Club Sadowsky!!!

[Tim1]

According to Roger they were chambered.

Thanks for posting this, I stand corrected. Interesting that the considerably more expensive metroline was solid while the metro express was chambered. Costing probably relates to the fact that the metrolines were made in the Yoko Kikuchi Sadowsky specific factory, while the metro expresses were outsourced elsewhere in Japan and therefore possibly with different hardware along with mass production methods. For myself, I like a weight of 8.5 to 9.0 pounds - below that is just too light for my taste. So far as any sound difference between chambered/unchambered - Roger stated back in the day along the lines that there was no difference between the NYC and the metroline, just way more options for the nyc.
Somebody should write a book on the history of Sadowsky basses......

 

[Jerry J]

I have a 2004 RV4 Metro that is definitely a solid body and a 2008 NYC JJ4 that is also solid. But my 2009 NYC PJ5 is chambered. So I'm thinking that the presence of the chambered bodies occurred around '08 and '09 for any of the Sadowsky basses. Of course I may be wrong.

Anyhow, I'm with Tim1, I certainly don't mind a bass in the 9 pound range as I've always used 4" Moody or Levi straps.

 

[Kai Sanchez]

I’m ok with my Japanese Metrolines which weigh 9.2-9.3 pounds. I like that they balance better than the light Japanese ME at 8.5 pounds. I had to get the ME because I wanted an Alder/Morado bass.

 

[Luckydog]

I have a 2003 RV4 Metro that is definitely a solid body and a 2008 NYC JJ4 that is also solid. But my 2009 NYC PJ5 is chambered. So I'm thinking that the presence of the chambered bodies occurred around '08 and '09 for any of the Sadowsky basses. Of course I may be wrong.

Anyhow, I'm with Tim1, I certainly don't mind a bass in the 9 pound range as I've always used 4" Moody or Levi straps.

Are you sure your Metro is 2003? The Sadowsky dater lists serial numbers with first Metro occurrence 2004.

 

[Jerry J]

Are you sure your Metro is 2003? The Sadowsky dater lists serial numbers with first Metro occurrence 2004.

Ah! you are correct! The s/n is M3xx so 2004 is correct. I just corrected my prior post.

 

[soflbass]

Thanks for posting this, I stand corrected. Interesting that the considerably more expensive metroline was solid while the metro express was chambered. Costing probably relates to the fact that the metrolines were made in the Yoko Kikuchi Sadowsky specific factory, while the metro expresses were outsourced elsewhere in Japan and therefore possibly with different hardware along with mass production methods. For myself, I like a weight of 8.5 to 9.0 pounds - below that is just too light for my taste. So far as any sound difference between chambered/unchambered - Roger stated back in the day along the lines that there was no difference between the NYC and the metroline, just way more options for the nyc.
Somebody should write a book on the history of Sadowsky basses......

I learned some new things here too. Again, my recollection from when I purchased the 4 string RV4 ME in 2019, the new price was $1875 US, and the comparable Metroline instrument was around $2600 US, with the NYC satin series about $3200 US. Personally, I like weight around 8 lbs, 9 lbs begins to bother my shoulder. So I chose the ME over the Metroline due to weight.
The ME has the same preamp as the Metroline which I believe is the same in the NYC models. All the other hardware on the ME is also identical to the NYC models with the exception of the Hipshot tuners being licensed instead of USA.

All three, different flavors of awesome.

 

[Tjluke]

I add that, on MetroLine basses, graphite strips in the neck were installed starting from 2015.

 

[soflbass]

I add that, on MetroLine basses, graphite strips in the neck were installed starting from 2015.

Japanese made Metro Express also were equipped with the neck strips. Not sure how the China made ME models after 2020 compare with the Japanese ME models.

 

[gravesbass]

Does anyone own a metroline nirvana black 5 string and know the real string spacing. Nobody seems to have accurate info. Is it 18mm or 19mm

here’s a link
Sadowsky MetroLine 21-fret Vintage J/J Bass, Swamp Ash Body, 5-string - Nirvana Black Transparent Satin
thanks in advance!

 

[soflbass]

Japanese made Metro Express also were equipped with the neck strips. Not sure how the China made ME models after 2020 compare with the Japanese ME models.

Part of the story is mentioned in the attached which I kept during the transition period. Interesting.

 

[Not yet]

Part of the story is mentioned in the attached which I kept during the transition period. Interesting.

Helpful article, thank you. Do wonder if anyone know how the Metro Express Okume bodies went from lightweight to rather heavy. Mine is at 9 lbs 7 oz which is one of lightest I found. And I feel it.

