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Sadowsky MetroExpress Vintage JJ - true Sadowsky on a budget?

Mik75

Mik75

Sep 21, 2013
600
1,575
Frankfurt, Germany
www.bassamatomy.com
#1
Hi there!
Here´s my MetroExpress "super review", featuring an extensive part of playing examples, both in the band mix, and alone with the drums.
Are these China made instruments worth carrying this big name (Roger Sadowsky Design)?
I hope you´ll have as much fun watching it, as I had filming and editing it.
Thanks a lot for watching!
 
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#2
Mik75 said:
Hi there!
Here´s my MetroExpress "super review", featuring an extesive part of playing examples, both in the band mix, and alone with the drums.
Are these China made instruments worth carrying this big name (Roger Sadowsky Design)?
I hope you´ll have as much fun watching it, as I had filming and editing it.
Thanks a lot for watching!
Click to expand...


Hopefully, I'll get to watch the video later on, but isn't it a little risky to question a name such as Roger Sadowsky for a business decision such as that? He's looking to get a Sadowsky-branded instrument into more hands. Sure, there were some mis-steps at first, but I hear that most of that has been worked out and those basses are pretty good.

I don't recall nearly as many people questioning Marcus Miller for his decision to put his name on those Sire basses for the same reason.

@Mik75, I'm not specifically admonishing you at all, I guess it's a fair question. I just wanted to make the point above.

Looking forward to seeing the video tonight. Cheers!
 
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#3
Geri O said:
Hopefully, I'll get to watch the video later on, but isn't it a little risky to question a name such as Roger Sadowsky for a business decision such as that? He's looking to get a Sadowsky-branded instrument into more hands. Sure, there were some mis-steps at first, but I hear that most of that has been worked out and those basses are pretty good.

I don't recall nearly as many people questioning Marcus Miller for his decision to put his name on those Sire basses for the same reason.

@Mik75, I'm not specifically admonishing you at all, I guess it's a fair question. I just wanted to make the point above.

Looking forward to seeing the video tonight. Cheers!
Click to expand...

Fair enough! And no offense taken! ;-)
But for me personally, this kind of question must be allowed! It´s a business decision, first of all. But if all goes well, quality instruments can be afforded by a wider group of people, so that´s a good thing. Marcus did a lot of things right, when pairing up with Sire.
So, let´s find out if Roger Sadowsky did right in joining forces with Warwick...
Little spoiler, I´m pretty impressed...
 
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#4
I think these offshore versions of high end basses are in fact a great "gateway Drug", if you will. When they are done well, I believe they give a buyer (me, for example) an excellent idea of what to expect, were they to order the higher priced handmade version.
Just this year I was searching all over for a low 8lb 5 string Sadowsky Jazz and almost pulled the trigger a couple of times but ended up picking up a different 5 string Jazz bass.
A couple of years ago I purchased an offshore Zon Legacy 5. I actually bought it because of the builder and the fact the neck and weight specs were pretty spot on to what I like. It came loaded with Aguilar PU's and Pre. (I swapped the Preamp for Audere4band) overall it's a fine bass. But don't think I wasn't questioning my sanity spending over $1500 for a Far East bass.
I would still love to try one of these but finding one to play is hard. Another example are Michael Tobias MTD offshore versions. I own one of those too, (an older Heir and Killer B5) and it's a great bass, for what it is.
So my take is that these offshore versions are great for anyone. I'm a working Pro, and normally gig all the time and all my (offshore) basses are worthy workhorses and perfectly capable instruments, that I do use on a regular basis. Can't wait to play one of these.
 
