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Sadowsky launch Vintage Pbass but eat battery.
- Thread starter Yahboy
- Start date
I don't get the name. Is someone seeking a vintage-style P looking for an active bass with modern hardware?
Where does your "Eat Battery' comment come from?
Turn off the preamp and it's passive. No need to even have a battery in it.
If I wasn't all set with Ps, I'd be interested at least.
JazznFunk
Supporting Member
Most MetroExpress models live around the $1,200 mark. This one likely is in the same ballpark.
JazznFunk
Supporting Member
Looks really cool. A lot of people run their P-Basses through the Sadowsky Outboard Preamp. In practice, this is just the same as installing one onboard like the J-style basses, or running a J-Bass through the preamp. Why this is divisive in any way is pretty funny to me, especially with the passive mode switch. If I were in the market for a P-Bass at the moment, I'd get this one because it's something different and with a truly modern take.
I don't have the problem with the concept, just the name. I think a two-band preamp would be incredibly useful for a p-style bass, but there's nothing vintage about this. This doesn't include the VTC, so if someone wants to just run it passive, there's no tone control.
No passive tone control and 1.5" nut width. So a product that wouldn't appeal to anyone who actually likes vintage Precisions
. Not saying it's a bad bass, but the marketing is inexplicable.
I believe for decades Sadowsky has used 'Vintage' for style and Vintage sized bodyNo passive tone control and 1.5" nut width. So a product that wouldn't appeal to anyone who actually likes vintage Precisions
So, Sadowsky had lunch with some dude named Vintage P-bass, realized they weren't really hungry, and ate a battery for an appetizer?
JazznFunk
Supporting Member
Lots of active basses don't give you a tone control when the preamp is bypassed, so this is just nitpicking. I suppose if they wanted to be 100% accurate they could just say 'preamp bypass' instead of 'passive mode' to remove any pedantic inaccuracies. No MetroExpress model has the VTC stock, so it's consistent with the rest of the offerings. Not a deal breaker at all for me, as I don't care about bypassing the preamp.... which is true of every other active bass I own. As someone else pointed out, the 'Vintage' moniker is used by Sadowsky mostly to refer to body size/dimensions, not tonal considerations or preamp setup.
JazznFunk
Supporting Member
MetroExpress models do not come with the VTC stock. MetroLine models do. Plenty of NYC Sadowskys rolled off the bench without a VTC back in the day too.
The Dutch Thomann page shows 899 Euros for the 4 string. About $1100 US.
Industry consensus seems to be that Fender sells more than an order of magnitude more guitars than bass guitars; and musical instrument sales only account for 60% of the FMIC portfolio. Which means bass guitars only account for something like 5% or less.of Fender's sales.
So, commitment of resources at FMIC to bass guitars has been uneven over time, depending somewhat on the people there. The sales just don't support substantive resource commitment as a strategic business target.
Meanwhile, Warwick is quite interested in this market segment; and with their current access to Sadowsky designs, they have a potent tool to chase the Fender bass market.
It is unfortunate for us here in the US that Warwick is off-shore; because our influence on their product offerings is somewhat reduced compared to on-shore production; aka the Sadowsky NYC shop.
It is what it is.
So, commitment of resources at FMIC to bass guitars has been uneven over time, depending somewhat on the people there. The sales just don't support substantive resource commitment as a strategic business target.
Meanwhile, Warwick is quite interested in this market segment; and with their current access to Sadowsky designs, they have a potent tool to chase the Fender bass market.
It is unfortunate for us here in the US that Warwick is off-shore; because our influence on their product offerings is somewhat reduced compared to on-shore production; aka the Sadowsky NYC shop.
It is what it is.
Pretty sure that preamp bypass just bypasses the tone circuit and leaves a drain on the battery. Some of the old Lakland Skylines had the same thing and wouldn't suggest leaving it plugged in with the preamp in bypass mode. That would eat batteries.
That is true for all active Basses
At home leave it unplugged when not using On gig not a big deal for short breaks
