NBD Sadowsky MetroExpress PJ 5 - Will Lee

[Dbassmon]

If you don't know, the MetroExpress Sadowsky line is made by Warwick in their Chinese factory through a licensing and distribution deal with Sadowksy. Roger still makes the NYC custom shop basses.

The specifications and design are Rodger Sadowsky's take on Leo Fender's classic Fender Basses, but with several modifications that fixed many of the quirks in the original Fender Design, incorporating modifications bass players have request for as long as these designs have been around. Those include; 12" radius, an adjustable nut, spoke wheel truss adjustment at the base of the neck, a quick-release hi-mass bridge that makes stringing super fast and easy, banjo-sized frets with ball ends, and excellent electronics. The Will Lee preamp adds a switchable mid-boost at 500 or 800Hz, which makes a noticeable and musical addition to the Sadowsky 2-band preamp.

I plugged this bass in and did not put it down for many hours. It's got a thing.... an undeniable, instantly recognizable thing, often described as Mojo. The combination of the components and the wood, the instrument rings like a bell. Plug it into an amp, and it sounds warm and bright with plenty of presence. You pick this instrument up and play it, it has the feel and sound of a very high quality bass.

This is a lot of bass for the money, about the same price as a Mexican Fender*. Leaving hyperbole aside, I am impressed!

I want to thank my friend, Jason Mendelson, Fret Nation, for getting me hooked up with this beauty. Boutique service and tons of valued added, second to none, from Fret Nation.

*maybe less than a Mexican Fender

 

[Dr. Cheese]

If you don't know, the MetroExpress Sadowsky line is made by Warwick in their Chinese factory through a licensing and distribution deal with Sadowksy. Roger still makes the NYC custom shop basses.

The specifications and design are Rodger Sadowsky's take on Leo Fender's classic Fender Basses, but with several modifications that fixed many of the quirks in the original Fender Design, incorporating modifications bass players have request for as long as these designs have been around. Those include; 12" radius, an adjustable nut, spoke wheel truss adjustment at the base of the neck, a quick-release hi-mass bridge that makes stringing super fast and easy, banjo-sized frets with ball ends, and excellent electronics. The Will Lee preamp adds a switchable mid-boost at 500 or 800Hz, which makes a noticeable and musical addition to the Sadowsky 2-band preamp.

I plugged this bass in and did not put it down for many hours. It's got a thing.... an undeniable, instantly recognizable thing, often described as Mojo. The combination of the components and the wood, the instrument rings like a bell. Plug it into an amp, and it sounds warm and bright with plenty of presence. You pick this instrument up and play it, it has the feel and sound of a very high quality bass.

This is a lot of bass for the money, about the same price as a Mexican Fender*. Leaving hyperbole aside, I am impressed!

I want to thank my friend, Jason Mendelson, Fret Nation, for getting me hooked up with this beauty. Boutique service and tons of valued added, second to none, from Fret Nation.

*maybe less than a Mexican Fender
View attachment 7323163

It looks great, is the bridge pickup hum canceling?

 

[Dbassmon]

It looks great, is the bridge pickup hum canceling?

Yes, bridge is hum cancelling.

 

[sambass0124]

I thought Metro Express Will Lee only offers JJ and no mid boost …

Congrats it’s gorgeous!

 

[who]

I thought Metro Express Will Lee only offers JJ and no mid boost …

Congrats it’s gorgeous!

This is a MetroExpress PJ5 with the Will Lee preamp added, if I'm reading correctly.

 

[Gizmot]

I’ve been playing a PJ5 MetroExpress for a year and just love it. I’m certain that this bass will serve you well. The workmanship and materials they use are much better than you would expect.

 

[Dbassmon]

This is a MetroExpress PJ5 with the Will Lee preamp added, if I'm reading correctly.

You are correct. This was sold as Standard Hybrid ME 5. I had Fretnation install the Will Lee Pre, which provides me with two benefits: VTC (passive tone) and Mid Boost. They did the upgrades before shipping the bass to me. All in, still close to the price of Fender Modified Player II J 5

Every Will Lee preamp has a mid boost; however, the ME Jazz Will Lee does not come with the boost mini on/off switch for some reason. The mini switch can be added, I believe.

If you retrofit your bass with a Will Lee Pre, it comes with a mini switch on the control plate. They should include that mini switch standard on any Will Lee iteration of the bass IMO.

