Active 5 string workhorse - share your opinions!

[Terry M.]

18 minutes ago, Sean said:

 

Bass weevils? 

I think the upshot was it would have featured in the wood before production rather than afterwards. No idea myself either way 🤷‍♂️

[SpondonBassed]

3 hours ago, Sean said:

It’s got a lot of what looks like jewellery damage or something but that’s fillable.

 

They look a lot like indentations.  That means it should be possible to steam the exposed grain and restore the surface prior to re-coating - no filler required.

 

i think @Andyjr1515 has done this repair a time or two.

[Terry M.]

1 hour ago, SpondonBassed said:

 

They look a lot like indentations.  That means it should be possible to steam the exposed grain and restore the surface prior to re-coating - no filler required.

 

i think @Andyjr1515 has done this repair a time or two.

Is it a big job? Having played the bass I feel it's the reason it's still unsold. It's a decent axe.

[Sean]

2 hours ago, Terry M. said:

Is it a big job? Having played the bass I feel it's the reason it's still unsold. It's a decent axe.

 

Not a huge job. It depends a bit on how crushed the wood is and what it is.  I did some steaming on that Euro LX 5 of mine last week. I used an iron and a wet microfiber cloth. It's much more forgiving and leaves more safety factor than a soldering iron and cotton buds. It was more dents than indentations in that case, though.

 

The lads at BD should be able to to it. 

Edited March 18 by Sean
espelin

[SpondonBassed]

2 hours ago, Terry M. said:

Is it a big job? Having played the bass I feel it's the reason it's still unsold. It's a decent axe.

 

I haven't tried it personally but I think with patience and careful control of the heat source (soldering iron @Andyjr1515?) it is less work than filling and gives you a better result.  Ought to be cheaper too.

[Sean]

2 hours ago, Terry M. said:

Is it a big job? Having played the bass I feel it's the reason it's still unsold. It's a decent axe.

Is it a lead sled, though?

[Terry M.]

12 minutes ago, Sean said:

Is it a lead sled, though?

If I'm being honest it's got quite some weight to it. I would say a padded 4" strap may help things though. I had it on my lap with no strap.

Edited March 18 by Terry M.

[TheGhostofJaco]

I've had a Japanese Sadowsky Metro 5 for over a year now and it basically can do everything. In the past I had the Lakland 5502, and it was ok, but the tone was not nearly as open as the Sadowsky. Plus I learned from that experience that I prefer a 34 inch scale. May be out of your range, but those new Metro Expresses that go for 1150 are a steal, imo. I prefer them to Lakland Skylines. I played one before buying the Japanese Metro and was impressed that it was only that much.

Edited Monday at 22:33 by TheGhostofJaco

[Terry M.]

36 minutes ago, TheGhostofJaco said:

I've had a Japanese Sadowsky Metro 5 for over a year now and it basically can do everything. 

I'm patiently waiting for one of these to turn up in a colour I Iike and at a price I also like. They are simply amazing creations.

[kwmlondon]

11 hours ago, TheGhostofJaco said:

I've had a Japanese Sadowsky Metro 5 for over a year now and it basically can do everything. In the past I had the Lakland 5502, and it was ok, but the tone was not nearly as open as the Sadowsky. Plus I learned from that experience that I prefer a 34 inch scale. May be out of your range, but those new Metro Expresses that go for 1150 are a steal, imo. I prefer them to Lakland Skylines. I played one before buying the Japanese Metro and was impressed that it was only that much.

This is weird. I tried a Sadowsky Metroexpress and a Lakland Skyline Darryl Jones and I really much preferred the Lakland. I just really loved the feel and the tone, it had a growl and the neck felt so right in the hand. It's so personal isn't it?

[ezbass]

Years ago, I ‘needed’ a new five string. I’d previously had an MM ‘Ray5, which was great, but I sold it back to the guy I bought it from - mistake right there, but he asked and I was playing a vintage P all of the time then. Anyway, to sate this ‘need’, I headed to The Gallery to see what was what and with a max budget in mind. I tried loads that day and the one I would’ve walked away with was a used MM Sterling5, but the G string was so close to the board edge, I kept pulling it off the board. Tried a Sadowsky (US I think), which was good, but way beyond my budget. Almost ready to leave empty handed, when I spied a Lakland 5502 and gave it a go. Straight away I could tell there was too much relief in the neck (Plek? Well they cocked that up), but Martin gave it a quick adjust and it was superb, played well, good tones. Paid my money and went home with it. Gigged it extensively and it did the job, but it turns out I was never really inspired by it and so let it go, but they are good, solid workhorses and get the job done with some aplomb. Some time later, I was back at The Gallery for a browse and picked up a used, Japanese, Sadowsky Metro Express fiver. What a bass! Sounded great, felt great and I should’ve bought it, but the timing was off financially. If that had been around when I bought the Lakland, I would have bought that instead, no question. Not having tried the Chinese, Warwick, Sadowsky, Metro Expresses, I can’t attest to their quality and the German ones are way too many pennies for me.

