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Sadowsky: New vs. Used (advice please)

KaseOfBass

KaseOfBass

Put some stank on it...
Jan 8, 2007
3,753
3,482
Austin, Texas
#1
In my first Sadowsky purchase, I'm looking to get an MV5 or RV5 - leaning toward the MV5 as of right now. My question is what would you recommend as far as buying new vs. used with this particular brand? I have the cash for a new one and I'm not concerned with not liking the bass so getting what I paid for it right back in a used situation is not an issue. Are there any particular advantages of ponying up an extra $500-$700 for a new Metro over used. I can see that they have a 2-year warranty for the original owner and have heard that Roger's customer service (should it even be needed) is second to none. Other than that is there something I should consider in the new vs. used equation?

I certainly appreciate any feedback!

Kasey
 
#3
True. While, I'd much rather buy straight from them, they don't have anything in stock at the moment that fits what I'm looking for. A couple on their list of things coming later might work but I've found what I'm looking for at several of his authorized retailers. So, I'd be at the mercy of the retailers policy on the new bass.
 
#4
And while we're here...

I've found one new MV5-24 that I've been considering. I've read everything that I can find on Sadowsky within the recent weeks but see limited information on this model. Looks cool with a little more plank. My concern though is slapping - which I don't do a ton of anyway. How's slapping on one of these? Is there enough room between the fretboard and the pickup or is it cramped? I may ask this over in the Sadowsky Club...
 
#5
I am huge Sadowky fan. I am down to two basses. Both are Sadowskys.

As to the new/used issue, I would buy used any time and every time that I could. Sadowskys don't hold to new pricing any better than any other bass. It depends on the model, but in general, you're going to pay 60-70 percent of new street for used. With a Sadowsky, that is a TON of money.

It is pretty common for NYCs in really nice condition that sell new in the mid $4K range to sell used at or less than $3K. That is enough to buy another really nice bass or a decent rig!!! I bought my Modern 24-5 for barely more than half what it would cost to buy one just like it new.

I wouldn't worry about the issues with the bass. It's a bass. It's not that complicated. The QC at Sadowsky is top notch. The only thing I could even imagine happening would be for a PU or preamp to fail. Anything electronic can fail. But, even if that happened, you can replace any of those parts with OEM from Sadowsky for a fraction of the what you saved in buying used.

I can certainly see paying the new premium for a custom order. You are, after all, getting EXACTLY what you want in every respect. But, if you are choosing from available NYC stock or buying a Metro, I'd go used if possible.

I would offer the same advice regardless of the type of bass you were considering, but with Sadowsky, I am even more confident because of the QC. The only thing I would note is that if you are shopping used NYC basses, there have been some design changes over the years. In the last several years, Sadowsky NYC has added graphite rods in the neck and started chambering the bodies. How these changes affect the nature of the basses is worthy of its own discussion, but I throw that out there.

As to the specific model you asked about, I don't know. There's not a whole lot of those out there.
 
#6
Great basses new or used. The important issue is if you can try the one you are thinking about buying and see if it speaks to you. I have and RS5 and MS5. Both great basses. One new, one used. I did a lot of set up work on the MS recently and it plays great. No work on the RS yet but like it more. Can't put a finger on why since they all come out of the same machine.

That said I just bought a used Washburn AB95 for way less than I ever paid for a Sadowsky and it goes to gigs and the Sadowskys stay home. The AB95 feels like me and fits in just right with some of the gigs I do.
 
#7
I have purchased a couple of new ones but I ended up bonding with a used Metro M5-24. Awesome bass that does it all. Well.

If you do pick up a used one, I would recommend dropping some Sadowsky strings on it to get it back to square one on the setup if the previous owner changed them out. It will get the setup closer to the famous "Sadowsky setup" as it was when it left the shop.
 
#8
I bought my first one used, my Metro in stock from Sadowsky, and just ordered a NYC. My NYC will replace the one I bougjt used. However it worked outvgreat in being able to make a better custom order. Plus, I should be able to resell it for what I paid for it.

You cant go wrong really either way.
 
#10
Basically it comes down to money. If you have the $$$ and don't mind spending it go for a new one. If you don't have as much cash but want a Sadowsky and don't mind used gear go for one well cared for. There isn't reallly much else to consider.
 
