to be honest i thought that was what i was looking at, sorry if i was a bit quick to answer, no harm intended 
Dave
Dave
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Elrick vs. Fodera
- Thread starter Gnome
- Start date
bassplayer2106 said:
At the recent DC GTG I remember someone grabbing a bass, a six, and then saying that with their small hands there's no way it would work. The obvious problem was that he was wrapping his thumb across the top edge of the fretboard.
Elricks have some of the fastest necks with wide spacing I've played or owned. Sounds like yours may have been an anomaly... I still own four pretty different models none of which have huge necks or any noise issues and I've probably played dozens more over the years. The only ones I've let go were in trade for absolutely ridiculous basses... otherwise I'd probably still have them.
What a useful and illuminated answer ... one may wonder if @Spencer! has ever tried an Elrick extensively enough to say that nothing sounds quite like a Fodera ...
Wise words but there are many places in the world (actually the majority of them) where none of the basses you mentioned can be found for being played for testing purposes unfortunately
Holy thread resurrection!
I remember reading this one the first time around. My thoughts then are the same as they are now, in that these basses are distinctly different animals. I think most any player could be happy with either or both. I've seen few Foderas with Barts in them, for a start, and some players really love the Bartolini sound. I do - three of my four basses have Bartolini pickups or preamps in them. One thing I do wonder, is do Elrick have their own Bartolini pickup or do they use one of the stock range? I know for example, that Zon, MTD and Pedulla all use their own proprietary Bartolini products, wound and voiced to their specification. Even my Cort Rithimic Jeff Berlin model uses a unique pickup which cannot be had anywhere else.
I will contend that both builders make a unique and delightful product. Lucky you are if you're in a position to choose between them.
I remember reading this one the first time around. My thoughts then are the same as they are now, in that these basses are distinctly different animals. I think most any player could be happy with either or both. I've seen few Foderas with Barts in them, for a start, and some players really love the Bartolini sound. I do - three of my four basses have Bartolini pickups or preamps in them. One thing I do wonder, is do Elrick have their own Bartolini pickup or do they use one of the stock range? I know for example, that Zon, MTD and Pedulla all use their own proprietary Bartolini products, wound and voiced to their specification. Even my Cort Rithimic Jeff Berlin model uses a unique pickup which cannot be had anywhere else.
I will contend that both builders make a unique and delightful product. Lucky you are if you're in a position to choose between them.
Of your list, you can actually play all of those basses bar the Jerzy Drozd at Bass Direct in Warwickshire, UK. It's probably one of the pre-eminent bass stores in the world because it stocks so many high end builders in both new and used stock. It really is a treasure trove of good stuff.
Thanks so much for this info @India_Sierra ! The reason why I resurrected the thread is because I believe it’s time for me to do two things:
1. Acquire a dependable instrument with a stable neck that may be proficiently used by a professional.
2. Acquire a bass equipped with two hum-bucking pickups installed at the right locations as I like to steer towards a jazz-bass like sound but warmer and richer.
Amongst those artists who left a mark in my mind, also because his band was made of truly good musicians and the compositions were so well balanced, I have to quote Jimmy Haslip.
The sound of Jimmy’s Tobias is what I’m currently looking for ... MTD are very good indeed but expensive, and, in general, I don’t like their shape unlike the case of the old Tobias.
Many people stated that Bartolini electronics tends to favour the highs but Jimmy’s tone is all about the bass tones, ergo I presume that many people don’t really know the subject ... unfortunately, Elrick does not specify (why? nobody knows) which kind of Bartolini electronics they install in their basses .. if it’s a custom made one, they could at least describe how it sounds in a certain way .. so my question, being in a position to buy anything at this point in time, is now would a Fodera bring me closer than an Elrick to a Yellowjackets Jimmy Haslip’s tone or not?
Opinions?
There’s a nice Elrick Gold e-Volution on sale (used) at Chicago Music Exchange at a great price and I’m tempted honestly
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The MTD basses do not (IMO) sound like the Tobias basses despite being made by the same builder. Michael moved specifically towards bolt on necks because (as I understand it) he wanted more attack in the sound. The Bartolini pickups in his MTD basses are also custom made for him. The voicing is unique and as I had found, MTD really have a killer hi-fi sound with highs more prominent than I usually associate with Barts. I usually associate Bartolini with a prominent midrange and softer, darker highs. One cannot generalise though, as I have Bartolini pickups with a Noll preamp in my graphite necked SKC Bogart Blackstone bass. This bass has a bright, modern character and sounds rather more aggressive than one might expect for a bass with Barts in it.
