Club Sadowsky!!!

[Holdsg]

I blame gremlins

 

[JesseMalaska]

Sad day! Reveived Metroline 5-24 vintage yesterday and the bridge pickup is dead. Also its super neck-heavy and wont sit well on my lap… also ne control cavity cover is stuck and took forever to open. I think the clips that you have to move to get it open are shaged. Its going back to Thomann next week. Otherwise it acustically sounded nice and very even, great B-string. Im glad I didnt take this to a gig before testing.

 

[MOSCOWBASS]

At soundcheck yesterday in a hotel ballroom, my 2009 Metro UV70 5 string (with hum cancelling pickups), was picking up interference from something in the room, likely the small ceiling lights on a dimmer. It was a loud high frequency buzz/noise, and was present in active and passive modes, and present no matter how I panned the pickups. Not a shielding problem, the noise didn’t come and go when touching the strings. I could curtail it with the VTC, but it was very loud. The same Bass was dead quiet less than 24 hours earlier at my gig in another location. So I grabbed my Fender Jazz 5 out of the case that has Lollar single coils, and it was dead quiet. I could get the interference on the Fender if I panned pickups, but with both pickups on 100% there was no noise issue. I haven’t had noise issues with the UV70 before. Wondering if something has failed in a ground somewhere or a dodgy pickup. I’ll have a snoop next week after my weekend of gigs. Any thoughts welcome. Thanks.

Update: I just quickly opened up the control cavity and grabbed the multimeter. There is continuity from the ground lug to the back of the pots, and continuity to the shielding. Also some, but not all of the pickup pole pieces have continuity to ground too. I have no noise here at home. I’ll take it to my gig tonight which is in another room and see what happens.

Hearing aid loop switched on 8n hall?

 

[projectapollo]

At soundcheck yesterday in a hotel ballroom, my 2009 Metro UV70 5 string (with hum cancelling pickups), was picking up interference from something in the room, likely the small ceiling lights on a dimmer.

The Japan Metro 5 strings used the side by side 5 string pickup design that did not fully hum cancel in some challenging environments. The NYC stacked HC 5 string pickups solved the problem. That may be what you are experiencing. See Roger's post #49155.

I own Chef's Japan Metro 5 string and he had single coils installed by the NYC shop when he bought it new and they fully hum cancel when the pan is centered which is another solution. They sound awesome, as well.

 

[bucephylus]

At soundcheck yesterday in a hotel ballroom, my 2009 Metro UV70 5 string (with hum cancelling pickups), was picking up interference from something in the room, likely the small ceiling lights on a dimmer. It was a loud high frequency buzz/noise, and was present in active and passive modes, and present no matter how I panned the pickups. Not a shielding problem, the noise didn’t come and go when touching the strings. I could curtail it with the VTC, but it was very loud. The same Bass was dead quiet less than 24 hours earlier at my gig in another location. So I grabbed my Fender Jazz 5 out of the case that has Lollar single coils, and it was dead quiet. I could get the interference on the Fender if I panned pickups, but with both pickups on 100% there was no noise issue. I haven’t had noise issues with the UV70 before. Wondering if something has failed in a ground somewhere or a dodgy pickup. I’ll have a snoop next week after my weekend of gigs. Any thoughts welcome. Thanks.

Update: I just quickly opened up the control cavity and grabbed the multimeter. There is continuity from the ground lug to the back of the pots, and continuity to the shielding. Also some, but not all of the pickup pole pieces have continuity to ground too. I have no noise here at home. I’ll take it to my gig tonight which is in another room and see what happens.

Did you have ground continuity to the bridge (only other thing that comes to mind).

 

[Mark Hughes]

Did you have ground continuity to the bridge (only other thing that comes to mind).

Yes there is continuity to the bridge too. I used the UV70 last night in a different venue and it was fine, totally quiet. I'm thinking it must have been just that particular ballroom on Friday. Could have been a hearing aid loop I guess, the ceiling was full of those little halogen lights that were dimmed. I was thankful my other Bass with the single coils wasn't affected. I'm close to pulling the trigger on a German Metro 5, (purely for weight reasons, my back is getting old!) so I'm assuming this have the irregular split coil 5 string pickups as well.

