"Sadowsky" Metro Express Basses

[MichaelDean]

On 28/07/2024 at 12:37, 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?

 

 

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]

7 hours ago, 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

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

[Peter Popovic]

4 hours ago, JohnR said:

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

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]

9 minutes ago, BassAgent said:

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

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]

6 minutes ago, BassAgent said:

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

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 18:29, martthebass said:

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

 

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

[martthebass]

18 minutes ago, ead said:

 

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

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]

49 minutes ago, ead said:

 

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

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]

1 hour ago, 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.

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]

6 hours ago, 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😅

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]

1 hour ago, 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 😁 

 

 

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

[BassAgent]

9 hours ago, 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 😁 

 

 

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.