 

[mikezimmerman]

From the picture, it looks like 19mm.

Currently, I believe the Metroline 5s are 19mm (except the M/J models, which are 18mm - Sadowsky MetroLine 21-fret Vintage M/J Bass, Swamp Ash Body, 5-string - Nirvana Black Transparent Satin), while the current MetroExpress 5s are 18mm (the older RSD models without the roasted necks, which are 19mm).

FWIW, my roasted neck MetroExpress 5 was 18mm.

Does anyone own a metroline nirvana black 5 string and know the real string spacing. Nobody seems to have accurate info. Is it 18mm or 19mm

here’s a link
Sadowsky MetroLine 21-fret Vintage J/J Bass, Swamp Ash Body, 5-string - Nirvana Black Transparent Satin
thanks in advance!

 

[MikeBass]

An updated family portrait:

1995 NYC standard 5 with Super P pickup-my work horse. Heavy as hell and beat to crap, but sounds incredible.
2019 NYC Satin - color shift refin by Pat Wilkins (I wish the blue/purple color shift came out better in pictures)
2010 NYC PJ (Brazilian rosewood board) with Nordstrand Big Man in the bridge position. Will be sending it to Sadowsky for a Super P pickup to be installed. Currently has a Pope Flexcore preamp, but I have a Will Lee preamp going in it next week.

 

[soflbass]

Helpful article, thank you. Do wonder if anyone know how the Metro Express Okume bodies went from lightweight to rather heavy. Mine is at 9 lbs 7 oz which is one of lightest I found. And I feel it.

Maybe @

Helpful article, thank you. Do wonder if anyone know how the Metro Express Okume bodies went from lightweight to rather heavy. Mine is at 9 lbs 7 oz which is one of lightest I found. And I feel it.

Not sure, but since wood is a natural product, there are always density variations between pieces. Maybe @Sadowsky can help out when he visits the forum again.

 

[Tim1]

Maybe @

Not sure, but since wood is a natural product, there are always density variations between pieces. Maybe @Sadowsky can help out when he visits the forum again.

I think that wood quality and selection, even of the same wood, is often ignored when we compare the apparent value of different basses. Some posts imply the metro express has basically the same parts and is made of the same woods as a metroline therefore it is just as good. While the law of diminishing returns certainly applies, ultimately you get what you pay for - hence the pricing increase as you move from me to metroline to NYC.

 

[MAFbass1992]

Got myself a Sadowsky Metro Express in Lake Placid Blue. Pretty stoked so far ! Great quality for the price. Anyone knows if in passive mode the battery is bypassed as well?

 

[Chris Chong]

Helpful article, thank you. Do wonder if anyone know how the Metro Express Okume bodies went from lightweight to rather heavy. Mine is at 9 lbs 7 oz which is one of lightest I found. And I feel it.

mine is 1oz heavier.

 

[Nebadon2000]

Got myself a Sadowsky Metro Express in Lake Placid Blue. Pretty stoked so far ! Great quality for the price. Anyone knows if in passive mode the battery is bypassed as well?

Battery is not bypassed with passive selected on any Active Bass that I know of: When Bass is plugged in preamp is always on

But with Sadowsky and others that have passive option if you don't pay attention to battery life and have a 'dead' incident you always have passive to carry you through

 

[Rdore2000]

Quick question. The German Metroline is as close to perfection as I have experienced in all my years of playing. What else do I get if I choose to buy a Masterbuilt other than the lighter body? (This one is 7.7 lbs)

 

[soflbass]

I think that wood quality and selection, even of the same wood, is often ignored when we compare the apparent value of different basses. Some posts imply the metro express has basically the same parts and is made of the same woods as a metroline therefore it is just as good. While the law of diminishing returns certainly applies, ultimately you get what you pay for - hence the pricing increase as you move from me to metroline to NYC.

The more human hands and time are spent on an instrument the more costly it will be. And the materials also play a role in the cost. But others implying that the wood used in building the ME versus the Metroline, especially with the basses made in Japan, is not of the same quality cannot be assumed either, especially when the implication comes from someone that was not involved in the production of these products.
The end result, the individual bass produced, is the only thing that matters. Not everyone can afford an NYC or Metroline, and Sadowsky developed lower cost options for those who can't. If course there are compromises.
Now the question asked in the message I replied to has nothing to do with quality, but specifically weight. Unless you can answer that question, what was the purpose of your reply?