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Club Sadowsky!!!

#64,001
Bassmann79 said:
Roger chambered the bodies, it reduces the weight but he has it down to such a science it has no effect on the quality of sound.
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i disagree with this in a way, and i not to speak for him, but I think Roger would too, in a way... at least the "no effect" part anyway.

his original goal with the chambered design was to be as you say, but i don't think it actually turned out that way in the end...

I personally feel I slightly prefer the sound/feel of a lightweight, but solid body a bit better than a chambered body made from heavier wood.

In contrast to my personal prefs, Roger has said many times he has respected customers that he agrees with that feel the chambering improves the sound.

FWIW/IMHO
 
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#64,002
I’ve owned chambered and non chambered Sadowsky’s. They all sounded great. But I’m really appreciative of lighter weight instruments. I have a new MetroExpress modern 4. Solid body Okoume. 8lbs, 6oz. Sound absolutely KILLER. Did a 3 hour festival last night with it. The lighter weight is a life saver. In fact, if I buy any bass, and it’s over 9lbs, it usually goes right back. I had 2 Japan Metro’s. They were both 8lbs 14oz. That 1/2 pound really makes a difference. Closer to 8lbs or less, and I’m grinnin’.

IMG_9593.jpeg
 
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#64,003
Vic said:
i disagree with this in a way, and i not to speak for him, but I think Roger would too, in a way... at least the "no effect" part anyway.

his original goal with the chambered design was to be as you say, but i don't think it actually turned out that way in the end...

I personally feel I slightly prefer the sound/feel of a lightweight, but solid body a bit better than a chambered body made from heavier wood.

In contrast to my personal prefs, Roger has said many times he has respected customers that he agrees with that feel the chambering improves the sound.

FWIW/IMHO
Click to expand...
100% bud! YMMV, I will forever be a Stuart Spector fanboy! Once I went Sadowsky NYC? I have never looked back! Make no mistake I keep my NS-2 around but overall? Sadowsky NYC does it for me!

Growing up "OMG I need EMG cause Metallica use them, Newsted uses them".....Sadowsky cuts through with ZERO effort. Grab the bass, plug it in, done! That for me after 30yrs just made sense! \m/

In the studio, I could see using '58 Fender P, Spector NS-2 (Haz), Wal, Spector...live? Sadowsky NYC all day long!
 
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#64,012
who said:
Right, sorry if I was unclear. I was asking about the MetroExpress Modern that you mentioned, not the M/J from the video.
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I got the Modern off of sales.warwick.de as an import. Had to pay substantial shipping and VAT/customs fees. Didn’t wanna wait. I do not see any Modern 4 metroExpress basses on Thomann. I do see the MM/J’s but they’ve got quite a wait.
 
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#64,013
I’ve opted to upgrade my recent MetroExpress Modern 4 purchase with a VTC unit. These newer MetroExpress basses really don't permit installation of the VTC standalone kit, as they’re using pin harnessing and PC board connections throughout. I was initially irked by this and have done many successful VTC stand-alone installs on series I Metroexpresses with the old wiring harness.

The new plate arrived today from fretnation, and I can now see this isn’t a simple reproduction with a VTC added. You are getting what you pay for with the upgrade unit. The Pots are a much higher quality with 13mm stem width, vs the 10mm on the OEM non VTC. The shafts are solid, polished and much smoother than the OEM’s split splined shafts.( say that three times fast)

I removed the OEM unit and was preparing to install the new one when it became obvious that the 10mm shaft holes for all 4 pots was going to need to be widened. This can be a scary proposition, and must be done very carefully, or you’ll get to enjoy watching chunks of your beautiful new metallic paint job fall to the bench in nice little chips.

I’ve seen Rogers instructional video when he installed one on a Verdine with 10mm holes. But I don’t have a reemer (ask your mom) and am scared to death to use any other tool to widen this hole. So off to the home store tomorrow to get a good high quality reemer, and get these holes sorted.

Heres a pic of the 2 side by side. If you ever questioned the value of adding this mod, this should help you understand what you’re getting for the money. It’s not just a VTC. It’s a step up in every component.
IMG_1147.jpeg

As you can see, the Pots, the jack, the shafts, are all significantly better quality than the OEM unit. But one niggle, no shrink sleeve on the new jack. I’ll need to address that as well.
 
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#64,014
pb9717 said:
I’ve owned chambered and non chambered Sadowsky’s. They all sounded great. But I’m really appreciative of lighter weight instruments. I have a new MetroExpress modern 4. Solid body Okoume. 8lbs, 6oz. Sound absolutely KILLER. Did a 3 hour festival last night with it. The lighter weight is a life saver. In fact, if I buy any bass, and it’s over 9lbs, it usually goes right back. I had 2 Japan Metro’s. They were both 8lbs 14oz. That 1/2 pound really makes a difference. Closer to 8lbs or less, and I’m grinnin’.

View attachment 6992998
Click to expand...
Are these lightweight Metro Express' available in the US. haven't seen one
 
#64,015
Not yet said:
Are these lightweight Metro Express' available in the US. haven't seen one
Click to expand...
I’ve yet to come across a heavy MetroExpress 4 string. All of mine ( Verdine, fretless, modern) have all been around 8 1/4 lbs give or take an ounce. 5 strings? That’s gonna be in the 9lb range. There are lotsa metro expresses available in the US. But Moderns, MM/J wont likely start shipping from US retailers till Q1 25’.
 
#64,017
Regarding the discussion of the differences between Roger’s chambered body basses and his solid body basses:

I am extremely doubtful that any of us would reliably differentiate the two constructions in blindfold tests. But, the two designs definitely play / feel different to the player. I tend to prefer the solid bodies for certain playing styles, such as slap; and the chambered bodies for other styles, such as pizz. But, IME, once you get past the interactive / feel part of things, they both sound the same to me. FWIW / YMMV
 
#64,018
I posted a question over in the Pickups Forum, asking whether changes to stage lighting, mainly replacement of metal halogen and neon by LED, have affected the issues associated with single coil pickups. Not too many responses, so thought I might post up to this group.

I’ve been using humcancelling pickups in my basses since about 2007, because of one too many bad experiences with singles on big stages, due to lighting systems. My NYC left the shop with Delano pickups, which I had eventually settled on. But, more recently, I’ve been seeing less noise inducing lighting systems; and I’ve been reacquainted with single coils on a parts bass I recently brought back from the dead. This has me considering going back the single coils in my NYC.

Have things changed in the lighting systems, such that single coils are a bit “safer” to gig with; or am I missing something? Comments appreciated.
 
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#64,019

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