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Skyline vs. Metro

#41
pedroims said:
IMO they are not boutique, DJ are cheaper than Fender MIA and Sadowsky Metro did not offer you any option.

I have own both DJ and Sadowsky PJ, I like both, DJ is $1000 cheaper and honestly the only difference I noticed was the sadowsky pre amp, its worth $1000 , hell not
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You are confusing the term 'boutique' (meaning, in general, coming from a small company usually with the founder of that company still in charge) with 'custom'.

I agree with you, neither of these basses or lines are custom, but IMO they are boutique, versus the thousands of basses that a company like Fender puts outs. I'd personally rather give my money to Dan Lakin or Roger Sadowsky than the 'Fender Corporation' at this point (assuming I like the basses... which I do!).

Regarding if the Metro is worth the extra $1,000, my guess is the Metro owners would say 'yes' and the Skyline owners would say 'no':D
 
#42
I played a 55-02 at a Sam Ash in January that was pretty crappy - bad fretwork. A week later I played a 55-02 at NAMM that was, I can barely type this, better than my MIA 55-94. I'm guessing that the NAMM Skyline got some extra attention, but the difference between the two Skylines I played in the same month was stunning so there may be some variation between Skylines. Every Metro I've played has been spectacular.
 
#43
I cant really compare the two as I've never seriously sat down and tested out a Skyline. I will say that my Sadowsky Metro is the nicest bass I've ever owned or played.

I think its apples to oranges but another thing you have to look at are your needs and wants.

I decided to go with a Metro over a US Lakland for 3 big reasons.

1. the 12" fingerboard radius which I find way more comfortable.
2. 21 frets as opposed to 20. Ok not a big reason but my band plays a tune that I acctually get to use the 21st fret. Really I do.
3. Active electronics. I like passive basses, but live I always want active. The fact that I have both options in one instrument was ideal.

So there you have it, not that the Metro is a better bass, but it is a better bass for me.
 
#45
I agree with most on this board the current skylines are probably seconds quality wise to the metros, but as oversees quality goes the skylines are quite nice. my biggest issue with the skyline basses is that their fretwork is usually terreible, but I recently traded for a jo5 but this was an 02 and the fretwork on this one was excellent. Fretwok aside cause i have a friend who is a luthier and could straighten that problem out quickly as things sit today I am probably more fond of skylines than american fenders especially given new costs. but ya lumping all skylines together and comparing them to metros is not fair cause metros for the most part are jazz and p basses where as a 55-02 is neither. comparing a jo5 to a metro jazz 5 ya the metro is probably a bit better quality wise,

but the other thing to consider is i have always had reservations about the fact the sadowsky preamp does not have a mid control, if it did i probably would have had one by now.
 
#46
I'm on Bass Club Chicago's site right now.

Lakland Skyline JO4: $1049
Sadowsky Metro J (UV-70?): $2595
US Lakland JO4: $2800

Gotta agree with Jesse, this is pretty much apples to oranges.
 
#48
i Have owned a bunch of Laklands including US Laklands, Korean made Skylines and now the Indonesian made Skylines. I have also owned a bunch of Sadowskys inlcuding NYCs and Metros. I have said many times that I think the Skyline represents the greatest value out there as far as I am concerned. Both companies make great products in their respective categories and I feel they can be compared irrespective of price.

First the Laklands....IMO and IME (I have owned about 50 Laklands across the entire Lakland product line) the Laklands Skylines are not as consistent as the Sadowsky Metros as has bee mentioned here. I have had a bunch of Darryl Jones 4's and they have all been KILLER basses. Very consistent and very good basses!!! I REALLY LOVE the DJ4s made in Korea and I think they compare VERY favorably with their US counterparts made at the Lakland shop in Chicago. I had 3 US Laklands and in 2 out of the 3 cases I thought the Skyline was just as good in every way and I could not justify the difference in cost. Of all the models in the line the DJ4 speaks to me the best followed by the 4-94. I love the necks on these basses and the 4-94 neck is one of the best things in the world next to great sex. But even with that said I can not recommend the DJ highly enough!! I prefer the Korean made bass with AEROs (though the Laklands are very close) and I use a Sadowsky outboard pre with it at times with GREAT results...As has been mentioned I am not a big fan of the DJ5 and I am not exactly sure why!!!! I would love to have one as I play mostly 5s now but I just could not bond with it....

