This is a thorough review. After listening to this, I can see the advantage of going Metroline is real, but it is not light years better than my Metro Express with a VTC. I will get a Metroline in due time, but there is no need to rush.
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In-depth Sadowsky Modern Metroline Review
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
This is a thorough review. After listening to this, I can see the advantage of going Metroline is real, but it is not light years better than my Metro Express with a VTC. I will get a Metroline in due time, but there is no need to rush.
My suggestion is this. Take your bass to a shop that has the German version in stock. Or perhaps find a talkbass member close enough that will let you try out their German version.
Do an in person A/B comparison and go from there.
YouTube videos can not accurately convey how a bass feels, set ups, plays ect. in your hands .
You need to know how a bass responds to your style of playing and meets your needs. How it responds up and down the neck , fluency throughout the register , ect.
If you can't play one in person, order one from a shop with great return policy/ trial period .
Timing of a matter is strictly up to you and your personal circumstances.
I'm simply saying that you can't make an accurate assessment from another players YouTube video .
Do an in person A/B comparison and go from there.
YouTube videos can not accurately convey how a bass feels, set ups, plays ect. in your hands .
You need to know how a bass responds to your style of playing and meets your needs. How it responds up and down the neck , fluency throughout the register , ect.
If you can't play one in person, order one from a shop with great return policy/ trial period .
Timing of a matter is strictly up to you and your personal circumstances.
I'm simply saying that you can't make an accurate assessment from another players YouTube video .
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That's great. But it wasn't a 5. And it wasn't doing an A/ B comparison.
Every bass will be different.
You didn't seem overly impressed with the 4.
Every bass will be different.
You didn't seem overly impressed with the 4.
I like your reviews better - because you are not going for clicks taken by a phone which is a known qunatity. we all know what a phone recording sounds like and we can extrapolate how the bass actually sounds . All these reviews claim they are only going direct to audio interfaces they say no plugins, I don't believe them. And @LadyLoveStingRay5 is always the voice of reason. Carry on
with the money saved -- may I suggest a vacation in Brasil immediately after retirement. You seem to have an affinity with that country (Yeah I spell it Brasil not Brazil )
with the money saved -- may I suggest a vacation in Brasil immediately after retirement. You seem to have an affinity with that country (Yeah I spell it Brasil not Brazil )
I would love to visit Brazil. The most immediate plans are for the UK, but Brazil would be wonderful.
Thanks for the kind words about my videos. The in store videos are off the cuff and at GC, I usually use a MarkBass of some sort. At home, I have used either a Roland mini PA or my 400w Quilter combo. I just wish I had better technique as a player.
The modern you played in the video was one of the limited edition models. I believe it has a Okoume body with a walnut top. This would sound markedly different than say an ash/maple model. The metroExpress would also be far brighter too as the necks are torrified.
I know I've said this before, but if you want a closer to the NYC quality and tone, in a Modern, hunt for a Japan unit. Ive owned 4 and they nail the modern Ken Smith, Cirrus, tone easily. And are usually far more affordable than a german made unit, and far superior to the chinese line. You just gotta hunt. I've purchased units from Japan, Australia, and Europe. They all were dead on Moderns with the tone you'd expect.
This was Modern today. I think this bass really sounds good at church.
These are the best sounding Sadowskys to my ears.
My Sadowsky Masterbuilt Modern is my main player and one of my top favorite basses I've ever owned or played (and I've owned more than 100 basses in my lifetime). Yes, maybe I have a problem. 
I use my Modern in worship settings all the time. I played it today in one church venue.
I use my Modern in worship settings all the time. I played it today in one church venue.
I once purchased a Sadowsky German-built Modern 5. I ended up returning it because it sounded like a Ken Smith to me, which is not my tonal preference. I remember it was a very nice bass.
This youngster is smokin'! Of course, the Modern sounds great, but his steady flow of ideas is super impressive.
That kinda sorta Smith sound is why I love them.
For what its worth, I've had 3 MetroExpress basses. I didn't like the necks on any of them.
I've had 5 or 6 German Metrolines now.... maybe more.
I've had a couple of Japanese Metrolines.
I've had 4 or 5 NYC Sadowsky builds.
And my German Masterbuilt Modern is my favorite of all of them.
Not factoring in price, the neck on the Metrolines (German and Japanese) feel much better to me than the MetroExpress necks. I also greatly prefer NYC necks to the MetroExpress for that matter. The MetroExpress necks are heavy and chunky feeling. Again, if price weren't an issue, I would definitely spring for a Metroline over a Metroexpress. But the price is a factor. For sure. Tonally, I doubt anybody is going to be able to hear a big difference between a MetroExpress, Metroline, Masterbuilt, or NYC Modern. The extra cost is in the fit and finish, options, overall feel, quality, woods used, look, etc. Compared to the MetroExpress, the Metrolines (and Masterbuilts/NYCs) just play faster and easier (for me).
I've had 5 or 6 German Metrolines now.... maybe more.
I've had a couple of Japanese Metrolines.
I've had 4 or 5 NYC Sadowsky builds.
And my German Masterbuilt Modern is my favorite of all of them.
Not factoring in price, the neck on the Metrolines (German and Japanese) feel much better to me than the MetroExpress necks. I also greatly prefer NYC necks to the MetroExpress for that matter. The MetroExpress necks are heavy and chunky feeling. Again, if price weren't an issue, I would definitely spring for a Metroline over a Metroexpress. But the price is a factor. For sure. Tonally, I doubt anybody is going to be able to hear a big difference between a MetroExpress, Metroline, Masterbuilt, or NYC Modern. The extra cost is in the fit and finish, options, overall feel, quality, woods used, look, etc. Compared to the MetroExpress, the Metrolines (and Masterbuilts/NYCs) just play faster and easier (for me).
Oh, one thing I will say is if you are leaning toward the Smith side of things, the German Modern with Ebony fingerboard is where its at.
