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Club Sadowsky!!!

My Metroline P/J came with blue steel strings. I was not uses to them as I habe been using DR Blue Nickel for several years. However I found the zing on thr P bass pickup quite nice. I have the Sadowsky blue nickel that I will try next. Im curious which ones I would prefer. I am not much of a slap player. But more rock and worship music.
 
Who created the pickups on the Sadowsky Metroline P/J bass guitars. Ai said Nordstrand and Seymour Ducan had some involvement with them.

Has anyone compared the Aguilar stacked single coils to the Sadowsky j pickups or their P pickups?

Here is what AI 365 said granted we always need to double check AI on their information.
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The more I play this bass, the more I love it. My Fender American standard 5 string jazz neck is a little less wide and a tad eaiser to play. However the frets on it are not all smooth like the invisible fret design of Sadowsky.
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My four bangers are regular Fender spec, but I’m coming from two fivers w 17-17.5mm spacing and much narrower nut width. I was curious how I'd take to this wide a neck/spacing on a fiver but after playing this one for less than an hour I'm pretty sure I prefer it. I can play "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" cleaner on this than on my narrower spaced ones;).
 
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String question for y’all…

I’ve normally been a nickel string guy. Got a modern 5, I believe it comes with blue label SS strings on it and an extra pack as well. I like the sound, feel, tension, everything the way it is and the VTC makes adjustments pretty easy if I need to tame it a lil bit.

But what other strings do y’all like on these basses? Do most people stick with sadowsky strings on sadowsky basses?

Curious on what else I need to try on this bass. (If anything)


I’m usually a nickelwound fan too and have them on both of my NYCs, but I think I’m going to start expanding the string search for one of them. I love the sound of Blue Label Nickels on my alder/non-roasted maple 5 (#2) but I think they’re not really working anymore on my swamp ash/mahogany top/roasted maple/ebony board 5 (#1).

Is there something in particular you’re interested in which is raising your curiosity? For one I’ve found that I want to smooth out the top end on my #1 and tame the low end a bit, so I’m looking at going to halfrounds or maybe even flats for that bass.
 
I’m usually a nickelwound fan too and have them on both of my NYCs, but I think I’m going to start expanding the string search for one of them. I love the sound of Blue Label Nickels on my alder/non-roasted maple 5 (#2) but I think they’re not really working anymore on my swamp ash/mahogany top/roasted maple/ebony board 5 (#1).

Is there something in particular you’re interested in which is raising your curiosity? For one I’ve found that I want to smooth out the top end on my #1 and tame the low end a bit, so I’m looking at going to halfrounds or maybe even flats for that bass.

So far I like what’s on it.
Guess I’m just curious overall… I figured I’d get various answers but sometimes there is a general consensus. The bass has massive low end, great midrange growl and clear highs. It’s very even as it is.

Like you, I usually don’t stray far from what works well, so I may try the blue label nickels. I also get a deal on Ernie ball strings so of course I’ll try the regular Slinkys as well. Maybe some cobalt flats down the road. It seems crazy, but flats may be fun on the modern?!
 
So far I like what’s on it.
Guess I’m just curious overall… I figured I’d get various answers but sometimes there is a general consensus. The bass has massive low end, great midrange growl and clear highs. It’s very even as it is.

Like you, I usually don’t stray far from what works well, so I may try the blue label nickels. I also get a deal on Ernie ball strings so of course I’ll try the regular Slinkys as well. Maybe some cobalt flats down the road. It seems crazy, but flats may be fun on the modern?!
I love the idea of flats on five string, but the B can be challenging. Best I've used are DR Legends 45-125. I find the B string very clear and defined, not just pure thud.
 
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There is a main reason why I was not into Sadowsky bass guitars for over fifteen years. Many examples i've heard of them, they sounded dark. Listen to Tal Wilkenfeld play her famous solo with Jeff Bck on We ended as lovers.She has a dark sound and I didn't care for. I've also played some metro express bass guitars back in the day at Manny's music in new york city, and they also seemed to be dark and not bright.

Now that I have one, especially with steel strings, it's got a very open, beautiful tone with lots of clarity and openness. I guess old strings on bass made a difference?
 
So far I like what’s on it.
Guess I’m just curious overall… I figured I’d get various answers but sometimes there is a general consensus. The bass has massive low end, great midrange growl and clear highs. It’s very even as it is.

Like you, I usually don’t stray far from what works well, so I may try the blue label nickels. I also get a deal on Ernie ball strings so of course I’ll try the regular Slinkys as well. Maybe some cobalt flats down the road. It seems crazy, but flats may be fun on the modern?!

Flats on a Modern?! That could be really rad!

Not sure if it’s a consideration for you, but I’ve also found that since I'm using Sadowsky Blue Label Nickels I have to take a couple of sets with me when I’m out on the road. Not a huge problem for me since I tend to buy in bulk from Jason at Fret Nation, but if I were to run out of strings while on tour I’d be hard-pressed to find Sadowsky strings in the wild (and I have let that happen to myself in the past so that’s how I found out!).

This makes a case for using a string that’s readily available at any GC or independent music store (and coincidentally I like Rotosounds on my Fender J)…again not sure if availability would be an issue for you but I thought I’d mention it.
 
String question for y’all…

I’ve normally been a nickel string guy. Got a modern 5, I believe it comes with blue label SS strings on it and an extra pack as well. I like the sound, feel, tension, everything the way it is and the VTC makes adjustments pretty easy if I need to tame it a lil bit.

But what other strings do y’all like on these basses? Do most people stick with sadowsky strings on sadowsky basses?

Curious on what else I need to try on this bass. (If anything)
I rocked Fender 8250M for quite a while on my Modern 5 which are nickel rounds. These worked pretty well in a heavy rock setting. The D and G strings are a tad weak in this set, but one can manage.

Before the rock thing I had TI flats and Ernie Ball cobalt flats each for some months on the Modern. Both work great with the bass in general, but not so much for rock music. Great for finger style funk though!

Didn't like DR Lo-Riders nor Sadowsky black label nor blue label nickels on the Modern. Since my rock trio is no more I have blue label steels on the Modern again - great stuff!
 
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I rocked Fender 8250M for quite a while on my Modern 5 which are nickel rounds. These worked pretty well in a heavy rock setting. The D and G strings are a tad weak in this set, but one can manage.

Before the rock thing I had TI flats and Ernie Ball cobalt flats each for some months on the Modern. Both work great with the bass in general, but not so much for rock music. Great for finger style funk though!

Didn't like DR Lo-Riders nor Sadowsky black label nor blue label nickels on the Modern. Since my rock trio is no more I have blue label steels on the Modern again - great stuff!

They do sound great… definitely making it hard to want to try something else. I might just stick with them 😂
 
A few years in to the MiG line; and I have this observation:

Warwick has made some VERY interesting design contributions. In fact, I could possibly get interested in the M/J 5’s; BUT….

It may just be my perception; but, the MiG line seems to have become an EU instrument. There are very few choices and minimal availability in the US. This was NOT the case with the MiJ metro instruments. Kind of seems like the brand got hijacked to an extent.

Of course, the NYC shop remains a good option; though higher cost, more limited design options, and typical lead times.

The MiG’s appear to be nice instruments. But, I’m not feeling the love here in the US.
 
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