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Fodera Club Part II

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#281
Gang --

I knew that the existing price list would cause some ripples, but remember, these are List Prices. Also, as I stated in an earlier post, some of the pricing on our list does NOT make sense and will be dealt with in a comprehensive manner over the next two months. We went ahead and posted it anyway because this is what has been in effect for the past two years and I didn't see any harm in sharing something that anyone could call the shop and ask for...
 
#282
All of the pickups that Fodera offers (except EMG's) are proprietary designs. Also, we now exclusively build with the Fodera / Pope preamp (which is also proprietary) unless someone wants something else...


bassjigga said:
Well the "better" depends on the car. I don't know about Rolls, but Ferrari is building with expensive materials like carbon fiber, deriving suspension components from their formula 1 cars, carbon brake disks, limited production/high demand and they are hand built so I think the "value" is there. I sure as hell can't afford one, but I don't think they're over priced.

My only gripe with someone like Fodera is that at that price, they use EMG or Bart electronics/pickups. I suppose you have the choice of the Pope pre so that's a little better, but seeing as how pickups/electronics probably play the largest roll in the sound of a solid body instrument, I think luthiers in that price range need proprietary stuff. There are dozens of much less expensive emg/bart options out there. I have 2 Alembics and they are not cheap by any stretch of the imagination but their tone is certainly unique. I suppose one could buy their guts and have someone build a quality bass around them for less, but anyway that's my argument.
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#284
Just Thumpin' said:
All of the pickups that Fodera offers (except EMG's) ARE proprietary designs. Also, we now exclusively build with the Fodera / Pope preamp (which is also proprietary) unless someone wants something else...
Click to expand...

And I'd point out that the new Fodera / Pope preamp is stellar. Its very different from its predecessor. Amazingly wide frequency response, very organic sounding without the sterile edge I felt existed before, just incredible note definition and timbre, totally user friendly and adjustable.....really fantastic.

Aloha, Garey
 
#285
KJung said:
$1,000 to $1,500 for a solid top also... I guess they grow their own old trees also:D

Hey, Fodera has always been 'if you have to ask, you can't afford it'. I'm one who thinks their price/quality is WAY out of line (even if their service does get better), but there are a lot of guys who take the plunge!

Nice $4,500 basses though. Unfortunately, they cost $8,000! Hey, if it is worth it, it's worth it to the buyer.
Click to expand...

Just the way I feel. Their prices have gone nuts primarily, I think, because Victor Wooten plays one, and secondarily, because of Anthony Jackson and other NY players in their stable.

emjazz said:
It's not about not being worthy, or even the price for that matter, as long as you have the money. It's about, does the bass play and sound the way that you want/need it to? What is the sound in your head? Does your bass achieve that? Does it make it easier or more challenging to play the way that you want to play, barring your own personal skill level? After that has been answered, who builds or can build you the bass that you desire? For a lot of people a Fender will do it because that's the sound that we're all so used to hearing. For many others there's something else. It's just a matter of finding what works for you. If it turns out to be a Fodera than that's the bass you should have....don't do it as a status symbol though...I see that all the time and that's when it bothers me.
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Status symbols - that's what happened to Porsche's in the 80's, as well as a lot of other stuff - they became status symbols and their prices went through the roof. And it's now happened to basses. Sadowsky gets away with charging that much for a Fender copy because Will Lee plays them on TV every night. Same with Fodera - Victor Wooten et al. They are nice basses, I do like the Pope preamp, but I won't be buying one, as they sound a lot like other basses that go for far less. An MTD has a really unique sonic signature, an F bass somewhat, but much less so, a Smith, even less, but I really don't believe a Fodera does, and $10,000.00 for a Garrison 5 string...

:rollno:

Thanks anyway.

Cheers,
Cameron
 
#286
And F Bass with Alain Caron. And MTD with all of the gospel players who use them, etc. You can say this about all of them.

(And I would argue that a Smith has a WAY more unique sonic signature than any other brand, and especially more so than an F Bass.)

I got quoted $7000 for a not-particularly-specially-optioned F Bass. At that price, I'd way rather go for a Fodera (and I did).
 
#287
Angus said:
And F Bass with Alain Caron. And MTD with all of the gospel players who use them, etc. You can say this about all of them.

(And I would argue that a Smith has a WAY more unique sonic signature than any other brand, and especially more so than an F Bass.)

I got quoted $7000 for a not-particularly-specially-optioned F Bass. At that price, I'd way rather go for a Fodera (and I did).
Click to expand...

FBass is a strange brand in that their 'base' models are very affordable, and their 'fancy top upgrades' are extremely expensive.
 
#289
I think there are other factors that go into a bass other than looks and what's cool at
the moment. I own an Fbass and I can honestly say that is feels completely different
than anything I've played. I've also played Fodera's, Ken Smith's, Pedulla's, etc. Each
bass has a totally different vibe and feel to it. Yes some are a little more close to a
Fender's vibe and some are more modern but in the end when you add in looks, sound,
feel, reputation, and the basses overall vibe the price shouldn't matter as long as your
getting a bass that's right for you. If someone trys a Fender, an A-C, a Sadowsky, and
a Lakland out and choose to go with a custom Sadowsky then thats good for them and
no one should bash them for getting what's right for their style no matter the cost.
 
#290
flipper_gv said:
Yeah, A Cocobolo top for 3000$ PEELLLEEAAASSEEEE!!!
Click to expand...

