HOW TO: UPGRADE YOUR BASS with a SADOWSKY PREAMP! | Pt.1: Modern Style MetroExpress

In this video Roger Sadowsky shows you step by step how to retrofit a "Modern Style"* Sadowsky MetroExpress bass with the Sadowsky Preamp found in the MetroLine and MasterBuilt series basses. This video is intended to both, giving you detailed instructions on the installation of a Sadowsky Preamp, but also for you to see if you can do this at home by yourself or rather let a professional guitar tech do the retrofitting for you.
* In contrast to a "Vintage Style" Sadowsky bass, a "Modern Style" Sadowsky features neither a pickguard or a metal plate surrounding the control knobs. (This process will differ from retrofitting a Vintage Style Sadowsky. A video of how to install the Sadowsky Preamp into a Vintage Style Sadowsky and another separate video for retrofitting a non-Sadowsky bass will follow soon!)
Order your Sadowsky Preamp here: shop.warwick.d...
The Sadowsky Onboard Bass Preamp (4-Knob System) is a completely prewired system offering the same controls and the same legendary active preamp as all Sadowsky basses. This preamp is designed for installation on most J-style basses with a metal control plate. On newer active J-style basses with a side jack and a battery compartment, usually no modification is required. On passive basses, the only required modification is to move the output jack to the side of the instrument and to make room for a battery. The controls are: Volume - Pan (Balance) - VTC (Vintage Tone Control) - Treble / Bass. The treble and bass controls are boost only - flat response is with the controls at their complete counterclockwise position. The VTC control is passive, the maximum setting is a flat EQ. The further you turn the control down, the more the high end in the signal will be attenuated. The preamp can be installed either with the included control plate or mounted through a rear control cavity in either a 4-in-line or diamond pattern. This system is not compatible with active pickups requiring anything else than a 250K or 500K volume or balance pot.
Prewired onboard bass preamp for J-style basses with metal control plate
Active preamp for passive pickups
4 knob layout with controls for Master Volume / Balance / Vintage Tone Control (P/P) / Treble and Bass (stacked)
Push/pull function at VTC knob for preamp bypass
Can be installed either with the included control plate or mounted through a rear control cavity
Frequency response 5 Hz - 50 kHz
Bass control offers +18 dB boost at 40 Hz
Treble control offers +18 dB boost at 4 kHz
Total harmonic distortion (THD) 0.18% at 1 kHz
Power supply via one 9V battery
Current draw 9 mA
Up to 870 hours battery life
Input impedance 1 Mohm
Output impedance 1 kohm
sadowskybass.com
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[@truehexer]

We need pickguards for metro express please

[@SadowskyInstrumentsOfficial]

Hi there! Pickguards are already availible in 14 different colors/materials for 4-string and 5-sting, right and left handed versions in our shop (link below). At the moment there are no images to the articles but that will follow soon! If you are looking for a specific pickguard that is not listed in our shop yet, please check in again in a few weeks, we aim to have all models covered soon! Be aware that the pickguards offered in our shop ONLY fit the German made Sadowsky MetroLine, MasterBuilt as well as the current MetroExpress line. However, if you own a Sadowsky MetroLine that was still built in Asia before we started production in Germany in 2020, we offer a service in which you can send us your bass, from which we can take measurements and make a custom pickguard that fits your bass 100%, but it is to a certain cost of course. For requests like this, please send us an email to: [e-mail] Here is the link to all the currently availible Sadowsky pickguards in our shop: shop.warwick.de/de/search?sSearch=pickguard+sadowsky We hope this was helpful!

[@LarsLehmannBassplayer]

Awesome video, Roger! Happy Holidays!

[@SadowskyInstrumentsOfficial]

Happy new year, Lars!

[@LarsLehmannBassplayer]

@@SadowskyInstrumentsOfficial and to you! 🙂

[@CrossFitDelVal]

Great video! I've played a Sadowsky as my main bass since '99 and love everything about it. The VTC is a total game-changer on the preamp. I set my bass and treble to maybe 15-20% and keep the VTC wide open. Great tone.

[@SadowskyInstrumentsOfficial]

Hi Rob, thanks for sharing!

[@tomshowlerbjj]

I absolutely love listening to Rogers videos.

[@barrywilliams2409]

Best bass preamp on the market! 👍🏾💯

[@AlexandarShmex]

Thank you Mr. Roger, this is useful even for other preamps.

[@S735334]

I always love listening & watching Roger working on his fine instruments... Informative & interesting as always.

[@zaporozac100]

I have Spector Euro lx 5, G&L 2500 5 and Musicman 5 string, in couple of days Sadowsky metroexpress 5 is coming along with Sadowsky VTC preamp, I can't wait to get this baby in my hands, thank you Roger for the video and Happy New Year!

[@trumanskip]

God Bless You Roger!! You've earned the success you have!! We Thank You and Happy Holidays!! We're looking forward to 2023!!

[@SadowskyInstrumentsOfficial]

Thank you and happy new year to you Skip!

[@RichardKelleyMD]

Thank You, Roger. I know I asked this question in the Facebook group, so this is perfect! Appreciate you doing this video!

[@joselbajistabassbmx1124]

Wow, Excellent video, with your experience it seems simple, but although it is a bit complicated and sensitive to protect the finish, in fact the work you do is strictly clean, now I am more than convinced of how careful you are taking care of the instrument, I cannot invent with local technicians . In this month I send you my bass. Thank you for all your attention personally , it is an honor

[@lauriebluesguy]

Installed this very same preamp this weekend, easy to fit (I also had to widen the control holes on my Bass), but an excellent world class preamp at a very good price.

