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A Cheap Fodera Bass?

#21
Taking nothing away from Fodera, who builds wonderful instruments:

OP, if you're interested in a super-premium instrument, welcome to Talkbass. This is one of the busiest and most engrossing enthusiast forums I've ever seen. It's like a world its own. You'll get help here.

Fodera's reputation allows them to charge what they do for their excellent products. There are a few builders who are less known, except maybe around this forum, who do work at the same level as Fodera, but are not able to or choose not to charge the same prices. These builders don't build inexpensive instruments by any stretch, but they may price under Fodera for similar products.

Personally, my relationships are with Pete Skjold at Skjold Design Guitars, who builds instruments that in my view have a similar appeal to Fodera, and with Nino Valenti at Valenti Basses, who builds high quality Fender-style instruments perhaps better compared to Sadowsky. There are dozens of others.

Have fun exploring the discussions around here to see what you find. Or, buy a Fodera. Can't go wrong either way.
 
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#22
In my experience there is no “cheap” Fodera. They are all unnecessarily over priced for what they are. They are good instruments but you are paying more to have the same bass that Victor Wooten (and all the other endorsers) uses than anything else. I have owned 2 Foderas, a Monarch and an Emperor. Like I said, nice basses, but you don’t get what you pay for. There are many better made and better playing instruments that can be had for a fraction of the price of a Fodera.
 
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#23
Lots of other great hand-built basses that can be had for waaaaay less than a Fodera.
(I know, I know, it's not the same thing, but you can still get a Roscoe, or an RBass, or Clement or any number of others for a cople of grand instead)
FBass is $5k new, and I'v seen them used for ~$3k (although I missed both dammit)
 
#24
cdef said:
The Foderas I've tried haven't convinced me they're worth the premium prices. Fine carpentry, but a flat, non-blooming, unengaging sound
Click to expand...

This. Can't say the "Fodera Sound" is distinct or different enough to warrant that much money.

So many other companies hit that level of quality AND have a unique character that makes the bass a commodity i.e the Spector tone, Ken Smith, Alembic. People go out of their way to attempt in making cheaper basses sound like these because the value is in their distinct tone. If you want the Fender sound, get a Fender, or a Sadowsky if you have to have perfect QC.

All my favorite players who use foderas dump the tone knob and solo the bridge, any bass would sound like that with those EQ settings (Hadrien, Garrison, Gwizdala).
 
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#25
Wanting a bass like a Fodera is not entirely a rational desire unless you are an elite bassist. When I say not entirely rational, I mean that it is an act of passion, not unlike wanting fine China or an exquisite suit. I have been there, but I am very grateful to be happy with basses I can actually afford.
 
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#26
Go to a few Talkbass GTG's and you'll get to handle some very cool basses. Sometimes, picking up one of the "unobtaniums" like a Ritter, Fodera, Zon, Alembic, Rick, etc is all it takes to know "Cool, but not my thing." That's priceless. Or at least better than buyer's remorse.

If you have a major metropolitan area nearby, browsing the stores and hitting jams is well worth it. If you live in the sticks, like I do, you might be rolling the dice with buying used, sight unseen. Sometimes, you get a winner, sometimes you don't. Price, make and model don't matter if you don't bond with a bass. I thought a Zon Vinnie would check all my boxes. It did, and it didn't...off it went.

I jumped into the Dingwall thing blind. Never looked back. Dingwalls have come and gone, but each has been excellent and the ones that I've sold, I sold because I was going back to four strings or just clearing out an embarrassing amount of gear. I have total confidence in that brand.

Took a flyer on a Peavey Cirrus for no good reason other than curiosity (and Dr Cheese). I knew the moment I picked it up it was a keeper. Even with the horrible strings and battery issues, it was a fantastic bass. Set up right and feeling it's full 18 volts, I'd put it up against any custom bass.

Cheap Foderas, no. But finding a reasonable used deal that lets you buy, try for as long as you want, and resell for little or no loss is just a mater of patience and research. They pop up here and again.

They come and they go, so do your research, buy used, and know a deal when you see it. You can try lots of basses.
 
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#28
That's like looking for a cheap Ferrari. You aren't paying top dollar because it's the best car or the best way to get around town, you're paying for the name and the clout that comes with it.

Fodera builds great stuff, so do lots of other luthiers. I've played a number of Foderas, including many of Victor Wooten's. Personally, I think my Stambaugh bass is just as well built and feels equally good and easy to play, but the cost of a build from Chris will likely be at least half, if not a quarter, of the cost of a similar Fodera.

The big thing is finding out what you need out of a bass. What feels good, what features sound best to your ear, and what qualities and elements mesh with your personal approach. Most people find basses that work for them, or do what they need with minimal modification. Some of us can't find an off-the-shelf instrument that checks every box, which is why we seek out a luthier to build something custom.

