Fodera Club Part II

[thndrstk6]

I don't remember ever seeing a spalted maple Fodera. Maybe I should peruse the threads.

I don't think I have either. I'm just saying that they are two great tastes that taste great together that's all.

 

[Angus]

You'll probably think my reasoning is silly and irrational, and I wouldn't argue otherwise, but I would want the Fodera pickups in my new Fodera bass because for me, that would be a HUGE part of what would make my Fodera a true Fordera.

For instance, when I bought a Nordy, I got it with the Audere preamp. Except for the control layout, I LOVE that preamp, but when Nordstrand came out with his own preamp, I wished my Nordy had it.

Likewise, when I bought my Alleva Coppolo, it had an Aguilar preamp which I had changed to the Coppolo preamp before it shipped to me.

And when I get a Sadwosky, I definitely want a Sadowsky preamp in it.

I wouldn't get an Fbass and put a Sadowsky preamp in it, because I'd want the F to sound like an F, an F the way George intended for it to sound.

Similarly, I would want my Fodera to have Fodera pickups, the pope preamp, etc., and be just what Fodera meant for a Fodera to sound like.

Again, that might not be all that rational given how great other pickup choices are as well, but I'm just the kind of guy who'd pass on Lindsay Lohan and hold out for the real Marilyn Monroe whenever possible.

For me, it would be Fodera all the way, just as Fodera intended their basses to sound and play.

Yeah, I do think you're crazy, but it's not that I don't understand it (nor do I think it's wrong). I just don't ascribe to the same mentality.

I buy an "X" brand because I want it to sound the way I want and feel/play like "X" brand. Certain brands have their own sound- MTD and F Bass are great examples where they have a very definitive sound- but even then there are choices to make it sound the way you want but play and feel like that brand. Sound is by far the most malleable of all traits, so with the right specs and components, it'll be a sound that suits my tastes.

So I'd order a Fodera (or whatever) to play and feel like a Fodera, but sound the way *I* want, not the way *Fodera* want.

But I understand your attitude nevertheless.

I think it's no different than the fact that you said that you always leave your bass with the factory setup because it's how George intended. Great! I tweak my setup all over the place until I get it EXACTLY as I want it...and then I leave it alone usually for years. To each his own. I just want it to be my own.

I don't think the Lindsay Lohan/Marilyn Monroe metaphor works, btw. It's not a question of class or substance here (which the metaphor seems to imply). I think there are better metaphorical scenarios, but inevitably it will cheapen/cripple the discussion into something it isn't, so I'll avoid it.

 

[firebass]

I don't remember ever seeing a spalted maple Fodera. Maybe I should peruse the threads.

My 5 string Emperor II has a spalted maple top.

I've seen a few others too, including the 6 string sister bass to my 5
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[Lennard III.]

It's funny. Some of you may remember a couple months ago I was nosing around looking for a Fodera, then other expenses put it on the back burner. When I posted in this thread last month, I had no idea that the circumstance would arise enabling me to get one.

Please forgive me for posting a Ritter in a Fodera thread, but I want to refresh your memories.

as I had a Ritter (my fault) and do own two great Foderas I came to the point - comparing a Ritter with a Fodera is like NIGHT and DAY !

The Foderas have sooooo much more tone, character, etc. !

 

[Coeball]

Forgive me for the noob question. but what is the ball-park figure for one of these basses ?

 

[thndrstk6]

Around $6,000-$7,000 and up. The NYC models are around $3,000-$4,000 I think.

It really depends on how much "fancy" you get on it and what model you choose.

 

[thndrstk6]

I guess I can join up now. This one's on order.

Emperor 5 Deluxe
Walnut body, chambered
Spalted maple top
Duncan dual coils with top-matching wood covers
Ebony fretboard, side dots only
Pope 18V preamp
35-inch scale
24 frets
and, of course, gold hardware.

Here's the top wood.

So something like this?

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*CLICK ON IT TO MAKE IT BIGGER*

 

[FGY2]

So something like this?

Congratulations for the good job...

 

[steubig]

if i can beat the horse about the pickups for a few more seconds.

i was musing about this while falling asleep last night (i admit it, i have no life).

it might come down to whether or not you want the pickups to *define* a bass or *represent* it. i'd submit that the *signature sound* might define, rather than represent.

at this point in my life, i want it to represent what the bass sounds like.

