"Sadowsky" Metro Express Basses

[MichaelDean]

  On 28/07/2024 at 11:37, Paddy777 said:

Wow - I know what I’m gonna be getting soon! I’ll still want to put the VTC on however - is it easy to fit it using the upgrade kit?

 

 

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That really does sound very nice indeed! New GAS acquired! The paper white metallic has caught my eye.

 

https://shop.warwick.de/en/instruments/electric-basses/sadowsky-metroexpress/21-fret-vintage-mj-bass

 

[velvetkevorkian]

 The modern 24s look great but the 1000+ euro price tag suggests I might have to wait for used ones to start popping up

[Peter Popovic]

Is there any shop in the UK who has lefty new models of Metro Express? Andertons, Guitarguitar, Gears4music only has first generation…thanks

[JohnR]

  On 02/08/2024 at 10:46, Peter Popovic said:

Is there any shop in the UK who has lefty new models of Metro Express? Andertons, Guitarguitar, Gears4music only has first generation…thanks

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According to an email exchange I had with Hans Wilfer they should start appearing over the next couple of weeks. 

[Peter Popovic]

  On 02/08/2024 at 18:12, JohnR said:

According to an email exchange I had with Hans Wilfer they should start appearing over the next couple of weeks. 

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Thanks JohnR. Looking forward to it. I would like to have one of them. I have Metro Express 1st generation and it had a lot of flaws. But after some work on it( quite a lot of work I would say 🙃) it became my favourite bass( I do own 19 basses including more expensive ones) so may I say Sadowsky has my interest. Especially Metro Express series new generation with corrections and upgrades. Thanks again for your input. Appreciate that👍

Edited August 2, 2024 by Peter Popovic

[JohnR]

I have a custom German Sadowsky due next year. I’ve waited almost three years for it. I’m tempted to buy a new Metroexpress J/M to tide me over until it arrives. 

Edited August 3, 2024 by JohnR
Typo

[velvetkevorkian]

The m24s are up on Thomann now, I see

https://www.thomann.co.uk/sadowsky_metroexpress_24_5_fret_mo_cao.htm

[BassAgent]

Excellent photoshop rendering of a bass indeed.

[sshorepunk]

Be good to see a metro express version of the UV70!

or do they make one, maybe I missed it!

[LeftyJ]

I would like that M/J a whole lot better without that godawful pickguard. Took me years before I could appreciate it on an actual MM, but on a J-style body it just looks unforgivably out of place. 

[BassAgent]

Has anyone put a J-Retro in their MetroExpress? Does it fit, and how do you like it?

[martthebass]

  On 29/08/2024 at 17:18, BassAgent said:

Has anyone put a J-Retro in their MetroExpress? Does it fit, and how do you like it?

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Think there’s one in mine…..I didn’t fit it. Sounds great.

[BassAgent]

Well, I took the J-Retro out of my Lakland to squeeze into my Sadowsky. It doesn't fit.

[Paddy777]

  On 11/09/2024 at 13:08, BassAgent said:

Well, I took the J-Retro out of my Lakland to squeeze into my Sadowsky. It doesn't fit.

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The control plate doesn’t fit on the bass?

[BassAgent]

The PCB is too big for the cavity. I can't move the control plate forward enough.

 

So now I'm reinstalling the original preamp but I can't remember how the ground wires were connected😅

Edited September 11, 2024 by BassAgent

[ead]

  On 29/08/2024 at 17:29, martthebass said:

Think there’s one in mine…..I didn’t fit it. Sounds great.

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I fitted the J-Retro to this bass when I owned it.  Straight swap, no issues whatsoever.

[martthebass]

  On 11/09/2024 at 13:36, ead said:

 

I fitted the J-Retro to this bass when I owned it.  Straight swap, no issues whatsoever.

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Still sounds great.  Thought I'd flip this fairly quickly but it does everything my old Stingray fretless did and more for a lot less £££

[BassAgent]

  On 11/09/2024 at 13:36, ead said:

 

I fitted the J-Retro to this bass when I owned it.  Straight swap, no issues whatsoever.

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I think mine is an older one, they might have changed the design. Big bummer because I was really looking forward to this preamp in this bass.

[carlsim]

I have found quite a bit of variation between units... I have a fretted 5 and a fretless five and the scratchplate from one didn't fit the other!

 

I recently changed my metro express pre to the sadowsky dropin version with VTC and that fitted but I had to drill new holes and i didn't meet the scatchplate either. I can live with that for the sound benefits though!

Strange considering these would be mass produced and generally, consistency of parts fitting is pretty good... 

 

I wondered if mine were from different batches...???

Edited September 11, 2024 by carlsim

[dub_junkie]

I tried to swap the pickguards between my two J/J 5 strings and neither fitted each other. 

 

One was a 2020

The other was from 2021

[martthebass]

  On 11/09/2024 at 14:26, BassAgent said:

I think mine is an older one, they might have changed the design. Big bummer because I was really looking forward to this preamp in this bass.

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This one is the first gen but one of the later builds without some of the iffy build issues. Have you considered getting a custom pick guard to close the gap?

[BassAgent]

I was referring to the preamp being older  and nah if I'd do that there would also be extra holes in the body for the control plate. I've reinstalled the original.

[Paddy777]

  On 11/09/2024 at 13:25, BassAgent said:

The PCB is too big for the cavity. I can't move the control plate forward enough.

 

So now I'm reinstalling the original preamp but I can't remember how the ground wires were connected😅

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I might be wrong, however I’m pretty sure that the one you have got there is the DJ-Retro preamp made specifically for Lakland Darryl Jones signature basses that have a longer, slightly slimmer body than normal Jazz basses - where’d you  buy it? (Photo below from website 👇 The DJ-Retro is the only one that has two diff colour knobs on the concentric pots). I’ll swap it for a J-Tone preamp that will fit the Sadowsky if you’re stuck 😁 

 

 

[martthebass]

  On 11/09/2024 at 19:40, Paddy777 said:

I might be wrong, however I’m pretty sure that the one you have got there is the DJ-Retro preamp made specifically for Lakland Darryl Jones signature basses that have a longer, slightly slimmer body than normal Jazz basses - where’d you  buy it? (Photo below from website 👇 The DJ-Retro is the only one that has two diff colour knobs on the concentric pots). I’ll swap it for a J-Tone preamp that will fit the Sadowsky if you’re stuck 😁 

 

 

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Yup, the one fitted in mine is the J Retro 01 deluxe.

[BassAgent]

  On 11/09/2024 at 19:40, Paddy777 said:

I might be wrong, however I’m pretty sure that the one you have got there is the DJ-Retro preamp made specifically for Lakland Darryl Jones signature basses that have a longer, slightly slimmer body than normal Jazz basses - where’d you  buy it? (Photo below from website 👇 The DJ-Retro is the only one that has two diff colour knobs on the concentric pots). I’ll swap it for a J-Tone preamp that will fit the Sadowsky if you’re stuck 😁 

 

 

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That's what I thought, but the DJ control plate is slightly curved. Mine is straight. It was fitted to my USA Joe Osborn when I bought it.