Fodera Club Part II

[Just Thumpin']

I don't only own / play Foderas and so, IME, my Foderas are no less stable than any of my other basses. As a matter of fact, two of my Monarchs are the most stable basses that I have ever owned -- in over 28 years of playing.

BTW, I set my action up at 3/64ths height on the G-string. I know of VERY FEW bass makers whose instruments can even do that, let alone not require any tweaking as the seasons change when set up that low...

I don't think I'd consider you lucky at all. You have to adjust the neck when you play in a room with extreme humidity or dryness? You may have gotten used to that over the years and accepted it as normal but many would not...

 

[Angus]

Nice. Fodera doesn't make maple bodies do they?

Sure they do. They didn't have any objection. I've played a couple maple bodied Foderas in the past, too.

 

[peterpalmieri]

I don't only own / play Foderas and so, IME, my Foderas are no less stable than any of my other basses. As a matter of fact, two of my Monarchs are the most stable basses that I have ever owned -- in over 28 years of playing.

BTW, I set my action up at 3/64ths height on the G-string. I know of VERY FEW bass makers whose instruments can even do that, let alone not require any tweaking as the seasons change when set up that low...

Well that's certainly pretty low action. And I might of sounded offensive I didn't mean it that way. Still for me optimally a bass doesn't need to be adjusted more then 2x per year. If I had to do a truss rod tweak whenever I did an outside hot humid gig or a cool dry room I wouldn't be happy...Asuuming you are not globe trotting that would be a different story.

 

[cnltb]

BTW, I set my action up at 3/64ths height on the G-string.

How much is that in mm ?

 

[Garey]

Garey- I think one of the bigger differences that may be seen here is how high you like your action. At medium-low, there is more leeway, more room for "error" before the setup becomes untolerable. If you like deadnuts low action, where a few thousands of an inch is the difference between clean-and-clear and buzzing, you are much more likely to have to adjust necks more often.

I like really, realllly low action. I haven't found almost any wood necked basses that are immune to the need to be tweaked. Doesn't mean it would put me off a Fodera.

Well, I just measured my action with a 6 inch ruler with 32/64ths....something I usually only do by sight/feel. I should revise that I like LOW action... 3/64" on the G string.

Smokin bass Angus....wow.

Aloha, Garey

 

[YCBass]

I just found myself going through each and every page of this club thread - part 1 & 2... My mouth is dry from all the drooling (taking a drink now)...

Well, a good friend is making me a generous offer on an Imperial 6... I'm just a little reluctant cause of the amount, even if I sell everything I have it would barely make a dent on what I will owe him for this thing... But I am finding myself more and more at peace with the idea and telling myself that soon enough it'll be all paid for. Will it be worth selling everything and just having this one instrument??? Has anyone here done that?

I hope to have a decision soon, and if it goes the way I want then I will be more than thrilled to request for a number.

 

[J. Crawford]

Well, will you miss the gear you have now? Can the Fodera meet all your tonal needs?

 

[Wilbyman]

I didn't find my Monarch to be unstable...but I haven't had that problem with my $500 Dean Jeff Berlin either. The only bass I have had that needed alot of adjustment was a 4-string Smith bolt on.

W

 

[chris.gotfunk]

Well, a good friend is making me a generous offer on an Imperial 6... I'm just a little reluctant cause of the amount, even if I sell everything I have it would barely make a dent on what I will owe him for this thing... But I am finding myself more and more at peace with the idea and telling myself that soon enough it'll be all paid for. Will it be worth selling everything and just having this one instrument??? Has anyone here done that?

Well, I am about to rid myself of all of my basses for just one..... and that would be the Emperor 5 in my avatar. I will let you know how it all works out.

 

[number six]

I have 4 basses including a Fender, MusicMan and a Fodera.
All imported after being setup overseas but only the Fodera needed truss rod tweaking on arrival in sub-tropical Oz.
The neck felt more 'alive' or 'less harnessed' than other necks I've owned.
Dunno why I feel that way about it but that's how it feels to me - alive!
It's the finest neck I've ever played as well btw.
10c

PS maybe 'unstable' is a harsh word to use here.

