2023 Sadowsky Metro Express Basses

Are you willing to try a 2023 Sadowsky Metro Express Bass?

  • Yes

    Votes: 218 76.0%

  • No

    Votes: 60 20.9%

  • Once Bitten, twice shy

    Votes: 9 3.1%
  • Total voters
    287
  • Poll closed .
#481
just bought a new Sadowsky metro express PJ V...piece of junk ... returning it... everything is wrong with it ... over bearing volume / bass on the A and E string and little to limited volume on B and D and G.. if you do the push pull on the bass control to engage the passive state, there's no volume or maybe 10 percent of the previous volume... not enough to play so you cant really use that function ... and the truss s rod needs major adjustment ... the bass boost control was dangling had to adjust it to be playable ... i encourage you to work with other brands ... i assume this is a Chinese warwick and not Sadowsky .... i'd be embarrassed to sell it especially without doing a major inspection
 
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#482
buckangus said:
just bought a new Sadowsky metro express PJ V...piece of junk ... returning it... everything is wrong with it ... over bearing volume / bass on the A and E string and little to limited volume on B and D and G.. if you do the push pull on the bass control to engage the passive state, there's no volume or maybe 10 percent of the previous volume... not enough to play so you cant really use that function ... and the truss s rod needs major adjustment ... the bass boost control was dangling had to adjust it to be playable ... i encourage you to work with other brands ... i assume this is a Chinese warwick and not Sadowsky .... i'd be embarrassed to sell it especially without doing a major inspection
Click to expand...
Wow, truly bummer ! :banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
 
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#483
buckangus said:
over bearing volume / bass on the A and E string and little to limited volume on B and D and G..
Click to expand...
I'll only respond to this one point. Initially both my Metro Express 4 strings (one JJ one PJ) were like a lot of basses, boomy E string, quieter D and quiet G. Once I tweaked out the pickup heights they're both the most even volume across all strings of all the basses that I own (at 11 currently...), notes on that G string jump out every bit as much as the E string does, as they should. I can't imagine the rest of it isn't readily fixable but agreed, a factory brand new instrument shouldn't have issues that require more than a bit of minor tweaking.
 
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#484
EdO. said:
I'll only respond to this one point. Initially both my Metro Express 4 strings (one JJ one PJ) were like a lot of basses, boomy E string, quieter D and quiet G. Once I tweaked out the pickup heights they're both the most even volume across all strings of all the basses that I own (at 11 currently...), notes on that G string jump out every bit as much as the E string does, as they should. I can't imagine the rest of it isn't readily fixable but agreed, a factory brand new instrument shouldn't have issues that require more than a bit of minor tweaking.
Click to expand...
yep first thought was to adjust the pickups but this bass only has abit of allowance in raising them, then the screws come out ... another issue so pickup height adjustment fails ... also i would bet the d and g strings are old and might help to install new ones ... they sound dead on direct into mixer ... just more and more failures ... i wouldn't think both pickups are defective but that also might be the issue ... again, i think this is a Chinese warrick and not a real sadowsky
 
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#485
buckangus said:
yep first thought was to adjust the pickups but this bass only has abit of allowance in raising them, then the screws come out ... another issue so pickup height adjustment fails ... also i would bet the d and g strings are old and might help to install new ones ... they sound dead on direct into mixer ... just more and more failures ... i wouldn't think both pickups are defective but that also might be the issue ... again, i think this is a Chinese warrick and not a real sadowsky
Click to expand...
Yeah it’s not a real Sadowsky, just a copy that is licensed under Sadowsky co. I had to do a lot of tinkering with 2022 ME, basically took it apart and put it back together and made a few mods like different tuners and rolled the fretboard edges. These bases are what they are, made in China. Knowing how to set them up properly is key, mine plays very well and sounds amazing now. But I would never pay retail price for one.
 
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#486
avoid the junk ... sent it back ... i tried the will lee Sadowsky at bass central years ago when it first came out on the scene... unimpressed ... substandard quality ... lakland much better, even the skyline series much better than the USA Sodowsky or wherever they're made ... now bad experience with the Chinese Sadowsky/warwick ... so no more Sadowsky for me ...back to lakland and fender... personally, I really like Roger S... he's done good things for me with his outboard preamps; got both ... but i have no idea why their basses are so coveted ... not that great to me... way overpriced and under quality measured ... but that's just my opinion ..
 
