Fodera bass project

[mhduffl]

It is a long story.......
I want to discuss with you guys for the spec of my next fodera bass project, but I would like to introduce my current basses first.....

1) A Fender Jaco jazz bass fretless. A 60's jazz bass with smooth feeling, but the neck is not stable and so I will replace with Warmoth afterwards.......

2) A Atelier z (Japanese made) jazz bass. A 70's jazz bass with ash body and with bartolini xtct pre-amp so this is true Marcus Miller slapping sound, it has good fingering sound with the tone control(added myself)......

3) A new Fodera N.Y.C. bass. A 60's jazz bass 5 string with alder body. It is the smoothest jazz bass I ever tried. It provide very smooth fingering sound but rather thin slapping. This bass is built in Japan that Fodera send the wood to Japan and the japanese Fodera dealer built there, the action is low, the neck is thin and comfortable, the neck is stable, top notch....

I want to have a fodera bass that is ' thick, smooth, good for fingerstyle and slapping'. The 60's jazz bass (alder body, rosewood fingerboard) is very good for smooth fingering. The 70's jazz (ash body, maple body) is aggresive and good for sapping......I want a fodera that is versitle and have the character of both 60's and 70's........Can you brothers commend on the wood for this dream bass (I will think of dual coils pickup)???

1) Body wood ??????
2) Fingerboard wood ?????
3) Heelbock with elite ??????
4) Duncan vs Areo Dual coils ????

Thanks very much and hope you kindly give some words on it......

 

[Just Thumpin']

There are many other threads on this topic and lots of different opinions, but for my taste the best Fodera to match those requirements is really what is rapidly becoming a "classic" Fodera mix...walnut body, ebony fretboard and dual coil pups at 70's spacing)....good luck with your project. You might want to speak directly to Joey at Fodera and ask him the same questions. He'll be able to give the best answers possible...

 

[mhduffl]

Thanks Just Thumpin', can you descible the slapping sound of the walnut ebony combo??? I slao consider slapping in this bass....

Thanks, Man-Ho

 

[barrybass33]

ALder or mahogany. depanding on a neck thru or a bolt on body. And the neck maple with a indian rosewood & the top wood maybe a walnut or a softer wood like maple.

With this type of combation you have a bass that will cover all kinds of music.
Good luck with your project......

 

[DanRJBrasil]

or a softer wood like maple.

 

[Just Thumpin']

Thanks Just Thumpin', can you descible the slapping sound of the walnut ebony combo??? I slao consider slapping in this bass....

Thanks, Man-Ho

Do you have the SMV album, "Thunder?" Victor Wooten now uses a Yin Yang made out of Walnut (body) with an ebony board. This combination slaps really well but with a slightly warmer overall tone than an ash / maple combination. Keep in mind that Vic uses EMG pups which I personally am not a big fan of -- they are too brittle / sterile for my taste. BTW, I almost never slap....

 

[mhduffl]

Thanks Just Thumpin',

From my knowledge, Victor's Yong-Yang is alder bodyhttp://www.fodera.com/vw_yy_4.html.

Thanks,
Man-Ho

 

[mhduffl]

barrybass33,
I have 4 basses with bolt-on, so I like neck-thru in this bass.....Also, does the top wood affect the sound??? I think the heel block affect a little but not sure top wood, I think it is foe declarision...

Thanks,
Man-Ho

 

[Just Thumpin']

Thanks Just Thumpin',

From my knowledge, Victor's Yong-Yang is alder bodyhttp://www.fodera.com/vw_yy_4.html.

Thanks,
Man-Ho

His original Yin Yang was that spec, but the one he is using now and used when recording the SMV album was a Walnut body with an Ebony board....

 

[mhduffl]

Hello Just Thumpin,

Thanks for your information....I didn't know until you tell me this, I think very few people know this.......I think walnut is good.....thicker fingering sound.....but I still believe ash provides best slapping sound.....

Thanks,
Man-Ho

 

[mhduffl]

Hello Just Thumpin',

Victor's latest Yin-Yang is indeed Walnut body, I find this and specs clearly said that Fodera built a Walnut body YY for Victor....http://www.fodera.com/cpo/cpo_yy.htm.....Do you know was victor use this bass to record palmestery??????

Thanks,
Man-Ho

 

[mhduffl]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Just Thumpin']

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Although I am not 100% certain, I believe that most of the tunes on Plamystery were recorded using basses OTHER than Vic's current Yin-Yang...

 

[Just Thumpin']

BTW, where was that Monarch listed on the Fodera website (under what section)?

 

[ursus]

I have an ashbody koatop 5-string Emperor BO with maple neck and RW board and Duncans in 70´s position. Both pups full on in single coil mode and slap sound can´t get any better IMO. I play mostly fingerstyle and slap from time to time.

 

[KJung]

It is a long story.......
I want to discuss with you guys for the spec of my next fodera bass project, but I would like to introduce my current basses first.....

1) A Fender Jaco jazz bass fretless. A 60's jazz bass with smooth feeling, but the neck is not stable and so I will replace with Warmoth afterwards.......

2) A Atelier z (Japanese made) jazz bass. A 70's jazz bass with ash body and with bartolini xtct pre-amp so this is true Marcus Miller slapping sound, it has good fingering sound with the tone control(added myself)......

