Fodera Strings has lost me as a customer

Ben Coffin · #1 12-19-2009, 09:12 PM

So I bought 2 sets of Fodera strings from the Atlanta Bass Gallery on a whim about a month ago. I strung them on my 5 string Ibanez BTB405QM and MusicMan Sterling. I was playing a gig last week, and during sound check, I broke the G on my 5 string. I figured, ok, I don't normally slap with much intensity, but whatever, may be stress, may be random, w/e. I quickly zipped to the local music store where I work and grabbed some DR's to replace just the G. So my gig starts, and right before my solo, my G on my MusicMan breaks. Now again, if I was a violent slap player, this would not be surprising. But I was simply walking basslines, PALM MUTING none the less. Both strings broke in the EXACT same way, right at the bridge, and holding the strings next to each other, you could see it was almost a systematic failure. I almost never break strings, especially when playing fingerstyle/palm mute, so I'm not sure what happened. All I know is, I'm going back to buying GHS Boomers.

jscomposer · #2 12-19-2009, 09:17 PM

Why do you single out Fodera in the title if the DR broke, too?

Hard to believe it was just coincidence that 2 completely different G strings broke in the same way at basically the same time. More likely has to do with setup than the strings themselves.

Ben Coffin · #3 12-19-2009, 09:22 PM

No the DR didn't break, Its what I used to replace the Fodera so I could still use it at the gig. And the setup definetly wasn't an issue, I've had my basses set up like this as long as I've been playing, and the only other times I've broken strings was when messing with alternate tunings XP.

Rick_no7 · #4 12-19-2009, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jscomposer

Why do you single out Fodera in the title if the DR broke, too?

Hard to believe it was just coincidence that 2 completely different G strings broke in the same way at basically the same time. More likely has to do with setup than the strings themselves.

Yeah bro, re-read his post. It was the G string on 2 different basses, breaking at almost exactly the same point. The DR was the replacement.

Trevorus · #5 12-19-2009, 09:29 PM

I'd talk to them about it, and they would likely offer to replace them. If those break, then let them know about it, and if there is a problem, it can be fixed. Just walking away while shouting doesn't do that much good.

Ben Coffin · #6 12-19-2009, 09:35 PM

You're right Trevorus. I'm not sure I'd like a new set, but I will talk to them about it.

PilbaraBass · #7 12-19-2009, 09:44 PM

I'll bet you 10:1 your bridges have burrs.

I've only ever broken two string in 19+ years...one was a G-string on a Peavey B-Ninety and another this year on a friend's legacy bass...

Friend said that he breaks G-strings all the time right at the bridge...a close inspection revealed the culprit, a burr...

I cleaned up all 4 saddles on his bridge. no more string breaks...

For the record, Fodera strings sound fantastic.

jscomposer · #8 12-19-2009, 10:00 PM

Ah, yeah. Sorry. I see now you got 2 sets of Fodera.

Damn. Call 'em up and ask for new strings! Even if you don't like them, it's better than nothing. And in the meantime look into the bridge like PilbaraBass was saying, and anything else you can think of. When sh!t happens on my instruments, it's not always what I first suspect.

Just Thumpin' · #9 12-20-2009, 03:06 AM

I am really sorry to hear about your bad experience with our strings. We have some pretty intense players (including some monster slappers) giving our strings a really good workout all the time and this is the first time I have heard of a potential flaw like this in a batch. However, we do make them by hand and we are human so this may be a really rare, freak thing.

Please feel free to drop us an email and we will get you 2 new sets (assuming that you are still willing to give 'em a try).

Ideally, if you could return the broken strings to us (at our expense), it would be helpful so that we could see what went wrong.

Please reach out to Holly if you are interested:

hwagner@fodera.com

For general service information / email you can use:

service@fodera.com

To get me directly (again, I am a Partner) you can email me at:

jdesalvo@fodera.com

Kindest regards,

Jason

Jaco who? · #10 12-20-2009, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PilbaraBass

I'll bet you 10:1 your bridges have burrs.
.

On two different basses? OK, maybe 20:1 then.

Seriously, I think you had a pair of defective strings, I've had the same problem at the nut on the D on two sets of DR sunbeams, stuff happens. NO burrs on the nut, btw.

**petch** · #11 12-20-2009, 06:09 AM

Sounds like fine customer service to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Thumpin'

I am really sorry to hear about your bad experience with our strings. We have some pretty intense players (including some monster slappers) giving our strings a really good workout all the time and this is the first time I have heard of a potential flaw like this in a batch. However, we do make them by hand and we are human so this may be a really rare, freak thing.

Please feel free to drop us an email and we will get you 2 new sets (assuming that you are still willing to give 'em a try).

Ideally, if you could return the broken strings to us (at our expense), it would be helpful so that we could see what went wrong.

Please reach out to Holly if you are interested:

hwagner@fodera.com

For general service information / email you can use:

service@fodera.com

To get me directly (again, I am a Partner) you can email me at:

jdesalvo@fodera.com

Kindest regards,

Jason

fleabee · #12 12-20-2009, 06:12 AM

+1 kudos to Fodera

Craigmartini · #13 12-20-2009, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Thumpin'

I am really sorry to hear about your bad experience with our strings. We have some pretty intense players (including some monster slappers) giving our strings a really good workout all the time and this is the first time I have heard of a potential flaw like this in a batch. However, we do make them by hand and we are human so this may be a really rare, freak thing.

Please feel free to drop us an email and we will get you 2 new sets (assuming that you are still willing to give 'em a try).

