Id also keep an eye on the neck heel upgrade and the way the lower horn is cut. Also the control cavity is finished better on the latest batch.
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Anybody have a MIC ME with a tort pickguard? In pictures, they look more like red tort than the brown tort used on other Sadowsky basses.
Got my eye out for a recent MetroExpress Hybrid PJ5 in Olympic White with a maple fretboard. A used Metro could pop up and I could have the scratch in the gear fund to score it, but those ain't good odds either way.
I picked up a ME Verdine White from Thomann in July, and am Getting a P/J Hybrid 5 in Black with a white guard and maple board this week from a US retailer. It’s a B stock that knocked 100 off the price. I put a VTC in the Verdine and have one coming from Framus distribution in TN for the 5.
When I got the Verdine, it needed some tweaking, (I.e setup, Elixir strings) and without the VTC I couldn’t get it to bring down the brightness. As the pre is boost only, even with the treble all the way down, it was still a bright bass. Once I put the VTC in, it made it an entirely different instrument. Really wrangled the brightness. And just a small bump in bass, and the VTC rolled back a bit, the sound is fantastic. I always wanted a good P bass sound but have never been fond of the P Bass’s design. This bass now has that sound among others. With the p bass pickup solo’d, you get a great old timey mid bumped bass tone. With the pan centered, the sound is very full and rich, and with the bridge pickup solo’d, the burpy percolating 16th note sound I love is right there. The Okume body wood is now being used in the German made metro expresses, and Ive found no deficits with it. Fretwork is fine. Haven’t seen or felt any thing out of sort on the neck at all. Takes adjustment well with the included tool, and am able to set my action very low, the way I like it.
As I do gigs that require a low B, I now await delivery on the P/J 5, and have already ordered the 2nd VTC. It’s not an easy install, and you’ll need to know how to wire properly to make it happen. It also provides an opportunity to make sure everything is grounded well, and your bass is nice and quiet. I have had no noise issues with the Verdine, everything is well grounded, and works as my Japan Metro Express 5 did, now that the VTC is installed.
Sadowsky made a bold move opting to have basses built in China, but Ive owned original hand built Japanese Metro’s and Japan factory built metroexpress basses, and I’m having the same experience with this Chinese manufactured Verdine, that Ive had with all Sadowsky basses. It sounds great, (which admittedly is in large part to the best on board pre I’ve come across). It plays like a Sadowsky, with its thin neck, and solid feeling build quality, and it LIGHT, which as I’ve gotten older has become a major benefit.
I’ll see if the 5 stands up to the test, but am optimistic it’ll provide the best sub $1000 5 string experience available right now. Ive looked at Sire’s, and Harley Benton’s and other inexpensive 5 string jazz style basses, but the Sadowsky pre amp, and light weight, is a hard target to beat.
When I got the Verdine, it needed some tweaking, (I.e setup, Elixir strings) and without the VTC I couldn’t get it to bring down the brightness. As the pre is boost only, even with the treble all the way down, it was still a bright bass. Once I put the VTC in, it made it an entirely different instrument. Really wrangled the brightness. And just a small bump in bass, and the VTC rolled back a bit, the sound is fantastic. I always wanted a good P bass sound but have never been fond of the P Bass’s design. This bass now has that sound among others. With the p bass pickup solo’d, you get a great old timey mid bumped bass tone. With the pan centered, the sound is very full and rich, and with the bridge pickup solo’d, the burpy percolating 16th note sound I love is right there. The Okume body wood is now being used in the German made metro expresses, and Ive found no deficits with it. Fretwork is fine. Haven’t seen or felt any thing out of sort on the neck at all. Takes adjustment well with the included tool, and am able to set my action very low, the way I like it.
As I do gigs that require a low B, I now await delivery on the P/J 5, and have already ordered the 2nd VTC. It’s not an easy install, and you’ll need to know how to wire properly to make it happen. It also provides an opportunity to make sure everything is grounded well, and your bass is nice and quiet. I have had no noise issues with the Verdine, everything is well grounded, and works as my Japan Metro Express 5 did, now that the VTC is installed.
