lemmywinks Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 1 minute ago, Kev said: The irony of Sadowsky using primarily a Leo Fender design seems lost a little too... Better not show them this: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 Or this: Or possibly this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CookPassBabtridge Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 4 hours ago, JD1 said: All of this seems to have passed me by! So couple of questions (and apologies if they’re hidden earlier). Did something go wrong with the Japan arrangement? The Metro’s seemed to be high quality and popular in equal measure? Also what is the difference between Japanese MetroLines and Japanese MetroExpresses? I think I remember reading somewhere (sorry I don’t have a link) that part of it was the Japanese workshop wasn’t putting out the volume of basses Sadowsky wanted/needed - I recall there was a delay to the first batch of Japanese Metro Expresses for example. That and the fact that others have mentioned, Roger may be thinking about winding down/retiring, and Warwick are known for having a big factory with a high volume of output. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 48 minutes ago, FDC484950 said: It’s about dilution of the brand. It doesn’t really matter what the quality may or may not be when the name on the headstock is meaningless. At least other manufacturers that have cheaper ranges elsewhere generally handle the sourcing, quality control, distribution and warranty. A Sadowsky bass used to mean something. A Sadowsky sold by Warwick is, to me, meaningless. The first Metros weren't a dilution of the brand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 1 hour ago, Doctor J said: Have basses no-one here appears to have actually played yet ever been so unpopular? I don't understand the ire towards this project. Sadowsky knows his stuff. Warwick know their stuff. Despite the shaky embryonic stage we appear to have passed, I can't understand why anyone would think these are going to be anything less than superb. I think possibly it runs because not many people will get their hands on these basses to comment, Roger is such a nice guy and HPW is a bit of a tool with a record of ruining stuff 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 51 minutes ago, FDC484950 said: It’s about dilution of the brand. It doesn’t really matter what the quality may or may not be when the name on the headstock is meaningless. At least other manufacturers that have cheaper ranges elsewhere generally handle the sourcing, quality control, distribution and warranty. A Sadowsky bass used to mean something. A Sadowsky sold by Warwick is, to me, meaningless. Do you feel the same about musicman since they launched their sub range? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 1 minute ago, Cuzzie said: HPW is a bit of a tool with a record of ruining stuff Really? I have never heard of this. What stuff? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 Just now, Doctor J said: The first Metros weren't a dilution of the brand? No. Who supplied the sourcing, distributions, sales and warranty? The only reason he did it was to appeal to a wider range of pockets whilst ensuring quality. There’s an extensive interview with him on YT where he explained his reasons for the Metro series. IMHO once he started splitting between cheaper, limited option MetroExpress, the brand dilution started. Sticking your name on an entire range of basses from cheaper Chinese to ltd edition German models that are more expensive than an NYC made, marketed and sold by what might have been considered a rival isnt dilution, its selling out for a nice big retirement package. I don’t blame him at all - in his position I would probably do the same thing. Why not just sell the materials and licensing to Warwick and have call it a Warwick if the name doesn’t stand for something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 2 minutes ago, LukeFRC said: Do you feel the same about musicman since they launched their sub range? They launched it, obviously like many brands they have a company in Indonesia make it but it’s still their brand. It’s not MusicMan sold by Cort, is it? The point is if you’re handing basically the whole operation over, why retain the name? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 So the name matters more than the bass? Sorry, I just don't understand where the negativity is coming from. Surely the quality of the instrument is all that matters? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 It’s called having an opinion Doctor J. You know, the point of a forum. Quality does matter, but so does integrity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 Sorry to annoy you, I was just trying to understand why you have that opinion in a spirit of open discussion. I'll go back in my box and just post pictures. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Krow Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 3 minutes ago, FDC484950 said: It’s called having an opinion Doctor J. You know, the point of a forum. Quality does matter, but so does integrity. Hmmm...then why send PMs to folk you don't know at all titled "No debate" with a view to shutting down one side of a discussion? As you say integrity... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 I’m not trying to stifle comment on this subject, just voicing an opinion. I wish Roger all the best, he’s made some stonking instruments and he certainly deserves a well-earned retirement. I think I’d best leave it at that as it’s really not that important in the grand scheme of things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 (edited) 28 minutes ago, FDC484950 said: They launched it, obviously like many brands they have a company in Indonesia make it but it’s still their brand. It’s not MusicMan sold by Cort, is it? The point is if you’re handing basically the whole operation over, why retain the name? It’s sub, by Musicman - made by Cort, sold by Ernie Ball... it’s not as if Leo is still at Musicman - he sold the whole operation including the name. mind you anything with Fender on the headstock post 1964 would also fall into that camp- I mean, using your logic why didn’t CBS just rename the company?? Edited February 27, 2021 by LukeFRC 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 I've got nothing against either brand. I play a Warwick regularly, and I was very close to buying a Sadowsky a couple of years ago (I still want to get one at some point). I just find it interesting that there is no mention of the Warwick made basses on the Sadowsky site, with the exception of the initial press release and the distribution contacts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 3 hours ago, Cuzzie said: HPW is a bit of a tool with a record of ruining stuff What has HPW ruined? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 (edited) 4 hours ago, Doctor J said: Really? I have never heard of this. What stuff? Buzzard bass Edited February 27, 2021 by Cuzzie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 56 minutes ago, Kev said: What has HPW ruined? Buzzard bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 Also massively aggressive persona in marketing and distribution and downright nasty at times to sellers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 1 hour ago, Cuzzie said: Buzzard bass What did he ruin about it?? Both the eighties and more modern Buzzard basses are outstanding basses and are snapped up whenever they rarely come available. The Bolt-On wasn’t a great idea, but it was just a way of owning a more affordable one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 1 hour ago, Cuzzie said: Also massively aggressive persona in marketing and distribution and downright nasty at times to sellers Any examples? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 30 minutes ago, Kev said: Any examples? I remember a fairly boozed up meeting on Bridge Street in Manchester (a pub called “The Bridge”) with the UK sales manager. I’m sure the content of the meeting was that we had to stock ‘X’ amount worth of stock and a set reorder per quarter - custom orders would not count towards this figure... I think in the end I signed for a rockbass dealership and nothing else. Rockbag/Rockcase was a separate dealership. This was relatively unheard of at the time and then everyone seemed to do it. Gibson were worse. But you’d sell 20 gibsons and 50 epiphones to 1 Warwick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 1 hour ago, AndyTravis said: I remember a fairly boozed up meeting on Bridge Street in Manchester (a pub called “The Bridge”) with the UK sales manager. I’m sure the content of the meeting was that we had to stock ‘X’ amount worth of stock and a set reorder per quarter - custom orders would not count towards this figure... I think in the end I signed for a rockbass dealership and nothing else. Rockbag/Rockcase was a separate dealership. This was relatively unheard of at the time and then everyone seemed to do it. Gibson were worse. But you’d sell 20 gibsons and 50 epiphones to 1 Warwick. Not a brilliant example of HPW’s “massively aggressive persona” or something “downright nasty”, so I’m interested to hear what Cuzzie has experienced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 I’ve met HPW too and thought he was a thoroughly nice bloke and an astute businessman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.