Fodera Club Part XVII - Page 31

pringlw · #**601** 02-17-2013, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabinosto

Hi

sunny winter pics:

That's so nice. As a (mostly) dedicated 4 banger, I usually look away from the 5s and 6s. However when I see a gorgeous single cutaway 4 like that, it makes me wonder if I should place another call to Brooklyn! I know that 4s don't really need the extra stability of a single cutaway but the look is killer.

nostatic · #**602** 02-17-2013, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysbassspace

This is likey a dumb question, but how exactly does the mid boost switch work? I know it "boosts" mids but I guess I mean how does it work in relation to the mid control knob?

It's not a mid boost. It changes the frequency center for the mid eq control.

curt basner · #**603** 02-17-2013, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lennard III.

Isn't it also possible to get a downsized Emperor II ???

You know, Lennard, that's a question I never asked.

Jason, have you ever considered something like this, a downsized Emperor II? I don't know if that makes sense, or how the balance might be affected, etc. Is this something that might be possible? As I'd said in my previous post(s), I still really do find the EII to be the most aesthetically beautiful of the Foderas, taking nothing away from my forthcoming MG Imperial...

asbs · #**604** 02-17-2013, 12:37 PM

That a really good point to note.
Thank you Jason.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Thumpin'

I personally would not chamber a light weight Ash body. The tone does start to get a touch "thin."

But that's just IMHO...

J

Lennard III. · #**605** 02-17-2013, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curt basner

You know, Lennard, that's a question I never asked.

hmmm, as far as I know has it been possible in the past that you could get any model a little downsized - it's all handmade / shaped so why not ?!

It's also possible to get bigger bodies - have a look at the last sentences of this Bass here

http://www.fodera.com/Main/NewBornDe...uredItemID=509

Just Thumpin' · #**606** 02-17-2013, 04:51 PM

If the mids control knob is flat it does nothing. Only if the knob is either being boosted or cut will you hear a difference...its better to listen to the difference than to read about it...LOL!

J

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysbassspace

This is likey a dumb question, but how exactly does the mid boost switch work? I know it "boosts" mids but I guess I mean how does it work in relation to the mid control knob?

Just Thumpin' · #**607** 02-17-2013, 04:55 PM

We can certainly do that. Of course there are limits to just how much you can alter a shape before you run into ergonomic issues. Please keep in mind that Vinny and Joey have experimented with these shapes extensively and arrived at them after much thought. So, while all of us can request any changes that we want (Fodera IS custom shop after all), sometimes the tinkering works and sometimes it doesn't...

Regards,

J

Quote:

Originally Posted by curt basner

You know, Lennard, that's a question I never asked.

Jason, have you ever considered something like this, a downsized Emperor II? I don't know if that makes sense, or how the balance might be affected, etc. Is this something that might be possible? As I'd said in my previous post(s), I still really do find the EII to be the most aesthetically beautiful of the Foderas, taking nothing away from my forthcoming MG Imperial...

jaysbassspace · #**608** 02-17-2013, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Thumpin'

If the mids control knob is flat it does nothing. Only if the knob is either being boosted or cut will you hear a difference...its better to listen to the difference than to read about it...LOL!

J

Thanks

nuwavedc · #**609** 02-17-2013, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Thumpin'

We can certainly do that. Of course there are limits to just how much you can alter a shape before you run into ergonomic issues. Please keep in mind that Vinny and Joey have experimented with these shapes extensively and arrived at them after much thought. So, while all of us can request any changes that we want (Fodera IS custom shop after all), sometimes the tinkering works and sometimes it doesn't...

Regards,

J

I was tempted to ask for a special version small version of the emp II as well, but I didn't want to mess with what works too much. The experimentation done that resulted in the mgs shows, it's the most perfectly balanced instrument I've ever played.

Steveman · #**610** 02-18-2013, 10:45 AM

Isn't Tom Kennedy's bass a down-sized Emperor II?

phishaholik · #**611** 02-19-2013, 12:02 PM

Finally got the new pickups in me Fodera. There is now a D.Allen pickup in the neck position and a Lindy Fralin 5% overwound lateral humbucker at the bridge. The tone is finally how I've been wanting it since I got the bass.

