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Fodera Monarch Trio

Munjibunga

Munjibunga

Total Hyper-Elite Member
May 6, 2000
37,499
14,776
San Diego (when not at Groom Lake)
#1
Well, they came in to Bass San Diego today and they are, in a word, breathtaking. I played only the Deluxe, but George played all three when I was there. I'm going to reserve comment on tonal differences until those with "The Golden Ear" weigh in.

I will, however comment on the looks of the basses. The tops on the Deluxe (dovetail) and the Bolt-on are nearly identical. You can see the photos Link Removed. The top on the Elite was cut from the same blank, but only two of the tops could be matched from facing pieces.

The quilt figuring on the basses is intense, and the Brazilian rosewood fretboards are spectacular - the wood is over 100 years old. I have to believe Vinny, Joey, Jason and the folks at Fodera went out of their way to make these basses very special.

I hope one person buys all three of these superb pieces of art - it would be at least a venial sin to split them up.

Disclaimer: Despite my affiliation with Bass San Diego, I will not benefit in any way from the sale of these basses.
 
#11
Munjibunga said:
Well, they came in to Bass San Diego today and they are, in a word, breathtaking. I played only the Deluxe, but George played all three when I was there. I'm going to reserve comment on tonal differences until those with "The Golden Ear" weigh in.

I will, however comment on the looks of the basses. The tops on the Deluxe (dovetail) and the Bolt-on are nearly identical. You can see the photos Link Removed. The top on the Elite was cut from the same blank, but only two of the tops could be matched from facing pieces.

The quilt figuring on the basses is intense, and the Brazilian rosewood fretboards are spectacular - the wood is over 100 years old. I have to believe Vinny, Joey, Jason and the folks at Fodera went out of their way to make these basses very special.

I hope one person buys all three of these superb pieces of art - it would be at least a venial sin to split them up.

Disclaimer: Despite my affiliation with Bass San Diego, I will not benefit in any way from the sale of these basses.
Click to expand...

Man how often do you get down there? And you are associated with them too?? You'd think in all these years we would have come across each other...

Kinda shocked they went to Bass San Diego, might have to check them out.
 
#12
BassSaxMan said:
Man how often do you get down there? And you are associated with them too?? You'd think in all these years we would have come across each other...

Kinda shocked they went to Bass San Diego, might have to check them out.
Click to expand...

Well, last week might have been the first week in a long time I haven't been there - I was off continent (but not incontinent). I usually go over there a couple times a week. I do Pope Flex Core preamp installations for them. Weren't we supposed to meet at UCSD one time a long time ago?
 
#14
The photos of all three on the BSD website look wonderful! BTW, although it doesn't mention it, all three necks come from exactly the same slab as well. We built a big enough beam to cut four 3-piece neck slabs out of and then we used three consecutive slices for these three Monarchs...

J
 
#17
These three are perfect for an in depth comparison of these three designs - bolt-on, set neck, neck thru.
Pull out the blindfold and check them out without knowing which is which , maybe record all three .
Luthiers Access Group and Bass Gear did such a comparison with two Marleaux basses , alike in every way except one was bolt-on, one neck thru.
BG did some measurements using science lab machines - results to be published in the next issue of BG - Fall 2012.

Please do compare these three Foderas and post your impressions - thanks.
 
#18
Dan Lenard said:
These three are perfect for an in depth comparison of these three designs - bolt-on, set neck, neck thru.
Pull out the blindfold and check them out without knowing which is which , maybe record all three .
Luthiers Access Group and Bass Gear did such a comparison with two Marleaux basses , alike in every way except one was bolt-on, one neck thru.
BG did some measurements using science lab machines - results to be published in the next issue of BG - Fall 2012.

Please do compare these three Foderas and post your impressions - thanks.
Click to expand...

They were built by Fodera for precisely this purpose (comparison of differences between construction techniques). Matt Garrison was recorded playing them and Fodera will be posting samples for the world to hear. In order to understand the playing differences, well you'd just have to pay a quick visit to Bass San Diego before they are sold.

Jim
 

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