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Fodera Club Part III

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#501
Just Thumpin' said:
I have been a 4-string guy since I started playing (in the early '80's), but a couple of months ago a unique trade opportunity came up here on TB and I acquired a beautiful early 1998 Emperor (personally, not through the shop).

The finish had yellowed and had some cracking around the controls and it had Lane Poor J/J's in it (I prefer Dual Coils), but I figured it was a perfect candidate for a complete restoration.

So, after many evenings of scraping and sanding, I present to you my first 5-string Fodera (only my second 5-string ever)...time to hit the woodshed and stop thinking of the B-string as a thumb-rest! ;)

Fodera Emperor Deluxe (built 2/98)
Chestnut Burl Top
Alder Body
Macassar Ebony FB with Abalone Blocks
3-pc. Rock Maple Neck
Fodera/Duncan Dual Coil PUPS
Fodera/Pope 2010 Preamp
34" scale, 24 frets

IMG_1201.gif


IMG_1200.gif


IMG_1202.gif


IMG_1205.gif


IMG_1203.gif
Click to expand...

Wow - Beautiful!
 
#506
Just Thumpin' said:
I have been a 4-string guy since I started playing (in the early '80's), but a couple of months ago a unique trade opportunity came up here on TB and I acquired a beautiful early 1998 Emperor (personally, not through the shop).

The finish had yellowed and had some cracking around the controls and it had Lane Poor J/J's in it (I prefer Dual Coils), but I figured it was a perfect candidate for a complete restoration.

So, after many evenings of scraping and sanding, I present to you my first 5-string Fodera (only my second 5-string ever)...time to hit the woodshed and stop thinking of the B-string as a thumb-rest! ;)

Fodera Emperor Deluxe (built 2/98)
Chestnut Burl Top
Alder Body
Macassar Ebony FB with Abalone Blocks
3-pc. Rock Maple Neck
Fodera/Duncan Dual Coil PUPS
Fodera/Pope 2010 Preamp
34" scale, 24 frets

IMG_1201.gif


IMG_1200.gif


IMG_1202.gif


IMG_1205.gif


IMG_1203.gif
Click to expand...

LUCKY!!!

That bass is beautiful. I must leave this thread now before I do something stupid (like buy a Fodera without my wife knowing.)
 
#508
Although I cannot 100% certain, I consider it as matthew's.
He decribed it as acoustic/electric hybride. and it seems to have unique bridge and electronics.
I really hope to listen to its tone. maybe his next album!!

Fodera3.gif
 
#510
The Koa topped bass in the photo IS Matt's bass. It is a electric-acoustic and he is currently using on tour with Whitney Houston.

jclone said:
Although I cannot 100% certain, I consider it as matthew's.
He decribed it as acoustic/electric hybride. and it seems to have unique bridge and electronics.
I really hope to listen to its tone. maybe his next album!!

Fodera3.gif
Click to expand...
 
#514
Does anyone know what the extra electronic controls on this bass are?

Is he still using a hex (or piezo's maybe?) to control midi devices still?

Will Fodera install an internal hex pickup and controls?

Peace!

jclone said:
Although I cannot 100% certain, I consider it as matthew's.
He decribed it as acoustic/electric hybride. and it seems to have unique bridge and electronics.
I really hope to listen to its tone. maybe his next album!!

Fodera3.gif
Click to expand...
 
#515
Just Thumpin' said:
I have been a 4-string guy since I started playing (in the early '80's), but a couple of months ago a unique trade opportunity came up here on TB and I acquired a beautiful early 1998 Emperor (personally, not through the shop).

The finish had yellowed and had some cracking around the controls and it had Lane Poor J/J's in it (I prefer Dual Coils), but I figured it was a perfect candidate for a complete restoration.

So, after many evenings of scraping and sanding, I present to you my first 5-string Fodera (only my second 5-string ever)...time to hit the woodshed and stop thinking of the B-string as a thumb-rest! ;)

Fodera Emperor Deluxe (built 2/98)
Chestnut Burl Top
Alder Body
Macassar Ebony FB with Abalone Blocks
3-pc. Rock Maple Neck
Fodera/Duncan Dual Coil PUPS
Fodera/Pope 2010 Preamp
34" scale, 24 frets

IMG_1201.gif
Click to expand...

