Sadowsky Metroline MM5

[Dr. Cheese]

I am a bit underwhelmed. It definitely is less aggressive tonally than an actual SR5, and I am amazed that Lars did not demo the slap tone. As a great fan of Sadowsky necks, I would still love to try this bass for myself. I hope this is successful enough that Sadowsky Germany has a version made in China for the perpetually poor, like me.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I watched the video a second time and my impression is more positive. I do not feel it will match the full snarl of a Stingray with the treble cranked, but I am sure it would do well with sort of tones I like in Stingrays. I hope I get to play one.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

Looks almost like the same finish on your Super5.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

The beautiful outro music on the video has just given me a new song to learn on my Fretless .

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I watched the video a second time and my impression is more positive. I do not feel it will match the full snarl of a Stingray with the treble cranked, but I am sure it would do well with sort of tones I like in Stingrays. I hope I get to play one.

I think an ideal scenario would be for you to be able to do a side by comparison with one and a real Ernie Ball MusicMan StingRay5 Special or a 2band Ray5 like the USA SUB or Classic 5.
Often times I’ve found that other companies just don’t have the same heft or weight to the notes that I like so much with Ernie Ball StingRays.
It’s that signature StingRay “ bounce “ to the notes that I love so much.

But if you like it in person, then this might be ideal for you as I know that you favor those Sadowsky necks. Feel is just as important as sound and looks.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Looks almost like the same finish on your Super5.

It sure does!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I think an ideal scenario would be for you to be able to do a side by comparison with one and a real Ernie Ball MusicMan StingRay5 Special or a 2band Ray5 like the USA SUB or Classic 5.
Often times I’ve found that other companies just don’t have the same heft or weight to the notes that I like so much with Ernie Ball StingRays.
It’s that signature StingRay “ bounce “ to the notes that I love so much.

But if you like it in person, then this might be ideal for you as I know that you favor those Sadowsky necks. Feel is just as important as sound and looks.

I may be in Chicago around mid July. I can take my Super 5 in case CME has these new Metrolines in stock.

 

[bass12]

Did they really have to nick the MM pickguard? Looks weird on that bass.

Nope, not a fan of what Warwick is doing with Sadowsky.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I see CME has a new Sadowsky MetroExpress Hybrid PJ. I would definitely like to check these out.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Did they really have to nick the MM pickguard? Looks weird on that bass.

Nope, not a fan of what Warwick is doing with Sadowsky.

It would really look weird with a Jazz Bass pickguard, but they could have gone with no pickguard.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I like the pickguard and the fact that it’s clear .

 

[Benny4P]

Interesting that Lars mentions the "MM" pickup being at the "MM" location. I have found that on other StingRay style basses (Sandberg California Central and G&L Kiloton), the MM pickup was slightly off that sweet spot and the effect on the sound was quite noticable. Not good or bad... Just different to a StingRay

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Interesting that Lars mentions the "MM" pickup being at the "MM" location. I have found that on other StingRay style basses (Sandberg California Central and G&L Kiloton), the MM pickup was slightly off that sweet spot and the effect on the sound was quite noticable. Not good or bad... Just different to a StingRay

The sweet spot location is critical.

 

[scubaduba]

Did they really have to nick the MM pickguard? Looks weird on that bass.

Nope, not a fan of what Warwick is doing with Sadowsky.

I’m not a fan of the oval pickguard on the Jazz style body but other than that I love the German Sadowsky’s. I’ve had 7 total and currently have 3. Sold my Japanese Sadowsky after getting my first German and sold my NYC Will Lee after getting my German Will Lee (easily on par and less expensive than the NYC) and my German Masterbuilt is exquisite. The German J/MM model sounds awesome and is a fresh approach to a Sadowsky bass. I love the invisible frets and the quality of the woods and finishes used by the Warwick shop is exquisite. The satin burst open pore Ash chambered bodies are awesome to look at and feel. All my German’s are under 8 lbs, lighter than any NYC I’ve ever played and much lighter than any of the prior Japan Sadowsky’s I’ve had.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Interesting that Lars mentions the "MM" pickup being at the "MM" location. I have found that on other StingRay style basses (Sandberg California Central and G&L Kiloton), the MM pickup was slightly off that sweet spot and the effect on the sound was quite noticable. Not good or bad... Just different to a StingRay

I think Lars means that the pickup is in the Sweet Spot rather than the multitude of other basses available with an MM pickup closer to the bridge, like in a P/MM or J/MM configuration, and not necessarily meaning that it isn’t 3/32” off from the Sweet spot.

A non-MusicMan pickup (like a MFD) will also sound very different, even if in the same position.
I have 2 basses with Aftermarket MM-style pickups in the exact same position at the bridge (about 1” closer to the bridge than the Stingray sweet-spot). One is AlNiCo, the other is Ceramic. They each sound very different to each other, too.

EDIT:
Can’t forget this excellent video showing 3 SR5’s of different era’s - they all sound different to each other…

 

[joel the bass player]

I'm glad there is a bass for everyone, but these are definitely not for me. Maybe a MM on a P body, and in a solid finish would work better. Something about the round pickguard on a dinky j body just turns me off, and I'm not a fan of the trans satin finish at all.