wants to be dishing out $3k to $7k for a new bass? I think the MEs with fill a huge void. In fact with the new headstock I am even thinking of picking one up myself
The waiting period for these high priced basses is quite long .. people are buying them.
 
The hottest Sadowsky I ever had was an early Japanese MV5. You could barely get past 25%. My newer NYC appears to have less juice.
I also dial-in max 1/4 of the preamp.
I have a country boy question here:
what's the terminology of the basses UV, MV, RV ... is there a system behind? I have the Japan Metro 5 JJ with maple board since a few weeks. I know there's a hybrid PJ, and also the one with soapbars. Thanks for sharing.
 
There's no question from a business stand point it's a good move to brand the ME's with the Sadowsky logo. I'm of the opinion that it devalues the NYC's and the MIG's. Leaving the designed by Sadowsky logo on the headstock and treat it like a Squier would be, as an NYC owner, my preference. But they will certainly sell more with the Sadowsky logo.
 
There's no question from a business stand point it's a good move to brand the ME's with the Sadowsky logo. I'm of the opinion that it devalues the NYC's and the MIG's. Leaving the designed by Sadowsky logo on the headstock and treat it like a Squier would be, as an NYC owner, my preference. But they will certainly sell more with the Sadowsky logo.
I’ll stick my neck out and say many artists want their work to be more accessible to a larger market. If Roger can get the ME production standards up to his benchmark he’ll potentially have a juggernaut on his hands. Squier move over.
 
I don't believe any of those that felt that way before have changed their views and are probably quite happy about the news. I was of the opinion then as I am now, I would rather the ME's made in China did not even exist. I would rather there only be the various German models and the NYC's but I might be a bit of a bass snob;)

I believe to remember that people in this thread were disappointed that the new ME did not get the Sadowsky logo when these were introduced. Can't please everyone. :rollno:
 
I don't believe any of those that felt that way before have changed their views and are probably quite happy about the news. I was of the opinion then as I am now, I would rather the ME's made in China did not even exist. I would rather there only be the various German models and the NYC's but I might be a bit of a bass snob;)

I covered this in my review of my ME - I can't see the headstock logo while I'm playing, and the fit, finish, feel and sound of the bass (the things that matter when I'm playing ) are exceptional for the price point.
 
I also dial-in max 1/4 of the preamp.
I have a country boy question here:
what's the terminology of the basses UV, MV, RV ... is there a system behind? I have the Japan Metro 5 JJ with maple board since a few weeks. I know there's a hybrid PJ, and also the one with soapbars. Thanks for sharing.
The first letter denotes the wood combo:
R=alder/Rosewood
M=ash/Maple
The second letter denotes model:
V= Vintage (pick guard and control plate)
S=Standard ( no pick guard or control plate)
The last Number is the string count.
UV=Ultra Vintage (full size body)
 
I'm glad you enjoy your bass, I'm sure many will love these. I can certainly get great tones out of less expensive basses and like my Fender Elite's as much as my NYC's. I played a Squier 60's jazz at a music store once that I absolutely loved. It was $249 and I should've bought it. That said, I've owned a few MIG Metroline basses and would not own another. I haven't had a chance to play a custom shop or masterbuilt so I have no opinion on those.

I covered this in my review of my ME - I can't see the headstock logo while I'm playing, and the fit, finish, feel and sound of the bass (the things that matter when I'm playing ) are exceptional for the price point.
 
I think good players should have access to good instruments. Not everyone can afford a bespoke instrument. The metro express covers a good bit of this area.

not everyone plays professionally or can afford a gmetro or nyc. Also all new Sadowsky basses went up in price so this fills up a void in the market. Who cares about the logo honestly, just enjoy and play your basses
 
Ive owned the earliest Japanese metros, the Japan metro express and the Chinese metro express. I only own the Chinese verdine now, because it sounds GREAT, weighs 7.25 lbs, and with the VTC I added, provides all the tone shaping needed. It feels like a Sadowsky, it plays like a Sadowsky, and it looks like a Sadowsky. I have no regrets selling off the more expensive versions.
 
Well everyone, let's agree to disagree! I can actually see the point of potentially "devaluing of the brand". However, Roger seems to have earned quite the rapport and is due all the cash that is flowing his way. If the trust of his customers is anything to go by, the chinese ME series will be up to snuff.

I do quite enjoy the controversy as it is an indicator of a perceived statement of quality the name implies.
 
There are a ton of good instruments out there for good players that don't cost a lot. I've played many that cost less than the current ME but were far superior. That's not really my point. I guess it comes down to what makes a Sadowsky a Sadowsky? Can you just take subpar parts, bolt them together, slap a Sadowsky logo on it and call it a Sadowsky? Will it be a Sadowsky? That comes back to what makes a Sadowsky? If it's that easy, we're all over paying by significant amounts for NYC and even the German made basses. These are just my opinions, I know many disagree and it's not a big deal at all. I love my NYC's and I certainly feel I overpayed for my recent one. But if you want an NYC, a "real Sadowsky;)" other than buying used you have to pay the price.

I think good players should have access to good instruments. Not everyone can afford a bespoke instrument. The metro express covers a good bit of this area.
 
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FWIW - I have two NYC’s and one MIG Metro and the NYC basses smoke the Metro … the Metro is my backup bass and will only ever be that.

My conclusion is most certainly subjective and, since I’m a lefty, I have little to base it on, but I also feel like my limited choice in availability over the last 35 years has also lead to me becoming hypercritical of any bass I play.

With that said, I’ll offer this … Fender and Squire … ESP and LTD … Music Man and SUB … on and on … these have all been incredibly successful uses of brand value and categorization and have managed to walk the fine line of offering quality instruments under a bigger and more respected brand without devaluing the higher end instruments.

Not sure why the same couldn’t be true for the Sadowsky brand, but I don’t own it, so I won’t make any assumptions.

Just basing my thoughts on experience.
 
What do you think of the Sadowsky preamp as the common characteristic of NYC, MIG an ME? Maybe is the unique sound of the preamp the reason to put the name Sadowsky on the bass? And the fact that it is build according to the plans of Roger Sadowsky? Is this bass really so much worse than Squire or LTD?
 
Neither the ME or German Sadowsky preamps sound like the NYC. But to go further, is that all Sadowsky is, the preamp? Can you take that simple 2 band, boost only circuit and turn any bass into an NYC Sadowsky?

What do you think of the Sadowsky preamp as the common characteristic of NYC, MIG an ME? Maybe is the unique sound of the preamp the reason to put the name Sadowsky on the bass? And the fact that it is build according to the plans of Roger Sadowsky? Is this bass really so much worse than Squire or LTD?
 
What do you think of the Sadowsky preamp as the common characteristic of NYC, MIG an ME? Maybe is the unique sound of the preamp the reason to put the name Sadowsky on the bass? And the fact that it is build according to the plans of Roger Sadowsky? Is this bass really so much worse than Squire or LTD?

Gee if that were the case people would buy the Sadowsky external preamp and be done with it. I can tell you after owning 6 NYC’s there is a lot more to a NYC Sadowsky than a preamp.
 
Neither the ME or German Sadowsky preamps sound like the NYC.

Didn’t Roger @Sadowsky say earlier in this thread that the electronics were the same in all basses regardless of where they were made (with the exception of the VTC on current MetroExpress models)? Or am I remembering incorrectly.
 
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