Fodera Club Part XVI

[Ivan M]

Originally Posted by Steveman

Since we're on the topic of Brazilian Rosewood, does anybody have any experience (or know of anybody that does) travelling out of the country with it? I've read that you can get your bass confiscated if you don't have proper import documents when crossing the boarder. Does anybody know what AJ does with his presentation?

US Customs has NO AUTHORITY in taking away an instrument due to the woods used....ONLY US FISH and WILDLIFE can do this. Just an FYI. Internationally it can cause problems, that is why some builders will not ship lets say Brazilian Rosewood FB out of the country, just too many headaches. I cant answer your question as to what AJ does, my sincere apologies for that.

[roadkill2309]

Originally Posted by Steveman

Since we're on the topic of Brazilian Rosewood, does anybody have any experience (or know of anybody that does) travelling out of the country with it? I've read that you can get your bass confiscated if you don't have proper import documents when crossing the boarder. Does anybody know what AJ does with his presentation?

Braz is not a good choice if you plan on taking your bass across borders. US F&W doesn't seem to be seizing people's personal instruments right now, but that doesn't mean they won't start when some future administration tries to look like it cares about CITES. Also, getting past the US side doesn't mean that your bass won't get grabbed by Canada or wherever you're going, again, depending on the philosophy in place in your destination country.

Kudos to Vinny and the guys for only using CITES certified BR (IIRC), but at the end of the day, it's an extremely unsustainable choice in a world that's going the other way. What may be fine today may be totally verboten tomorrow.

[basswalker2004]

Originally Posted by Just Thumpin'

And Happy Holidays to all of you! Was back in the saddle yesterday, but only just finally getting to check out what you all have been up to!!

Kindest regards,

Jason

Glad you had some family time.. Love to all
cheers

[Lennard III.]

Originally Posted by roadkill2309

Braz is not a good choice if you plan on taking your bass across borders. US F&W doesn't seem to be seizing people's personal instruments right now, but that doesn't mean they won't start when some future administration tries to look like it cares about CITES. Also, getting past the US side doesn't mean that your bass won't get grabbed by Canada or wherever you're going, again, depending on the philosophy in place in your destination country.

Kudos to Vinny and the guys for only using CITES certified BR (IIRC), but at the end of the day, it's an extremely unsustainable choice in a world that's going the other way. What may be fine today may be totally verboten tomorrow.

the german customs will kill you when they find sth. like that on a Bass. There had been szenarios where the customs came on the stage and took away the musicians instrument in the middle of the gig in the past.

[Hou]

Originally Posted by Hou

Truly amazing!

http://www.fodera.com/Main/NewBornDe...uredItemID=525

I asume this bass is tuned E-C. When does the pickup have one or two poles under the C string? It seems very different

Jason - Can you explain why some pickups have one or two poles under the C string?

[LugzyDee]

Originally Posted by ursusaltered

My first experience wit Fodera, was a 1984 monarch that I had received from Garey. The same thing happened to me. It was so effortless that it almost felt like I was playing air bass! I could do techniques on that bass that I couldn't do on any basses which preceded it. 4 foderas later. I am still blown away at the playability, tone, craftsmanship, and the attention to detail. I have a new 33" scale monarch due to be completed in march or April. And I am so excited!

Absolutely agree. Everything about Fodera comes in equal measure; playability, tone, looks + fit & finish. The bad thing is that we always drool at how good the next bass outta the shop looks and if you own/owned or played a few, you know that once the specs appeal to you, that bass would be a treat to play..

Hope you and all the Fodera clubbers had a good holiday & here's to lot more drooling in 2013.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by Just Thumpin'

Forget about the removable FB extension on a neck-through. We'd never agree to do it -- it would be cost prohibitive.

Regards,

J

... even for [Dr. Evil] one ... BILLION ... dollars? [/Dr. Evil]

[mrbassman_de]

Originally Posted by Lennard III.

the german customs will kill you when they find sth. like that on a Bass. There had been szenarios where the customs came on the stage and took away the musicians instrument in the middle of the gig in the past.

