1

[Lowness]

if you don't have the Fodera funds then you ain't gonna play a Fodera (unless you steal one). And while you can scrounge EBAY for Chinese copies you won't get one that sounds or plays like a Fodera. Why? Because the reason Fodera's cost so much is because they take you and hold your hand and work out exactly what it is you want in a bass and then they apply the highest end craftsmanship to build it for you. All that hand-holding takes time and energy and that is money. So if you want someone else to do that, I'm sure you can find someone else willing to go through the song and dance with you. They may or may not produce an instrument of Fodera quality and if they do, you can be pretty sure it's going to be in the same price range!

What you CAN buy is a Chinese fake that sort of LOOKS like a Fodera. Not perfect as shown by a number of threads here, but probably good enough to fool the vast majority of the audience (most of whom think a bass is a guitar anyway). Yes, they'll even supply a fake (inferior quality) butterfly logo on it. People get all uptight about this, but hey, music is show biz and that is mostly fake anyway, right?

You can do that if looks is your desire. But not for me. Unless I had some project where I was doing a satire of a Vic Wooten slapfest or something, I'd choose to get a cheap copy of something that gives me some tone I can love. Like say all the SX Chinese Fender clones where they've worked out most of the kinks. Or maybe a old OLP stingray clone. I'd scrounge around looking for tone wherever I found it. Yeah, it's more work than just plunking down a stack of bills for some boutique...or is it? It depends on how difficult it was for you to earn that stack of bills. Even better buy a Sire where they've worked out ALL the kinks.

So let me get this right:

When Fodera makes me an Emperor or a Yin Yang, they take me buy the hand and make a standard bass that fits my specifications?

Sure............

 

[basschanges]

Say what you want about fodera; the counterfeits that I've seen all remind me of those old econoline vans on which someone spray painted "Porsche cayenne." They're so badly done they're laughable.

There are many threads discussing why foderas are so expensive. The location of their shop plays into it, but you're getting a top notch instrument.

Here's the bottom line. If you need to have the shape, why not, get it. However, to everyone who would be impressed by a fodera, you'll look like a fool with such an obvious pos fake. To everyone else, it doesn't matter what bass you have anyway.

 

[Lowness]

I like how people say proudly that the Fodera / Sadowsky [Insert boutique brand] customer service is fantastic - the best ever.

Really???

Sorry to say, though this is perhaps the minimum you should expect when charging the highest ever price for a bass.

 

[ole Jason]

If you just want something on the level of a Fodera for less money there are several luthiers producing basses of the same caliber in the $3-4k range. You could also buy a Fodera standard.

 

[thehangingmist]

i have seen three, they can have really bad playability
electronics always so bad that you might as well order new pickups and preamp when you order that bass
serious time spent at a tech's shop to make it, i've also heard of one which was not horrible but it needed another 500$ to make it work
i dont see the point but i can see how i did see a point earlier when i could not afford a nice bass
but remember not all nice looking basses play nice at all

 

[Lowness]

You bought a Fodera copy?

I challenge you to a bass duel with my Bacchus / Attlier Z / Sadowsky / Mike Lull / G&L / Carvin / Nash / ESP / Xotic / Ken Smith / Lakland / Maya Jazz bass.

 

[5544]

You bought a Fodera copy?

View attachment 763862

I challenge you to a bass duel with my Bacchus / Attlier Z / Sadowsky / Mike Lull / G&L / Carvin / Nash / ESP / Xotic / Ken Smith / Lakland / Maya Jazz bass.

I still don't understand how G&L can be called a Fender copy since it was the same person that created both brands.

 

[PortlandBass77]

Here's the real answer:

The basses you've seen in videos sounded good because the players were good. Fodera copies only vaguely look like the real thing. If having a bass that looks like a Fodera is important to you, there are shady Asian websites where you can buy them.

'Shady' is a very strong word, I would say more 'potentially low quality' or 'potentially too good to be true'. I have bought a double neck from dhgate.com and a bunch of misc. stuff from aliexpress.com and I have never had a problem. The key is read the reviews, read the seller ratings, and communicate with the sellers. Really, buying wholesale like this is just the smaller scale of what most major companies in the US do. Why should this cost cutting method be open to them and not everybody else.

 

[kodiakblair]

OP if you dig the single cut but funds won't allow it,have a word with Skelf at AC Guitars over in Scotland.
Handmade things of beauty starting at $1600.

 

[Lowness]

I still don't understand how G&L can be called a Fender copy since it was the same person that created both brands.

Ok...

 

[Qlanq]

Wow. Check this out, just a beauty.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

...same TalkBass - different Year.

 

[tubedude]

If I ever hit my head hard enough to spend $7K on a bass, I would think I should never need customer support!

 

[pie_man_25]

Here's the real answer:

The basses you've seen in videos sounded good because the players were good. Fodera copies only vaguely look like the real thing. If having a bass that looks like a Fodera is important to you, there are shady Asian websites where you can buy them.

basically this. I`d feel weird playing a counterfeit Fodera, or a counterfeit Rick or otherwise. I`m playing a counterfeit Fender - headstock and all, but I`m in China right now, and could find you some counterfeit prada for less than twenty CAD, and the real deal is costs more than back home. Needless to say, they`re weird about that stuff here.

 

[liveburning274]

Playing along...perhaps the OP is simply looking for a pretty bass? Something to catch the eye and wonder the viewers? (Perhaps not the listeners, but there's aftermarket electronics and professional lessons for that. )

Now yes, I agree, that a lying butterfly on the top of the headstock is stooping pretty low. But I can understand someone wanting a "tabletop" instrument and to not have to pay $1K+. But to each his own. Fakenbickers, "vintage" Fenders with a backwards "F", etc. have lived on the fringes of the low-end world for decades now. Nothing is new under the sun, but some people still will buy them to have a semblance of the real thing.

 

[pedroims]

You can find them in ebay, I dont have any idea how good or bad they are: Art of Sound 5 string electric Bass #K4 w/Fodera bridge

For that price I will get one of these instead: Ibanez BTB685MSCNTF BTB Bass Workshop - Natural Flat

 

[Binary1]

Awesome Man. Thanks so much for a response like that. You put it into a perspective I wasn't really thinking of. But yea I have a local cat who I thought about giving a visit who makes really nice stuff, giving him an idea of what I like and see what he can do. Thanks for the solid advice. I'm going to contact him asap. As for Fodera guys. They really do make incredible instruments.

Thanks
JP

A great choice!

Plus, this puts money in the hands of a local craftsman.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Without adding more gas to the fire, talk to local luthiers, and see what they would make that would meet your desires, and not be an illegal counterfeit. You already have pups, so that would save you some money.

That's as good (and as civil) as I can do.

 

[Funk³]

*cough* Too expensive... *cough*

 

[J.P. Heston]

Hellz yea! That thing looks nice thanks for the post

The(Ibanez BTB685MSCNTF BTB Bass )