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Club Sadowsky!!!

#61,742
Joebone said:
I inquire as to this tribe's preferred provider of replacement pickguards for a Japanese Metro WL5. A quick attempt to search for this datapoint was futile - but apologies if I've missed something obvious. Thanks!
Click to expand...

I got some really nice pickguards from Pickguardian (Home | Pickguardian). No matter who you use, for a Japanese Metro you will most likely have to send in your old guard as a template.
 
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#61,743
Regarding the German Metroline tuners; I recently bought a Ash/maple vintage JJ5 brand new. Very well made and good sounding bass. Impeccable workmanship. But I shared the feeling about the tuners with many members here, they were inferior in smoothness to USA hipshots, which I believe should be the quality standard on this price point.

I got USA Hipshots put them in and just somehow felt the sound changed. I didn’t analyze anything on purpose but just suddenly felt the B string did not have the same bottom it did have. It could just have been in my head or even been just the strings in slightly different position etc. Anyway, I put the heavier Sadowsky Light Tuners back and felt that the sound went back to what it had been!

The tuners have got smoother with use by the way… :)

I am not telling you this is how it goes. I know NYC 5 strings use USA hipshots. Just my subjective experience!
 
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#61,744
bzmnt said:
Regarding the German Metroline tuners; I recently bought a Ash/maple vintage JJ5 brand new. Very well made and good sounding bass. Impeccable workmanship. But I shared the feeling about the tuners with many members here, they were inferior in smoothness to USA hipshots, which I believe should be the quality standard on this price point.

I got USA Hipshots put them in and just somehow felt the sound changed. I didn’t analyze anything on purpose but just suddenly felt the B string did not have the same bottom it did have. It could just have been in my head or even been just the strings in slightly different position etc. Anyway, I put the heavier Sadowsky Light Tuners back and felt that the sound went back to what it had been!

The tuners have got smoother with use by the way… :)

I am not telling you this is how it goes. I know NYC 5 strings use USA hipshots. Just my subjective experience!
Click to expand...
Interesting. Long story, but for now I have changed the tuners on only E to G strings. Still waiting to replace that final tuner with a Hipshot. Will have a good listen before and after changing that last tuner. So far I don't really detect much change in sound that can't be neutralized with the EQ - so if after changing the low B I do find a change perhaps I'll keep the 4 Hipshots and put the Sadowsky back for the low B...we'll see. As I have previously stated, I'm quite sensitive to neck dive, I find that even with a thick and grippy strap my shoulder still tires - moreso with neck dive than with a heavier bass. I have sold other instruments because of neck dive but I really want this one to work. So lighter tuners are just the ticket for me on the German vintage JJ5.
 
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#61,745
Lots of issues with the Sadowsky branded tuners.
It doesn’t make any sense with a high quality bass to reinvent the process and manufacture something that already works,,,,,well.

I have an overseas Reverend that has the licensed Hipshots, and they feel as good as my Sadowsky USA Hipshots.

How much would it cost to just use the licensed tuners and keep the quality as expected from our favorite brand?
 
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#61,746
Joebone said:
I inquire as to this tribe's preferred provider of replacement pickguards for a Japanese Metro WL5. A quick attempt to search for this datapoint was futile - but apologies if I've missed something obvious. Thanks!
Click to expand...
I made my own (see my avatar) from a blank sheet of pickguard material (black pearl). I used a jigsaw, drill, various files, sandpaper and patience. I got the blank sheet from aliexpress, it cost peanuts.
 
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#61,747
Clark Westfield said:
Lots of issues with the Sadowsky branded tuners.
It doesn’t make any sense with a high quality bass to reinvent the process and manufacture something that already works,,,,,well.

I have an overseas Reverend that has the licensed Hipshots, and they feel as good as my Sadowsky USA Hipshots.

How much would it cost to just use the licensed tuners and keep the quality as expected from our favorite brand?
Click to expand...
If you have issues with the turners reach out to Warwick on Instagram
 
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#61,748
ragetoca said:
If you have issues with the turners reach out to Warwick on Instagram
Click to expand...
I don’t have any issues at all, just implying Warwick should just use what was used in the past with no complaints.

Why make a Sadowsky tuner when the basses are expensive to start with. Just use the Hipshot licensed versions and end the damage control. They are making their money.
 
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#61,749
Clark Westfield said:
I don’t have any issues at all, just implying Warwick should just use what was used in the past with no complaints.

Why make a Sadowsky tuner when the basses are expensive to start with. Just use the Hipshot licensed versions and end the damage control. They are making their money.
Click to expand...
Everything Warwick uses on their instruments is owned and/or manufactured by them, so that’ll never happen.

I’m not sure if the issue people are talking about is the tuner itself, necessarily … I think the tuners on my ML would be just fine on a ME.

The issue seems to be that the tuners are very inconsistent (some are fine with theirs, some have some tuners that are fine and others that aren’t, some have a complete set that isn’t up to snuff for the price-point). The second issue is that and the same tuners are used on the lower end basses as they are the higher end.

If we can pretend to gauge the entire market by the opinions in this thread, there are quite a few people (including me) who feel that a more consistent tuner with smoother gearing and tighter tolerances belong on their ML and MB basses over the tuners they’re using now. It seems to be pretty split and, to me, that seems significant.

They use two different bridges (I’m assuming the cheaper one uses zinc opposed to brass for the saddles at least), so there’s no reason why they couldn’t do the same for the tuners.

Time will tell, I guess.
 
#61,751
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#61,753
I got my pre-order in on the NEW MetroExpress JJ5. Not a tort fan so that will get swapped out for a black one. Due in July….Let’s Go!!
IMG_1545.jpeg
 
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#61,757
TimothyGroovy said:
Thanks for the clips!
Yeah, this one sounds exactly like my old 24 frets with soapbar at 60's position, something in between bass with 60s single coils or soapbar at modern position. :)
Click to expand...
This is an older post but I love the tone in this referenced video clip from @roogbass.

The photo below shows a pickup placement that falls between the modern and 60's position. Bridge to center of bridge p/u is 2.0" and bridge p/u to neck p/u center is 2.75". The bass has an ash body, pau ferro board, and a Sadowsky preamp. Current pickups are split coil which sound similar to Nordstrand Big Splits. Nothing wrong with the current setup but tone is on the brighter side. I have a set of Sadowsky/Warwick soap bars I'd like to swap in to see if the tone might be a bit thicker with more low mids without losing too much clarity. Thoughts?
AcidJ5 Pickup Location.jpg
 
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