 

[pb9717]

When did they start putting hum cancelling pickups in the chinese units? Did you upgrade the bridge pickup? Although, if memory serves, despite being a singe coil, the bridge pickup is dead quiet. The P pickup of course is naturally noise cancelling.

Brilliant move putting that Will Lee pre in there. Turns it into something far more akin to a metroline, but with an Okoume body.

Jason is a great asset too. Very good guy to know about. Sells only really good instruments.

Enjoy it. It’s a beauty.

 

[Winton]

That’s cool they started putting in the Will Lee preamp. When these MX22 first came out, it was only the 2 band preamp. These are such good basses for the price, but sadly in my experience, every single 5 string from the Metroexpress line has noticeable neck dive (which my body can’t handle). The 4 strings are usually well-balanced though.

 

[BassicJazzy]

I'm considering the fretless version of the 4 string, as an upgrade to my Ibanez SR370EF. Anybody have any input on that one?

 

[Dbassmon]

Brilliant move putting that Will Lee pre in there. Turns it into something far more akin to a metroline, but with an Okoume body.

It is a Metroline for a third of the price... The thing I observe with ME models is that there is a significant variation in weight, and some are quite heavy. Shop from a retailer that lists the weight of the bass you are buying. I don't want anything much over 9 lbs max. MEs are not chambered, so selecting a reasonable weight is something to be mindful of...
RE: humcancelling jazz pup on hybrid.... not sure when they started that. The ME Jazz basses use single coils, and hybrids use humbucking stacked jazz.

 

[jd56hawk]

If you don't know, the MetroExpress Sadowsky line is made by Warwick in their Chinese factory through a licensing and distribution deal with Sadowksy. Roger still makes the NYC custom shop basses.

The specifications and design are Rodger Sadowsky's take on Leo Fender's classic Fender Basses, but with several modifications that fixed many of the quirks in the original Fender Design, incorporating modifications bass players have request for as long as these designs have been around. Those include; 12" radius, an adjustable nut, spoke wheel truss adjustment at the base of the neck, a quick-release hi-mass bridge that makes stringing super fast and easy, banjo-sized frets with ball ends, and excellent electronics. The Will Lee preamp adds a switchable mid-boost at 500 or 800Hz, which makes a noticeable and musical addition to the Sadowsky 2-band preamp.

I plugged this bass in and did not put it down for many hours. It's got a thing.... an undeniable, instantly recognizable thing, often described as Mojo. The combination of the components and the wood, the instrument rings like a bell. Plug it into an amp, and it sounds warm and bright with plenty of presence. You pick this instrument up and play it, it has the feel and sound of a very high quality bass.

This is a lot of bass for the money, about the same price as a Mexican Fender*. Leaving hyperbole aside, I am impressed!

I want to thank my friend, Jason Mendelson, Fret Nation, for getting me hooked up with this beauty. Boutique service and tons of valued added, second to none, from Fret Nation.

*maybe less than a Mexican Fender
View attachment 7323163

I've heard the PJ combo works better on this one than the typical Fender PJ.
Is there better balance between the P and J pickup or is it a question of the preamp?
Other than that, I'd sure like to see one hanging up somewhere so I could give it a go.

 

[Dbassmon]

I've heard the PJ combo works better on this one than the typical Fender PJ.

The pickups are indeed well-balanced. It's not the preamp because you hear the balance in passive. I think Sadowsky built that into the spec of the pickups he designed. That is likely why he used a J stack humbucker on the hybrid model; it's a better match with the P pup.

 

[Tight and Tasty]

The pickups are indeed well-balanced. It's not the preamp because you hear the balance in passive. I think Sadowsky built that into the spec of the pickups he designed. That is likely why he used a J stack humbucker on the hybrid model; it's a better match with the P pup.

I would agree there seems to be nothing baked into the circuitry that balances the PU outputs.

I have a 2021 Metroline PJ. I had to lift the J and drop the P to get the same outputs with PUs soloed quite a lot more than I would have expected but I took the advice from the good folks over at the Sadowsky thread and now blending is seamless which gives me a great variety of tonal flavours on the fly, which I find more useful than having to fiddle around with amp settings or even the bass and treble boost.

 

[T. Brookins]

That’s cool they started putting in the Will Lee preamp. When these MX22 first came out, it was only the 2 band preamp. These are such good basses for the price, but sadly in my experience, every single 5 string from the Metroexpress line has noticeable neck dive (which my body can’t handle). The 4 strings are usually well-balanced though.

The MX tuners look lightweight, but they are not.