[@paullee1270]

This is so strange, I was just on the Sadowsky RSD Metro Express (talk bass) page yesterday and mentioned I was going to change the preamp out in the RSD for one of these. Today Roger makes this video.... Could there be some kinda telepathy going on here (LOL)......This video is a HUGE help! Roger Sadowsky is the BEST!

[@SadowskyInstrumentsOfficial]

Happy new year Paul! We're so happy we could help you out! Hope everything turned out wonderful with the installation.

[@paullee1270]

Happy New Year to you also! I haven't had time to install it yet. (been crazy busy) I'll keep you updated!

[@paullee1270]

Installed preamp! Wow what can I say you guided me through the complete install! Can't thank you enough 👍❤

[@pierrebonnenfant2611]

merveilleuse video !!! merci infiniment pour ces explications tres importantes mr roger sadowsky ! je suis fan !!! et une tres belle annee 2023 !

[@SadowskyInstrumentsOfficial]

Merci beaucoup!

[@renatinhobass]

Master!❤

[@robertlusk8423]

Best on board pre amp upgrade I ever did, I have the Sadowsky pre 4 knob, plus bartolini B-axis pickups, so good, this pre amp sounds so good flat, you only need to add a little bit of tone, basically plug and go, very little adjusting needed, sounds amazing, and will really make your bass cut through. I have had Audere, Aguilar etc… on board pre’s on my basses, so far the Sadowsky pre is my favorite!!!

[@ohlazumbie]

Heartfelt thanks from Paris France. This video is so clear, audible and above all free from such boutique twang which makes it so difficult to decode for us poor Euiropeans 🙂Also thank you for all the tips not to damage the finish of the instrument. I will upgrade my JBMM as soon as I possibly can. Thank you

[@craigzinga]

Thank you Mr. Sadowsky for producing such a fine preamp! I had to bust out the router, drill, and nerves for this one. Getting hung up on little things aside (battery box not totally flush with the body, I soldered a few cold joints) it came out great. I understand why bassists use the adjectives that they do to describe the change in tone. So much more depth! I upgraded a Fender MIM bass and couldn’t be happier.

[@SadowskyInstrumentsOfficial]

Enjoy!

[@pb-wb2rr]

I have this exact setup in my Metro Express Verdine model. Sounds absolutely fantastic.

[@SadowskyInstrumentsOfficial]

Very nice!

[@heybespren1315]

So therapeutic!

[@charlesanderson2852]

Thank you so much Roger for the video! I had wanted to retrofit my 2000 NYC with a VTC but became timid when I discovered I would have to bore out the hole in the body for the new pot. Your demonstration gave me the confidence to try again. Happiest of Holidays to you and thank you for your wonderful instruments.

[@SadowskyInstrumentsOfficial]

Happy new year Charles! Hope trying again was successful and that everything sounds just great!

[@thebassmonster]

Superb video. Thanks Roger

[@TepidJean]

Thank you Roger !

[@AnthoCMusic]

Very nice ! I would loved to see Roger make a groove at the end of the video :P

[@Hi-xs7wm]

Thanks so much for the video Roger ! Exactely what I wanted !

[@kgamaseg]

Great video!

[@ohlazumbie]

Extraordinaire, thank you

[@OlavSchneider]

I would love to see how to install this preamp into a jazz bass.

[@reubenkinsey2947]

Awesome 👍

[@karlynmiyashiro9075]

Very informative, but one question. On your older models like from the nineties, would the wires pull apart on these models?

[@zaporozac100]

One question Roger,please tell are the same pickups in metroexpress and US made Sadowsky bass guitars?

[@brianbrian9211]

Silly question, but would passive EMG pickups work with the pre amp, or would a lot of rewiring/reconfiguring be required?

[@SadowskyInstrumentsOfficial]

Hi Brian, there are no silly questions! Normally it works without changing anything. But please check what balance pot they recommend - 25K or 250K or 500K. If it is 25K you have to rewire. If it is 250K or 500K use the Sadowsky preamp normal without any changes. Hope this was helpful.

[@waynegram8907]

Is the Sadowsky preamp high impedance output? additive tone stack or subtractive tone stack?

[@SadowskyInstrumentsOfficial]

Happy new year Wayne! The treble and bass are with the typical boost only, so you ad only bass and treble.

[@mauricioiturriagaperez5110]

Hello, what is the origin of that preamp?

[@avital2166]

❤🙏👌👌👌

[@polemos74]

Do they both have the same circuit board?

[@SadowskyInstrumentsOfficial]

Hi there, the circuit board from the retrofit kit and the one in the MetroExpress are the same from 2021 on. If you purchase from a dealer with stock older than that, it can differ.

[@adeolu__]

Would this preamp work on a passive pickup?

[@SadowskyInstrumentsOfficial]

Hi Adeolu! Yes it will. The Sadowsky J & P style pickups are passive in the first place, only the preamp is active. Hope this was helpful.

[@adeolu__]

@@SadowskyInstrumentsOfficial I'm planning to upgrade my ibanez gsr 205 to this metro express preamp... But I need to be sure it's going to work before make the purchase.. That's why I'm asking... I'm from Nigeria.

[@hillerm]

I like the technology but I don’t like the knobs. I only like retro styles!

[@user-cq7ql9fr9d]

Эх.....где столько денег взять,что бы купить такой бас.....да у нас их и нет ни одного,играем на" дровах".Хоть бы раз в жизни поиграть))))Значит не судьба.