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Club Sadowsky!!!

#63,501
#63,502
gregbackstrom said:
Sadowsky Metroline MJ-5 question

For you MJ owners out there, does your vintage tone control work the same for both pickups? On my MJ-5, the VTC works the same on my neck PU in all three switch positions as on my NYC-J. But on the bridge MM pickup, the control is a bit more subtle in the parallel and single coil (switch up and middle) position, and doesn't make much--if any--difference in the series position (switch down) position. If I turn up the treble control, the VTC is more obvious.

The bass sounds great in many combinations of these pickups and switches. I'm just checking to see if I need to have the bass looked at.

Thanks!
Greg
Click to expand...

Can't say I've ever noticed that on mine. There's definitely some volume differences between the different selections that I noticed, but nothing like that with the VTC that screamed out at me. But, 99.9999% I have both pickups on full up on that one, rarely soloing either. I'll have to check next time I have it out of the trailer and back home.
 
#63,503
scubaduba said:
Looks to me like the lower end Portabag Express that comes with the Metrolines.
Sadowsky PortaBag Express - Electric Bass Gig Bag

Compare that to the NYC bag: Portabag - Sadowsky Guitars

Notice the NYC bag has the velcro flap across the bottom of the bag. The Portabag in the pictures clearly does not.

Not saying that the seller isn't selling a NYC with a German Metroline case, just that the case doesn't seem to be what would have originally come with a NYC.
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Well, in the FS ad here on TB, it had German hardware on it, too - I noticed the tuners specifically.

My Portabag from my older NYC doesn't have the velcro flap like the newer bags either. But the bag pictured, does look like the cheaper bag that comes with the MIG basses standard.
 
#63,504
thanks @joel the bass player and @HeavyJazz for the thread links, and all the others for the help. Seems like it's a toss up between some claims that it was a NYC that had a lot of mods / repairs / refinishes OR also potentially an altered Metro. Not sure what to think at this point but obviously know that there's some weird history with this one.

IF this were to be a version of a Metroexpress, what would you pay on the used market considering all the BS? If i'm going off the post from @TraderPo then there is at least good pickups in the thing... it's local so considering stopping by to play it first for sure

Just don't have a good 5'er anyways and am in the market - this person selling currently on FB is asking pretty close to the price of a new Metroexpress
 
#63,508
Mr123Clark said:
thanks @joel the bass player and @HeavyJazz for the thread links, and all the others for the help. Seems like it's a toss up between some claims that it was a NYC that had a lot of mods / repairs / refinishes OR also potentially an altered Metro. Not sure what to think at this point but obviously know that there's some weird history with this one.

IF this were to be a version of a Metroexpress, what would you pay on the used market considering all the BS? If i'm going off the post from @TraderPo then there is at least good pickups in the thing... it's local so considering stopping by to play it first for sure

Just don't have a good 5'er anyways and am in the market - this person selling currently on FB is asking pretty close to the price of a new Metroexpress
Click to expand...

I received this in a trade from RussT, so only had the info of what I was given (as you can tell by the ad). Since it had been damaged and the body was shaved and modified…it really felt different from a NYC, but played and sounded well. It honestly reminded me more of a German model than Japanese or NYC…but kinda had its own vibe. As far as price…I listed it for the trade value I gave for it. I traded it with Rafael on here (we had done another deal also). About six months later he tried to trade it in at a music store and they of course said it wasn’t a NYC. I could have told anyone…taking this massively modified bass to music store wouldn’t end well in what they valued it at. Rafael ask for money back, but I sold it “as is” for the fact of all the mods (and it had been over six months)…and the fact I had no personal idea about what had been done to it (besides what I had been told). I still am not sure after owning it, what it really is (except that it’s a good playing bass). I hated it for Rafael, but at the same time…I would never trade a bass into a music store because they never really give you the right value (even for something all original) and I begged everyone to read the ad and the details and to be absolutely sure they wanted the bass. I don’t know how much more transparent I could have been. RussT 100% believes it’s the real deal and exactly as listed. Me…I thought it was…but plenty has been done to it for that not to be the case. Really…only the guy that did everything knows.
 
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#63,509
pb9717 said:
Fishy? …its a full on scam.

I refurb Metroexpresses as a hobby. I know a total con job when I see it. This bass has no serial #, a poorly counterfeited headstock, and some upgraded pickups and a VTC. It’s pretty much worthless now. Run away.
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Why are you posting on my old ad aggressively trying to make it look like I’m a scammer. I’ve been on here longer than you …done a ton of purchases and sales with perfect history. @RussT is the same way on here. Please tell me what else I could have added to be more transparent, and BTW…if I thought it was a scam…I would have simply sent it back to @RussT to begin with and he would have done the same. Also…even though I sold it “as is”…I would have still given a refund had it not even been so long. Rafael was happy with the bass until he tried to trade it in…so he didn’t know either…heck we did a deal after he traded for this bass.

Not sure what you are doing.
 
#63,510
Sorry folks, not trying to stir up any past drama or call anyone out and appreciate the help! Just trying to see the history of this bass and understand what would be a fair offering price for what it is if it plays the way I hope a good 5 string would!
 
#63,512
TraderPo said:
Why are you posting on my old ad aggressively trying to make it look like I’m a scammer. I’ve been on here longer than you …done a ton of purchases and sales with perfect history. @RussT is the same way on here. Please tell me what else I could have added to be more transparent, and BTW…if I thought it was a scam…I would have simply sent it back to @RussT to begin with and he would have done the same. Also…even though I sold it “as is”…I would have still given a refund had it not even been so long. Rafael was happy with the bass until he tried to trade it in…so he didn’t know either…heck we did a deal after he traded for this bass.

Not sure what you are doing.[/QUOTE

deleted.
Click to expand...
 
#63,514

No harm, finger pointing intended. Post deleted.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for that. It’s all good. This is the first time I’ve ever had anything like this happen. The sad part, is I was actually scammed on my brand new German Metro Jazz 5 I had listed last year on a trade. Not on here, but on Reverb. I lost about $2,500. It seems to have gotten worse…I don’t do any trades away from Talkbass anymore.
 
#63,515
Mr123Clark said:
Can I get a legitcheck on a Sadowsky that recently popped up on FB Marketplace? Guy says he paid 3200 for it and it doesn;t look like a Metroexpress but I'm not too well versed on my Sadowsky's View attachment 5414830 View attachment 5414831 View attachment 5414840 View attachment 5414841 View attachment 5414841 View attachment 5414842 View attachment 5414842 View attachment 5414843 View attachment 5414843
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Unfortunately it is a modded SMX model that has been passed off as a US build. There are several sources on this one and if you go to the LowEnd Bass Shop FB page out of Nashville. Brian has a post about this and also has had contact and I believe conversations with the history behind this. I guess this has been a scam floating around, but also some innocent people caught in the middle as well with bad transactions on this one. Sad all around for sure!!!
 
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#63,516
upload_2024-4-11_20-32-19.png
 
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