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Next gen Sadowsky Metro Express


asingardenof

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18 hours ago, BassAgent said:

You do know why it doesn't on the first generation, right?

 

Yes I was on the original thread when they first came out. The 1st gen logo is horrible and I'd have no qualms about putting the correct one on myself, certainly wouldn't be buying an entire replacement neck to correct a cosmetic issue which should have been sorted before the basses were even launched.

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21 hours ago, BassAgent said:

IIRC there was somebody in China who already had the Sadowsky name trademarked. Roger stated that he was trying to get the name back, and that the RSD logo was a placeholder until then.

Yep, that's my understanding as well. The other party in China wasn't using the name so Roger was hopeful that he'd be able to get it back quickly. I believe it was only an issue because the new MEs are made in China.

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12 hours ago, scalpy said:

Takes about 15 minutes to properly get going. Looks like my Sire V7 mk1 will be for sale very shortly…

My V7 2nd Gen is living on borrowed time now, frankly. I'm not seeing anything on the Warwick website yet but I may have the relevant pages there and on Thomann indefinitely open...

 

Looks like everywhere is clearing out the current version though, and Guitar Guitar are even discounting a brand new Japanese ME to £1500 if anyone fancies it. https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/180206322265007-3697210--sadowsky-metroexpress-japan-rv4-black-me971. My guess is these are imminent.

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I am sure these are great basses for many purposes but at the end of the day for what I understand they are jazz basses with boost only preamp and no tone control knob. From my point of view, that's not a very interesting proposition, especially as that preamp (with tone control and solderless connections) is widely available for not too much money

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57 minutes ago, Paolo85 said:

I am sure these are great basses for many purposes but at the end of the day for what I understand they are jazz basses with boost only preamp and no tone control knob. From my point of view, that's not a very interesting proposition, especially as that preamp (with tone control and solderless connections) is widely available for not too much money

I believe that the VTC upgrade is no longer available solderless. I certainly had to solder mine; which was straightforward enough, although I also had to add a washer to the volume pot to clear the cut out edge on my Chinese ME, rather than get jiggy with my router. I haven't seen this as an issue on any other forums or the Sadowsky users FB page apart from my post.

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54 minutes ago, lonestar said:

I believe that the VTC upgrade is no longer available solderless. I certainly had to solder mine; which was straightforward enough, although I also had to add a washer to the volume pot to clear the cut out edge on my Chinese ME, rather than get jiggy with my router. I haven't seen this as an issue on any other forums or the Sadowsky users FB page apart from my post.

 

I see. I personally I was referring to the onboard preamp with contol plate that for example here https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Sadowsky_Preamp.html states that pickups connect with solderless connection (not sure about the ground for the bridge but I imagine that could just go in the earth of the J pickup?).

So what I meant is: if I buy a Sadowsky preamp for £150 and I put it in my passive Squire VM J which sounds and play great as is, I get the preamp AND the tone control - if I understand correctly. If I buy the Sadowsky ME made in China for what I imagine will be north of £700 (pure guess, given they sell the ones with the old logo for £650)  I do not get the tone control. One can buy and install the tone control for another 100 (assuming one has a soldering iron) but then brings the total to maybe £800. Now, the Sadowsky offers more than just the preamp, with lightweight tuners, high mass bridge and likely very good pickups. But then it is maybe £700 without tone control and £800 after buying it, so not cheap. I suppose whether the bass will be worth it or not will all go down to overall quality, and how the various parts fit together. Plus obviously subjective taste

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1 hour ago, Paolo85 said:

 

I see. I personally I was referring to the onboard preamp with contol plate that for example here https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Sadowsky_Preamp.html states that pickups connect with solderless connection (not sure about the ground for the bridge but I imagine that could just go in the earth of the J pickup?).

So what I meant is: if I buy a Sadowsky preamp for £150 and I put it in my passive Squire VM J which sounds and play great as is, I get the preamp AND the tone control - if I understand correctly. If I buy the Sadowsky ME made in China for what I imagine will be north of £700 (pure guess, given they sell the ones with the old logo for £650)  I do not get the tone control. One can buy and install the tone control for another 100 (assuming one has a soldering iron) but then brings the total to maybe £800. Now, the Sadowsky offers more than just the preamp, with lightweight tuners, high mass bridge and likely very good pickups. But then it is maybe £700 without tone control and £800 after buying it, so not cheap. I suppose whether the bass will be worth it or not will all go down to overall quality, and how the various parts fit together. Plus obviously subjective taste

Yes that makes sense if you have space for the preamp and battery in your Squier. I'd expect the build quality on these is in a similar league.

The 4 knob VTC on the control option, that I fitted  isn't solderless though that must be an older model you're looking at. Having been a long time Fender P and Jazz fan I love Sadowsky basses for the reasons you mention, plus the light weight controls and neck feel I suspect the introduction of the ME series is a cunning plan as a gateway drug to the Metroline and NYC models !

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