Fodera announces 40th Anniversary basses

[tb-player]

Fodera announces 40th anniversary basses. A 4-string ($9300) and a 5-string ($10,200).

Personally, I think they're beautiful. But I'm not sure they're worth the price tag.

Thoughts?

 

[Rabidhamster]

I dont even want to try one, what if I liked it?

 

[tb-player]

I dont even want to try one, what if I liked it?

I've owned a couple of Foderas. I know I'd like it. That 4-string is calling my name. Thankfully, my gear fund is depleted and I have nothing I want to sell.

 

[nonohmic]

Is the Emperor shape older than the Monarch?

The Monarch to me is synonymous with Fodera, so interesting they chose this body shape to celebrate an anniversary.

 

[Isaac_James]

I love that top wood choice. Apparently it's Japanese maple. The red accents the butterfly logo nicely.

 

[tb-player]

I love that top wood choice. Apparently it's Japanese maple. The red accents the butterfly logo nicely.

Me too. So pretty.

 

[6-3-2]

Even if I had the money I'd have a hard time justifying the price tag. That said, the Japanese maple top is gorgeous.

 

[Isaac_James]

Even if I had the money I'd have a hard time justifying the price tag. That said, the Japanese maple top is gorgeous.

Oh yes, I know for certain that I'll never own one of these. I would just stress too much about the inevitable dings and dents I would put in it. I'm comfortable with mid-high tier workhorse instruments, nice to play but not so nice I can't enjoy them without worrying about damage.

 

[6-3-2]

Oh yes, I know for certain that I'll never own one of these. I would just stress too much about the inevitable dings and dents I would put in it. I'm comfortable with mid-high tier workhorse instruments, nice to play but not so nice I can't enjoy them without worrying about damage.

For me it's that the price isn't really about the tone, it's about the intense labor Fodera does to build these by hand. I totally respect that and totally believe the artisans should be paid for all that work, but I'd rather get great tone and a beautiful bass at $3k. Probably my working class roots talking and experience having told me that after a certain point increased price doesn't necessarily mean increased enjoyment.

 

[KenD]

Is this a commercial announcement?

 

[RGerhart]

Interesting...the 4-string has an Emperor body shape, but the headstock looks like the oversize Monarch style. Kind of a hybrid, I guess?

I definitely dig the 5-string, but for half the cost you can get a used Standard model that will sound 99% the same, I bet.

 

[TrevorG]

Don't see the weight mentioned anywhere. Think that might put me off as much as the price. Prefer the Ying/Yang and single cut models. It does sound great though but so do cheaper basses.

 

[micguy]

I have a strong preference for simpler user interfaces on my basses. If I bought that, I'd need the 3 week course on what all the switches and knobs do to be included in the price. And I still would probably get confused when playing. The price isn't the issue, it's just not the bass I want.

The odd thing is, you can put me in front of the most complicated mixing board, and I'm fine - I run my Engineering brain program, everything is great. But ask me to play music, my Artist brain program has hard limits on what it can handle.

 

[Rojd]

I'm sure they're well made and sound wonderful, but they're well out of my price range so it doesn't matter.

 

[Jefus]

Would a right angle cable wind up hitting those switches when you run it through your strap?

Champagne problems I suppose. But these are gorgeous!

 

[Vitrius Humor]

They've always looked like really expensive Ibanez's to me...

 

[micguy]

Oh yes, I know for certain that I'll never own one of these. I would just stress too much about the inevitable dings and dents I would put in it.

Great idea for a thread - show us your relic'ed Foderas!

 

[RGerhart]

Would a right angle cable wind up hitting those switches when you run it through your strap?

Champagne problems I suppose. But these are gorgeous!

Yep! I'm a right-angle cable end to the bass kind of guy, and I loop it through the strap. That was the first thing I noticed with my Emperor 5 Standard--the cable would constantly rub up against the mid control knob. Not sure if it ever actually adjusted the knob, but I didn't want to take the chance, so now I loop the straight end of the cable and plug it into the bass. Kind of sticks out a bit, but that's the way it goes...

 

[XLunacy]

I have a strong preference for simpler user interfaces on my basses. If I bought that, I'd need the 3 week course on what all the switches and knobs do to be included in the price. And I still would probably get confused when playing. The price isn't the issue, it's just not the bass I want.

The odd thing is, you can put me in front of the most complicated mixing board, and I'm fine - I run my Engineering brain program, everything is great. But ask me to play music, my Artist brain program has hard limits on what it can handle.

Invalid Link Removed
I had to look it up.
It's not as complex as I thought.

 

[landrybass]

Would a right angle cable wind up hitting those switches when you run it through your strap?

I have a Tsunami cable with one of those burled acrylic round connectors and yes! The 90degree end DOES definitely turn the switch off. Not all 90 cables do, but this fancy smooth round one does.

By the way, the new 40th anniversary t-shirts are pretty dope!