Sadowsky made a bold move opting to have basses built in China, but Ive owned original hand built Japanese Metro’s and Japan factory built metroexpress basses, and I’m having the same experience with this Chinese manufactured Verdine, that Ive had with all Sadowsky basses. It sounds great, (which admittedly is in large part to the best on board pre I’ve come across). It plays like a Sadowsky, with its thin neck, and solid feeling build quality, and it LIGHT, which as I’ve gotten older has become a major benefit.
I’ll see if the 5 stands up to the test, but am optimistic it’ll provide the best sub $1000 5 string experience available right now. Ive looked at Sire’s, and Harley Benton’s and other inexpensive 5 string jazz style basses, but the Sadowsky pre amp, and light weight, is a hard target to beat.
Correction: The bass arriving this week is Black with a TORT guard, and maple neck. B stock, due to minor scratching on the finish.
I don’t care about minor finish blems. A bass is a tool, not a museum piece. I look forward to many years of player wear on this and all my basses.
I don’t care about minor finish blems. A bass is a tool, not a museum piece. I look forward to many years of player wear on this and all my basses.
I'm pretty sure that's the one I was thinking about getting as well. Looks like a good one! Be interested to see what you think about it.
Aiui, Sire are made in Indonesia.
Overall, imo, the woodwork is decent as is the paint but the hardware is poor.
Will you improve the value if and when replacement parts are available, possibly not.
Having that, Fender parts are skanky from what I've seen on a CS although the pickups are ok.
Many name makers are shipping manufacturing to the far East, Sadowsky are not the first and will not be the last.
But as with everything, you get what you pay for..and can live with. Otherwise, the originals arent worth the money either.
I can't see how a handmade instrument can be done for less than 2000euros and that means you cant have them sold for mass retail as that is 30% off cost too.
I strongly disagree with this assertion.
How can someone still be saying such things in the marketing era we are living through?
That was true till the 70's. not anymore!
We have the luck (Ironic) to live the era of the split between price and value, that are nowadays completely disconnected.
Do you really think an I-phone is worth one year salary of the poor Indonesian who assembled it?
Or that 120€ for a Jordan (Nike) Lionel Messi's PSG jersey is the fair price?
And come on!
6000€ for a Custom Shop Fender Pbass? with the exact same specs than 70 years ago?
Marketing and Commercials sell image of luxury for products that are external signs of wealth!
People buy products madly overpriced because it shows that they have the money to buy "the best".
It's a "rich boy show off" game.
Many basses done by unknown luthiers will be as good or better than an overpriced Alembic and sell less than 2000€ new and less than 1000€ second hand.
Don't get me wrong, you can love expensive basses! I do! I love Fodera and of course Sadowsky (that I actually own)!
But be aware that the price you pay for it is mostly for the image.
And then no surprise if they decide to make a cheap version that it sounds great, you just get closer to the "real" price.
You need a reference to evaluate the worth.
Are the builds done in the far east poor?
Yes and no.
Sire wood work is very good as is the paint so that is a plus.
The hardware, bridge and tuners is poor, imv.
But it isnt that great on a CS either.
The build between the 2 ...there is nowhere near £2500 price difference between the two, again ime.
For a real Custom handmade, you are paying a craftsman a good hourly rate but that is relative to the country standard of living.
It comes down to who you think make the best basses. West, European, Eastern European or far East or China.
And then where is the perception of that.
You might pay 3k for a US hand made bass...but would you pay that for a Korean one..?
I have 2 Korean basses and they were cheaper by far than a handmade UK bass...and the handmade UK is the best build by far...
That is not image...that is just plain superior workmanship that I had to pay for.
Not saying Korea cant do it but would i take a chance...nope.
Are the builds done in the far east poor?
Yes and no.
Sire wood work is very good as is the paint so that is a plus.
The hardware, bridge and tuners is poor, imv.
But it isnt that great on a CS either.
The build between the 2 ...there is nowhere near £2500 price difference between the two, again ime.
For a real Custom handmade, you are paying a craftsman a good hourly rate but that is relative to the country standard of living.
It comes down to who you think make the best basses. West, European, Eastern European or far East or China.
And then where is the perception of that.