 

[narud]

I could literally 'fret out the strings' by doing this since the neck moved so much (versus, for example, my current Sadowsky and Alleva Coppolo basses with super stiff and dense one piece rock maple necks that literally won't budge).

you most have the few a/c's with steel impregnated maple, because i just got through pulling the headstock back quite a bit on some a/c's yesterday.

 

[KJung]

you most have the few a/c's with steel impregnated maple, because i just got through pulling the headstock back quite a bit on some a/c's yesterday.

Mine are rock hard, as is the Sadowsky, and also the Laklands I've owned and played. Something about those simple, hard, one piece maple necks. I guess Leo did kind of have it figured out.

The key is, I rarely (if ever) have to adjust them, going from either room to room, season to season, or city to city

Every bass is different though, and again, whenever I try to communicate what seems to be a 'systematic' issue with a brand of instrument, I am always speaking in terms of the incidence of the issue, and hence the probability of an owner, or more importantly, a potential owner having a 'problem'.

The best way to think about this is regarding the awful GM cars of the 70's. Even as many problems as they had, there were still MANY more owners who didn't have a repair than did. This is never an issue of 'all or none', but rather 1% versus 10 or 20 or 30% having issues.

No big deal either way, just communicating my and others (as you can see by the posts on this issue through the years and even in this thread) experience. And, I have a couple buddies who have their Fodera's in for adjustment CONSTANTLY, and yet still love them. As another owner put it so well a few posts above, they love the feel and tone so much, that they put up with the quirks. I think they are nuts dealing with that constantly, but to each his/her own!

 

[KJung]

I have 4 basses including a Fender, MusicMan and a Fodera.
All imported after being setup overseas but only the Fodera needed truss rod tweaking on arrival in sub-tropical Oz.
The neck felt more 'alive' or 'less harnessed' than other necks I've owned.
Dunno why I feel that way about it but that's how it feels to me - alive!
It's the finest neck I've ever played as well btw.
10c

PS maybe 'unstable' is a harsh word to use here.

+1 Unstable does connote 'warping and twisting' and that surely is not the case. 'Less harnessed' or 'rubbery' or 'not stiff' or whatever is what I'm talking about (that ease with which you can 'move' the neck with very little pressure on some of these instruments), and when you do get them tweaked in, they play beautifully. +1

 

[cnltb]

is it a problem to slightly tweak the trussrod a little from time to time?
Not for me.

 

[OrionManMatt]

How much is that in mm ?

(3/64)/0.03937 = 1.190625 mm

 

[harrybosch]

I believe the reason why all of my Fodera's but one had weak B strings is the unstable thin neck. These necks just weren't rigid enough to transmit the low B frequencies. My first Fodera had a good B and it's neck was quite stable. I don't recall having to adjust it much.

 

[cnltb]

(3/64)/0.03937 = 1.190625 mm

Thanks!

 

[chris.gotfunk]

Hey all! Well. I am making the plunge. I sent Miko a deposit to hold this bass. And for those of you who were following my (Should I take out a loan thread), you will all be happy to know that I did not. The wife and I bought a house in August and get the tax credit. So, some of that money will be used to pay for it. The other portion will be paid for by me. Anyway, I am totally stoked and I hope Miko does not mind me using a few of his pics to post here.

 

[basses55]

Hey all! Well. I am making the plunge. I sent Miko a deposit to hold this bass. And for those of you who were following my (Should I take out a loan thread), you will all be happy to know that I did not. The wife and I bought a house in August and get the tax credit. So, some of that money will be used to pay for it. The other portion will be paid for by me. Anyway, I am totally stoked and I hope Miko does not mind me using a few of his pics to post here.

Nice bass!
is it 34?

I couldent find it on Miko's for sale page...was it for sale ?

 

[chris.gotfunk]

Nice bass!
is it 34?

I couldent find it on Miko's for sale page...was it for sale ?

Long story, but yes it was on his page. I can post the link to more pics and audio clips if you guys want it.

Yes, it is a 34"! Woo hoo!! Not that I care either way though.