Sadowsky MetroExpress 21 (2020)

[Robear22]

I think you are going to really like it.

 

[CH Design]

It arrived a day early. Although I took it out of that huge box, I will let it sit in the nice gig bag a day before I take it out since it has been so hot.

Are you going to make us wait all day for the NBD post?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Are you going to make us wait all day for the NBD post?

I will post pics today.

 

[dralionux]

I will post pics today.

How about its playability, compared to your Pedulla?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

How about its playability, compared to your Pedulla?

It’s still in the case. I will play it after I mow my lawn.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

My quick first impressions are that this is a very good deal for the money. The gig bag is a budget version of the Portabag that ships with upscale Sadowsky’s. The bass comes with straplocks, a very nice strap, and a few other goodies. The hardware is very solid. The tuners are Hipshot style and very accurate. The bass is light, maybe 9lbs. I think the fit and finish are good too. The pickups are single coil and will hum soloed. The preamp treble sizzles a bit when cranked, but I cannot imagine why anyone would want to crank it. If one wanted to, one could get Sadowsky hum free pickups and VTC preamp, and this bass would sound identical to a German Metro for around $1,500. Unless a problem pops up, I am in no hurry to upgrade the electronics. I should note that it sounds fine passive. I will add that the finish has a subtle sparkle that does not show up in photos.

 

[Robear22]

Does it feel like an upscale as far as playability? Mine feels that way but just wanted your opinion.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Does it feel like an upscale as far as playability? Mine feels that way but just wanted your opinion.

Mine feels so, like a really solid bass in the $1-$2k category. I had flats installed on mine by the, Indiana Music Garage, and those flats have a bit more tension than the rounds I usually use.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Here is a quick video. This bass does not feel cheap in any way to me. I finally have a good five string fretless to replace my Pedulla.

 

[evertalbers]

Got a 5-string JJ MetroExpress in a trade yesterday, same version as Dr Cheese above but fretted. Not bad at all, I love the weight and great to finally have a five string Jazz. On the other hand, the RSD is not necessarily better than my Yamaha MIJ TRB5-I and MIK BBN5-II - we'll see which one will become my favourite.

I do feel tempted to change the preamp for a Glockenklang currently laying in a drawer, but unfortunately the Glock is a 5-knob.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Got a 5-string JJ MetroExpress in a trade yesterday, same version as Dr Cheese above but fretted. Not bad at all, I love the weight and great to finally have a five string Jazz. On the other hand, the RSD is not necessarily better than my Yamaha MIJ TRB5-I and MIK BBN5-II - we'll see which one will become my favourite.

I do feel tempted to change the preamp for a Glockenklang currently laying in a drawer, but unfortunately the Glock is a 5-knob.

I would say get to know that Sadowsky preamp before you make any changes. It is boost only and requires a different approach than boost and cut circuits. A little goes a long way with this preamp. I find that a modest bass boost gives my Sadowsky a thick tone unlike anything I have ever heard in other Jazz Basses.

 

[evertalbers]

I would say get to know that Sadowsky preamp before you make any changes. It is boost only and requires a different approach than boost and cut circuits.

Thanks. I forgot to mention that I owned a Sadowsky outboard preamp/DI previously, and the preamp in the bass works/sounds familiar indeed.

With the onboard preamp bass/treble at 0, active is a lot louder than passive. I have not looked into the cavity yet - is there a trimpot under the hood to even that out, like the gain that I used to have on the DI?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Thanks. I forgot to mention that I owned a Sadowsky outboard preamp/DI previously, and the preamp in the bass works/sounds familiar indeed.

With the onboard preamp bass/treble at 0, active is a lot louder than passive. I have not looked into the cavity yet - is there a trimpot under the hood to even that out, like the gain that I used to have on the DI?

I need to go check myself.

 

[evertalbers]

I need to go check myself.

Beat you to it: just opened mine, nothing that looks like a trimpot. So we'll have to adjust the volume when switching active <-> passive.

 

[MOSCOWBASS]

Beat you to it: just opened mine, nothing that looks like a trimpot. So we'll have to adjust the volume when switching active <-> passive.

Early warwick metrolines had that issue, but it was resolved, I got a new preamp board from them and that resolved the volume change between active and passive.

 

[Jim C]

How would you guys describe the shape of the back of the neck on a 4-string J style RSD Metro Express?
Are they anywhere close to the chunky 70's Fenders, more like later Fenders, or something all together different?

 

[hands5]

A LOT of the Sadowsky charm is that preamp.

What will the preamp on the Warwick Sadowskys be? Is it the regular Sadowsky preamp without the vtc?

I have the German Metroline express jj5 and the preamp did have the vct

 

[Mark Ambler]

How would you guys describe the shape of the back of the neck on a 4-string J style RSD Metro Express?
Are they anywhere close to the chunky 70's Fenders, more like later Fenders, or something all together different?

Not chunky, very comfortable. The sort of necks you don’t notice when you’re playing because they’re ‘just right’, imo. I have a Japan metroline 5 and a Japan metroexpress 4. I’be tried the new Metro express and it felt the same, the fret work was ok for the price.

 

[Loepie]

I have the German Metroline express jj5 and the preamp did have the vct

A Sadowsky Metroline Express does not exist. It's a German Metroline or a Chinese Metro Express. The German Metroline basses have the VTC, the Chinese made basses do not. The Japanese Sadowskys are with VTC.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

A Sadowsky Metroline Express does not exist. It's a German Metroline or a Chinese Metro Express. The German Metroline basses have the VTC, the Chinese made basses do not. The Japanese Sadowskys are with VTC.

The new batch of MetroExpress basses will be branded Sadowsky because Roger Sadowsky won his court case in China and got the rights to his name there.