#11
Buying a Metro, I would definitely go used. You're not going to get any major advantages getting a new one, and you'll save yourself some cash.

I don't do any slapping but I remember reading about how with the Will Lee model that they didn't go with 24 frets due to the space between the pickup cover and the neck wasn't large enough. But if you're not using a pickup cover, that wouldn't really matter.
 
#12
I bought a Metro brand new, sold it 5 months later in as new condition for $ 600 less, nothing wrong with the bass but I needed the money, I always recommend buy used, there are many basses on sale here in the classified section in great condition.
 
#15
I'm a fan of buying used. I have owned a Metro now for a few years and it's by far the best bass I've owned (I have NO desire to try anything else). It is still like new even though it gets gigged 3-4 nights a week.

Sadowsky's are fantastic for slapping (for tone AND for comfort). PLENTY of room.
 
#16
Thanks for all the replies fellas! I'm still on the fence though. I thought for a minute there I had made up my mind on a new MV5 in trans black. But, I can't seem to find any "real world" pics of a Sadowsky in that finish. I'm curious how transparent the finish actually looks. A lot of the pictures that I do find of trans black look like normal black. I wish a great deal would pop up in the classifieds here so I would just pull the trigger on one and be done with it :)
 
#17
Buy used. There's every possibility you won't like it, and at used pricing it's easy enough to get your money back out of it.

A great variety of NYC and Metro are regularly f/s here and elsewhere online. Be patient, and consider getting one just to try it regardless of color. They're all solid and sound the same if they have the same pickups, so if you really like the bass but not the look you can sell and get a different one in a look you prefer when one comes up at a good price.

If weight and fancy woods are not priorities for you, go Metro.
 
#18
this is supposed to be transparent black
Link Removed

Heres another shot. Pretty dark either way.

mv5tbkma_1.jpg
 
#19
5string, that's one I've been looking at the keeps putting me back on the used fence because the it doesn't look very transparent.

This one, though, is why I'd really want trans black - if it looks like this:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Edit: Wife just saw this pic and said, "that looks like you bought a plain bass and just decided you wanted black and spray painted it" :D
 
#20
I'm a cheapskate and buy almost of my cars and hobby stuff used (basses, amps, hi-fi gear, trombones), in part because it allows me to buy better quality stuff for less. It also permits favorable resale if the item is not a keeper. And with instruments, I find that axes that have been played (but not abused) just plain sound better...happy to take an axe that's already broken in! On any high-end bass line, buying used makes sense because you don't know whether you'll truly dig something until you've had a chance to use it for a while, and ideally you won't get burned on the flip. Plus, you can survey used items to find out what wood/neck/electronics/body package works best for you.

That said, once you find something you like, you can dig in and invest in a new item that completely floats your boat.

I'm in the process of doing this with Sadowsky. Several years ago I briefly had a late '90's P/J, but couldn't get used to the 5-string. Now I play 5 almost all the time, and a used R5-24 Metro has been my number one for the past year. I've now just taken delivery on a used 5 string NYC jj, which is allowing me to check out an ash body and single-coils. I'm quite likely to order a new Sadowsky sometime this year, probably a Will Lee 5, but I first want to sort out which of my current axes is better for me; the R5-24 can't quite give me true old-school punch and thump and sometimes doesn't work so well in my playing with acoustic musicians, but it sings like crazy and I'm addicted to the bridge-pickup burp. I wish I lived near Chasarms and could check out his R5-24 with a mahogany body...

As for Metro/NYC, from around 2004 on the NYC axes have improved neck construction and chambered bodies, so the Metros are a bit heavier and theoretically less evolved on the neck. I don't know... for sheer playability and musical satisfaction, my Metro R5-24 has hung with any other Sadowsky, Alleva Coppolo or other high-end axe I've ever been around and features, hands-down, the very best 34" B-string I've ever played, even better than the NYC Sadowskys I've been around.

So my hierarchy: on construction, NYC Product from 2004 on is arguably superior, but no reason to believe earlier Sadowskys would be notably better (other than based on exotic woods or the benefits of age) than a good Metro. Some say the really early NYC Sadowskys have killer necks - I can't comment.

One thing for sure; some Sadowskys are better than others, but they all were built to play, and to last, by people who have their ears on straight. This is one serious company, and I'm thrilled to have access to their work.
 

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