Originally Posted by Steveman

Since we're on the topic of Brazilian Rosewood, does anybody have any experience (or know of anybody that does) travelling out of the country with it? I've read that you can get your bass confiscated if you don't have proper import documents when crossing the boarder. Does anybody know what AJ does with his presentation?

It all depends how the destination country implemented the CITES regulations and standards. All EU countries unified their implementation per 1984. And since 1992 Brazilian Rosewood is explicitely banned by CITES as one of the endangered species. Since then it is forbidden in EU to import and export any goods with that wood - NO MATTER WHEN THE TREE HAS BEEN CUT ! Don't know whether this applies to Canada or Mexico too but I'm sure they all implement the CITES standards in this or either way.

Only exception is when you have CITES documents with the bass that certifies the woods as legally taken out of the nature. These docs have to be provided by the manufacturer. In EU you are not allowed to deal or commercially expose your instruments (even on a gig !) without these documents. But if you have them with your Fodera - no problem.

Please note: Braz RW is only the beginning. There are other woods in observation and they will surely be added to CITES very soon: Ebony, Cocobolo or Mahogany from certain origin are only a few. So it is reasonable to get the current CITES infos when purchasing a guitar from foreign lands ...

This all is not new ... but the customs world-wide increase their attention.

[joe vegas]

I caught the late set tonight of Mike Stern, AJ, Dave Weckl and Randy Brecker at Iridium. Great ideas and interplay all around. Mike tore it up (within a set of mostly his original tunes), and Anthony had some great solo spots. The club's PA has, to my ears, some strange gaps in the low mids and isn't entirely capable of doing justice to the full range of AJ's Presentation model, but his ideas were great as always. They're at the club through New Year's Eve, if anyone's interested in checking them out.

[Just Thumpin']

It is very possible that this last batch of CITES Brazilian that we were able to source two years ago will indeed be our last. The cost keeps going up, quality keeps going down and, as you said, it is totally unsustainable. Heck, I drive a Volt, so I am completely onboard with trying to minimize our collective footprint on the planet...

J

Originally Posted by roadkill2309

Braz is not a good choice if you plan on taking your bass across borders. US F&W doesn't seem to be seizing people's personal instruments right now, but that doesn't mean they won't start when some future administration tries to look like it cares about CITES. Also, getting past the US side doesn't mean that your bass won't get grabbed by Canada or wherever you're going, again, depending on the philosophy in place in your destination country.

Kudos to Vinny and the guys for only using CITES certified BR (IIRC), but at the end of the day, it's an extremely unsustainable choice in a world that's going the other way. What may be fine today may be totally verboten tomorrow.

[Just Thumpin']

Only our 6-string dual coils have a single pole piece for the C-string. The reason is because it sounds better. The next logical question is, "why do we use two pole pieces for the C on the 5-string PUPs (for E-C instruments) and that is because the sonic benefit of the single pole piece is fairly minor when compared to the logistical issue of needing to stock an entirely different sets of 5-string pickups (for multiple different string spacings) and the fact that many folks go back and forth between E-C and B-G on their 5ers throughout their lives together.

I hope that makes sense!

J

Originally Posted by Hou

Jason - Can you explain why some pickups have one or two poles under the C string?

[Just Thumpin']

I am certain that it is an available option for less than half that. LOL!

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

... even for [Dr. Evil] one ... BILLION ... dollars? [/Dr. Evil]

[Randyt]

Originally Posted by joe vegas

I caught the late set tonight of Mike Stern, AJ, Dave Weckl and Randy Brecker at Iridium.

Totally jealous...that wouldve been an incredible Gig!!!..All Star Line up!!

Well Done!!..Oh if you go again...Get me a Tshirt!

