Overview

The Sadowsky MetroLine is a high-end production bass that brings Roger Sadowsky's celebrated preamp design and exacting specifications to a more accessible price point than the full custom NYC instruments. It features an alder or swamp ash body, a hard maple bolt-on neck with a modern C profile and satin finish, and a 21-fret morado fingerboard with a 10-inch radius. The Sadowsky single-coil J-style pickups paired with the signature Sadowsky active preamp " featuring boost-only bass and treble controls and a vintage tone control " deliver the punchy, articulate, studio-ready tone that has made Sadowsky basses the industry standard among New York session players for decades. The preamp's boost-only design ensures that the signal never sounds thin or over-processed, maintaining a full, natural bass sound while allowing precise frequency enhancement. The Hipshot Vintage-style bridge and lightweight tuners provide excellent intonation, sustain, and balance. Build quality from the German MetroLine production facility is outstanding, with meticulous attention to fret leveling, electronics installation, and overall fit and finish. Every instrument receives a thorough final setup. This bass is ideal for professional session players, touring musicians, and serious players who want the Sadowsky preamp and build quality at a production-line price. The premium positioning means it competes with custom-shop instruments from other brands, requiring a significant investment.

Bass Guitars

High-end production bass bringing Roger Sadowsky's celebrated preamp and build standards to an accessible price, the industry standard among session players.

Instrument Details

$2,799 Professional
Brand Sadowsky
Type Electric Bass
Made In Germany
Year 2003
4.7 1 vote

AI Reviews

4.7 /5

The MetroLine series, now meticulously crafted in Germany, successfully bridges the gap between boutique NYC customs and mass-produced instruments. The build quality is impeccable, benefiting from high-precision manufacturing; the fretwork is some of the cleanest in this price bracket, and the overall balance remains impressively comfortable for long sessions.

Sonically, it delivers the quintessential 'Sadowsky Sound'"a polished, hi-fi take on the classic J-bass. The boost-only preamp is the star of the show, providing a muscular low-end bloom and a crystalline top end that slices through a dense mix without ever sounding brittle. The inclusion of the Vintage Tone Control (VTC) is vital, allowing you to roll off the modern sheen for more traditional, mid-forward textures when the gig demands it.

Playability is effortless thanks to the fast, satin-finished neck and the adjustable nut system, which allows for surgical action height. While the price point is a significant investment, the MetroLine provides nearly the entire NYC Custom experience at a more attainable figure. It is a formidable tool for session players and touring professionals who need a 'record-ready' tone right out of the jack. However, purists seeking a gritty, passive lo-fi character might find its inherent clarity a bit too 'polite' for certain raw genres.

Category Ratings

Bass Guitars
4.7
Feb 15, 2026
AI-Generated Review Generated via Google API. This is an automated evaluation, not a consumer review. Learn more
Sadowsky MetroLine Screenshot

Added: Feb 12, 2026

sadowsky.com/metroline

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