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#487
buckangus said:
avoid the junk ... sent it back ... i tried the will lee Sadowsky at bass central years ago when it first came out on the scene... unimpressed ... substandard quality ... lakland much better, even the skyline series much better than the USA Sodowsky or wherever they're made ... now bad experience with the Chinese Sadowsky/warwick ... so no more Sadowsky for me ...back to lakland and fender... personally, I really like Roger S... he's done good things for me with his outboard preamps; got both ... but i have no idea why their basses are so coveted ... not that great to me... way overpriced and under quality measured ... but that's just my opinion ..
Click to expand...
Sorry, you had a bad experience! I have three Sadowsky ME Basses , 2 PJ5s and 1 JJ5. All three are excellent for the money. I did have to adjust action, pickup heights for my taste. I also own 2 Sadowsky NYC Basses, 1 UV60 4 string and a PJ5. Both are to die for IMHO. I also have a MIG Will Lee JJ5 that has been my #1 since I purchased the bass from a TB'r last year.

You did the right thing returning the bass which is a good idea if you're not satisfied with it. Again, sorry the bass did not work out for you and maybe someday in the future you'll come across a Sadowsky that speaks to you. :)
 
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#492
Anyone have some experience replacing the single coil J pickup on the PJ SMX for a humcancelling J? I have a 5 string PJ that I love the sound, but the single coil hum with both pickups on full is driving me crazy. It's very noticeble to my ears.

I'm thinking about getting a Dimarzio Area J, the dimensions are pretty close for a drop in replacement. I can't find the Sadowsky Humcancelling J here in Brazil.
 
#493
bassosmar said:
Anyone have some experience replacing the single coil J pickup on the PJ SMX for a humcancelling J? I have a 5 string PJ that I love the sound, but the single coil hum with both pickups on full is driving me crazy. It's very noticeble to my ears.

I'm thinking about getting a Dimarzio Area J, the dimensions are pretty close for a drop in replacement. I can't find the Sadowsky Humcancelling J here in Brazil.
Click to expand...

I thought about it, because the temporary lighting setup in the church that I play at was initially causing a lot of hum in my IEMs. However, I started bringing my Line6 HXFX (which includes a noise gate in my standard signal chain), and they completed the new lighting installation, and now I'm not really experiencing enough noise to make it worthwhile. I still consider it every once in a while, but I have to admit, the stock single coil sounds pretty darn good...
 
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#494
My five string PJ should be arriving tomorrow afternoon. I’m pretty capable of tweaking and setting up a poorly set up instrument, but I’m hoping I won’t have to do too much work. My main concern is the balance issues that so many of you have reported on the P pickup. I’m already a little soured on the experience because it took the seller a week to ship it, and then UPS left it in the “access point“ for four days before picking it up and actually starting the “shipping” process. We shall see 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
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#495
Texican said:
My five string PJ should be arriving tomorrow afternoon. I’m pretty capable of tweaking and setting up a poorly set up instrument, but I’m hoping I won’t have to do too much work. My main concern is the balance issues that so many of you have reported on the P pickup. I’m already a little soured on the experience because it took the seller a week to ship it, and then UPS left it in the “access point“ for four days before picking it up and actually starting the “shipping” process. We shall see 🤷🏻‍♂️
Click to expand...

I had to lower the middle section of the P pickup so that it was pretty much flat to get the output to balance between the strings, but since then it's not been an issue for me.
 
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#498
mikezimmerman said:
I thought about it, because the temporary lighting setup in the church that I play at was initially causing a lot of hum in my IEMs. However, I started bringing my Line6 HXFX (which includes a noise gate in my standard signal chain), and they completed the new lighting installation, and now I'm not really experiencing enough noise to make it worthwhile. I still consider it every once in a while, but I have to admit, the stock single coil sounds pretty darn good...
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input! I've bought the Dimarzio Area J and I will let you guys know how it goes.

Texican said:
My five string PJ should be arriving tomorrow afternoon. I’m pretty capable of tweaking and setting up a poorly set up instrument, but I’m hoping I won’t have to do too much work. My main concern is the balance issues that so many of you have reported on the P pickup. I’m already a little soured on the experience because it took the seller a week to ship it, and then UPS left it in the “access point“ for four days before picking it up and actually starting the “shipping” process. We shall see 🤷🏻‍♂️
Click to expand...

I was a little bit concerned when I got my PJ5 as well, but it turned out not that bad. The A string is louder than others because of the magnets on both sides of the split P (BEA and ADG), but as Mike Zimmerman said, you just have to lower the inner bolts of the pickup and you'll be fine. It doesn't affect much of D and G strings.
 
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#500
I ordered a set of Nordstrand pickups this morning. NP5V for the neck and Nj5 hum canceling for the bridge. Now my dilemma is do I lean into the Nordstrand thing and get a Nordy preamp, of should I order the Sadowsky VTC preamp to keep some of that Sadowsky special sauce?

I’m also curious if the stock Metro Express preamp sounds any different than the “upgraded” preamp (aside from the VTC obviously).
 
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