FS/FT feeler: Fodera Anthony Jackson Contrabass $4999

jazzcrime · #1 10-10-2009, 08:30 PM

Looking to downsize my bass collection and get some money together for other expenses.
Up for sale is my Fodera Anthony Jackson Contrabass.
This thing is 34" scale (yes, 34"!), 19mm spacing. AFAIK the woods are mahogany body, quilted maple top (pretty stunning!), ash toneblock, maple neck, maccascar ebony fretboard with abalone block inlays. Very classy! Bartolini pickups and Haz Lab electronics. Also included is an ebony radiused ramp made by Rob Elrick.

This has been my main bass since I've got it, but I'm getting a shorter scale, tighter spaced 6 string made by an Australian luthier to help preserve my ever deteriorating wrists. (Bad RSI).

I am reluctant to let this go, this is hands down the nicest bass I've ever played, as well as one of the most amazing looking - and I've owned some nice basses. Condition is very good, there is a little wear on the finish on the back of the neck (although it is totally smooth wear) and a couple of tiny dings here and there on the top but not really noticeable unless you reflect it at an angle in the light up close.

Attached are some pictures to see for yourself. If you click my 'Youtube' link in my signature you'll see me playing the bass in some of the videos as well.
I am in AUSTRALIA but will ship worldwide. Asking $4999 USD + shipping, which I think is more than reasonable.
Also, would consider trades or partial trades for:
Preferably 5 string Alleva-Coppolo, CallowHill, Brubaker.

THIS THING IS SOLD! Going to a good and LOCAL home.

jazzcrime · #2 10-11-2009, 06:12 AM

Trade considerations also added!

DiDi G · #3 10-11-2009, 06:50 AM

I will be in melbourne soon~~free bump!!!!

jazzcrime · #4 10-11-2009, 07:59 PM

Price drop! Want the cash on this one.

steubig · #5 10-11-2009, 08:12 PM

single truss rod?

beautiful bass, btw.

ivlucas · #6 10-11-2009, 08:20 PM

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that Price is a Smokin Hot deal

jazzcrime · #7 10-11-2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steubig

single truss rod?

beautiful bass, btw.

I believe it's single truss... to be honest I don't know because I haven't had to adjust it at all in the year I've had it. Neck is solid!

Brad Johnson · #8 10-12-2009, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steubig

single truss rod?

beautiful bass, btw.

Yep. IME a dual trussrod isn't needed on these basses. Mine adjusts easily and is very stable.

GLWS

steubig · #9 10-12-2009, 12:36 AM

didn't say it was needed, just wanted to know.

i have liked my foderas with double truss rod better than the ones i've had with single, tho'. just a mania, i'm sure.

jazzcrime · #10 10-12-2009, 12:55 AM

just doublechecked for you - definitely single truss rod, but like i said, never had to adjust the neck at all and i play with my action as low as the Fodera bridge allows me.

PhatBasstard · #11 10-12-2009, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

Yep. IME a dual trussrod isn't needed on these basses. Mine adjusts easily and is very stable.

GLWS

Quote:

Originally Posted by steubig

didn't say it was needed, just wanted to know.

i have liked my foderas with double truss rod better than the ones i've had with single, tho'. just a mania, i'm sure.

Not to de-rail. AJ addressed this in the Bass Player interview from last year. He said his (previous model) basses had the dual truss rod. But one day they went to do an adjustment and found one of them completely loose. He said since then Fodera only puts the one truss rod in (his basses), in a "secret" location.

I'm assuming the now "secret" location is where the one (of the two rods) that was still under tension was located in that neck.

jazzcrime · #12 10-12-2009, 08:08 AM

just added a sound clip i dug up. EQ was flat, from memory.

coribass · #13 10-12-2009, 08:12 AM

PM sent

Brad Johnson · #14 10-12-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steubig

didn't say it was needed, just wanted to know.

i have liked my foderas with double truss rod better than the ones i've had with single, tho'. just a mania, i'm sure.

I didn't say you said it. I offered that info after I answered your question.

Brad Johnson · #15 10-12-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhatBasstard

Not to de-rail. AJ addressed this in the Bass Player interview from last year. He said his (previous model) basses had the dual truss rod. But one day they went to do an adjustment and found one of them completely loose. He said since then Fodera only puts the one truss rod in (his basses), in a "secret" location.

I'm assuming the now "secret" location is where the one (of the two rods) that was still under tension was located in that neck.

Could be but the adjustment point is dead center at the headstock. It might be oriented to one side or another internally, I don't know. I play with very low action and it easily dials that in across the neck.

PhatBasstard · #16 10-12-2009, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

Could be but the adjustment point is dead center at the headstock. It might be oriented to one side or another internally, I don't know. I play with very low action and it easily dials that in across the neck.

Maybe he meant in his current (#10, single cut) model. I'm sure, even if the rod veers to one side, the adjustment point/end at the headstock is going to be relatively in the center. I doubt the rod is dead center from that point. Why keep it's location a "secret" ("Trade secret" as AJ put it)? Mystique, maybe?

I guess it would only seem logical that the "secret" location, if not centered, is where the one of the two previous rods that was actually under tension was located. Or maybe splitting the difference between there and center.

Anyone want to cut through the neck of their AJ to check?

Brad Johnson · #17 10-12-2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhatBasstard

Maybe he meant in his current (#10, single cut) model. I'm sure, even if the rod veers to one side, the adjustment point/end at the headstock is going to be relatively in the center. I doubt the rod is dead center from that point. Why keep it's location a "secret" ("Trade secret" as AJ put it)? Mystique, maybe?

I guess it would only seem logical that the "secret" location, if not centered, is where the one of the two previous rods that was actually under tension was located. Or maybe splitting the difference between there and center.

Anyone want to cut through the neck of their AJ to check?

I don't recall seeing one of the double trussrod Foderas yet. On my 84 Tobias 5 the two rods adjust at the base of the neck, not at the headstock. They're not very far apart.

Not much of a useful "secret" unless you're building a knock-off of that particular style of bass IMO.

Joelc73 · #18 10-12-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

I don't recall seeing one of the double trussrod Foderas yet.

Me neither...

PhatBasstard · #19 10-12-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

I don't recall seeing one of the double trussrod Foderas yet.

I've never owned one. And the only two I've played (both 6's, don't know if they were AJ models) were in an L.A. Sam Ash store a few years ago. The truss rod(s) never came up in conversation. I'm only going by AJ's statements in the (December '08 I believe) Bass Player cover interview.

I got the feeling he meant that they discovered all the load bearing was occuring on only one of the two truss rods in it's particular location. And, as observed, that the bass needed only the one truss rod in it's (then current) load bearing location on any future basses. I can dig it up if anybody wants the exact wording he used.

Hey, another free bump.

steubig · #20 10-12-2009, 06:01 PM

i have a couple of 1985 fodera 6-strings. both have double truss rods. i think they went to the single truss rods around 1990-91.

they had a couple fodera 6-strings at the l.a. sam ash? sheesh, wish i'd known.