• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Sadowsky MetroExpress 21 (2020)

#221
Robert Darby said:
That is a good question. Even though the hardware looks the same I do feel like its a step down as far as quality which is understandable given the cost. The RSD hardware does work like it should though. I will take a closer look tonight and see if that is true. I worked as a machinist in my past so I do have some insight in the quality area. The way I look at the RSD Line is you are getting most of Rogers great ideas in a more affordable package. I don't regret either RSD purchase. I kind of knew what to expect. I guess what surprised me the most with the RSD line was how much better quality wise they were than the impression I was getting from the pictures.
I currently have two metros. I believe they are both from 2010. They are both 10s in my opinion. Both were just over 2000 I believe. They both have this growl to them that the RSD doesn't have. I personally go for a japan metro over any of the current metros. Follow me on reverb and if I every sell one of the metros you will catch it. My big tip on buying a bass would be do your research and have the money ready to pull the trigger. The longer you look you really get a feel of what is out there. I noticed lately not to many Japan metros out there to choose from though.
I am thinking when I drop that new pre amp into the RSD I may be good to go and sell some basses. :bassist:
Click to expand...

Oops jumped on Germany Metro. Mistake? There was a Japan metro I almost moved forward on but the import tax and the transoceanic shipping had me look and ultimately purchase domestically. Now the wait.
 
#222
Yea I was going to order a pre amp from Warwick
theFPVgeek said:
Oops jumped on Germany Metro. Mistake? There was a Japan metro I almost moved forward on but the import tax and the transoceanic shipping had me look and ultimately purchase domestically. Now the wait.
Click to expand...
Yea I was going to order a pre amp from Warwick but the fine print with the possibility of extra charges scared me away. There is a shop in Indiana that just got one in so I swooped in and got it. No feedback from me on the German ones. I would think they will be at the quality of the Japan metros though.
 
#223
My RSD MetroExpress just arrived. Was I expecting NYC fit and finish? No. Was I expecting Sadowsky setup? No. Was I expecting it to sound better than my NYC Sadowskys? No way.

I have owned 4 NYC Sadowskys over the years. I have been to Roger's shops in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. The last bass I bought new I picked out the top and fingerboard from his wood stock. I even had Roger do a fret job on my 1965 Fender Jazz bass years ago. Suffice it to say, I am a huge fan of Roger and his basses.

I just joined a Classic Rock band and we have our first gig on Saturday. I didn't want to bring a $9k vintage bass or a $4k Sadowsky to a club with a bunch of drunks. I wanted something that I would not be heartbroken if a drunk plowed into me or knocked my bass off its stand. I wanted something that felt at home and got me close to the sound I have loved for years. I also wanted a PJ to get the P bass sounds for a lot of our songs and I have never owned a PJ.

For $900 it is a great deal. The Morado fingerboard was a little rough in spots and the wood seemed very dry. Some steel wool and a couple of coats of mineral oil and it's fine. I put a new battery in it and the control cavity is quite nicely done. Nothing at all like some of the awful pictures I had seen on this thread. I put some new Sadowsky Blue Bright Nickel strings on it. The intonation was very close. The truss rod was totally loose, so I tightened it. The action is not bad, but I want it to settle a bit before I tighten it any more.

Saturday's gig will be the real test, but I am totally happy with my new "bar bass". I'll post a review after the gig.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gigetto, ElMon, diglo and 1 other person
#226
Oh, and the battery holder came off inside the control cavity and had to be re-glued, and the blend pot came off and had to be screwed back on. If Warwick/Sadowsky put a good QC/setup step before the basses were shipped, all of these issues could easily be resolved. I have a rehearsal tonight on IEMs and a gig tomorrow through an amp to see how the instrument sounds in real life.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Robert Darby
#228
I am confident that Roger/Warwick will get this worked out. In the mean time, just be prepared to do your own QC and setup.

The bass I got looked like the box had never been opened. It would also be a good idea for retailers to put 10 minutes into each bass before shipping them out to buyers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jmain
#229
pajohnso58 said:
I am confident that Roger/Warwick will get this worked out. In the mean time, just be prepared to do your own QC and setup.

The bass I got looked like the box had never been opened. It would also be a good idea for retailers to put 10 minutes into each bass before shipping them out to buyers.
Click to expand...
100% on the former and 2000% on the latter.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Robert Darby
#230
pajohnso58 said:
I am confident that Roger/Warwick will get this worked out. In the mean time, just be prepared to do your own QC and setup.

The bass I got looked like the box had never been opened. It would also be a good idea for retailers to put 10 minutes into each bass before shipping them out to buyers.
Click to expand...
I don't think Warwick really has a lot to do with the RSDs. I believe they come out of China. Certainly at least for a time there was a quality control issue. But it is kind of strange it didn't feel like my tuners were ever tightened. The were all wicked loose.
 
#233
Sound man at rehearsal said the bass sounded really good. It sounded good in my IEMs, too. I was playing through an Origin Effects Cali76 Compressor and a Noble preamp, which is my primary signal path. I usually play with eq flat, but I found a touch of bass eq helped fill out the sound in my IEMs. Through my amp I doubt that will be needed.

The sound man said there was a bit more hum and noise compared to my NYC Sadowsky, but given the pickups aren't hum-cancelling and the control cavity isn't shielded as well, that is to be expected. Given this is the "bar bass" no one's going to notice a little extra noise.
 
  • Like
Reactions: One Way, Dr. Cheese, jmain and 1 other person
#234
First classic rock gig in a chilly tent Saturday night. Bass did really well. No complaints whatsoever. Sounded big and full and cut through the mix.

Even better was my new Tyler Amp Works 2x12 cabinet. Tyler mostly makes guitar amps that lots of Nashville pros use. Had it custom built but I think it might become a standard product for Tyler. Compact cab with two 12" Eminence Neo speakers and an Eminence tweeter and crossover. Only weighs 48 lbs! Sounded like a much bigger cabinet and took everything I threw at it. Powered it with a Genz-Benz Streamliner 900. Tyler also makes a 50 watt all tube fliptop that I've played through that is amazing. It's unbelievable how loud that 50 watt head is.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dr. Cheese, gigetto, Robert Darby and 2 others
#235
pajohnso58 said:
First classic rock gig in a chilly tent Saturday night. Bass did really well. No complaints whatsoever. Sounded big and full and cut through the mix.

Even better was my new Tyler Amp Works 2x12 cabinet. Tyler mostly makes guitar amps that lots of Nashville pros use. Had it custom built but I think it might become a standard product for Tyler. Compact cab with two 12" Eminence Neo speakers and an Eminence tweeter and crossover. Only weighs 48 lbs! Sounded like a much bigger cabinet and took everything I threw at it. Powered it with a Genz-Benz Streamliner 900. Tyler also makes a 50 watt all tube fliptop that I've played through that is amazing. It's unbelievable how loud that 50 watt head is.
Click to expand...
Sounds like it all worked out. Thanks for the followup.
 
#238
New to TB but I have to say that having Roger Sadowsky himself providing regular updates on the production/quality elements is simply amazing. I'm in the market for a new 5er with the Yamaha BB735 topping my list, but I may delay that as a result of this. Well done for staying close to the audience Roger!
 
#239
Hoppo75 said:
New to TB but I have to say that having Roger Sadowsky himself providing regular updates on the production/quality elements is simply amazing. I'm in the market for a new 5er with the Yamaha BB735 topping my list, but I may delay that as a result of this. Well done for staying close to the audience Roger!
Click to expand...
You were today year's old when you got a big whiff of the G.A.S.! Welcome to TB!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dr. Cheese

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back