Yeah but any other "high end" company will end up charging you just as
much for the same thing. The only difference is that Fbass won't charge
you $7,000 for a maple and ash only bass where as other companies
keep their prices high. I think that the only reason Fbass's tops sound so
expensive is because their standard basses are so inexpensive. Other
"high end" companies charge to much for their less frilly models.


Anyways...back on topic. Fodera...
 
#291
black.rose1402 said:
My point of view (having two, one used , one ordered) is that you only have one life, that's how I justify this kind of money on a bass.

I like to play on these basses because it really brings a great joy.
Hell, I sweared to myself not to buy another bass, and now I'm on the market for a 6 string (mtd or ken smith), and really, for me it's all about enjoying life buying stuff that makes me happy.

I don't care what people think, what counts is what I think and my pleasure.

I like to share this pleasure by letting other players try my basses (with care of course), and then, some people realize that if you play an instrument, and if your going to keep it let's say 1à years (or more), divide the price by the number of months and tell me what it makes.

and calculate what you pay for, let's say your cell phones , and compare it ten years after, for your cell phones, you paid the time to call people and the phone itself, but you have nothing else, me I'll still have my basses.

you only have one life, enjoy it, because when it's time to leave, it must be hard to tell to yourself (damn I should have done that!)
Click to expand...

Hi black.rose1402, I feel like I know you because I've read every page of your epic 'waiting for my fodera daily thoughts' thread.

Anyway, I completely agree. I have a few nice hand made basses and guitars, and the fodera's on order (plus a nice archtop on order), and I just love the artistry that goes into the wood, design, and attention to detail. I have my kids college money put away, have some extra $'s for toys so I spend it on instruments. Other people spend their extra $'s on cars, stereo's, whatever. For me it's guitars and basses. I practice a couple hours a day, gig whenever I can, and do often pick up and play every instrument I own. These instruments give me huge pleasure.

To me, none of my beautiful hand made basses sound any better than my 61 P which I paid $400 for in the 80's. But, they are beautiful works of art, I play them all the time, and take them out to gigs when I know they won't get knocked over, stolen, or make me look out of place (e.g., won't be bringing my fodera imperial to the blue's club gig).
I think there are quite a few boutique bass owners out there pretty similar to me. I know I have a few musical friends who think about these instruments the same way I do.
 
#293
KJung said:
From a pure tone perspective, most of us try to make all this fancy stuff sound like a Fender J bass anyway, so the whole thing does get a little bit embarrassing, when you really step back and look at it without the 'AAAA top' blinders on.
Click to expand...

Great quote! I still lol when I read this because it's so true. On every bass I own I know exactly how to set the control to get an acceptable P or J tone out of it....
 
#296
KJung said:
$1,000 to $1,500 for a solid top also... I guess they grow their own old trees also:D

Hey, Fodera has always been 'if you have to ask, you can't afford it'. I'm one who thinks their price/quality is WAY out of line (even if their service does get better), but there are a lot of guys who take the plunge!

Nice $4,500 basses though. Unfortunately, they cost $8,000! Hey, if it is worth it, it's worth it to the buyer.
Click to expand...

+1
 
#297
J. Crawford said:
You both have good points Im just inquisitive. I mean, Im a bassist bassist (meaning I like to sit in the back, and play bass), and I just cant justify spending 10k on a bass when Im not soloing or doing anything fancy smancy.

Again, Im just thinking. We dont have school today, and Im staring TB all day looking out the window at the rain.. ;)
Click to expand...

Why should you have to justify anything?´
and,
Why is sitting in the back ,playing bass a lesser reason for a 10k bass than standing in the fore and soloing?
-Just wondering :)
 
#299
drbakker said:
Hi black.rose1402, I feel like I know you because I've read every page of your epic 'waiting for my fodera daily thoughts' thread.

Anyway, I completely agree. I have a few nice hand made basses and guitars, and the fodera's on order (plus a nice archtop on order), and I just love the artistry that goes into the wood, design, and attention to detail. I have my kids college money put away, have some extra $'s for toys so I spend it on instruments. Other people spend their extra $'s on cars, stereo's, whatever. For me it's guitars and basses. I practice a couple hours a day, gig whenever I can, and do often pick up and play every instrument I own. These instruments give me huge pleasure.

To me, none of my beautiful hand made basses sound any better than my 61 P which I paid $400 for in the 80's. But, they are beautiful works of art, I play them all the time, and take them out to gigs when I know they won't get knocked over, stolen, or make me look out of place (e.g., won't be bringing my fodera imperial to the blue's club gig).
I think there are quite a few boutique bass owners out there pretty similar to me. I know I have a few musical friends who think about these instruments the same way I do.
Click to expand...

hi bass brother!!

i'm glad that you followed the thread and that you liked it and that you remember me! (was that thread that epic?)

and i'm glad not to being the only one to think that way.

I take one of my fodera everywhere (and if it's a blues gig, i take the monarch)
 
#300
basswoody said:
What's the sound of 10k bass anyway.You would need to be a mutant to tell the difference on a recording.Some of the most famous players and recordings did play the j-bass and it sounded as good as it gets.Geddy Lee,Jaco even Anthony Jackson and lincoln goines the list goes on..You don't need a 10k bass to make great music:rollno:
Click to expand...

Nobody here said you need a $10,000 bass to make good music. This is the Fodera thread where people who are interested in Fodera Basses congregate and converse.

(there's also a space bar that you can use after commas and periods to make your posts easier to read, though that would only make them a tad less annoying)
 
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