The Sadowsky Metro - I have owned a bunch of NYCs and Metros and the Metro is DEFINITELY closer to the NYC than the Skyline is to the US Lakland. I do not think that should come as much of a surprise given the difference in prices. Now with that said I have a number of Sadowskys right now including 2 NYCs and my Trans White MV5 is the best of the bunch!! I believe that if you look hard enough for a Lakland Skyline you can find examples that are every bit as good as the US made versions as well. I have had a couple of DJ4s that were as nice as any bass I have ever had and probably should be shot for selling them!!! I love these basses! I also love the Sadowsky and I will say that you can definitely tell the difference between a NYC and a Metro...The MV5 I have is as close to a NYC as you can get I think. It does not have graphite but it is just a monster bass...Same thing with the Metro...I have never gotten a bad NYC or Metro but I have gotten some that were better than others and those particular basses will always stand out in my mind...

YMMV...

Peace,

T
 
#49
tommixx said:
i Have owned a bunch of Laklands including US Laklands, Korean made Skylines and now the Indonesian made Skylines. I have also owned a bunch of Sadowskys inlcuding NYCs and Metros. I have said many times that I think the Skyline represents the greatest value out there as far as I am concerned. Both companies make great products in their respective categories and I feel they can be compared irrespective of price.

First the Laklands....IMO and IME (I have owned about 50 Laklands across the entire Lakland product line) the Laklands Skylines are not as consistent as the Sadowsky Metros as has bee mentioned here. I have had a bunch of Darryl Jones 4's and they have all been KILLER basses. Very consistent and very good basses!!! I REALLY LOVE the DJ4s made in Korea and I think they compare VERY favorably with their US counterparts made at the Lakland shop in Chicago. I had 3 US Laklands and in 2 out of the 3 cases I thought the Skyline was just as good in every way and I could not justify the difference in cost. Of all the models in the line the DJ4 speaks to me the best followed by the 4-94. I love the necks on these basses and the 4-94 neck is one of the best things in the world next to great sex. But even with that said I can not recommend the DJ highly enough!! I prefer the Korean made bass with AEROs (though the Laklands are very close) and I use a Sadowsky outboard pre with it at times with GREAT results...As has been mentioned I am not a big fan of the DJ5 and I am not exactly sure why!!!! I would love to have one as I play mostly 5s now but I just could not bond with it....

The Sadowsky Metro - I have owned a bunch of NYCs and Metros and the Metro is DEFINITELY closer to the NYC than the Skyline is to the US Lakland. I do not think that should come as much of a surprise given the difference in prices. Now with that said I have a number of Sadowskys right now including 2 NYCs and my Trans White MV5 is the best of the bunch!! I believe that if you look hard enough for a Lakland Skyline you can find examples that are every bit as good as the US made versions as well. I have had a couple of DJ4s that were as nice as any bass I have ever had and probably should be shot for selling them!!! I love these basses! I also love the Sadowsky and I will say that you can definitely tell the difference between a NYC and a Metro...The MV5 I have is as close to a NYC as you can get I think. It does not have graphite but it is just a monster bass...Same thing with the Metro...I have never gotten a bad NYC or Metro but I have gotten some that were better than others and those particular basses will always stand out in my mind...

YMMV...

Peace,

T
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As the person who bought your amber 55-02, I will agree! It's VERY, VERY close to a 55-94. Of course a quilted maple cap versus the veneer would make it even nicer, but the build quality of this 55-02 is outstanding. I bought a 44-02 from Beaver, and he went through them for me, weighing them and making sure they were all top notch as well. Beaver plays a 4-94, so he's well aware of what the US models are like. My 44-02 is AMAZING, just like your old 55-02 and it weighs a touch under 8.5 lbs.