You might pay 3k for a US hand made bass...but would you pay that for a Korean one..?
I have 2 Korean basses and they were cheaper by far than a handmade UK bass...and the handmade UK is the best build by far...
That is not image...that is just plain superior workmanship that I had to pay for.
Not saying Korea cant do it but would i take a chance...nope.
You are confusing spec with shape. The basses might look the same, but the spec of a Custom Shop bass is totally different from regular Fender basses. That's the point.
That’s great you got it working for you. I just wish it would come with the VTC included.
In what way totally different.
I have my spec sheet.
The bridge and tuners are standard Fender parts and are nothing special. Most of the stuff I've swapped out apart from pickups.
On some instruments you can see where the money has gone, but not on my CS. Thankfully i didnt have to pay anything like $2000, let alone 6000.
The difference between this bass and an American deluxe I was after...marginal.
Not my experience at all with Fender Custom Shop basses, and I have owned several. It doesn't all boil down to specs ime
Hi guys, I'm thinking about getting a 5 stringer and I was wondering if it is a good idea to get a Chinese Sadowsky ME JJ and treat it as a project bass. I would probably swap the stock preamp for a genuine VTC (or something else), swap the stock pickups and so on... What do you guys think? Is it worth it?
I also like the Spector Pulse 5, it has 24 frets and a 35" scale, the EMG+Tonepump Jr already installed and it seats in the same price range, more or less... around 1000$. I would probably swap the stock 40DC pickups for 40j+40p5 and the preamp. Well, the Spector Pulse will probably sound better than the Sadowsky ME straight out of the box. On the other hand, I don't really dig the sandblasted aggressive finish and the Spector shape. I feel that the Sad dinky shape is aggressive in its own subtle (and better) way. I'm confused
I know they are two very different sounding and looking instruments.
I also like the Spector Pulse 5, it has 24 frets and a 35" scale, the EMG+Tonepump Jr already installed and it seats in the same price range, more or less... around 1000$. I would probably swap the stock 40DC pickups for 40j+40p5 and the preamp. Well, the Spector Pulse will probably sound better than the Sadowsky ME straight out of the box. On the other hand, I don't really dig the sandblasted aggressive finish and the Spector shape. I feel that the Sad dinky shape is aggressive in its own subtle (and better) way. I'm confused
I know they are two very different sounding and looking instruments.
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That was pretty much my approach to the 4 string I bought, upgraded the preamp, swapped pick-ups (only cuz I'm a Duncan fanboy), installed a hipshot detuner, wouldn't trade it for anything in the same price range. I love it, well, thats putting it lightly, I can't put the thing down. (sitting in my lap as I type).
Well, I should probably try to play both of them (the Sad and the Spector). Unfortunately the Pulses are sold out pretty much everywhere here in Europe and the big music store in my area has only a couple of fretless ME pj if I recall well.
BTW, are you the guy who applied the decal on the Chinese ME?
yeah,, play them both if you can, two very different basses for sure. I'm a former Spector player had an NS2A, loved it for a while, and slowly lost the feel for the neck, and migrated back to the Jazz/Precision basses, I prefer the Jazz neck, and the ME has a fantastic feeling neck.
No need to change the pickups. They are really good. If you need the VTC, go for it. I wouldn't go for other preamps, cause the bass, pickups and preamp work well together, like it is ment to be by Roger.Hi guys, I'm thinking about getting a 5 stringer and I was wondering if it is a good idea to get a Chinese Sadowsky ME JJ and treat it as a project bass. I would probably swap the stock preamp for a genuine VTC (or something else), swap the stock pickups and so on... What do you guys think? Is it worth it?
I also like the Spector Pulse 5, it has 24 frets and a 35" scale, the EMG+Tonepump Jr already installed and it seats in the same price range, more or less... around 1000$. I would probably swap the stock 40DC pickups for 40j+40p5 and the preamp. Well, the Spector Pulse will probably sound better than the Sadowsky ME straight out of the box. On the other hand, I don't really dig the sandblasted aggressive finish and the Spector shape. I feel that the Sad dinky shape is aggressive in its own subtle (and better) way. I'm confused
