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Sadowsky MetroExpress 21 (2020)

#61
Other than politics, I think the country of origin has less to do with quality than QC and project management.
Doesn't matter where it is made if the QC is strict. I think that G&L and Sandberg have proven this in spades.
So if the QC, neck shape, components, tone, and playability are all there, what could go wrong?

The weight, which has kept me away from many of the Metro basses I've seen on the used market.
 
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#62
I am thinking of buying a Sadowsky MetroExpress 21 Hybrid BK LH as a second bass. It will arrive at Thomann at the end of June. I can't wait to check the quality. I think the idea behind it is the big success Sire had. I am pretty sure we won't see Sadowsky on the headstock as it would dilute the brand. You can't have an 800 Eur and a 5000 Eur bass with the same name on it.
 
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#63
Liviu_Ro said:
I am thinking of buying a Sadowsky MetroExpress 21 Hybrid BK LH as a second bass. It will arrive at Thomann at the end of June. I can't wait to check the quality. I think the idea behind it is the big success Sire had. I am pretty sure we won't see Sadowsky on the headstock as it would dilute the brand. You can't have an 800 Eur and a 5000 Eur bass with the same name on it.
Click to expand...

Sadowsky said he intended to brand the base Sadowsky, but someone in China had trademarked that name. He said he is in the process of acquiring the rights to the name in China.
 
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#70
Liviu_Ro said:
I am thinking of buying a Sadowsky MetroExpress 21 Hybrid BK LH as a second bass. It will arrive at Thomann at the end of June. I can't wait to check the quality. I think the idea behind it is the big success Sire had. I am pretty sure we won't see Sadowsky on the headstock as it would dilute the brand. You can't have an 800 Eur and a 5000 Eur bass with the same name on it.
Click to expand...
Other brands have it also, like: Fender MiM or Fender custom shop, Warwick rb or Warwick Masterbuilt.
 
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#71
I had the chance to try one of the Metroexpress basses at NAMM. As a Sadowsky fan and user (and dealer) i felt totally at home with the bass i tried. The part of the body where the neck is bolted felt and looked a little more rough and square than in the Metro basses, but other than that, felt really good and looked real nice.

We did a little recording, without monitoring, and just the bass straight into a mobile interface, but you can check it here: around 1:10
 
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#74
Loepie said:
... I think it will sound great, but I'm considering installing the preamp with VTC. ....
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Was thinking about a MIJ MetroExpress when those first came out but they didn't get one in stock and then GAS got me on something else. I'm seriously looking at a J/J 5 string ME now. Will one of these retrofits work to replace the non-stacked B/T and VTC? Or do you have to get the full mounted preamp to retrofit it?
 
#75
jmain said:
Was thinking about a MIJ MetroExpress when those first came out but they didn't get one in stock and then GAS got me on something else. I'm seriously looking at a J/J 5 string ME now. Will one of these retrofits work to replace the non-stacked B/T and VTC? Or do you have to get the full mounted preamp to retrofit it?
Click to expand...
They probably fit, but I don't think they (Thomann) sell them anymore. Can't find them on their website, or on the Warwick site.
 
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#76
Loepie said:
They probably fit, but I don't think they (Thomann) sell them anymore. Can't find them on their website, or on the Warwick site.
Click to expand...
Maybe that's an old resale link b/c it does list Thomann as the seller. The picture shows two pots so maybe that's a stacked B/T and the VTC. That's the only way it'd work as a retrofit on the ME.

If true and no retrofit is available, then I would have to buy the full preamp for $270 to get the VTC. Like others have said, that shouldn't add much more parts/labor to the bass and I also wish it was offered stock or as an upgrade for the ME. But I understand. Just a tad disappointed since it adds to the Sadowsky tone shaping.

I had a pre-owned Standard Metro I bought from the NYC store. Great bass but my long-awaited custom (diff brand) was coming and did a dumb thing and sold it. I have one of the old external pre-amps and it is really nice. But can use my tone control on the passive bass too so don't miss it on the box.
 
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