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[Smooth_bass88]

Makes no difference whether they are Asian websites or web sites from Tennessee (where I live). The issue is original vs unlicensed fake.

I'm pretty sure there are copyright laws here in the US that prohibit the type of activity that these Asian sites engage in. I've never seen or heard of a US-based website selling counterfeits. But, I agree...stay away from the forgeries wherever they may originate from!

 

[buldog5151bass]

Thats a good question. I suppose so a real company capable of real competition can't copy it. The Chinese knockoffs are crap. They're not a threat.

The more counterfeits there are out there, the tougher it is to know what is real, and the easier time the illegal counterfeiters have. As I have said before, if we can go two weeks without an "is this a real Fender/Gibson/whatever", I'll get off my soapbox. We usually can't go two DAYS.

 

[twinjet]

Who's sellin em.. I don't have even close to the funds for a real pup but I've seen some videos of some nice condition pretty good sounding imatations!! Who got the scoop of this!


Thanks

Aliexpress.

Also, inb4.

 

[MikeBass]

Link Removed

Not an Ibanez fan, but that the new single cut they have is pretty sweet looking.

Personally I dont have an issue with someone duplicating a Fodera. Hell, they made a version of a Fender themselves.
So, if someone copies a Fodera, so be it.
Where I disagree is putting their name and logo on it and also their headstock shape.

 

[Lowness]

From Fodera Website:

"Exceptional Musicians: Each Fodera custom made bass is as unique as the musician who plays it. Since every instrument is built to order for a specific musician, each has its own unique voice and character. No two are alike, yet all inspire, and are a joy to play."

and

"Making custom bass guitars is our passion! We specially handcraft every Fodera guitar so each one is as unique as its user."

Are you saying they are lying?

Their custom made basses? Sure........maybe; I find company websites as great source of subjective information.

I should know better than to challenge someone who knows the Fodera website address.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Here's how to handle IP infringement.
Link Removed

 

[Munjibunga]

tough crowd.. ha I really like the shape of the fodera being it has such a large cutout but makes up for the lack of wood up top. I have some bartolini electronics from another bass thinkin I could make this thing a project .. haha sorry if I got all you guys heated this wasn't my intention

... the shape of which Fodera? Monarch? Emperor? Emperor II? Imperial? Viceroy? AJ? Hybrid? Which?

 

[bassbenj]

Their custom made basses? Sure........maybe; I find company websites as great source of subjective information.

I should know better than to challenge someone who knows the Fodera website address.

They are lying. Got it.

So how many Foderas have you ordered? Unhappy with the lack of attention you received?

Personally I've never even played one, let alone ordered one. I did once see Victor Wooten play his from a distance of 6-8 feet though, which I think is good enough for me to give my expert opinion here on TB.

 

[Lowness]

Personally I've never even played one, let alone ordered one. I did once see Victor Wooten play his from a distance of 6-8 feet though, which I think is good enough for me to give my expert opinion here on TB.

You and everyone else which tears into the quality of TB.

 

[Just Thumpin']

Hi,

My 2¢

I've known Vin and Joey for over 30 years and I've know Jason for several. They've worked, painstakingly, to produce sonically and aesthetically beautiful instruments. These instruments, in the hands of the owners, are personal statements of what they want to hear, musically share and visually enjoy. While the copies or forgeries may be good or even very good, they don't compare to the original. It is similar to having an original Van Gogh, Renoir or any great piece of work that stands the test of time as opposed to a print.

Separately, the customer service is of Fodera is in a league of its own. Everything about that shop and everyone is nothing short of spectacular. The forgeries on eBay were originally listed as Fodera basses until they were exposed. These guys charged high prices for shoddy workmanship. For me, that is not cool to ride on the coattails of guys that were breaking their asses for decades to develop a brand, copy it and rip people off at the same time.

You can do as you wish and purchase what you wish as I am in no position to judge you. My upright was a copy of a William Forster as I couldn't afford the 250K for the real thing. If it were me, and I couldn't afford a Fodera, I'd wait, (as I did when I couldn't afford one) and break my ass to get the funds together. The other alternative would be to find a luthier that could make me something close, someone that could see my hands, listen to what I'm hearing in my head, someone that I could work with.

Sorry about the rant but I love those guys and I really didn't dig the way the foreign company tried to play their forgeries off as the real thing.

All the best in your decision and I look forward to hear you smoke on whatever instrument you get.

Stay groovy,

RH

Reggie --

Happy New Year and a huge thanks for this post!

Kindest regards,

Jason

 

[Just Thumpin']

I'm gonna get flamed for this, but i dont care.........
With all the versions of Fenders that are out there that no one has an issue with, as long as it doesnt say Fodera, or have a butterfly on the headstock, i fail to see what the issue is.

