• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

fodera alteratives?

Hey awesomesawyer, if you don't mind neck thrus, give Wyn Guitars a look. He usually uses Nordy fat stacks, but I doubt he would have any qualms with using a set of big singles. The man does some amazing woodwork, and his body shape is sort of a streamlined take on the fender style.

those guitars are very nice looking! but unfortunately I kinda want a more traditional body shape. the pedulla rapture is probably the farthest I can go, and that may be because the body looks a bit smaller than a fender body, so it is tolerable for me. I was blown away by the instruments tho!
 
…. If you want a high-quality "parts bass," Sadowsky, Lakland, Lull, Valenti, Nordstrand, Alleva-Coppolo ….

Since Nordstrand is being call out, I wanna make a sure there is no misunderstanding.
If by 'parts bass' is being intended as assembled from parts bought or made by other companies, some of the brand mentioned are indeed 'parts bass'.
At Nordstrand the only thing bought 'as is' is the hardware. Everything else (bodies, necks, pickups, pick-guards, block inlays...) is being made in house from scratch, raw material and it can be customized as per your desire (to a certain point).

To the op, it might be out of your price range, tho….

Lots of great alternatives on today's wold!

M
 
those guitars are very nice looking! but unfortunately I kinda want a more traditional body shape. the pedulla rapture is probably the farthest I can go, and that may be because the body looks a bit smaller than a fender body, so it is tolerable for me. I was blown away by the instruments tho!
Votan(yet once more :) );
Invalid Link Removed
 
Interesting... But are these basses handmade to the same quality as the sadowsky that is top on my list? I really like the looks of it though. Are the pickups single? Not really sure how to tell when they are oval shaped. But the votan could be an option.

When I last checked, the body was designed and made by marleaux, not designed by fender and bought it.
Necks are made in house too with the head designed by them. Extremely well made, they balance very well too.
The finish(fretjobs etc) is at the same level of quality at least, as would be found on sadowsky.( in my experience...I have played basses by both. More than once and more than just ten minutes each :) )
I think these are the superior of the two on all levels and more 'handmade' than sadowskys are if I'm not mistaken.
Taste is another matter.
As far as I know, they'll put the pickup you want into it too( I know that there is a JJ version-you'll find it on the site I recon)).
Give them a try without prejudice.:)
 
When I last checked, the body was designed and made by marleaux, not designed by fender and bought it.
Necks are made in house too with the head designed by them. Extremely well made, they balance very well too.
The finish(fretjobs etc) is at the same level of quality at least, as would be found on sadowsky.( in my experience...I have played basses by both. More than once and more than just ten minutes each :) )
I think these are the superior of the two on all levels and more 'handmade' than sadowskys are if I'm not mistaken.
Taste is another matter.
As far as I know, they'll put the pickup you want into it too( I know that there is a JJ version-you'll find it on the site I recon)).
Give them a try without prejudice.:)
that votan XS sure is a beauty.. but do they make it with quilted maple? that is very important for me. I can live without mahogany, but I really want maple.
 
I heard a sound demo of the votan, and I felt like it sounded too much like a jazz bass for me, so this probably will not be my first choice. nice bass though!


With all due respect how old are you? and how long have you been plying bass?

The Voltan is really not a J bass but a bass that is far more versatile than a J bass. Most basses today can get a J bass sound while they also can get different sounds, it depends on the person playing the bass and the setting(s) that they choose and the hands really do play a part in the overall sound spectrum as well(with most players).

Would you have the same attitude if you heard a Fodera and you felt it sounded like a J bass?

And believe me the J bass sound can be found in a Fodera.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ET42
I heard a sound demo of the votan, and I felt like it sounded too much like a jazz bass for me, so this probably will not be my first choice. nice bass though!

as said before; I am sure Gerald can make a votan with many different pickup configurations, should the JJ be too JJ for you.

But... isn't the bass you said is a reference for you, a Jazzclone?( Fodera nyc)
How then is the votan too jazz for you?:)
 
With all due respect how old are you? and how long have you been plying bass?

The Voltan is really not a J bass but a bass that is far more versatile than a J bass. Most basses today can get a J bass sound while they also can get different sounds, it depends on the person playing the bass and the setting(s) that they choose and the hands really do play a part in the overall sound spectrum as well(with most players).

Would you have the same attitude if you heard a Fodera and you felt it sounded like a J bass?

And believe me the J bass sound can be found in a Fodera.

fair enough, I only heard a very short sound clip, and lots of settings were not shown using fingerstyle (I usually do not slap). So I guess you should disregard my previous post until I actually get to play one.
 
So you want something like a Fodera NYC, but not like a J Bass??????
I want something that can sound like a jazz bass but also be very versatile, and I only heard one sound demo of the votan. I now see that loads of people think that the votan is great/very versatile, so I hope to play one (along with all the other basses I am considering) and hear all of the possible sounds.
 
just to clarify, I thought that the jazz tone was the only real tone, as the demo was only of that sound. I wanted a bass that has many sounds, but with the jazz sound readily available. I see that the votan has that, so sorry for any confusions.
 
just to clarify, I thought that the jazz tone was the only real tone, as the demo was only of that sound. I wanted a bass that has many sounds, but with the jazz sound readily available. I see that the votan has that, so sorry for any confusions.

if you want more/different sounds in one bass, you'll have to go with dual coil or multiple coil configurations… this way you can have J-ish / P-ish / MM-ish, pre with 3 band etc….

IME

M
 
two pickups and a tone roll off should really yield you enough combinations along with playing style to yield a versatile array of tones. Solo the neck, get more palm muting in, roll the one way back versus full on. Besides people really wanting to hear a real P or a Real Ken Smith or something super specific, you should be able to get a good range out of most of the basses we are talking about. That is USUALLY where versatile comes in. Of course, one of the things in a good 'versatile' bass is being able to hit one of the classic tones, as in a j bass or a p bass. That and a few 'other tones' are a pretty good thing to have.

I'm going to say it really just sounds like you want to good bass and not necessarily have something really specific? If I were you, I'd really figure out what kind of string spacing you like, what kind of neck, and 34" or 35" scale you like, and then try to get a great used bass that works for you. Spend some time with a bass you like, and THEN ask yourself do you really need a custom bass to all of your dreams, or just a seriously kick ass bass.

BTW, it's my opinion, but when people say a Fodera isn't worh the money, I usually think it means they can not afford a Fodera. And I don't mean that in a bad way, why does everyone necessarily have to be able to work the budget in for a Fodera? They are kick ass basses just like many others, but I hear sour grapes more than I hear plausible reasons. And this happens a LOT in life in general.