I've never been a fan of the EMG's. They always sounded way over compressed and unnatural to me. The lows were too tight and the highs too rolled off IMO. They also never sounded nearly as good as my passive basses when going through a tube amp. They were perfectly silent, which was awesome.

Now the bass has truly thick lows and a much more present upper midrange. The pickups sound great in passive mode and the Pope Flexcore I'm running does a great job of boosting gain whilst keeping the character of the pickups.

I have been having some trouble with grounding however. The bass had no ground cable run from the bridge originally, so I had to have a luthier do that for me. When I first hooked the pickups up, they were out of phase with each other. I flipped the wires on the P pickup. The out of phase problem went away, but there was still a lot of buzz and the P pickup sounded very muddy.

I switched the Fralin around instead, tightened the pots down to the bass and used a star washer and screw to help ground the bridge wire, an unshielded braided wire, on its way to the preamp. I didn't solder a separate wire from copper shielding to the preamp. Also, the pickup cavities are unshielded. I'm going to shield them, but I'm a little worried trying to dig the foam out that Fodera put in there. I know that the cavities being unshielded can cause buzz, but it's buzzing more than my completely unshielded basses ever did.

If anyone has any advice to track down the grounding problem, I'm all ears. I'm going to open it back up tonight and make sure none of the circuit boards are touching the copper shielding.

Other than the buzzing, the pickups sound fantastic and I'm very, very happy I made the switch!

Michael

bassdoubler · #**612** 02-19-2013, 12:06 PM

looks great!

phishaholik · #**613** 02-19-2013, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassdoubler

looks great!

Thanks!

I wasn't sure if I was going to like the exposed pole pieces, since I was so used the look of the EMG's, but I'm really happy with how it turned out. The exposed pole pieces look good with the dot inlays IMO.

Michael

Flaked Beans · #**614** 02-19-2013, 12:30 PM

I was at shapeshifter down in brooklyn last saturday. Jack
De johnette trio baby with matt garrison and ravi coltrane and matt sounded excellent! (as usual

). The queation is: can i order a 6 string matthew garrison signature bass?

nuwavedc · #**615** 02-19-2013, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flaked Beans

I was at shapeshifter down in brooklyn last saturday. Jack
De johnette trio baby with matt garrison and ravi coltrane and matt sounded excellent! (as usual

). The queation is: can i order a 6 string matthew garrison signature bass?

For whatever its worth:
FS only: Fodera Imperial 6 String Bolivian Rosewood (MG Shape)

Hou · #**616** 02-19-2013, 01:26 PM

I would like to grab this
http://luthiersaccessgroup.com/dt_ca...om-jb-pickups/

bassdoubler · #**617** 02-19-2013, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuwavedc

For whatever its worth:
FS only: Fodera Imperial 6 String Bolivian Rosewood (MG Shape)

yeah, Tim told me he was going to sell it. I WISH I had the $!! So gorgeous

Robin Ruscio · #**618** 02-19-2013, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuwavedc

For whatever its worth:
FS only: Fodera Imperial 6 String Bolivian Rosewood (MG Shape)

That's what I would want for second Fodera IF I had the money. Which I don't.

There's something special about the walnut/ebony combo, made more enticing by 26 frets, 33" scale, tight spacing, and a great top.

Someday.

My other Fodera is more practical as an actual gigging bass.

MRSKI · #**619** 02-19-2013, 06:20 PM

Does anyone know, maybe Jason, The factory defaut EQ settings for the newer Fodera/ Pope internal pre-amp jumpers.
I just aquired an Emperor Deluxe five and was just curious if it was changed.
Thanks

thehess · #**620** 02-19-2013, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phishaholik

I have been having some trouble with grounding however....there was still a lot of buzz.

Is the hum consistent, or does it go away when you touch the bridge or strings with your hands?

I have a FlexCore in another bass, and initially had hum problems on install. Since it was a side jack bass, Mike Pope (thepontif) recommended that I run a ground wire from the neutral of the output jack, and solder it to the top of one of the pots. Silenced it right up. If you search "flexcore hum" in the pickups forum, I bet you'll find multiple responses from Mike on the same subject. Might not be your issue, but it is likely something you want to consider. Reach out to him - he's very responsive.