3) A new Fodera N.Y.C. bass. A 60's jazz bass 5 string with alder body. It is the smoothest jazz bass I ever tried. It provide very smooth fingering sound but rather thin slapping. This bass is built in Japan that Fodera send the wood to Japan and the japanese Fodera dealer built there, the action is low, the neck is thin and comfortable, the neck is stable, top notch....

I want to have a fodera bass that is ' thick, smooth, good for fingerstyle and slapping'. The 60's jazz bass (alder body, rosewood fingerboard) is very good for smooth fingering. The 70's jazz (ash body, maple body) is aggresive and good for sapping......I want a fodera that is versitle and have the character of both 60's and 70's........Can you brothers commend on the wood for this dream bass (I will think of dual coils pickup)???

1) Body wood ??????
2) Fingerboard wood ?????
3) Heelbock with elite ??????
4) Duncan vs Areo Dual coils ????

Thanks very much and hope you kindly give some words on it......

It sounds like you are going for more of a Jazz Bass type tone. Fodera would not be high on my list for that specific tone. Even the NYC 'Jazz' bass models, while nice, are at best in the 'middle of the pack' of boutique J's out there, and IMO sound much better passive than active IMO and IME.

Also, remember that the waiting time for a new custom order Fodera is around 3 years now.

For the tone you describe, IMO it would be worth it to hunt down a Sadowsky NYC RV5 with the stock hum canceling pickups. They are lightweight, the fit and finish is every bit as good as the custom Fodera's, and IMO better than the NYC models, and that wood and pickup combination results in a nice fat fingerstyle tone and plenty of sizzle for slap without getting ganky or honky.

The Sadowsky guys are expert international shippers, and the bass will cost a fraction of the cost of a new Fodera. And, even if you do a custom order, the wait time is around 8 months.

Fodera's are great, but they sound like Fodera's, not like J basses, even in single coil mode with duals in Fender position IMO and IME. The other thing I've found in playing 20 or so Fodera's over a number of years is that there is a very consistent tone to these basses. Ash body, maple board, alder body, walnut body, mahogany body, whatever. Except for the EMG loaded basses, even the Aero/Duncan choice is not drastic. The only wood option that significantly changes the tone IMO is an ebony board, which gives you that 'ping' when slapping. So, my point is, given the huge wait time for a Fodera, I would highly suggest looking for a used one. There are many for sale at the moment (given the bad economy) in the $5,500 to $7,000 price range, which is a touch less than a new one at this point.

 

[mhduffl]

Hi Just Thumpin',

I've found this link when I did some google search for victor's YYbass. This belongs to the certified pre-owned area, but this bass has gone, so only this link can go directly, you can't go in Fodera web now.

What?? You are interested??? You have so many Foderas and a Yin-Yang, please give me some chance........

Man-Ho

 

[mhduffl]

I have an ashbody koatop 5-string Emperor BO with maple neck and RW board and Duncans in 70´s position. Both pups full on in single coil mode and slap sound can´t get any better IMO. I play mostly fingerstyle and slap from time to time.

Hi ursus,

Thanks for your information.It seems help me a lot.....

Man-Ho

 

[mhduffl]

It sounds like you are going for more of a Jazz Bass type tone. Fodera would not be high on my list for that specific tone. Even the NYC 'Jazz' bass models, while nice, are at best in the 'middle of the pack' of boutique J's out there, and IMO sound much better passive than active IMO and IME.

Also, remember that the waiting time for a new custom order Fodera is around 3 years now.

For the tone you describe, IMO it would be worth it to hunt down a Sadowsky NYC RV5 with the stock hum canceling pickups. They are lightweight, the fit and finish is every bit as good as the custom Fodera's, and IMO better than the NYC models, and that wood and pickup combination results in a nice fat fingerstyle tone and plenty of sizzle for slap without getting ganky or honky.

The Sadowsky guys are expert international shippers, and the bass will cost a fraction of the cost of a new Fodera. And, even if you do a custom order, the wait time is around 8 months.

Fodera's are great, but they sound like Fodera's, not like J basses, even in single coil mode with duals in Fender position IMO and IME. The other thing I've found in playing 20 or so Fodera's over a number of years is that there is a very consistent tone to these basses. Ash body, maple board, alder body, walnut body, mahogany body, whatever. Except for the EMG loaded basses, even the Aero/Duncan choice is not drastic. The only wood option that significantly changes the tone IMO is an ebony board, which gives you that 'ping' when slapping. So, my point is, given the huge wait time for a Fodera, I would highly suggest looking for a used one. There are many for sale at the moment (given the bad economy) in the $5,500 to $7,000 price range, which is a touch less than a new one at this point.

Hi KJung,

Thanks for your information.It seems help me a lot.....I have one vote for non-Fodera.........

Man-Ho

 

[KJung]

Hi KJung,

Thanks for your information.It seems help me a lot.....I have one vote for non-Fodera.........

Man-Ho

Don't bet me wrong, Fodera's are GREAT. But if you are going for more of a J Bass tone, there are other basses that do that better, at lighter weight, and at a much lower cost.