Club Sadowsky!!!

[Nebadon2000]

I'm quite aware that Blend and Midrange aren't the same things and that the settings I'm using leave me with a somewhat scooped midrange. IMO by using the Blend to add a bit more neck or bridge pickup I can fine tune the tone to suit what I'm hearing from the bass to help dial in what I'm trying to get to tonally, so functionally Blend acts just like another tone control. I don't need the ability to cut treble or bass to get the sound I want from my ME so adding the VTC pre is for me unnecessary to get the sound I want from my bass. Works for me.

On my Fender Ultra Precision I used the Blend control mostly for 'Tones' not EQ or Tone control in Passive; So I hear you

Even with my 75' and Standard Precision had Tone control wide open and used my Fingers and right hand position 99% of the time

Even Roger spoke on VTC not being a necessity for many players and in his mind

 

[Vic]

Even Roger spoke on VTC not being a necessity for many players and in his mind

speaking of different ways to manipulate mids and such, even if someone is not generally a fan of the VTC, sometime try playing with boosting treble and softening it back down using the VTC. something interesting happens with the mids.

 

[eee]

Yeah, it's hard to tell if he just means to say add some and then take it away again, or if he really thinks it's boost and cut. But yeah, boost only.

I don't know if this is why you're doing this, but as long as we're talking mids... I've heard of people calling their "zero" on a Sadowsky with both Bass and Treble boosted to some extent so they feel they can "cut" one or both of them as needed, but there are two artifacts to doing this, which at least for me, are negative.

1.) By boosting only B and T, you're effectively doing the same thing as an overall gain boost, EXCEPT it also contains a mid cut as a relative result. I don't like that.

2.) If you're like me, and have to bring multiple instruments to a gig (some alternate tuning songs), unless they're both basically the same kind of Sadowsky, now you're also going to have gain differences between the two you have to compensate for on instrument switch, since the boosted Sadowsky is going to be hotter than the other instrument. I also don't like that. Yes, you can solve that by twisting a knob or switching to a patch/scene specifically to address that in your chain, but to me that's a pain in the ass.

FWIW.

To some degree it's semantics, but your wording creates confusion: with boost-only you can only "get more". You can never "take away", you can only dial in "less more". More seriously: the standard definition of "take away" in the context of equalizers is "cut", or subtract from zero/flat.



That aside: happy new year, everyone. I'm happy with all the basses in my collection, but the black P5 in my avatar is still my #1. It'll turn 20 this April!

I'm quite aware that Blend and Midrange aren't the same things and that the settings I'm using leave me with a somewhat scooped midrange. IMO by using the Blend to add a bit more neck or bridge pickup I can fine tune the tone to suit what I'm hearing from the bass to help dial in what I'm trying to get to tonally, so functionally Blend acts just like another tone control. I don't need the ability to cut treble or bass to get the sound I want from my ME so adding the VTC pre is for me unnecessary to get the sound I want from my bass. Works for me.

What are you talking about? Bass and Treble are boost only and don´t have a centered position.

All the hair splitting here is killing me. I only wanted to share that I thought it was helpful to think of the blend knob as more of a mids control. I'm out.

 

[projectapollo]

All the hair splitting here is killing me. I only wanted to share that I thought it was helpful to think of the blend knob as more of a mids control. I'm out.

Once someone mentioned thinking of the blend as a mid control - it clicked for me, as well.

 

[pb9717]

View attachment 7115379Incoming

Oh my. But……how? This is photoshop….right?

 

[HeavyJazz]

Whiteout in Virginia!

 

[pb9717]

OK, answer me this………..

Why does an NYC model’s bridge have these set screws………

And a Warwick Chinese MetroExpress has these…..

What is the purpose? Why would Warwick spec such ridiculously long set screws? I don’t understand. Anybody know the size on these? M4’s are too big. Nothing available locally to me so far. M4’s are the smallest I can find round here.

 

[JimS]

Oh my. But……how? This is photoshop….right?

It’s legit.

 

[Dave Hill]

OK, answer me this………..

Why does an NYC model’s bridge have these set screws………
View attachment 7116098
And a Warwick Chinese MetroExpress has these…..
View attachment 7116099

What is the purpose? Why would Warwick spec such ridiculously long set screws? I don’t understand. Anybody know the size on these? M4’s are too big. Nothing available locally to me so far. M4’s are the smallest I can find round here.

Ouch. Meat grinder.

 

[HeavyJazz]

Because "made in China" means "made in China."

 

[Mark Ambler]

OK, answer me this………..

Why does an NYC model’s bridge have these set screws………
View attachment 7116098
And a Warwick Chinese MetroExpress has these…..
View attachment 7116099

What is the purpose? Why would Warwick spec such ridiculously long set screws? I don’t understand. Anybody know the size on these? M4’s are too big. Nothing available locally to me so far. M4’s are the smallest I can find round here.

I received a Warwick Sadowsky Metroline with the same type of screws. I was sent new screws pretty quickly, but it didn’t exactly inspire confidence. One of the reasons I bought Sadowsky was that the bass was good, out of the box. Unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be the case now, with the exception of the NYC Basses.

 

[pb9717]

I have owned several JAPAN MetroExpress, Metroline, and “Metro” basses. I currently own a JAPAN metroline modern. I’ve really never heard of any quality issues in any JAPAN made instruments. Their reputation as a quality match for an NYC instrument has been stated by owners many times. Including myself. They were a great value when initially offered and continue to be to this day. Unfortunately, now out of production.

