I have a Japanese MetroExpress and it’s 7.5 pounds. My Japanese UV70 is 10.2 or so. Going from the UV70 to the ME, the ME feels like it’s floating
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I have a Japanese MetroExpress and it’s 7.5 pounds. My Japanese UV70 is 10.2 or so. Going from the UV70 to the ME, the ME feels like it’s floating
Great to hear, thanks. I have a 2015 Metroline MS5 coming. It is an Ash/Maple build which is what I wanted. 21 frets, VTC, and Natural finish. I love the look of a natural finish with no pickguard on a Jazz. Pretty timeless look to me. I was pretty set on a maple neck, and VTC. Also the weight is a little under 8 pounds which is awesome for a 5. If it has graphite rod, that would be great too. I think they started adding those to the Metrolines in 2014 or so if I remember correctly.
I also have a NYC Verdine White 4 string and it's my #1. So I didn't want to go too far down in quality from that. Mainly in terms of how awesome the neck plays, the low action and the VTC.
The main thing I was missing was a jazz bass. I have a shortscale, a Fender P with flats, the Sadowsky PJ and an L2500 that I'm selling now. I have owned a lot of Fender Jazzes and it just became clear to me that the sound I want is that active jazz sound that the Sadowskys are known for.
I like the slap tone on the Verdine a lot, but that active Jazz bass slap tone is my favorite by a good amount. Where I find the Verdine excels is how punchy and crisp it sounds with both pickups on. That tone is very unique, it's like a combo of that jaco/fusion solo sound but it is beefy enough to work for about anything. With the VTC rolled off a good amount, it just sounds amazing.
The MS5 is going to give me a light 5 string bass and we all know how versatile the Jazzes are. One thing that sticks out to me about Sadowsky J's is how the back pickup is so much better balanced than the passive Fenders I have owned. So it doesn't lose much low end when you solo it. That makes it probably one of the most versatile basses you can own, imo.
For those of you who are using the Will Lee models..do you use the additional mid range control ? I know the back story on why he needed it.
Just curious since I have never played this model. Thanks
Just curious since I have never played this model. Thanks
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I rarely used it, but when it is engaged it sounds really good in the mix of a band. I just found it to be unnecessary most of the time. But it's there if you need it, just in my case I rarely needed it since my Preamp/DI has a pretty solid mid-range eq.
I play a Modern 5 SingleCut with WL- Pre. I‘m totally satisfied with the sound options of the regular Sadowsky -Preamp and use the WL sometimes out of curiosity - it made no lasting impressions so far.
I dialed my WL circuit so that the affected signal was a mild bump in gain. This made switching it on for a bigger chorus pretty helpful. Or you can set it for unity gain when switched on. I no longer own a WL, but did find that useful.
I KNOW!! I’ve A/B’d my Verdine against dozens of basses, and it’s so punchy and direct sounding, everything my fingers do comes blazing outta that bass. You know how some basses make you sound….better? My Verdine does just that. The VTC is the secret sauce. Being able to roll off a good bit of top end, but getting the mid and bass punch makes for a lot of fun on the bandstand.
Nope, never. Though, I didn’t want the Will Lee model for the pre, I liked the 1.75” nut width and 22 frets. In fact, I rarely use the pre in that bass at all, just the VTC.
he must have been talking about a 5 string, and you're talking about a 4.
"1.45” nut width on 4-string, 1.75″nut width on 5-string"
I have two NYC’s with the WL preamp…
I set them up for some solo gain boost—based on my ear/experience with each bass, one sounds best with 500hz wide-q option, and the other 800hz narrow-q. It’s nice having the frequency choice, and sometimes…I will leave it engaged all the time.
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Thank you. Really beautiful instruments. That fretless bass is amazing.
I don’t use it as it comes with quite some hiss when engaged, even when the amount of mid boost is dialed down substantially. I didn’t buy the uncle Will for its mid boost though.
- Apr 3, 2003
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Finally wrapping up my "Long Term Test Drive" review of the 4-21 Super P/J, and I did a couple of hours of A/B/C-ing with my WL4 and P/5 5 last night. I am ashamed to admit that I hadn't played either the WL4 or PJ5 for quite a while - part of the blame lies with the Super P/J 4! - but that allowed me to spend some time falling in love with them all over again. First off, both basses were spot on in tune, and had perfect action, despite LONG periods of neglect. I am just in awe of the sheer awesomeness of these basses! The one nice thing about forgetting about things for a while is rediscovering them again. My WL4 is one of, it not the best, J-style bass I own, and that P/J5 is just spot-on exactly what I love in a bass. And then there is the 4-21 Super P/J - which has been to almost every gig since I picked it up years ago. Sadowsky really is top of the heap, best of the best. I will fight anyone who feels differently! 
I almost never use the circuit. If a Jaco groove is on the menu, maybe, but otherwise Roger's 2-band is more than sufficient in 99.9% musical situations.
Dunno if this is standard, this is my first experience with a Sadowsky bass. It’s a new (old stock) bass so I assume it doesn’t need servicing. The standard bass/treble controls and the VTC are enough for my needs.
