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Sadowsky in distribution agreement with Warwick

#161
Sounds like a good match.

Warwick have, after a long time and many false starts, nailed the best way to high-quality mass-production at a reasonable price with their GPS line. I wouldn't be surprised if the new Sadowsky lines are made in the same facilities in Germany.

Seems the dude got tired of running an expanding manufacturing business and wants to focus on building high-end custom basses.

For y'all hoping that the NYC instruments will get cheaper, they'll probably just get more expensive :D
 
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#165
I find the fact that the Warwick Group is acquiring more and more "foreign brands" very interesting! Do they make too little sales with their own products or can they control the market better? I once considered a Warwick, but then got stuck with the original (Spector). Well, Sados are also more of a replica of fenders, so that's probably how it fits into the portfolio!
From Sadowsky's point of view, sales and marketing is simply the factor. Sadowsky Japan was/is probably nothing else than a second "workshop". If Roger wants to give up everything that goes beyond instrument making, then working with Warwick on several levels makes sense. Of course, Warwick not only wants to sell and market, but also to build. And they certainly can. But personally I am glad that I recently bought a "made in Japan" Sadowsky!:D
It could be that the Metros will be built in Germany by Warwick himself, like the Warwick German Pro Series and Metroline in China like the Warwick RockBasses...
I wonder if the Metros will be as perfect as those of the Japanese work shop. They nailed it, absolute quality.
 
#166
heinpete said:
I wonder if the Metros will be as perfect as those of the Japanese work shop. They nailed it, absolute quality.
Click to expand...

Both countries are known for their craftsmanship, so the only reason they wouldn't be made as well as the Japanese made Metros, is that they were told to make them to a lesser standard.

As long as Roger Sadowsky is putting his name on the headstock (allowing it to be put there), I doubt that the quality will change. That won't stop all the speculation on TB, and I bet the prices on used Japanese made Metros starts going up immediately.
 
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#168
chris_b said:
What is all this negative gossip about? If Roger Sadowsky is the customer I would expect the name of the manufacturer or the location to be irrelevant. Joshi, Warwick or a little green man on the moon will have to meet the spec or they won't be doing that business for very long.
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Agreed.....all this speculation, a lot negative it's a bit over the top.
 
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#170
chris_b said:
What is all this negative gossip about? If Roger Sadowsky is the customer I would expect the name of the manufacturer or the location to be irrelevant. Joshi, Warwick or a little green man on the moon will have to meet the spec or they won't be doing that business for very long.
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There's a huge difference between having (your) custom shop in another country and a building/distribution license agreement with another company. That's a fact, not a positive or negative opinion.
 
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#171
vernay3 said:
I just order parts from Warwick with no issues. Easy, quick, personable.
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Shipping was expensive, but I do have to say that I ordered like $200 in spare parts, realized the next day I need $5 in spare parts I forgot, and they automatically combined the order and refunded the second shipping. Mine has also been pleasant.

I ordered a custom bass that got damaged in shipping once also, and they replaced it and gave me several hundred dollars worth of strings and merchandise.

I have no clue if the person taking the emails is really Wilfer or an assistant, but he gets stuff done when you email him.
 
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#172
mmon77 said:
That wasn't my experience at all. I've ordered parts from them twice.
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I think it is a pretty much flat $20 shipping. Or was with my last order. You don't pay import fees unless it is worth more than a certain dollar amount that I think is $2000. Technically I think you are supposed to pay import fees on everything you get on your taxes, but the companies only have to report it at a certain dollar amount. At least in America. Someone who does international trade law can correct me.

I had to pay import fees on a bass I bought from another person shipped from Canada...a couple months later I got a bill in the mail.
 
#174
heinpete said:
I find the fact that the Warwick Group is acquiring more and more "foreign brands" very interesting! Do they make too little sales with their own products or can they control the market better? I once considered a Warwick, but then got stuck with the original (Spector). Well, Sados are also more of a replica of fenders, so that's probably how it fits into the portfolio!
From Sadowsky's point of view, sales and marketing is simply the factor. Sadowsky Japan was/is probably nothing else than a second "workshop". If Roger wants to give up everything that goes beyond instrument making, then working with Warwick on several levels makes sense. Of course, Warwick not only wants to sell and market, but also to build. And they certainly can. But personally I am glad that I recently bought a "made in Japan" Sadowsky!:D
It could be that the Metros will be built in Germany by Warwick himself, like the Warwick German Pro Series and Metroline in China like the Warwick RockBasses...
I wonder if the Metros will be as perfect as those of the Japanese work shop. They nailed it, absolute quality.
Click to expand...
It's just standard model of business. See Fender as a successfully example. Why do they need to own Jackson, Bigsby, Gretsch, Charvel, etc? Couldn't they just make their own versions of those guitars? I guess technically Fender bought Fender also.
 
#177
I get the appeal of the Metro and Metro Express lives. To get Sadowsky quality in more hands at an affordable price. However they choose to go about that is fine with me, I’ve no doubt they will continue the previously-established tradition of Sadowsky quality at affordable prices.

But to me, the appeal of the Sadowsky basses came from the basses made in New York. So for me, I would not feel as though I owned the Sadowsky I really wanted unless it was the New York-made bass.

Since I’m totally invested in another very fine bass maker from Washington, I doubt I’ll be looking to buy anything else. I’ve found my forever heart and soul bass. But I never say never. And if I ever decide make the move toward a Sadowsky, I’ll save and save and save and probably sell some gear and buy a NY-made model.
 
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#179
James Collins said:
I think it is a pretty much flat $20 shipping. Or was with my last order. You don't pay import fees unless it is worth more than a certain dollar amount that I think is $2000. Technically I think you are supposed to pay import fees on everything you get on your taxes, but the companies only have to report it at a certain dollar amount. At least in America. Someone who does international trade law can correct me.

I had to pay import fees on a bass I bought from another person shipped from Canada...a couple months later I got a bill in the mail.
Click to expand...

Well now they want to charge me 33 euros for shipping a Brass JAN III to the US. Ouch! I don't remember it being that bad when I ordered from them before, but maybe I just didn't want to remember.

I know they didn't charge me any import dues or anything because I think you're right about there being a threshold above which the shipper has to charge it. Of course I paid the IRS whatever I was responsible for...

:thumbsup:
 

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