 

I later went through an Ibanez stage with fivers and the Premium line, with the Nordstrand Big Singles sound amazing and the playability is really good. However, I never really gelled with the SR body size at the time and the gold hardware on the Premiums is just too blingy for me (I can be as shallow as puddle sometimes). Having now played Mustangs for a while, I would probably get on better with the SR size and shape and if I could get the Big Singles, with black or chrome/nickel hardware and I needed a fiver, I would probably go down that route as a starting point. However, this is all very unlikely, as my passive, custom Maruszczyk J type, with drop D tuner gets the job done very well and if I need some active action, I use a Sadowsky preamp pedal.

[Terry M.]

23 minutes ago, ezbass said:

Straight away I could tell there was too much relief in the neck (Plek? Well they cocked that up)

These are two separate issues to my understanding. The plek process and truss rod adjustments aren't the same. 

[Terry M.]

1 hour ago, kwmlondon said:

This is weird. I tried a Sadowsky Metroexpress and a Lakland Skyline Darryl Jones and I really much preferred the Lakland. I just really loved the feel and the tone, it had a growl and the neck felt so right in the hand. It's so personal isn't it?

Which iteration of Sadowsky Metroexpress did you try and what year was the Darryl Jones?

[kwmlondon]

52 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

Which iteration of Sadowsky Metroexpress did you try and what year was the Darryl Jones?

You are asking for details I'm afraid my old, addled brain barely took in at the time and certainly doesn't have any more. Apologies. What I'm pretty sure of is that they were both new when I tried them in GuitarGuitar Camden, about 2022 but I'm guessing.

[kuetsum]

1 hour ago, kwmlondon said:

This is weird. I tried a Sadowsky Metroexpress and a Lakland Skyline Darryl Jones and I really much preferred the Lakland. I just really loved the feel and the tone, it had a growl and the neck felt so right in the hand. It's so personal isn't it?

 

If it's Metro Express made in China..

Then..yea.. it is what it is .

 

Edited Tuesday at 12:23 by kuetsum

[Rich]

My poor addled brain read that as "picked up a used, Japanese, Sadowsky Metro Express for a fiver". Just for a second it was the deal of the century  

[kwmlondon]

6 minutes ago, kuetsum said:

 

If it's Metro Express made in China..

Then..yea.. it is what it is .

 

Could be, I was just passing some time in the store and tried a USA Pro II Jazz, Darryl Jones and Metro Express. The Fender was smooth and felt really premium - the neck was lovely, the sound very rich and balanced and the finish was top-notch. The Metro Express just felt underwhelming, but the Lakland was alive - I may be misremembering but I'm sure the neck had rolled edges, and the tone was more growly and barky, real personality. I was very taken, just not in the market for that kind of instrument.

[Terry M.]

28 minutes ago, kuetsum said:

 

If it's Metro Express made in China..

Then..yea.. it is what it is .

 

There was also a Sadowsky Metro Express made in Japan which is why I asked. Do you know he tried the Chinese one?

Edited Tuesday at 12:50 by Terry M.

[Terry M.]

16 minutes ago, kwmlondon said:

Could be, I was just passing some time in the store and tried a USA Pro II Jazz, Darryl Jones and Metro Express. The Fender was smooth and felt really premium - the neck was lovely, the sound very rich and balanced and the finish was top-notch. The Metro Express just felt underwhelming, but the Lakland was alive - I may be misremembering but I'm sure the neck had rolled edges, and the tone was more growly and barky, real personality. I was very taken, just not in the market for that kind of instrument.

IF you're comparing the CHINESE Metro Express to the Lakland then yes I would also personally prefer the Lakland.

[kwmlondon]

20 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

IF you're comparing the CHINESE Metro Express to the Lakland then yes I would also personally prefer the Lakland.

I'm so sorry, I didn't look but it was a new bass and fairly recent so probably Chinese, but the Lakland was about the same price and made in Korea so I think it fair to compare them. I think sort of about the £1100 mark. Something like. 

[kuetsum]

1 hour ago, Terry M. said:

There was also a Sadowsky Metro Express made in Japan which is why I asked. Do you know he tried the Chinese one?

Yea.. one of my biggest regret, was to sell my jp me..

 

It was the only model which share identical neck profile to the NYC line.

 

And they are gold for that money..

[Terry M.]

1 hour ago, kwmlondon said:

I'm so sorry, I didn't look but it was a new bass and fairly recent so probably Chinese, but the Lakland was about the same price and made in Korea so I think it fair to compare them. I think sort of about the £1100 mark. Something like. 

In my humble opinion a Korean Lakland will wipe the floor with a Chinese Sadowsky. I've managed to try both of each on separate occasions. No contest. 

[kwmlondon]

16 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

In my humble opinion a Korean Lakland will wipe the floor with a Chinese Sadowsky. I've managed to try both of each on separate occasions. No contest. 

I'd love to try a Japanese Sadowsky though. I'd love to try a USA one too.  I'm very promiscuous when it comes to instruments!

[Terry M.]

3 minutes ago, kwmlondon said:

I'd love to try a Japanese Sadowsky though. I'd love to try a USA one too.  I'm very promiscuous when it comes to instruments!

I believe Roger himself said at the time if you don't need the fancy extras that come with the USA models just get a Japanese one. I was a bit disappointed when the Japanese partnership ceased.

[kwmlondon]

2 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

I believe Roger himself said at the time if you don't need the fancy extras that come with the USA models just get a Japanese one. I was a bit disappointed when the Japanese partnership ceased.

I don't see why the Chinese ones are worse though, I had a Chinese-made Dingwall and that was an epic bass.