Sadowsky metro express jj jazz bass

[joejoejoe]

Can anyone point me to - or post - reviews on this line of Sadowsky jazz bass?

Sadowsky Metro Express JJ Jazz Bass *Authorized Dealer* | Reverb

$899 new so it must be different from the MetroLine. How does it compare to the MetroLine and NYC series? I can't seem to find credible reviews anywhere.

Thank you!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

You can think of these as Sadowsky’s aimed for the Sire market. I have fretless five and I absolutely love it. The first run of these basses had fret issues and other fit and finish problems. Subsequent batches have been much better. Unlike German Metroline basses, MetroExpress bass Jazz pickups are true single coils and they can be noisy soloed. They also have the older version of the Sadowsky preamp which does not include the VTC. That said, the VTC is drop in on these basses. Here are a few videos of mine:

 

[joejoejoe]

Thank you

You can think of these as Sadowsky’s aimed for the Sire market. I have fretless five and I absolutely love it. The first run of these basses had fret issues and other fit and finish problems. Subsequent batches have been much better. Unlike German Metroline basses, MetroExpress bass Jazz pickups are true single coils and they can be noisy soloed. They also have the older version of the Sadowsky preamp which does not include the VTC. That said, the VTC is drop in on these basses. Here are a few videos of mine:

Thank you Dr. Cheese.

 

[Jim C]

I was just thinking about these the other day.
Can I assume all the bugs were worked out on the fretted four string too?
And speaking of the four string, how chunky is the neck? Really looking for something like my 73' J bass.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I was just thinking about these the other day.
Can I assume all the bugs were worked out on the fretted four string too?
And speaking of the four string, how chunky is the neck? Really looking for something like my 73' J bass.

From all I know, the newer basses are much better. I can only guess that the four neck is like any Sadowsky four. I know my five feels like all of the other Sadowsky five necks I ever played.

 

[bassnyc1]

LowEndLobster did some reviews of these. I also had a chance to try a few out in Tokyo. Unless the quality has improved and they include a VTC, I wouldn't touch them. Many other options out there.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

LowEndLobster did some reviews of these. I also had a chance to try a few out in Tokyo. Unless the quality has improved and they include a VTC, I wouldn't touch them. Many other options out there.

He reviewed the first batch, which were pretty bad. I don’t know which ones you played, but there are lots of other options.

 

[RGerhart]

I believe Andy Irvine has one of these models, and he seems to gush about them, saying they are the best value in this price range.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

This is probably the best review of a PJ5 RSD Sadowsky I have heard. It sounds really good to me.

 

[nickpc]

I have a RSE ME JJ 5-21. Dr. Cheese already mentioned the pickups are true single-coil, which is really the only thing "wrong" with the bass. The string tree isn't my preference, but it gets the job done. The lack of the VTC hasn't bothered me enough to look at upgrading the electronics to include it.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I have a RSE ME JJ 5-21. Dr. Cheese already mentioned the pickups are true single-coil, which is really the only thing "wrong" with the bass. The string tree isn't my preference, but it gets the job done. The lack of the VTC hasn't bothered me enough to look at upgrading the electronics to include it.

That’s great to know!

 

[mdogs]

I believe Andy Irvine has one of these models, and he seems to gush about them, saying they are the best value in this price range.

Andy has 3 of them now and he absolutely loves them. Check out his Facebook page for his reviews.

 

[rockinrayduke]

Fret Nation having a blowout sale on his open box Metro Express basses right now.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Here is a quick video of me playing through the church’s TC Electronic BG250 amp in a noisy environment so you can get a taste of single coil hum on my RSD JJ5.

 

[()smoke()]

nice playing Dr

You can think of these as Sadowsky’s aimed for the Sire market. I have fretless five and I absolutely love it. The first run of these basses had fret issues and other fit and finish problems. Subsequent batches have been much better. Unlike German Metroline basses, MetroExpress bass Jazz pickups are true single coils and they can be noisy soloed. They also have the older version of the Sadowsky preamp which does not include the VTC. That said, the VTC is drop in on these basses. Here are a few videos of mine:

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Here is another TB member playing my bass. I forgot his TB name and I won’t post his real name, but he is an accomplished doubler. He can bring some stuff out of this bass that I can’t.

 

[Jim C]

Low End Lobster had mentioned these basses are noisy.
Is it juts because of single coil pickups?
His earlier review made it sound like there was serious noise from the pre-amp.