Beaver also sold me a DJ5 at 8.5 pounds. Also amazing, but I decided it just wasn't for me. Between the 55-02 and 44-02, I get enough of the aggressive Jazz tone thanks to the coil tap. I was pleasnatly surprised by both basses when comparing them to the DJ5. They are a bit different, but honestly I don't think anyone could tell it.

Go to www.romanstreet.com, and scroll down to the song previews. The song "Lucky" is me on the 55-02 in "jazz" mode. I think it sounds awesome. Actually all those songs from the "Amore" album are me on the 55-02 in one mode or another.
 
#50
I might have missed it, but Skyline are now plek'd. Curious how many of the people that tried the Skylines and didn't have great comments, tried plek'd ones. I can't see there being a better set up bass. I own all US basses that were set up by hand in Chicago, but my son's latest Inde Skyline JO is set up just as killer.
 
#51
GregC said:
I'm on Bass Club Chicago's site right now.

Lakland Skyline JO4: $1049
Sadowsky Metro J (UV-70?): $2595
US Lakland JO4: $2800

Gotta agree with Jesse, this is pretty much apples to oranges.
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Considering the differences of $205 vs. $1546 between the Laks and the Metro, shouldn't you be comparing the Metro and the US JO4? That'd be a much harder decision for me.
 
#53
MarkusBass said:
I might have missed it, but Skyline are now plek'd. Curious how many of the people that tried the Skylines and didn't have great comments, tried plek'd ones. I can't see there being a better set up bass. I own all US basses that were set up by hand in Chicago, but my son's latest Inde Skyline JO is set up just as killer.
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I just got to a store and tried out a new Indonesian Skyline. I have to say that I don't see much of a difference between this and the old setups/fretwork. That says alot for the Lakland techs as well as the PLEK machine.

Remember that the US Laklands are still done 100% by hand so those Lakland guys are really amazing at what they do.

Curious if anyone else gives a bigger thumbs up to the PLEK vs the older ones.
 
#56
mattygbass said:
its a bit of an unfair comparison like stated earlier the metros are quite a bit more expensive, for the price id take a used u.s. lakland or 2 skylines any day over a metro.
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I agree - you can get a gently used US Lakland for the price of a Metro SAD (or so it seems from this thread)....

One thing you all have me considering, however....I currently have 3 Lakland "Js" in my stable:

Skyline DJ5 with J-retro
Skyline JO5 passive
US JO5CS (JO5 with Chisonic pickups)

As such, one of the basses should probably go....the JO5CS is the newest and is a US so that stays....trying to decide on the DJ v. JO....both are Quality (with a capital Q) in my book and both sound differrent....maybe I need to take the J-retro out of the DJ and do a real comparison and do a thorough A/B comparison on sound and quality....

I love them both but maybe cannot justify both.....

some of you feel the DJ is a more "quality" instument - why?
 
#57
Johnny Alien said:
I just got to a store and tried out a new Indonesian Skyline. I have to say that I don't see much of a difference between this and the old setups/fretwork. That says alot for the Lakland techs as well as the PLEK machine.

Remember that the US Laklands are still done 100% by hand so those Lakland guys are really amazing at what they do.

Curious if anyone else gives a bigger thumbs up to the PLEK vs the older ones.
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I know they setup the US ones by hand. I'm just saying that you won't get a better setup from any other bass in Skyline's price range. My son has an non plek'd Skyline too, and it is set up great. The plek just guarantees it's set up well.
 
#59
Johnny Alien said:
I just got to a store and tried out a new Indonesian Skyline. I have to say that I don't see much of a difference between this and the old setups/fretwork. That says alot for the Lakland techs as well as the PLEK machine.

Remember that the US Laklands are still done 100% by hand so those Lakland guys are really amazing at what they do.

Curious if anyone else gives a bigger thumbs up to the PLEK vs the older ones.
Click to expand...

As far as I know, even though the PLEK the Skylines now, they still hand finish them. The PLEK just makes it quicker. That said, I have a PLEK'd DJ5 that is one of the best playing basses I've ever touched.
 

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