Best Sadowsky 5-String J-Basses 2026
Premium Sadowsky 5-string j-basses - legendary tone and craftsmanship
Last updated: January 21, 2026 • Next update: January 28, 2026
GENRES & STYLES:
For Modern Rock
For Metal
For Progressive
For Fusion
For Contemporary Jazz
For Session Work
#1
⭐
4.6/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vint JJ5 Morado TSB
by
Sadowsky
Fusion
Contemporary Jazz
Metal
Key Feature:
• Great for modern playing styles
✓ PROS
- • Professional studio sound
- • Extended low-end range
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than 4-string
- • Wider neck requires adjustment
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vint JJ5 Morado TSB5-String Electric BassBody: OkoumeBolt-on neck: Roasted mapleFingerboard:...
⭐
4.6/5
(5 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 599212
$1,099
#2
⭐
5.0/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vint JJ5 Morado CAR
by
Sadowsky
Contemporary Jazz
Metal
Session Work
Key Feature:
• Great for modern playing styles
✓ PROS
- • Bright Jazz Bass character
- • Professional studio sound
✗ CONS
- • Wider neck requires adjustment
- • More complex fingering patterns
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vint JJ5 Morado CAR5-String Electric BassBody: OkoumeBolt-on neck: Roasted mapleFingerboard:...
⭐
5.0/5
(51 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 599178
$1,154
#3
⭐
4.9/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vintage JJ5 RM TSB
by
Sadowsky
Session Work
Modern Rock
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Bright Jazz Bass character
✓ PROS
- • Versatile pickup combinations
- • Great for modern playing styles
✗ CONS
- • Higher string tension
- • More expensive than 4-string
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vintage JJ5 RM TSB5-String Electric BassBody: OkoumeBolt-on neck: Roasted mapleFingerboard: Roasted...
⭐
4.9/5
(56 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 599214
$1,176
#4
⭐
4.5/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vint JJ5 Morado OBL
by
Sadowsky
Modern Rock
Fusion
Metal
Key Feature:
• Great for modern playing styles
✓ PROS
- • Extended low-end range
- • Versatile pickup combinations
✗ CONS
- • String spacing differences
- • More complex fingering patterns
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vint JJ5 Morado OBL5-String Electric BassBody: OkoumeBolt-on neck: Roasted mapleFingerboard:...
⭐
4.5/5
(15 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 599273
$1,154
#5
⭐
4.7/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vintage JJ5 RM BK
by
Sadowsky
Modern Rock
Metal
Fusion
Key Feature:
• Versatile pickup combinations
✓ PROS
- • Extended low-end range
- • Bright Jazz Bass character
✗ CONS
- • Wider neck requires adjustment
- • More complex fingering patterns
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vintage JJ5 RM BK5-String Electric BassBody: OkoumeBolt-on neck: Roasted mapleFingerboard: Roasted...
⭐
4.7/5
(47 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 599068
$1,176
#6
⭐
4.8/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Sadowsky MetroLine 21-5 Vin MM MO SGM
by
Sadowsky
Session Work
Contemporary Jazz
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Professional studio sound
✓ PROS
- • Extended low-end range
- • Great for modern playing styles
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than 4-string
- • String spacing differences
Sadowsky MetroLine 21-5 Vin MM MO SGM5-String Electric Bass34" (864 mm) ScaleSlightly reduced J-style body made...
⭐
4.8/5
(55 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 526142
$3,849
#7
⭐
4.9/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Sadowsky MetroLine 22 Will Lee 5 NT MN
by
Sadowsky
Fusion
Metal
Session Work
Key Feature:
• Extended low-end range
✓ PROS
- • Bright Jazz Bass character
- • Professional studio sound
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than 4-string
- • More complex fingering patterns
Sadowsky MetroLine 22 Will Lee 5 NT MN5-String Electric Bass34" (864 mm) Scale lengthBolt-on neck (bolt-on...
⭐
4.9/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 510722
$3,628
#8
⭐
4.8/5
(49 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vintage JJ5 RM SGR
by
Sadowsky
Contemporary Jazz
Session Work
Progressive
Key Feature:
• Bright Jazz Bass character
✓ PROS
- • Professional studio sound
- • Versatile pickup combinations
✗ CONS
- • String spacing differences
- • More complex fingering patterns
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vintage JJ5 RM SGR5-String Electric BassBody: OkoumeBolt-on neck: Roasted mapleFingerboard: Roasted...
