What,folks,would you say about Alembic vs Fodera

[victorlion]

What,folks,would you say about Alembic compare to Fodera?
I mean,there’s no way to...}}
Let’s Vote)))
If you got 10 thsnd bcks,wish one would you choose?
http://www.myspace.com/levchenko

[M.R. Ogle]

Alembic.

Just check out the gallery of featured Alembic customs:

http://www.alembic.com/info/fcvault.html

Not even comparable.

[wideload]

For $10,000? Why, half an Alembic, for sure!

[dudelove]

Both are realy sweet.
But if I gonna Choose between them, I'm will try them both and pick the one I fall most for

[5string5fingers]

Does fodera really compare to alembic?

[xed]

I've been fortunate to have owned 2 Alembics (still own one of them). That link that Ogle posted is THE porn link for all Alembic folks. I've no idea how many times I've gone through that one. Here are a few "must see's"...

http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_dragonsbreath.html
http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_bop.html
http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_dragonwing.html
http://www.alembic.com/info/fc_romanconq.html

All that having been said; I did get the chance to sit down and play Victor Wooten's original Fodera for a bit many years ago and I was completely blown away by the feel of that bass.

[perkidan]

I always said if I ever hit the lottery, Alembic would be getting a phone call. Thanks for posting those links. Sheer beauty

[KJung]

Played quite a few of both brands. Obviously, Alembic kind of started it all with the fancy boutique thing. Both are amazing, of course. I greatly prefer the more 'traditional design and tone in an uber high end, hand crafted thing' that Fodera does, versus the rather over the top aesthetics and also electronics of the Alembics.

I always felt I was 'playing the preamp' with most Alembic's I've played, and many had just terrible neck dive. Fodera's are more of a 'players' instrument to me... kind of taking the classic thing and putting a really high end stamp on it.

Not better or worse, but WAY different. I guess if you are driven primarily by over the top wood and elecronics, the custom high end Alembics kind of set the bar for that. IMO and IME.

[Soul Power]

Fodera-----Never played an alembic, but my "NYC empire" 5 stringer is the most comfortable bass I've EVER played----More comfortable than Any 4 stringer I've played as well----and this is supposedly their "budget" bass...
I've also played wooten's yin yang at his camp, and my god....the neck on that thing is UNBELIEVABLE.
I would assume that alembic's can make necks that are on par or even exceed the comfort of a fodera neck----and if that's the case I would still choose fodera, simply for aesthetic reasons. Alembics are BEAUTIFUL....but I don't like the typical body shapes that they use....
To me, an alembic is like a normal toilet that is made of pure gold, and a fodera is one of those high-tech japanese toilets that spit warm water on your gooch while the padded seat warms your butt.

[christw]

I played an Alembic this past week. Wow. It was like a piece of art and it played sooooooooooooooooooooo well. The tone was fiiiiiiine too.

[Molan]

I have two of each at the moment

A pair of Monarchs, an '86 with zebrano top and a nearly new Yin Yang plus a flamed maple '00 Mark King signature and an '82 koa Series 1.

I don't think they are really that comparable (other then costing lots of money, being exquisitely made etc.).

All 4 are lovely to play and each has a very different sound / personality.

If I had to choose just 1 it would be the '86 Monarch. Probably the least pretty of the four but the most 'usable' and may favourite core tone.

The koa Series is getting a lot of use at home currently but that's probably because it's the newest of the bunch for me

[spade2you]

Originally Posted by 5string5fingers

Does fodera really compare to alembic?

My thoughts exactly. Play both and decide which you want....and for that price you had better be 100% certain of what you want.

[Antares]

I vote Alembic. I think a better competition would be Alembic vs Ritter.

[spade2you]

Originally Posted by Antares

I vote Alembic. I think a better competition would be Alembic vs Ritter.

Why? Just because they're expensive and over the top doesn't mean they're similar.

[Antares]

Originally Posted by spade2you

Why? Just because they're expensive and over the top doesn't mean they're similar.

Alembic and Ritter are both expensive, over the top with very unique style and exquisite build quality.Thats the exact reason i compare the two. Those are similarities. Simply meant to compare the two as far as aesthetics, design and how theyre works of art as much as fantastic instruments.

I wasnt intending to put down Fodera basses or imply anything more.

[Plays_For_Dog]

Fodera. I don't like the looks of most Alembic's. Just because they're expensive doesn't make them pretty. Of course, I'm a wierdo because I like simple and sleek basses. Some of their designes I find gaudy and over the top. Granted there are some Foderas I’m not crazy about either, but the Monach and Emporer models are soooo ubber sexy.

[NecroticImbecil]

Alembic. They'll pretty much build whatever you can imagine, so it only needs to be ugly if you can only imagine ugly basses. If you know what kind of neck you like, what body shape, etc... they'll build it. Just don't order something you hate.

[CrUiSeR]

I would choose Ken Smith
I haven't played a series I or II alembic yet; but every alembic I have played has
been a dog IMO

[malthumb]

Originally Posted by wideload

For $10,000? Why, half an Alembic, for sure!

Or, in my case you can have TWO Alembics for not much more than that. And one of them is a top of the line Series II. The other just your run of the mill Series I.

Let's face it, when you are spending that sorta coin, you need to know what you want as well as who is most likely to make it. With Alembic, you have several choices of electronics schemes. If none of them strike your fancy, put your checkbook away and go somewhere else. After that, everything else is a question of what do you want and are you able to afford it. Body and woods can range from mild to wild (I consider mine fairly mainstream). As for neck profile, you can stick with standard for the model or you can send them your specs or (their preference) you can send them a bass that has the profile you like and they'll duplicate it.

I've played a couple Foderas. Both Monarchs. Both very nice, but nothing I'd trade either of my Alembics for. I'm sure there are a number of Fodera owners who wouldn't trade their instruments for one of mine.

[Dr. Cheese]

As a cheapskate/broke b@st@rd, I would have to say that on the used market, you can get much, much better deals for an Alembic. I have owned two Alembics in the past, and I thought they were fine basses. In fact, I knowing what I know now, I wish I had kept my Alembic 5 that I had back in 1992, and I probably would have avoided all of the bass swapping I have done over the last twenty years.

New, for $10,000, I would take a Fodera provided I could find one already made I could buy.