Misdee

I think you might be confusing Lakland with Sadowsky. Lakland Shoreline Series ( for the Japanese market) were made by ESP.

I know exactly what you mean. When I first heard about the Warwick/Sadowsky collaboration I was more than sceptical. However, the quality of the basses coming out of the German factory has completely changed my views. I bought a Metroline Will Lee 4 string and it was so impressive I ordered a 5 string version, turned out to be another good one. Paradoxically, it's that terrific build quality that puts me off buying a Masterbuilt German-made Sadowsky. The Masterbuilt basses are more fancy, but the Metrolines I have couldn't really be made any better. I've had a lot of high-quality basses over the years, I know what I'm talking about, and these German Metrolines are on par with the very best in terms of how well they are made. For a Fender-style bass, you couldn't show me a more meticulously crafted instrument. Fancy wood tops and brushed chrome pickup covers ect on the Masterbuilt are very nice, but they don't make a better instrument in terms of actual use. In terms of the execution of things that make a bass play well and sound good, I don't see how Masterbuilt could be that much better than the Metroline.

The German Masterbuilt Sadowsky basses are lush, I'm tempted, but it's just too much money to make good sense. As you rightly point out, you can get a nice Fodera for that. I would also point out that a Fodera will have a better resale value than a German-made Sadowsky, generally speaking. The thing about a Masterbuilt, though, is that you can cash and carry it rather than have to wait a year (Spector)or two (Fodera) to have a custom order built. Sei, Overwater, Shuker make very good quality instruments, for sure, but none of them have anything like the cache or romantic appeal of a Sadowsky, whether it's made in Germany or NYC. Most people who buy high-end basses are not looking to make a practical purchase. They are looking to fulfil their longing for something they've always wanted. And a lot of bassists want Sadowsky's, even if they've never actually played one. So many builders try to make what is obviously a Sadowsky-inspired design. The people that buy them would have probably rather had a Sadowsky, given the choice. Roger has created an aspirational brand, and for the kind of basses he offers, no one can get close to him. That's just how it is.

Big frilly bloomers.

That is a lot of money for a bass that has a bit of a school woodwork project vibe about it.

New Sadowsky Special Editions for 2026: The Masterbuilt for 2025 was £8000+ and the Metroline Special Edition about £4300. These are not likely to be any less expensive. I'm not at all keen on a satin finish on any of the Metroline basses, let alone a Special Edition model. Gloss looks more finished and is much more durable in the long term. The Masterbuilt looks very nice to me. It's an awful lot of money, though.

From what I can make out, the aging is just about the colour of the white finish rather than relicing.

Still waaayyy too much gold for my liking. Each to their own, but it would have been nice to have an anniversary model that was something a bit different in terms of construction and sonics rather than just cosmetics. The Thirtieth Anniversary Stingray with a mahogany body ect is still just about the best Stingray I've ever heard. I was expecting something like that but with the added advantages of the Stingray Special revamp that has happened inbetween times. That's why I'm a bit disappointed.

I've just found out these are two different shades of gold. The "Donald Trump" bass is Liquid Gold ( on the right), the other bass is Molten Gold, which doesn't look quite as bad to me. It's hard to tell with such scant images. You would think if EBMM wanted to show these basses off they would supply some better pictures, i.e so we could see what these basses actually look like on the cold light of day rather than treating us as if they are doing us a favour letting us look.

So much better than the purple one.

That looks like a nice Spector ruined by art students.

It's only lightly aged apparently, not unlike myself. Anyway, I'm gonna get me one asap. That's the problem with the NAMM show, there's lots of new stuff on show but it's usually at least six months until you can actually get your hands on it.

If Donald Trump was a bass player and ordered a custom Stingray it would look exactly like that 50th Anniversary model. All that gold! It's horrendous. I'm sure it will be very popular. I wonder if they are offering any other colours for bass players who aren't megalomaniacs and don't aspire to be Liberace? I'm not keen on any of the new Stingray Special colours either. It's a shame because I'm in the market for another Stingray. That Tech21 Geddy Lee Retirement Fund chorus pedal looks good, though. A bit surprising though, because you don't necessarily associate Geddy Lee with that effect. I know he's used it, but not much. Tech21;are such a great company. I'm sure it will sound very good.

It's funny you say that, because the other day I watching some footage of MK/Level 42 where he was playing a King bass with what looked like the Parametrix EQ on it and it sounded like an Alembic. It had that extended, glassy top-end and super-deep punch you associate with a full-spec Alembic. It made me wish Status were still making graphite basses so I could buy another one. For me, MK's first solo album, Influences, is his best work. I remember when it came out in the summer of 1984 and what an impact it made. It really shows what he can do, and that his talents go well beyond the slap show pony tricks that really don't appeal to me. Tracks like Clocks Go Forward and the title track show the depth and subtleties of his style, and the slapping is super,-tight and appropriate where he uses it. Everything on that album sounds good to me.

I can never fathom why so many folks set both bass and treble on full on that two band Stingray preamp. It's too much boom and clank for my taste