⭐
4.8/5
(49 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 599272
$1,176
#9
⭐
4.9/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vint JJ5 Morado BK
by
Sadowsky
Modern Rock
Session Work
Metal
Key Feature:
• Extended low-end range
✓ PROS
- • Versatile pickup combinations
- • Professional studio sound
✗ CONS
- • Higher string tension
- • String spacing differences
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vint JJ5 Morado BK5-String Electric BassBody: OkoumeBolt-on neck: roasted mapleFingerboard:...
⭐
4.9/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 599162
$1,154
#10
⭐
5.0/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Sadowsky MetroLine 21-5 Vin MM 59´Burst
by
Sadowsky
Fusion
Progressive
Modern Rock
Key Feature:
• Bright Jazz Bass character
✓ PROS
- • Great for modern playing styles
- • Versatile pickup combinations
✗ CONS
- • Higher string tension
- • String spacing differences
Sadowsky MetroLine 21-5 Vin MM 59´Burst5-String Electric BassScale: 34" (864 mm)Bolt-on neckSlightly scaled down...
⭐
5.0/5
(18 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 526123
$4,069
#11
⭐
4.8/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Sadowsky MetroLine 21-5 Vin MN BKS
by
Sadowsky
Progressive
Modern Rock
Metal
Key Feature:
• Versatile pickup combinations
✓ PROS
- • Professional studio sound
- • Extended low-end range
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than 4-string
- • String spacing differences
Sadowsky MetroLine 21-5 Vin MN BKS5-String Electric BassBody: American swamp ashNeck: MapleNeck attachment:...
⭐
4.8/5
(22 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 493536
$3,739
#12
⭐
4.8/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vintage JJ5 RM CH
by
Sadowsky
Contemporary Jazz
Fusion
Modern Rock
Key Feature:
• Extended low-end range
✓ PROS
- • Great for modern playing styles
- • Extended low-end range
✗ CONS
- • More expensive than 4-string
- • Higher string tension
Sadowsky MetroExp21 Vintage JJ5 RM WH5-String Electric BassBody: OkoumeBolt-on neck: Roasted mapleFingerboard: Roasted...
⭐
4.8/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 599279
$1,176
#13
⭐
4.9/5
(16 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Sadowsky MetroLine 21-5 Vin MM MO BK
by
Sadowsky
Fusion
Contemporary Jazz
Metal
Key Feature:
• Great for modern playing styles
✓ PROS
- • Bright Jazz Bass character
- • Extended low-end range
✗ CONS
- • String spacing differences
- • More complex fingering patterns
Sadowsky MetroLine 21-5 Vin MM MO BK5-String Electric BassScale: 864 mm (34")Slightly reduced J-style body made...
⭐
4.9/5
(16 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 526144
$3,849
#14
⭐
4.9/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Sadowsky MetroExpress 21 Vint 5 MO OW
by
Sadowsky
Contemporary Jazz
Progressive
Metal
Key Feature:
• Extended low-end range
✓ PROS
- • Great for modern playing styles
- • Professional studio sound
✗ CONS
- • Higher string tension
- • String spacing differences
Sadowsky MetroExpress 21 Vint 5 MO OW5-String Electric BassBody: OkoumeBolt-on neck: Roasted mapleFingerboard:...
⭐
4.9/5
(48 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 598462
$1,209
#15
⭐
4.5/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Sadowsky MetroLine 24-5 Vin ´59 Burst
by
Sadowsky
Modern Rock
Progressive
Contemporary Jazz
Key Feature:
• Extended low-end range
✓ PROS
- • Extended low-end range
- • Bright Jazz Bass character
✗ CONS
- • String spacing differences
- • Higher string tension
Sadowsky MetroLine 24-5 Vin ´59 Burst5-String Electric BassAmerican swamp ash bodyBolt-on maple neckMaple...
⭐
4.5/5
(37 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 515947
$3,904
How to Choose the Best 5-String J-Basses
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced 5-string j-basses typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