 

[The_Owl]

Picture because this finish is stunning

 

[The_Owl]

The Japan Metro 5 strings used the side by side 5 string pickup design that did not fully hum cancel in some challenging environments. The NYC stacked HC 5 string pickups solved the problem. That may be what you are experiencing. See Roger's post #49155.

I own Chef's Japan Metro 5 string and he had single coils installed by the NYC shop when he bought it new and they fully hum cancel when the pan is centered which is another solution. They sound awesome, as well.

View attachment 5262301

Question: was this before the move to Warwick in Germany? I've noticed the pickups on my MiG MetroLine (avatar) can pick up noise when soloed, especially if you boost treble. What design do the German-built Sadowsky basses use for the J pickups?

 

[barks]

Gave my NYC RV4 a clean today with some Sadowsky polish that I found in the bottom of a cupboard. I had never really used it before but it has really done a nice job.
The body is ash on this one rather than the more usual alder with a rosewood board. It will be 20 years old next year.
This is the bass that I bought via Talkbass a good while ago now (10 years plus) from a seller in Dallas from memory.
I use it with TI Jazz flatwounds and the MV4 in my avatar always has Sadowsky Blue Steel roundwounds. Both great basses of course

 

[WorktheWood]

Question: was this before the move to Warwick in Germany? I've noticed the pickups on my MiG MetroLine (avatar) can pick up noise when soloed, especially if you boost treble. What design do the German-built Sadowsky basses use for the J pickups?

The earlier MIG's all had split coils, they switched to stacked coils a year or two ago. Typically noise issues were more common with 5 string splits due to the unbalanced coils; one coil handled 3 strings, while the other coil had 2 strings.The 4 strings didn't have the issue because the two coils were evenly wound.

 

[Jerry J]

Gave my NYC RV4 a clean today with some Sadowsky polish that I found in the bottom of a cupboard. I had never really used it before but it has really done a nice job.
The body is ash on this one rather than the more usual alder with a rosewood board. It will be 20 years old next year.
This is the bass that I bought via Talkbass a good while ago now (10 years plus) from a seller in Dallas from memory.
I use it with TI Jazz flatwounds and the MV4 in my avatar always has Sadowsky Blue Steel roundwounds. Both great basses of course
View attachment 5263740

That is a beauty, for sure. I love 2-tone sunbursts. Oh, and nice choice of cabinets.

 

[The_Owl]

The earlier MIG's all had split coils, they switched to stacked coils a year or two ago. Typically noise issues were more common with 5 string splits due to the unbalanced coils; one coil handled 3 strings, while the other coil had 2 strings.The 4 strings didn't have the issue because the two coils were evenly wound.

Mine is from 2021. How do I know which ones are on my bass?

 

[Mark Hughes]

The earlier MIG's all had split coils, they switched to stacked coils a year or two ago. Typically noise issues were more common with 5 string splits due to the unbalanced coils; one coil handled 3 strings, while the other coil had 2 strings.The 4 strings didn't have the issue because the two coils were evenly wound.

Do the current German Masterbuilt and Metrolines 5 strings come with the stacked coils?

 

[WorktheWood]

Do the current German Masterbuilt and Metrolines 5 strings come with the stacked coils?

I believe they are now that standard pickup for all the German made basses.

 

[WorktheWood]

Mine is from 2021. How do I know which ones are on my bass?

I don't know if the 21's has them. You might be able to either look at the wiring or remove one of the pickups. The stacks are very tall and you'll see one coil stacked on another.

 

[The_Owl]

I don't know if the 21's has them. You might be able to either look at the wiring or remove one of the pickups. The stacks are very tall and you'll see one coil stacked on another.

Thanks! Considering the noise I am getting I assume they are the old ones.

 

[Mark Hughes]

I believe they are now that standard pickup for all the German made basses.

Wow cool, I just pulled the trigger on this one!

 

[kobass]

^^^^

Sweet bass!

Congrats and enjoy!

 

[stingray78]

New finish by Pat Wilkins, Pat never disappoints.

 

[Smokas]

It's my first post on TB, so hello everyone here!

I've just bought RSD MetroExpress 21-5 vintage. It looks they are on sale in Thomann, probably to empty stock for 2023 series. I'm now waiting for timeslot at luthiers for setup and VTC installation.

The bass is probably from 2020 (if number 20 at the end of SN means that). The question is what are factory strings on it? Could they be Sadowsky steels? But which ones - they have no silk or taper.