Awesome Jason, the top looks near identical to my Beez Elite! Super hot.
 
#516
The hybrid involves the instrument being a true acoustic (hollow) while also having traditional magnetic pups -- in this case Fodera/Duncan Dual Coils. Then, on the bridge there are individual piezo saddles. The two types (piezo and magnetic) can be blended. There is also onboard MIDI...which allows a whole other dimension of sonic output...

jclone said:
Thanks Jason.

Could you explain me what is hybride? Is it just thick & semi-hollow body? Also, If possible, I'd like to know infor of its unique bridge & electronics. Cheers!!
Click to expand...
 
#517
Nothing that looks like this piece. We only have one (that's right, one) piece of truly extraordinary Chestnut left for a solid top...

An interesting piece of trivia...EVERY Chestnut Fodera's top came from the same tree. Every one!

Lennard III. said:
your 5 str. is such a beauty , Jason !

does the shop still have a piece of that Chestnut Burl ?

:hyper:
Click to expand...
 
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#518
Just Thumpin' said:
The hybrid involves the instrument being a true acoustic (hollow) while also having traditional magnetic pups -- in this case Fodera/Duncan Dual Coils. Then, on the bridge there are individual piezo saddles. The two types (piezo and magnetic) can be blended. There is also onboard MIDI...which allows a whole other dimension of sonic output...
Click to expand...

Let me add that the bass, mid, and treble are stacked pots. Top is EQ for magnetics, and bottom is EQ for piezos. I've always thought piezos were pretty worthless except for effect. But on this bass, with it being hollow, they sound AMAZING. Worth having an EQ on board just for them.

I started with a couple Fodera preamps and an RMC Polydrive I (or is it II?). I had to make modifications to both as well as a little reverse engineering on Richards piezo system to get things to work the way I wanted them to. Not because of anything wrong with the RMC system. Just because I was trying to make it do some things that it wasn't exactly designed to do.

The master volume control controls the output of both the piezos, and the mags. The master tone control still effects only the mags. The 2 extra knobs tucked between the black switches and the master volume control are a mag/piezo blend pot and a synth volume. The two silver switches are increment/decrement for the MIDI patch changes and a 3 position synth/both/bass select.

If I remember correctly, the active/passive switch still works, but it either defeats the piezos or acts as an EQ bypass only. I normally would make sure there was some means of playing with a dead battery, so I probably did the former. Maybe not...those kinds of things get so complicated so fast when you start considering all the ins and outs of making it even reasonably intuitive.
 
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#519
Thanks Mike!!

thepontif said:
Let me add that the bass, mid, and treble are stacked pots. Top is EQ for magnetics, and bottom is EQ for piezos. I've always thought piezos were pretty worthless except for effect. But on this bass, with it being hollow, they sound AMAZING. Worth having an EQ on board just for them.

I started with a couple Fodera preamps and an RMC Polydrive I (or is it II?). I had to make modifications to both as well as a little reverse engineering on Richards piezo system to get things to work the way I wanted them to. Not because of anything wrong with the RMC system. Just because I was trying to make it do some things that it wasn't exactly designed to do.

The master volume control controls the output of both the piezos, and the mags. The master tone control still effects only the mags. The 2 extra knobs tucked between the black switches and the master volume control are a mag/piezo blend pot and a synth volume. The two silver switches are increment/decrement for the MIDI patch changes and a 3 position synth/both/bass select.

If I remember correctly, the active/passive switch still works, but it either defeats the piezos or acts as an EQ bypass only. I normally would make sure there was some means of playing with a dead battery, so I probably did the former. Maybe not...those kinds of things get so complicated so fast when you start considering all the ins and outs of making it even reasonably intuitive.
Click to expand...
 
#520
jclone said:
Although I cannot 100% certain, I consider it as matthew's.
He decribed it as acoustic/electric hybride. and it seems to have unique bridge and electronics.
I really hope to listen to its tone. maybe his next album!!

Fodera3.gif
Click to expand...

This as a six and with less knobs and switches (no midi) would be a dream bass. I can only imagine the cost.....

Matt did say that it will be on his next album. I can't wait to hear both the bass and what Matt has in store next musically.
 
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