wiltflea

I currently own a Warwick Metroline MJ5 and a Warwick MetroExpress 5, so I feel qualified to answer this. Before I get into the difference let me answer your question this way. Which bass to purchase depends on your position in the music world to me. If you are gigging regularly then I say get the Metroline because you should make the money difference up in a few months. Now this is where it gets interesting, if you just play with a few friends, do garage stuff, etc...then it depends on your money. The Metroline is a better bass, it's chambered ( 7.76 lbs is mine ), the neck is 1.75, versus the MetroExpress at 1.875. the fret work is impeccible on the Metroline, it's very good to very good on my MetroExpress. The VTC is the sauce, the pickups are different as well. So to not ramble let me just say the Metroline is 2000$ better, but if you add the VTC and especially the Sadowsky Humcancelling pick ups ( which I would replace the pickups before the preamp ) then you basically have a slightly heavier Metroline, with a slightly wider neck. Which the MetroExpress is still very comfortable to play. The MetroExpress is the best under 2000$ bass I have ever played. The Metroline is the best bass I have ever played, it's a difference. The Metroline is worth the price. My Metroline costed 3650$, My MetroExpress cost 1140$. In closing I have owned two MetroExpress ( new models ), the first one I had shipped with the VTC and Sadowsky humcancelling pups. I installed them myself and I was so intrigued I had to get the Metroline, The MetroExpress I have now I just replaced the pickups, because with my Metroline being my workhorse it is no need for the VTC in the MetroExpress, so there is no wrong answer, but yes no matter what you add to a MetroExpress, a Metroline is 2000$ better.