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#5
Kirk Bryant said:
I think these offshore versions of high end basses are in fact a great "gateway Drug", if you will. When they are done well, I believe they give a buyer (me, for example) an excellent idea of what to expect, were they to order the higher priced handmade version.
Just this year I was searching all over for a low 8lb 5 string Sadowsky Jazz and almost pulled the trigger a couple of times but ended up picking up a different 5 string Jazz bass.
A couple of years ago I purchased an offshore Zon Legacy 5. I actually bought it because of the builder and the fact the neck and weight specs were pretty spot on to what I like. It came loaded with Aguilar PU's and Pre. (I swapped the Preamp for Audere4band) overall it's a fine bass. But don't think I wasn't questioning my sanity spending over $1500 for a Far East bass.
I would still love to try one of these but finding one to play is hard. Another example are Michael Tobias MTD offshore versions. I own one of those too, (an older Heir and Killer B5) and it's a great bass, for what it is.
So my take is that these offshore versions are great for anyone. I'm a working Pro, and normally gig all the time and all my (offshore) basses are worthy workhorses and perfectly capable instruments, that I do use on a regular basis. Can't wait to play one of these.
Click to expand...

You're right. And the manufacturers know that.
I personally love affordable instruments, especially ones like these with such a high quality. When I started playing, options like these just didn't exist.
With a Sire or a RSD Metroexpress you get a professional grade tool, and especially beginners can concentrate on their playing and technique, and don't have to fight with a bad instrument...
 
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#7
Kirk Bryant said:
Right; now if I could just sell off about ten of my cheap basses and get one really nice one…….
Click to expand...
To be honest, I wouldn't sell my affordable basses for one expensive one. (except for a '59 P, or a '66 J in custom colour, but that would need a lot of Sires and RSDs... )
That being said, I hope to get my hands on a Sadowsky MetroLINE, made in Germany, anytime soon...
 
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#10
Mik75 said:
Hi there!
Here´s my MetroExpress "super review", featuring an extensive part of playing examples, both in the band mix, and alone with the drums.
Are these China made instruments worth carrying this big name (Roger Sadowsky Design)?
I hope you´ll have as much fun watching it, as I had filming and editing it.
Thanks a lot for watching!
Click to expand...


Thank you so much for taking the time to do a deep dive into these basses. I bought a fretless RSD JJ5 last summer and I could not be happier with the bass than I am. I felt that if Warwick/Sadowsky overcame the fretwork and other finish issues on the first run of basses, they would be great instruments. I know many people are leery of budget Sadowsky's, but I say remember that the source of Sadowsky's inspiration are mass produced Fender basses. The improvements that Roger Sadowsky brought to Fender style basses are not exotic or inherently expensive. Things like thicker headstocks, wider nuts, taking care to have a tight B, are easily done at a modest price point in quality controlled environment using CNC technology. The result, for me, is that I love my fretless so much, I have no desire to get a more expensive Sadowsky. Now that I see the issues have been ironed out with the frets, I am buying a fretted RSD JJ5 as soon as I have the funds for it.

I will say this about the RSD's lack of a vintage tone control, if RSD's came with VTC and humcanceling pickups, they would substantially undermine the German Metroline basses because their performance would be identical without the pretty finishes.

Once again, Mik75, thank you for your wonderful review!:)
 
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#11
Geri O said:
Hopefully, I'll get to watch the video later on, but isn't it a little risky to question a name such as Roger Sadowsky for a business decision such as that? He's looking to get a Sadowsky-branded instrument into more hands. Sure, there were some mis-steps at first, but I hear that most of that has been worked out and those basses are pretty good.

I don't recall nearly as many people questioning Marcus Miller for his decision to put his name on those Sire basses for the same reason.

@Mik75, I'm not specifically admonishing you at all, I guess it's a fair question. I just wanted to make the point above.

Looking forward to seeing the video tonight. Cheers!
Click to expand...

I think Marcus got a pass because he is not a luthier. He just endorses a bass that works for him.
 
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#16
Dr. Cheese said:
I will say this about the RSD's lack of a vintage tone control, if RSD's came with VTC and humcanceling pickups, they would substantially undermine the German Metroline basses because their performance would be identical without the pretty finishes.
Click to expand...

I agree completely. While I'm tempted to put a VTC in my RSD, the single coil pickups have a sound that I'm not sure I'd want to change.
 
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