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A Tale of 2 Fodera's

Acoustic356

Acoustic356

Jul 3, 2014
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#1
Here are 2 different Victor Wooten signature basses.

On the left is a Victor Wooten Classic '83 Deluxe Monarch Reissue.
On the right is the Victor Wooten Yin/Yang Standard in Purple Heart.

Let's start of with the primary differences between a Deluxe and a Standard:
  • The deluxe has a tilt back headstock which eliminates the need for a string tree, the deluxe has a larger headstock with no tilt and a string tree.
  • My deluxe, like Victor's has a dovetail neck joint, while the standard has a bolt one neck
  • The next primary difference is the pre-amp. While both preamps have Volume, Passive Tone, Low, Mids, Highs, and and active passive switch, the deluxe has:
    • the ability to change the voicing based upon jumpers
    • change the darkness/brightness of the tone knob
I have the tone knob set to the darkest possible tone, and when in the up switch the bass is set to 40 Hz in the up position and 80Hz in the down position. This really allows the bass to be able to emulate a P and J tone fairly accurately.

The mids on the deluxe are also selectable. Mine are set to be more P friendly in the P position and J friendly in the jazz position.

Here's where it gets interesting. Most standards ship with the standard bridge. The Purple Heart ships with the deluxe bridge.

Here's where it gets even interesting, to me, the first Yin Yang series had a really baked in tone that was a little darker. This Purple Heart is mot indestingishable from the Deluxe, aside from the enhanced EQ.

The Purple Heart is the version previous to the one that comes with the new Fodera x Trickfish pre. The new Fodera x Trickfish gives you additional controls over the tone, and frequencies of the pre, I don't think I'll do the update. The tone is very neutral and pleasing.

Finally, both basses have a brass nut. The deluxe is cut for 105-40, whole the Yin-Yang is cut 95-40.

The Yin-Yang plays slightly faster, but the Deluxe is really my #1.

Oddly enough Wooten's personal Yin Yang has a 3rd switch, which is a kill switch. He also has a different bridge pickup. Instead of the EMG in the bridge, he has a pickup with exposed pole pieces, much like the Michel Labaki signature, which has a Lindy Fralin, although I don't know what Vic has in the bridge. (Reference the picture below.)



IMG_5171.jpeg


Note the 3rd switch and the exposed pole pieces on the bridge pickup.

Vic.jpg
 
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#3
P. Aaron said:
Beautiful basses. It would be quite cool to try one. I've yet to see one as it's been a while that I've shopped music instruments at all.
Click to expand...
The first Fodera I played was Vic's first Yin Yang. I fell in love with it. The fit of the Ebony and Holly on the top was top notch. The primary difference between the Standard and Deluxe Yin Yang is the painted top instead of the painted top of the standard.

I can honestly say tone wise, they are very neutral, or at least mine are. You truly get the tone of the string as a blank pallet where the EQ allows you to sit in the mix just right.

I can also say, when I'm working on a really difficult technical piece, I generally can play it on one of my Fodder's before I can physically play it on another bass. Then once I've locked it in on the Fodera, I can generally move it to another bass.

They aren't for everyone. People expect some magical tone. Really, what you get is a bass that's really easy to play, that tonally does what you want a bass to do - reproduce the tone in your head.
 
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#4
Agree on the easy factor! One thing I'd add is that I think some of those differences don’t stem from deluxe vs. bolt on (which is how the post read to me at one point), but rather the custom vs. standard distinction. Thought it was worth mentioning given that deluxe's are always custom, but bolt ons can be both. The custom preamp is the custom preamp regardless of bolt on, deluxe, or neck through construction.

Nice bases!
 
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#7
Acoustic356 said:
Here are 2 different Victor Wooten signature basses.

On the left is a Victor Wooten Classic '83 Deluxe Monarch Reissue.
On the right is the Victor Wooten Yin/Yang Standard in Purple Heart.

Let's start of with the primary differences between a Deluxe and a Standard:
  • The deluxe has a tilt back headstock which eliminates the need for a string tree, the deluxe has a larger headstock with no tilt and a string tree.
  • My deluxe, like Victor's has a dovetail neck joint, while the standard has a bolt one neck
  • The next primary difference is the pre-amp. While both preamps have Volume, Passive Tone, Low, Mids, Highs, and and active passive switch, the deluxe has:
    • the ability to change the voicing based upon jumpers
    • change the darkness/brightness of the tone knob
I have the tone knob set to the darkest possible tone, and when in the up switch the bass is set to 40 Hz in the up position and 80Hz in the down position. This really allows the bass to be able to emulate a P and J tone fairly accurately.

The mids on the deluxe are also selectable. Mine are set to be more P friendly in the P position and J friendly in the jazz position.