[electriccheese]

Originally Posted by mrbassman_de

It all depends how the destination country implemented the CITES regulations and standards. All EU countries unified their implementation per 1984. And since 1992 Brazilian Rosewood is explicitely banned by CITES as one of the endangered species. Since then it is forbidden in EU to import and export any goods with that wood - NO MATTER WHEN THE TREE HAS BEEN CUT ! Don't know whether this applies to Canada or Mexico too but I'm sure they all implement the CITES standards in this or either way.

Only exception is when you have CITES documents with the bass that certifies the woods as legally taken out of the nature. These docs have to be provided by the manufacturer. In EU you are not allowed to deal or commercially expose your instruments (even on a gig !) without these documents. But if you have them with your Fodera - no problem.

Please note: Braz RW is only the beginning. There are other woods in observation and they will surely be added to CITES very soon: Ebony, Cocobolo or Mahogany from certain origin are only a few. So it is reasonable to get the current CITES infos when purchasing a guitar from foreign lands ...

This all is not new ... but the customs world-wide increase their attention.

What you can do if you don't have the CITES documents? I have two basses with BR, but I don't know how obtain this documents.

My basses are a 65' jazz bass and a Fodera Emperor...

[cnltb]

Originally Posted by electriccheese

What you can do if you don't have the CITES documents? I have two basses with BR, but I don't know how obtain this documents.

My basses are a 65' jazz bass and a Fodera Emperor...

Isn't it a blank document sent to luthiers to fill in?

[kamakiriad7]

My curiosity is leaning toward the Presentation model. Will Fodera be going back to Pink Ivory as the fingerboard wood? What's AJ's thoughts on this?

[thehess]

Originally Posted by joe vegas

I caught the late set tonight of Mike Stern, AJ, Dave Weckl and Randy Brecker at Iridium.

Seeing them tonight, early set, then maybe staying for the late. It's a New Year's tradition for us. We've been fortunate to see Mike many times over the years, with pretty much all of the Fodera bassists - Bona, Kennedy, Jackson, Goines, McBride (on upright). Also have seen him with Ron Carter and Pattitucci. Mike's shows are always worth the trip.

[roadkill2309]

Originally Posted by Just Thumpin'

It is very possible that this last batch of CITES Brazilian that we were able to source two years ago will indeed be our last. The cost keeps going up, quality keeps going down and, as you said, it is totally unsustainable. Heck, I drive a Volt, so I am completely onboard with trying to minimize our collective footprint on the planet...

J

You drive a Volt? We're 98.9% certain that our next car will be a Prius V, but I keep taking a second look at those Volts when they swoop by.

I may drop you a PM about your ride when work settles down a bit.

Originally Posted by Just Thumpin'

The next logical question is, "why do we use two pole pieces for the C on the 5-string PUPs (for E-C instruments) and that is because the sonic benefit of the single pole piece is fairly minor when compared to the logistical issue of needing to stock an entirely different sets of 5-string pickups (for multiple different string spacings) and the fact that many folks go back and forth between E-C and B-G on their 5ers throughout their lives together.

So the benefit only really happens with a high C? Interesting. I love the look of the single on the end there. But then, I love Fender's asymmetrical 5-string P pup, so uh... you know...

Originally Posted by mrbassman_de

Please note: Braz RW is only the beginning. There are other woods in observation and they will surely be added to CITES very soon: Ebony, Cocobolo or Mahogany from certain origin are only a few. So it is reasonable to get the current CITES infos when purchasing a guitar from foreign lands ...

Yes, I'm worried about this as well; the fretboard on my Sadowsky NYC is Madagascar rosewood. I feel kind of guilty about it, actually. I really should have looked more into what's happening in Madagascar before settling on that fretboard.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by kamakiriad7

My curiosity is leaning toward the Presentation model. Will Fodera be going back to Pink Ivory as the fingerboard wood? What's AJ's thoughts on this?

Like this one, delivered last month? (I know it's an Imperial.)

[metallutca]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Like this one, delivered last month? (I know it's an Imperial.)

My goodness! This should be a NAMM bass!!