 

[cnltb]

Are specs known for teh Fodera pick ups?
what magnets are used
what formats will be available?
Can they be customized to suit the customer's needs, in case none of the readily available units do?(rather than just reflecting the vision of the luthier which may or may not coincide with that of the customer).
I personally always had the pickups for instruments custom wound and am very happy with this approach, so I wonder if a service such as this will become available at Fodera...
and if customization is on the menu, how flexible will this be?

 

[Munjibunga]

So something like this?

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*CLICK ON IT TO MAKE IT BIGGER*

WOW! You are a master! Thanks. I'm hoping it will be a shade darker, but that'll do, if it turns out like that.

 

[Munjibunga]

Forgive me for the noob question. but what is the ball-park figure for one of these basses ?

The base price on a Monarch 5 or an Emperor 5 is $7,009 (going up on January 1). Anything you add is expensive.

 

[tomika]

Hi Guys, here's my Imperial pieces

(03.2006)

(05.2008)

Imperial Garrison 5
Alder body
Alder heal block
Selected chestnut top
Brasilian Rosewood fretboard, dots, skinny neck
34" scale
24 frets
Seymour dual coils 60's positions with chestnut wood covers exposed poles
Black hardware
Pope electr. Garrison knobs positions

 

[FGY2]

Hi Guys, here's my Imperial pieces

Imperial Garrison 5
Alder body
Alder heal block
Selected chestnut top
Brasilian Rosewood fretboard, dots, skinny neck
34" scale
24 frets
Seymour dual coils 60's positions with chestnut wood covers exposed poles
Black hardware
Pope electr. Garrison knobs positions

Congratulations Bass Brother - it will be a killer bass...

 

[Just Thumpin']

We have wound two different sets of Dual Coils. Both aim to emulate the best Fender PUPS -- one set geared towards the 60's vibe and the other towards the 70's.

Overall, however, when Joey was developing them, he was looking to have them be responsive, uncolored and transparent so that the woods of the basses and the player's technique / sound show through.

I really doubt there ever will be a "Fodera Sound" per se. Providing instruments that are as uniquely expressive as their owners desire them to be is what we're all about...

At this point we do not have plans to do custom PUP winding...

Cheers.

Are specs known for teh Fodera pick ups?
what magnets are used
what formats will be available?
Can they be customized to suit the customer's needs, in case none of the readily available units do?(rather than just reflecting the vision of the luthier which may or may not coincide with that of the customer).
I personally always had the pickups for instruments custom wound and am very happy with this approach, so I wonder if a service such as this will become available at Fodera...
and if customization is on the menu, how flexible will this be?

 

[Angus]

I really doubt there ever will be a "Fodera Sound" per se. Providing instruments that are as uniquely expressive as their owners desire them to be is what we're all about...

And I think that is something that players really appreciate!

 

[Sterling_Bass]

Munjibunga, congats on the bass. It's going to fantastic. The PS rendering must really make the wait worse.

 

[steubig]

Overall, however, when Joey was developing them, he was looking to have them be responsive, uncolored and transparent so that the woods of the basses and the player's technique / sound show through.

I really doubt there ever will be a "Fodera Sound" per se. Providing instruments that are as uniquely expressive as their owners desire them to be is what we're all about...

this is what i expect—and what i value, as well.

 

[narud]

We have wound two different sets of Dual Coils. Both aim to emulate the best Fender PUPS -- one set geared towards the 60's vibe and the other towards the 70's.

Overall, however, when Joey was developing them, he was looking to have them be responsive, uncolored and transparent so that the woods of the basses and the player's technique / sound show through.

I really doubt there ever will be a "Fodera Sound" per se. Providing instruments that are as uniquely expressive as their owners desire them to be is what we're all about...

At this point we do not have plans to do custom PUP winding...

Cheers.

are you guys not going to use duncans and aeros any more? the description you give of the new duals kind of sounds like my experience with duncans vs aeros. the duncans were grindier and not as extended. the aeros were more scooped in the upper mids, more extended in the high highs. the same could be said about my 62 jazz vs my 78.

 

[Just Thumpin']

Nope, these are in addition to Duncans and Aeros...not as replacements for them.

are you guys not going to use duncans and aeros any more? the description you give of the new duals kind of sounds like my experience with duncans vs aeros. the duncans were grindier and not as extended. the aeros were more scooped in the upper mids, more extended in the high highs. the same could be said about my 62 jazz vs my 78.