Play a ton of basses, from $100 off-brand models to $10,000+ Foderas, and take note of what you like and don't like. Over time, you might find that even a fancy Fodera isn't the right bass for you.
 
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#29
I've been playing for 40+ years and I have no desire to own a Fodera or any bass that costs into the thousands, there are more affordable options that dont cost you a kidney or two, Ibanez makes basses which are more attractive to me then Fodera and there are others!
 
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#31
I recently got a Yin Yang Standard from a fellow TBer for $3500. I’m not into Wooten, although I admire and respect his considerable skills and groove.

I find it visually and personally appealing (I am an acupuncturist) and it is the best bass I’ve ever owned. The tonal range is great. Active PJ with the Mike Pope preamp puts great tone-sculpting right at your fingertips. The slim, fast neck feels great and plays like a dream. I’ve taken it to a couple of band practices and it sounds great in the mix. Very easy to dial in and just light it up.

I made the comment on the NBD post that it’s a playable work of art. It is a special instrument. I didn’t have an appreciation for just how much I would like the tones when I put my favored strings on it. I just strung it with Labellas and I’m pretty much in tone heaven right now.

But truth be told, special circumstances allowed me to spend even that much on a bass. And I still enjoy playing my Aerodyne a lot. Similar neck profile (lotta people on TB think the Aerodyne has Fender’s best neck, and I’d have to agree). As much as I love my YYS, I don’t love it 7 times more than my Dyne. It doesn’t play 7 times better or sound 7 times better, but new, it cost 7 times more and that seems to be the case in the used market as well.

As this thread could use more pics, here comes one now:
733FB0DD-B3D1-42D7-BD8D-A5011EABED59.jpeg
 
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#34
singlemalt said:
Go to a few Talkbass GTG's and you'll get to handle some very cool basses. Sometimes, picking up one of the "unobtaniums" like a Ritter, Fodera, Zon, Alembic, Rick, etc is all it takes to know "Cool, but not my thing." That's priceless. Or at least better than buyer's remorse.
Click to expand...

This times 1000. I once got to play a Fodera and admired the craftsmanship, but it wasn’t my thing. Buy used, or try before you buy.
 
#35
JonathanPDX said:
That's like looking for a cheap Ferrari. You aren't paying top dollar because it's the best car or the best way to get around town, you're paying for the name and the clout that comes with it.

Fodera builds great stuff, so do lots of other luthiers. I've played a number of Foderas, including many of Victor Wooten's. Personally, I think my Stambaugh bass is just as well built and feels equally good and easy to play, but the cost of a build from Chris will likely be at least half, if not a quarter, of the cost of a similar Fodera.

The big thing is finding out what you need out of a bass. What feels good, what features sound best to your ear, and what qualities and elements mesh with your personal approach. Most people find basses that work for them, or do what they need with minimal modification. Some of us can't find an off-the-shelf instrument that checks every box, which is why we seek out a luthier to build something custom.

Play a ton of basses, from $100 off-brand models to $10,000+ Foderas, and take note of what you like and don't like. Over time, you might find that even a fancy Fodera isn't the right bass for you.
Click to expand...

The Ferrari analogy is a good one. It is not an ordinary bass, and the player buying one wants something special. This thread made me look at the Fodera website for the first time in a very long time, their signature models are really impressive. I really doubt if I would gain anything by playing anyone of them as a main bass although the Tom Kennedy and James Genus models do look like basses I would enjoy if they came in a more modest package. Fortunately for me, I can get the tone in my head with off the rack factory basses. As many folks will note, some of the greatest players on Earth get the sound in their heads with factory basses. In many cases, great players get the sound in their head with factory basses that are modestly priced.

I guess what I am saying is that unless you are a collector, the results matter more than the bass.:bassist:
 
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#38
The NYC Empire bass seem to have crept up in price. Still not all that desirable as far as the market goes. I bought a couple relatively cheap ($2k range) and greatly prefer Fenders over them. I picked up an older Emperor five for $4k around three years ago, it's possible. My Contrabass 6 was $2,500, you can find them starting around $6k used today. A custom Emperor five recently sold here for less than a Standard. I wouldn't buy a Standard unless I found a steal on. one but that's me.
 
#39
Brad Johnson said:
If you have the means and it floats your boat I see no reason not to consider one. If you can't afford one or have no desire to spend much on a bass, cool. Not sure why that would be relevant to anyone who doesn't share those traits.
:D
Click to expand...
I know you named no one, but I mentioned price and alternatives because the poster is new here. I know from experience that it is easy to assume that more money means a better bass. I think it is important to point out that at the level of Fodera, the buyer is paying for more than a simple increase in quality. Of course, what anyone does with his or her money is their business.
 
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