Fodera: Basses worth the money?

Some say yes, some say no. Few dispute they are quality axes.

And that's the size of it.

 

Only YOU can answer that. I think that they are great pieces, but I can't justify the price to myself. I do, however, love their 4 strings.

 

Try to find players with a Fodera in your area and play one....



Some say it is the Zenith of bass, the 'Rolls Royce' or 'it's the sh!t!!!'...

I think that at some point in my life I would like to have a great Fodera, a SF-bay Hippie Alembwich and a Carl Thompson in my collection... These are dream basses for me....but that is where I hold my respect for them and the workmanship that goes into them. Some would say that they are 'workhorses' and they gig with them constantly... I guess it is where you are in your life, playing, professional musical career and so on.

Some people will also say that many careers have been built on a p-bass, cable and amp.... go figure.

IMHO If my musically-related revenue stream can justify the cost, I'd go for it...
For example, when I was in sales and spending a bunch of time in my car, I bought something a bit more comfortable, cause I could justify the cost with it's use and need in my life's 'little-equation'... granted I lived in a little 'shoebox of an apt' in Boston at the time. ("you can sleep in your car, but you can drive your apt", go figure).


Hey lumankicks, thanks for the URL!... them are purdy geetars... aren't they? Show some progress pix, should you decide to commission Joey and Vinnie to start you one.

 

My main bass for three years has been
this Elite 5. Not the best looking Fodera
I have had(I have owned 3)and its beat out
a LOT of other high end basses I
have owned too. My other Fodera's were beautiful...but this one just has...well.. "IT".
Plays great...sounds fantastic!! Looks okay.
Try before you buy if you can they are
SO expensive!! I lost a ton of cash on an
Emperor spalted maple dlx 5. I would not buy another one unless I could try it first.
Dan

 

what was the issue with that bass? did it not play/sound good? it sure did look cool!

 

I don't think they are worth that much money. In the end, it is a hunk of wood with another hunk of wood on it. It very well may be very well crafted piece of wood, but not $10,000 worth of it. I think anyone can be happy with a bass at 1/5th of the cost, and still be an amazing musician, be hella good, and have a bass that looks it as well.

Sometimes, it seems like the only thing that costs that much money is the word "Fodera" (insert any other super friggin expensive bass manufacturer).

Thats my $.02 on the whole issue.

 

The answer is yes. If the value was not perceived to be that high, too few people would buy them to support the manufacture of them. Fodera would either go out of business or lower their prices. It's a very fundamental law of economics.

 

Joe,There were a coulpe of things about that
bass that I did not like. It was about 11 pounds (plus)...killed my back. The Aero pickups just did not do it for me. The single coil Duncuns on my Elite just sounded better to me (IMO). But that bass looked KILLER!!

Here is a pic... I had some great(better) pics of
it... but I can't find them now. Its on hold
at David Beasly's new bass store.

Edit: I almost forgot the most important
thing. My "plain" looking Elite 5 played
SO much better it was a no contest. It
just felt better in my hands.
Dan

 

Brendan is my new hero... almost every time I've started to reply to a thread recently, I've scrolled down a bit to see that you've already posted my thoughts.. and stated it better than I would've.

Hi ho.

 

If you'd asked me two days ago I would have said no. But after playing the walnut body/ebony top Emperor Deluxe at Bass Central I would have to say yes. When you find the right wood/pickup combination a Fodera is definitely worth it. I've oned other Fodera's that were not worth it to ME only because they didn't have the right woods for ME. I agree, play as many as you can first and when you find the right recipe, you'll do what you can to buy it. The one at Bass Central is on hold for me and should be in my home by the end of the month

 

I almost bought your bass Dan. It was at Bass Alone for a few days and I got to try it out...I considered it but decided against it, then it was off to Dave Beasley...

My answer, as many will guess, is a resounding yes. I've played just about everything...if you name it I have most likely played it unless it is a sadowsky or some really obscure brand. I still have not found a bass that sounds as good or plays as well as the basses I own. I certainly wish I could find one that did because it would save me a bundle!

The thing is they are such custom instruments you can certainly find one that you will not like. But this is true of any maker really...

The only maker that I feel has the same level of craftsmanship in them that I have personally played is Carey Nordstrand's basses. Very good stuff.

If you are interested in Fodera I suggest you check them out first hand...

 

You are paying an exorbitant premium on these
instruments because Vic plays one, and he most
likely gets his for FREE... I've never understood
this, the people that can most easily afford to PAY for their gear get it for free, while the rest of us working stiffs are left to foot the bill. I tried out some of these basses a few
years ago, and almost puked when I saw the price tag. There are so many great luthiers that will build basses to order, exactly what you want, for
a fraction of the cost. SUPPORT YOUR MICROLUTHIER!

 

Actually, I doubt seriously that Victor Wooten gets his Foderas for free, considering that his been playing his main one since long before he was particularly well-known. The smaller builders (which includes Fodera, really) don't seem to give out freebies very often.

Also, I seriously doubt that most people who buy Foderas buy them because Vic plays one, though I'm sure there are a few.

Are they worth the price? That's a really subjective thing, since it depend a whole lot on how much a particular person likes them and how much money they have! Most (but not all) of the Foderas I've played have been exceptional basses, and I'd love to own one at some point, but they're not the only exceptional basses out there and many of them are cheaper.

Mike

 

I have difficulty with basses that carry price
tags that are TWICE what I paid for my first
new car.... My next boutique bass will another
one of these:

www.hanewinckelguitars.com

 

Given what I've heard about Hanewickels, I can't argue with that!

Mike

 

So...you're saying no?

 

I could buy five Fodera's for what I just paid for my first new car. Times change.


Oh yeah, Hanewinckel's are nice too.

 

Yes, they do. But I'm old. I was playing bass
5 years before you were born!

 

Yeah, but you and I started playing bass about the same time, I'll bet. What did a new Alembic cost when you bought your first car, and what does it cost now?

Wait, nevermind--I'm not sure I want to start down the "what stuff used to cost" path, 'cause I'll feel even older...

Mike