Ideally, if you could return the broken strings to us (at our expense), it would be helpful so that we could see what went wrong.

Please reach out to Holly if you are interested:

hwagner@fodera.com

For general service information / email you can use:

service@fodera.com

To get me directly (again, I am a Partner) you can email me at:

jdesalvo@fodera.com

Kindest regards,

Jason

Actually, this may be the best example of customer service I have ever seen!

Excellent Fodera! Also, what a perfect example of some of the benefits of talkbass!

Craig

BEADG69 · #14 12-20-2009, 06:34 AM

Now that's customer service.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Thumpin'

I am really sorry to hear about your bad experience with our strings. We have some pretty intense players (including some monster slappers) giving our strings a really good workout all the time and this is the first time I have heard of a potential flaw like this in a batch. However, we do make them by hand and we are human so this may be a really rare, freak thing.

Please feel free to drop us an email and we will get you 2 new sets (assuming that you are still willing to give 'em a try).

Ideally, if you could return the broken strings to us (at our expense), it would be helpful so that we could see what went wrong.

Please reach out to Holly if you are interested:

hwagner@fodera.com

For general service information / email you can use:

service@fodera.com

To get me directly (again, I am a Partner) you can email me at:

jdesalvo@fodera.com

Kindest regards,

Jason

fullrangebass · #15 12-20-2009, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Thumpin'

I am really sorry to hear about your bad experience with our strings. We have some pretty intense players (including some monster slappers) giving our strings a really good workout all the time and this is the first time I have heard of a potential flaw like this in a batch. However, we do make them by hand and we are human so this may be a really rare, freak thing.

Please feel free to drop us an email and we will get you 2 new sets (assuming that you are still willing to give 'em a try).

Ideally, if you could return the broken strings to us (at our expense), it would be helpful so that we could see what went wrong.

Please reach out to Holly if you are interested:

hwagner@fodera.com

For general service information / email you can use:

service@fodera.com

To get me directly (again, I am a Partner) you can email me at:

jdesalvo@fodera.com

Kindest regards,

Jason

Kudos to you Fodera (& Jason) for your upfront offer and handling of the unfortunate incident.

I can only say that I bought two very expensive sets of strings from a very well known string company and when both sets had a VERY weird and loud oscillating/wobbly overtone esp on E and a A strings (making the E and A strings REALLY useless) and when I rang them up, they said they would need to have the strings back first (at my expense) AND the receipt, and THEN decide what to do. Needless to say, I never send them anything, but they lost me as a customer. This story happened in 1997-1998.

Beginner Bass · #16 12-20-2009, 06:57 AM

To me it doesn't sound like a string issue. I've only broke 1 string on my bass, and that was b/c I had been "playing" for less than 2 weeks and had misunderstood how they were meant to be tuned, and had tuned them GDAE instead of EADG. So it sounds like something is up with your bridge, since that seems to be where it breaks most.

24hplayer · #17 12-20-2009, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Thumpin'

I am really sorry to hear about your bad experience with our strings. We have some pretty intense players (including some monster slappers) giving our strings a really good workout all the time and this is the first time I have heard of a potential flaw like this in a batch. However, we do make them by hand and we are human so this may be a really rare, freak thing.

Please feel free to drop us an email and we will get you 2 new sets (assuming that you are still willing to give 'em a try).

Ideally, if you could return the broken strings to us (at our expense), it would be helpful so that we could see what went wrong.

Please reach out to Holly if you are interested:

hwagner@fodera.com

For general service information / email you can use:

service@fodera.com

To get me directly (again, I am a Partner) you can email me at:

jdesalvo@fodera.com

Kindest regards,

Jason

I had similar case w/ Elixir (it was a low B!) and they just ignored me completely

+1 to Fodera

Ben Coffin · #18 12-24-2009, 08:52 AM

Thank you Jason, Fodera will definetly regain me as a loyal customer now, as long as I don't have any 1 in a Million accidents for a long time

. I've sent the email, and I must say, cudos on the amazing service. I would also like to point out that I examined my bridge, and consulted a luthier I knew, and the bridges were not the cause.

line6bassist · #19 12-24-2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Thumpin'

I am really sorry to hear about your bad experience with our strings. We have some pretty intense players (including some monster slappers) giving our strings a really good workout all the time and this is the first time I have heard of a potential flaw like this in a batch. However, we do make them by hand and we are human so this may be a really rare, freak thing.

Please feel free to drop us an email and we will get you 2 new sets (assuming that you are still willing to give 'em a try).

Ideally, if you could return the broken strings to us (at our expense), it would be helpful so that we could see what went wrong.

Please reach out to Holly if you are interested:

hwagner@fodera.com

For general service information / email you can use:

service@fodera.com

To get me directly (again, I am a Partner) you can email me at:

jdesalvo@fodera.com

Kindest regards,

Jason

because of this service.....i might just buy and try a set

73jbass · #20 12-24-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fullrangebass

Kudos to you Fodera (& Jason) for your upfront offer and handling of the unfortunate incident.

I can only say that I bought two very expensive sets of strings from a very well known string company and when both sets had a VERY weird and loud oscillating/wobbly overtone esp on E and a A strings (making the E and A strings REALLY useless) and when I rang them up, they said they would need to have the strings back first (at my expense) AND the receipt, and THEN decide what to do. Needless to say, I never send them anything, but they lost me as a customer. This story happened in 1997-1998.

That sounds a lot like twisted strings to me.