Here's where it gets interesting. Most standards ship with the standard bridge. The Purple Heart ships with the deluxe bridge.

Here's where it gets even interesting, to me, the first Yin Yang series had a really baked in tone that was a little darker. This Purple Heart is mot indestingishable from the Deluxe, aside from the enhanced EQ.

The Purple Heart is the version previous to the one that comes with the new Fodera x Trickfish pre. The new Fodera x Trickfish gives you additional controls over the tone, and frequencies of the pre, I don't think I'll do the update. The tone is very neutral and pleasing.

Finally, both basses have a brass nut. The deluxe is cut for 105-40, whole the Yin-Yang is cut 95-40.

The Yin-Yang plays slightly faster, but the Deluxe is really my #1.

Oddly enough Wooten's personal Yin Yang has a 3rd switch, which is a kill switch. He also has a different bridge pickup. Instead of the EMG in the bridge, he has a pickup with exposed pole pieces, much like the Michel Labaki signature, which has a Lindy Fralin, although I don't know what Vic has in the bridge. (Reference the picture below.)



View attachment 7195830

Note the 3rd switch and the exposed pole pieces on the bridge pickup.

View attachment 7195832
Click to expand...
his exposed poles are also active emg pickups. he had a signature set, but it appears to be gone from their website for some reason.

Invalid Link Removed

EMG Victor Wooten 4String XSeries P/J Pickup Set - Best Bass Gear

EMG Victor Wooten P/J Set - 4 String Stacked & Split Coil P/J Pickup Set
www.bestbassgear.com www.bestbassgear.com
 
#12
scuzzy said:
his exposed poles are also active emg pickups. he had a signature set, but it appears to be gone from their website for some reason.

Invalid Link Removed

EMG Victor Wooten 4String XSeries P/J Pickup Set - Best Bass Gear

EMG Victor Wooten P/J Set - 4 String Stacked & Split Coil P/J Pickup Set
www.bestbassgear.com www.bestbassgear.com
Click to expand...
I wasn't indicating that he used Fralin's like on the Labaki. Just noting differences between his signature bass and his personal bass. I have played Vic's first Yin Yang, his current Y/Y, and his purple heart Y/Y with Duncan Dual coils. I just never thought to ask about th difference, what inspired it, etc.
 
#14
From your OP

"He also has a different bridge pickup. Instead of the EMG in the bridge, he has a pickup with exposed pole pieces, much like the Michel Labaki signature, which has a Lindy Fralin, although I don't know what Vic has in the bridge. (Reference the picture below.)"

You posted an uncertainty, I was simply providing information to help with the perceived uncertainty.
 
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#15
scuzzy said:
From your OP

"He also has a different bridge pickup. Instead of the EMG in the bridge, he has a pickup with exposed pole pieces, much like the Michel Labaki signature, which has a Lindy Fralin, although I don't know what Vic has in the bridge. (Reference the picture below.)"

You posted an uncertainty, I was simply providing information to help with the perceived uncertainty.
Click to expand...

Thank you sir. I'm still unsure why Fodera doesn't align in their signature set, especially if it's a set that EMG makes.

It's one of many odd things in the world.
 
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#17
Acoustic356 said:
They aren't for everyone. People expect some magical tone. Really, what you get is a bass that's really easy to play, that tonally does what you want a bass to do - reproduce the tone in your head.
Click to expand...
Great description. I’ll add that what also stands out to me with Fodera is the way the notes ring out with great clarity , richness, and sustain up and down the neck. It’s like playing a grand piano . The notes are big full and powerful no matter where you play.

People often describe them as sounding like a Fender. This is not what I hear. Yes , they can fit sonically in a mix like a Fender , but no Fender has that amount of depth , richness, sustain and clarity to the notes.

Even the slightest mistake will be heard. They really expose what your hands are doing and what you sound like. For some players, this can be very frustrating. For others , it is very inspiring.

This is the signature Fodera sound. I can hear it. I love it. I’m speaking specifically about Duncan Dual coil / Pope preamp bolt on Foderas.

An EMG pj or Aguilar dive tail or neck through or AJ or Matt Garrison will all sound different. But they will all have that signature Fodera richness and clarity .


Fodera isn’t like a Ken Smith where you have that pickup placement and those pickups to get that pointy pingy midrange. Smith has its thing . Fodera has their thing. Wal has its thing.
 
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#18
Well said. The piano like clarity, consistency, evenness and authority is what I would consider the “Fodera tone” too. Despite what pickups and other flavors of factors are being expressed through that lens on any given build. It’s the defining factor together with impeccable playability IMO. Been the case throughout all the years of operation despite any other evolvements.
 
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