Just FYI, Ibanez is coming out with a pretty sweet looking singlecut next year. I call it a "poor mans Fodera".
Also, Ken Smith and Sadowsky have singlecuts out now as well that dont have the uber high price tag that a Fodera does.

To get into a NEW Fodera, you're looking at $7k and up.

I am prohibited from posting detailed things related to pricing here, but your assertion that a new Fodera costs "$7k and up" is factually incorrect.

 

[Just Thumpin']

Here are a few things to ponder...

A fair number of people in this thread seem to think that it is okay to copy our intellectual property -- even up to and including directly copying our logo. The justification seems to be that because these instruments cost but a small fraction of what our instruments cost that "it's okay." "No one is getting hurt."

Is there some price at which that changes? If someone makes a flat out copy of one of our basses, logo and all, and prices it only $100 less than the genuine article is that still not a problem? Where do you draw the line?

The reality is that counterfeiting is just never cool. Drawing inspiration from? Cool, no issue there. Blatantly copying a design, IP, logos, etc.? Just terrible things IMHO.

I will leave you all with one last thing to think about. When these guys making this junk with our logo on it were at the NAMM Show two years ago and Joey and I approached them in their booth, they did NOT act like they were doing nothing wrong. They hid the instruments, promised to "never do it again" and apologized profusely. That behavior indicates to me that these people KNOW on some real level that what they are doing is not right...IMHO, of course. They also know that because we are a small company and that the intellectual property law in their home country is so lax that they can get away with it...but make no mistake, their behavior was a very clear indication that they themselves know the behavior is wrong.

 

[MikeBass]

I am prohibited from posting detailed things related to pricing here, but your assertion that a new Fodera costs "$7k and up" is factually incorrect.

My bad......$5k and up for a non-customized standard....... :/

And my "assertion" was based on facts from the last time I priced one- which was just prior to the "Standards" came out.
Both my Garrison and my Emperor were both north of $7k.

 

[DigitalMan]

Clearly any bass that is counterfeit - i.e. Presents itself as a Fodera with the intent to deceive the buyer - is out of bounds.

Basses that borrow aesthetics from other basses are less clear cut. Fodera has every right to defend their trademarks and patents.

Moral high ground is lacking however. Clearly the offset Jazz bass body is Fender's creation. However people freely use it without compunction due to legal precedent. So even without a shred of doubt as to its origin, people have no qualms about using other people's creations so long as they know they can do so with impunity.

If it says Fodera or has the logo and was not made by Fodera it's cut and dry. If its stylistically close but does not intend to deceive then whatever decision Fodera obtains from due process should stand.

My opinion is that specific shapes can be trademarked but that should not apply broadly to an entire category of aesthetics. Also, trademarking a shape or style is fine, but let's not pretend it's an invention. You can trademark a new style of blue jeans anytime you want, but you didn't invent anything.

 

[Binary1]

For those that do care, anyone want to join me in reporting this counterfeit Fodera on eBay?

Art of Sound 5 string electric Bass #K4 w/Fodera bridge

And in case there's any doubt:

 

[MikeBass]

thats clearly a bunch of BS....report that thing....

 

[nostatic]

I am prohibited from posting detailed things related to pricing here, but your assertion that a new Fodera costs "$7k and up" is factually incorrect.

It's not rocket surgery

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

To help those too lazy to click, Monarch 4 Standard is $4850.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

For those that do care, anyone want to join me in reporting this counterfeit Fodera on eBay?

Art of Sound 5 string electric Bass #K4 w/Fodera bridge

And in case there's any doubt:

Reported

 

[Binary1]

Reported

Thanks!

I emailed the seller asking for pics of the headstock (I told him I was wanting it but needed to see the tuner holes). Here was his reply.

Anyone want to say this is just "simillar" (or whatever) to a Fodera and not a blatant counterfeit?

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Thanks!

I emailed the seller asking for pics of the headstock (I told him I was wanting it but needed to see the tuner holes). Here was his reply.

Anyone want to say this is just "simillar" (or whatever) to a Fodera and not a blatant counterfeit?

It's a really MESSY headstock inlay, look at all the black epoxy fill.
and if that is not enough, REALLY? the trussrod cover! Note the string spacing at the nut
I little issue with replicas, per se (like the cheap lookalike ROLODEX watches i used to buy in Mexico)
but trademarks, and "close enough at 5 feet" branding is across the line.
This is a clear case of intentional counterfeiting.
Sad because, from the looks of the woodwork this example may otherwise be a usable chunk of wood and electronics....