Also note that in the Bartolini pickup range, the 'Classic' pickups are actually MORE modern sounding than the 'Original' series pickups. The 'Classic' range was designed, I believe, to invoke the qualities of the 'Hi-A' pickups, which Bartolini used to be known as. Then there is also the specification of 'Deep' or 'Bright' to consider, as some Bartolini pickups are available in either flavour and these too sound different. I don't think Bartolini make a bad sounding pickup. Indeed, they make the best sounding pickups to my ears (save for Alembic) but there are many varities and discerning what is what can often be confusing.
If your focus is on Jimmy Haslip and you cannot find a reasonably priced Pre-Gibson Tobias to satisfy your desire, you may wish to look at Roscoe basses, which he used for many, many years. They also use Bartolini electronics and as much as I love Jimmy and the Yellowjackets, I don't think I could really tell if he was playing a Tobias or a Roscoe in a blind test, in so much as they sound relatively similar to my ears.
Also note that in the Bartolini pickup range, the 'Classic' pickups are actually MORE modern sounding than the 'Original' series pickups. The 'Classic' range was designed, I believe, to invoke the qualities of the 'Hi-A' pickups, which Bartolini used to be known as. Then there is also the specification of 'Deep' or 'Bright' to consider, as some Bartolini pickups are available in either flavour and these too sound different. I don't think Bartolini make a bad sounding pickup. Indeed, they make the best sounding pickups to my ears (save for Alembic) but there are many varities and discerning what is what can often be confusing.
If your focus is on Jimmy Haslip and you cannot find a reasonably priced Pre-Gibson Tobias to satisfy your desire, you may wish to look at Roscoe basses, which he used for many, many years. They also use Bartolini electronics and as much as I love Jimmy and the Yellowjackets, I don't think I could really tell if he was playing a Tobias or a Roscoe in a blind test, in so much as they sound relatively similar to my ears.
Ah! Good to know @India_Sierra ... I thought he more or less sticked to Tobias although it is actually a semi-defunct brand (he was playing a Tobias when I saw a small Yellowjackets venue in Forlì many years ago ... 1996/97 I think) ... I will check Roscoe site straight away !
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I would have actually thought thta most people would have associated Jimmy with the Roscoe bass he played for many years. Indeed, when I first heard him, it was on the 'Word of Mouth' big band project, where he was shown on the inside liner holding the Roscoe. He played a stunning version of 'Havona' on that record and it really showcased the tone of his Roscoe. This is the bass in question:
Yes and I wondered in fact what bass that could be ... there’s so many self-defined boutique brands nowadays .. some time ago choices were more limited .. you know time passed and I didn’t realise it .. the music of Haslip still revolves around Cape Town or Samurai Samba from YJI would have actually thought thta most people would have associated Jimmy with the Roscoe bass he played for many years. Indeed, when I first heard him, it was on the 'Word of Mouth' big band project, where he was shown on the inside liner holding the Roscoe. He played a stunning version of 'Havona' on that record and it really showcased the tone of his Roscoe. This is the bass in question:
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Dude hasn’t signed in in over 3 years lolWhat a useful and illuminated answer ... one may wonder if @Spencer! has ever tried an Elrick extensively enough to say that nothing sounds quite like a Fodera ...
I think the difference is in the players-
Elrick- Skinny guy with a jazz hat, and at least one tattoo, drinks craft beer. His backup bass is a Fender jazz fretless.
Fodera- Huge fellow, bass riding up high, can play all the fills on 'Graceland', brings own Nigerian Ale. His backup bass is a Ken Smith. Both 6 string.
Elrick- Skinny guy with a jazz hat, and at least one tattoo, drinks craft beer. His backup bass is a Fender jazz fretless.
Fodera- Huge fellow, bass riding up high, can play all the fills on 'Graceland', brings own Nigerian Ale. His backup bass is a Ken Smith. Both 6 string.
Ah ... then I have to opt for an Elrick then
How do Nights on Broadway from the Bee Gees will sound on it?
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