Alternatively, warwick has had some bumps along the way. Sticky tuners, electric issues, albeit rarely, and I assume the production count has increased significantly vs. the Japan years. I’d venture to guess that Warwick sells more Sadowsky’s now than they sell traditional Warwick basses and that Sadowsky has become their most robust product line. This greater production rate always comes with a percentage of QC issues. But overall the German division makes a beautiful product. Ironically, you’ll never hear how much someone loves their wonderful new German made warwick, vs someone relaying a QC issue. It’s not in the buying public’s nature to espouse how wonderful their new bass is. Especially when you pay the price German metrolines are going for. You simply expect perfection. NYC build quality. And 99% of the time, you’ll get that. Just make sure you buy new from an AUTHORIZED dealer, as Warwick doesn’t support non authorized sales.

Point is…QC issues on higher end instruments can make or break a brand, and I know Warwick is paying attention when comments like yours are posted.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I received a Warwick Sadowsky Metroline with the same type of screws. I was sent new screws pretty quickly, but it didn’t exactly inspire confidence. One of the reasons I bought Sadowsky was that the bass was good, out of the box. Unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be the case now, with the exception of the NYC Basses.

Aside from the screws (that Warwick corrected), how is the quality of the Metroline?

 

[pb9717]

Because "made in China" means "made in China."

About a decade ago, I was looking for the highest quality acoustic guitar i could find at a sub $2000 price point. Something to play on the porch as the gray hair increased. That would get better as it aged ( like me) A solid wood, dreadnaught. I went to the acoustic guitar forum to research what would be the best fit. All over the forum everyone was touting something called “ Stanford performer series” out of china. Sold by 1 distributor in Tennessee. It was a series designed by Furch, a high end acoustic guitar manufacturer out of the Czech Republic.

I purchased a blem model for $799. A solid rosewood back and sides, solid spuce top, carved traditional bracing, ebony fingerboard with snowflake inlay, real abalone binding, and traditional butter bean tuners. Round shouldered Gibson J45 shape. Fantastic guitar. I’ve brought it to various retailers, and also had many guitar players try it. They’re all stunned at the sound, and playability. It rivals a $3000 martin. It’s maintained its quality for over 15 years,and has been one of the best purchases I’ve ever made for an instrument. The single pallet of 50 went to buyers around the US, and is a coveted instrument, known only to a few.

Eastman guitars, a chinese brand is also known for its high quality instruments. There are many higher end instruments made in china. They’re just sold at a higher price point.

The P/J referenced in the bridge screw picture is really a fantastic unit. It plays incredibly well. Its just got the typical niggles of an early run SMX. No VTC, string tree needing to be swapped to a quick release model. But other than that, it’s really excellent. It set up perfectly, and I can plays runs on that bass I have difficulty playing on other basses. That neck is stupid skinny. Beautiful piece of PauFerro. It’s really great.

So the “Made in China” reference to immediate poor quality is a bit of a misnomer. What burns my buns is the QC expectation at a price point issue. In 2021, these were $1000 instruments. So, a certain quality was expected. I paid less than half that for this leftover. So, I’m accepting of the work that’ll be required to bring it up to my standards.

But to expect an instrument to be poor quality because it’s made in china doesn’t stick for a lot of brands. Question is, will it stick to chinese made Sadowsky’s?

 

[mmbass21]

OK, answer me this………..

Why does an NYC model’s bridge have these set screws………
View attachment 7116098
And a Warwick Chinese MetroExpress has these…..
View attachment 7116099

What is the purpose? Why would Warwick spec such ridiculously long set screws? I don’t understand. Anybody know the size on these? M4’s are too big. Nothing available locally to me so far. M4’s are the smallest I can find round here.

They may be a little longer but it does look like those saddles are riding quite low in that pic IMO

 

[Mark Ambler]

Aside from the screws (that Warwick corrected), how is the quality of the Metroline?

I was also advised to shim the neck by R.S. It went back. In many ways the bass was perfection, but unfortunately, not quite.
Very happy with my Japan Sadowskys, Metroline and MetroExpress, and I chanced upon a 3 dots J bass made by Yoshi who was in charge of the Japanese Sadowskys, and it’s very much a Sadowsky, and extremely nice

 

[pb9717]

They may be a little longer but it does look like those saddles are riding quite low in that pic IMO

They’re at least 4mm too long. Should be able to be recessed in the holes. Even with that saddles flush with the deck, shouldn’t be more than a mm or 2 showing.

 

[pb9717]

Well thats installed. VTC now in the fretless. HUGE difference. All the brittleness is quelled. Highly usable instrument now. Just have to roll the fingerboards lower edge, ( this one’s sharp as a razor….crazy) do some minor setup tweaks to get that action screamin low, compound the finish, and its gig ready. Anybody need a non VTC pre loaded in a plate? Fully wired with battery and input jack connected. it’ll be in the classifieds if you want it.

 

[Shookadeez]

Anyone know where I can get a replacement set of saddle intonation screws for a NYC Satin 5-21? I went to the hardware store and couldn't find either an imperial or metric size that fit.

 

[Vic]

Anyone know where I can get a replacement set of saddle intonation screws for a NYC Satin 5-21? I went to the hardware store and couldn't find either an imperial or metric size that fit.

I would recommend contacting the shop and see what they say, since it's an NYC.