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Sadowsky MetroExpress 21 (2020)

#301
KAOSBass said:
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.
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I really dig the neck of my four strings Fender MIA deluxe P (the one with the double jazz in the neck position, 18v preamp), not too thin, not too fat, just perfect. Anyway, I also like the modern Jazz necks' profile. I've never tried a Spector fiver but from what I heard their necks are on the fat side. Like I said...I should try and compare them in person. I'll see if there will be that possibility without having to travel to another country :)

Furthermore, to me the Spector Pulse doesn't look like a cheap bass, while the RSD does...am I wrong?

Loepie said:
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.
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I like the idea of having the passive option, so the VTC would be the cherry on top.

To get back to my original question, is it a good base for a "project bass"? I mean, I've heard/read a lot of praise about the construction and the hardware, the sole weak link seems to be the electronics, so I thought about swapping it (plus the fugly headstock logo decals which look like a joke to me).
 
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#302
Hi folks

I've just purchased a fretless RSD from Thomann DE. I guess it's one of the more recent series as it has the Just A Nut 3. Seems well put together and plays very nicely. One question I have is whether there is any kind of trim pot on the preamp circuit to turn the gain down a bit as it's a feisty little thing. I can't see anything obvious but I may be looking in the wrong place.
 
#303
Ricky-1982 said:
I really dig the neck of my four strings Fender MIA deluxe P (the one with the double jazz in the neck position, 18v preamp), not too thin, not too fat, just perfect. Anyway, I also like the modern Jazz necks' profile. I've never tried a Spector fiver but from what I heard their necks are on the fat side. Like I said...I should try and compare them in person. I'll see if there will be that possibility without having to travel to another country :)

Furthermore, to me the Spector Pulse doesn't look like a cheap bass, while the RSD does...am I wrong?



I like the idea of having the passive option, so the VTC would be the cherry on top.

To get back to my original question, is it a good base for a "project bass"? I mean, I've heard/read a lot of praise about the construction and the hardware, the sole weak link seems to be the electronics, so I thought about swapping it (plus the fugly headstock logo decals which look like a joke to me).
Click to expand...

Even without the VTC, you can switch the bass to passive. Just pull up on the Bass control.
 
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#305
So obviously the first run metro express have a noise problem which is very much established. What's the solution, buy a noise gate pedal or a new onboard preamp altogether? At this point the bass is unplayable in live situations without the sound guy running me out on a rail! Maybe I can sell it for a couple hundred bucks...
 
#306
megwell69 said:
So obviously the first run metro express have a noise problem which is very much established. What's the solution, buy a noise gate pedal or a new onboard preamp altogether? At this point the bass is unplayable in live situations without the sound guy running me out on a rail! Maybe I can sell it for a couple hundred bucks...
Click to expand...

I say shield it as much as possible or buy noiseless pickups.
 
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#307
megwell69 said:
So obviously the first run metro express have a noise problem which is very much established. What's the solution, buy a noise gate pedal or a new onboard preamp altogether? At this point the bass is unplayable in live situations without the sound guy running me out on a rail! Maybe I can sell it for a couple hundred bucks...
Click to expand...
Contact: [email protected]
 
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#308
So............
Took a trip to Midwood Guitar Studio in Charlotte yesterday to finally check out these chinese built Sadowskys.
First off, the people in the store were great. Super helpful.
I tried out a five string, 21 on the serial number so a later batch, p/j in green keeping in mind the price point on these, currently owning STR, Ristola and Fender and having owned a couple of Sires and the like.
Hardware seemed good, pickups did not seem very noisy to me, it was pretty light and the neck profile was 1 7/8".
Fret edges needed some work though, as I noticed that right away. Nothing else realy jumped out at me as being bad.
Considering getting a blue one of these and putting in the upgraded pickups and VTC and letting the store take care of the frets.
If I can get past that headstock logo,(Please make it so you can peel it off and put the proper one on...haha.) I think that would be a reasonable, cheaper alternative to a German made one.
The thing that makes a difference for me is nut width and a D shape flatter neck. If you like the Sadowsky take on that, plus that sound of course, then here is your cheapest way to get it.
I dont think you are ever going to get Japan MetroExpress build quality for 900 bucks but, overall, I was quite surprised by this bass. I was expecting a serious list of problems and there realy wasnt a whole lot.
Just my 10 cents worth.
 
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#309
tobynjake said:
So............
Took a trip to Midwood Guitar Studio in Charlotte yesterday to finally check out these chinese built Sadowskys.
First off, the people in the store were great. Super helpful.
I tried out a five string, 21 on the serial number so a later batch, p/j in green keeping in mind the price point on these, currently owning STR, Ristola and Fender and having owned a couple of Sires and the like.
Hardware seemed good, pickups did not seem very noisy to me, it was pretty light and the neck profile was 1 7/8".
Fret edges needed some work though, as I noticed that right away. Nothing else realy jumped out at me as being bad.
Considering getting a blue one of these and putting in the upgraded pickups and VTC and letting the store take care of the frets.
If I can get past that headstock logo,(Please make it so you can peel it off and put the proper one on...haha.) I think that would be a reasonable, cheaper alternative to a German made one.
The thing that makes a difference for me is nut width and a D shape flatter neck. If you like the Sadowsky take on that, plus that sound of course, then here is your cheapest way to get it.
I dont think you are ever going to get Japan MetroExpress build quality for 900 bucks but, overall, I was quite surprised by this bass. I was expecting a serious list of problems and there realy wasnt a whole lot.
Just my 10 cents worth.
Click to expand...

I have been waiting hear a report like this. I love Sadowsky’s nut and neck profile. If the pickups are not noisy, I can take out my fret file and tame sharp fret ends. I played a Sire V7 the other day, and the fret ends could have used a little work, but everything else was nice, and I could have lived with it. I have had my eye on those PJ Hybrid RSD’s for while. One of these could be a battery mate for my Super 5.
 
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#310
Appreciate your patience but having just becoming aware of the Metro line of basses in the past week as part of my search for a new bass I've had the benefit of this thread (impressively given Mr Sadowsky's contributions) to allay any doubts about actually buying one which will happen shortly after I've finished ruminating here, a new MetroExpress 5-21 Hyb MO BK no less, will be winging it's way from Thoman for the crazy price of £618. I was choosing between the Marcus M7 and a Yamaha BB435-5 but I'm more than happy to trust Roger's reputation before them. At present I'm using a Peavey Grind 5, s/h, which is filling the gap left by selling my Thumb 5 until a replacement was found. Whilst I was at it I was having un-natural thoughts as to what rig I would use as I've had a Markbass combo, CMD 112P, and an Eden Nemisis ext cab, that I thought would last as long as me, which seeing as I've been using it for the last 15 years without issue, could may well be true but GAS being what it is (and I'm 70 in October) I'm determined to go for my Humboldt Simplifier=Zoom B3=RCF 1400w powered speaker set up instead. Wish me luck but I'll be back shortly with more questions, and hopefully answers, to benefit other new owners as this thread has helped me, and other good folks of Talkbass, the centre of the bass playing fraternity.
 
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