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First Edition Victor Wooten Bow Bass

#21
king_biscuit said:
I'm sorry, but that thing is ridiculous. .... Prediction: if that thing goes into production they sell exactly zero.
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I think the same thing was probably said to Leo Fender back in the day. Steve Jobs heard that a few times as well. Not saying this will have the same mass appeal, but thankfully there are people out there who are willing to take risks and try new things...
 
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#22
awilkie84 said:
I think it accomodates it quite fine. They all seem to have equal spacing.
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»the pickup must work just fine ( it is Fodera after all ) I really do question the shape because it looks awkward to me ... everything is curved and all but not those pickup. I also fear that the lifted side of the pickup will be in the way when the string vibrate a little hard
 
#24
nostatic said:
I think the same thing was probably said to Leo Fender back in the day. Steve Jobs heard that a few times as well. Not saying this will have the same mass appeal, but thankfully there are people out there who are willing to take risks and try new things...
Click to expand...

I'm sure. And of course if you just put that weird bass out there on the market there is going to be few who would be interested. But that's because they don't know what to do with it. Bow a bass on a strap? I haven't a clue. But obviously Victor has some sort of vision on this thing and that is the key. Once someone starts showing what you can do with a new idea, then others start thinking , hey, I'd like to do that too! How many think that just depends I guess.

Hey some makers still think 5 strings are ridiculous and won't sell. (cough, Ric)
 
#27
king_biscuit said:
I'm sorry, but that thing is ridiculous. I love Victor, but is he really going to bow an electric bass on a strap? Visions of Nigel Tufnel come to mind... Prediction: if that thing goes into production they sell exactly zero.
Click to expand...

While myself or most other bass playes would never need or use a bass like this ,it is pretty short sighted to say that there will be no market for it. There are plenty of creative musicians that think outside the box that could so some very interesting things with an instrument like this. With the small upper bout and deep cut away, it looks like it would be pretty easy to get the hang of bowing it while hanging from your shoulder. Do I think they will sell a ton of these basses? Probably not, but there will be a market.
 
#29
I got to check it out just before it was painted in Brooklyn. Super cool for what it is intended for. The workmanship is absolutely insane. The unique stuff Fodera is building these days just blows me away.

Will I be ordering one? Nope. Not a chance. My classic rock gigs of late don't liky require this type of thing.:bassist:
 
#30
Hopkins said:
While myself or most other bass playes would never need or use a bass like this ,it is pretty short sighted to say that there will be no market for it. There are plenty of creative musicians that think outside the box that could so some very interesting things with an instrument like this. With the small upper bout and deep cut away, it looks like it would be pretty easy to get the hang of bowing it while hanging from your shoulder. Do I think they will sell a ton of these basses? Probably not, but there will be a market.
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The market would be tiny for sure.

The fact that Fodera would even agree to build something so unique is cool.

They will build anything a customer wants (within reason) which differentiates them from other high end luthiers.
 
#32
Looks like purpleheart. Gives the visual cues of fret lines with a more subtle appearance. My first fretless was a defretted SR800, and I had the luthier use rosewood to fill in the fret slots. I still prefer unlined but that is a whole 'mother religious argument...
 
#34
I like it, simply for the fact that it pushes boundaries, and obviously a few people's buttons!

Were I rich I'd have one just for the unique form factor; and while I'd mostly bow my upright, I'd "saw" away on this Fodera creation a little, too, but otherwise play it mostly pizz.

Oh Fodera, you button pushers, you. :thumbsup:
 
#36
Clef_de_fa said:
»the pickup must work just fine ( it is Fodera after all ) I really do question the shape because it looks awkward to me ... everything is curved and all but not those pickup. I also fear that the lifted side of the pickup will be in the way when the string vibrate a little hard
Click to expand...
Nah. Unless the tension is REALLY low (negating the ability to use a bow), they will only vibrate a small amount & not come into contact with the p-ups.
 
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#37
bassbenj said:
I'm sure. And of course if you just put that weird bass out there on the market there is going to be few who would be interested. But that's because they don't know what to do with it. Bow a bass on a strap? I haven't a clue. But obviously Victor has some sort of vision on this thing and that is the key. Once someone starts showing what you can do with a new idea, then others start thinking , hey, I'd like to do that too! How many think that just depends I guess.

Hey some makers still think 5 strings are ridiculous and won't sell. (cough, Ric)
Click to expand...

He has a short bow that straps to his right forearm. The design was based on this bow and the technique that he will use with it.
 
#39
People like it, people hate it, but you gotta appreciate a company like Fodera, whose shop is an interesting mix of avant garde customization and monolithic standardization. I find it really unique and frankly awesome that a company with Fodera's profile is still pushing itself to innovate and take chances on new designs based on the input of its artists. It could just as well rest on its laurels and produce yin yang standards until the end of time. I can easily think of other high profile boutique builders who would have laughed at the idea of producing something like this.
 
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