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Fodera Club Part III

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#641
Body mass (i.e. thick vs. thin within the same type of wood) has a definite affect on the character of the sound. Generally the thicker the body (and therefore the more mass), the more sustain there will be in the instrument (even though the overall tone will be similar). Make sense?

As for body shape -- yes, an Emperor with exactly the same woods does sound different than a Monarch with the same specs. Feel free to drop me a line and we can discuss the differences in real time as trying to write a coherent post dealing with all of the subtleties would be really long!

[email protected]

moresbum said:
Dear, Jason and Folks, Could you tell me about thick body especially its tone?
and does body shape influence the tone?
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#643
No question is a bad one...

On an Elite (Neck-through) instrument we do the top in one of two ways:

1. Non-Solid Top -- The top wood covers the two body wings, but NOT the neck-through neck billet. This is the "standard" configuration for our Elite instruments.

2. Solid Top -- The top covers the entire front of the instrument including the neck-through neck billet portion. BTW, the upcharge for having a solid-top on an Elite instrument is labor-related, NOT due to the cost of the wood...

Finally, because of the methods of attaching the necks to the instruments on Bolt-on's or Dovetails (Deluxe Models), Solid Tops are standard.

ono69 said:
Can I ask a naive question，jason.what are the differences between non-solid top and solid one?thx
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#645
jason，I saw“Custom Radius Fingerboard” on your pricelist，I do not understand the meaning of this sentence， it means“widen the width of fret” or “extend Length of fret，f.e.from 33 inch to 34、35..."?
 
#646
ono69 said:
jason，I saw“Custom Radius Fingerboard” on your pricelist，I do not understand the meaning of this sentence， it means“widen the width of fret” or “extend Length of fret，f.e.from 33 inch to 34、35..."?
Click to expand...

Radius of Fingerboard is meaning the curve of the fretboard ( r in the illustration), as some people like normal curve, some like less and some do prefer flat one.

720px-Fingerboard_scheme.svg.png


"Widen the width of fret" perhaps you are meaning "String Spacing"?
"Extend length of fret" perhaps you are meaning more frets? like 22, 24, 26 frets options of Fodera Basses

While 33", 34", 35" and 36" is represent the scale length of the instrument.

Hope this help.
 
#647
WOW.

Wonderful explanation.:bassist:


-Timothy- said:
Radius of Fingerboard is meaning the curve of the fretboard ( r in the illustration), as some people like normal curve, some like less and some do prefer flat one.

720px-Fingerboard_scheme.svg.png


"Widen the width of fret" perhaps you are meaning "String Spacing"?
"Extend length of fret" perhaps you are meaning more frets? like 22, 24, 26 frets options of Fodera Basses

While 33", 34", 35" and 36" is represent the scale length of the instrument.

Hope this help.
Click to expand...
 
#648
Tomothy's graphic is a good one! We have a "standard" formula that we use. It is actually a compound radius that is smaller at the nut than at the end of the fingerboard (meaning that the fingerboard "flattens out" as you move up into the higher frets). If a customer wanted us to do something different than our standard compound radius that would be a Custom Radius.

ono69 said:
jason，I saw“Custom Radius Fingerboard” on your pricelist，I do not understand the meaning of this sentence， it means“widen the width of fret” or “extend Length of fret，f.e.from 33 inch to 34、35..."?
Click to expand...
 
#649
ono69 said:
Can I ask a naive question，jason.what are the differences between non-solid top and solid one?thx
Click to expand...

If you are interested in a solid top, I would HIGHLY recommend the bolt-on or deluxe models. They charge a fortune for the solid tops on the Elites.

I very much dislike the non-solid top look on the Elite's (i.e., having a beautiful AAA top with a chunk of maple or whatever running down the middle of it), but that upcharge is brutal. The Deluxe's sound literally identical to the Elites, and you will save literally thousands of dollars between a Deluxe and an Elite with solid top option. The only people who will know you don't have an elite are the ones who look at the back of the bass!
 
#651
but also remember that the fingerboard height is slightly further away from the top on a deluxe or bolton config than an elite, which has the fingerboard/strings closer to the top wood for a solid top (at least it's this way on the 6 Foderas I have had)--so you can tell by looking at the front as well and it feels a bit different to me. Sort of like the feel that a pickguard adds to a bass in terms of distance of strings/hand to the top surface.
 
#652
climb said:
but also remember that the fingerboard height is slightly further away from the top on a deluxe or bolton config than an elite, which has the fingerboard/strings closer to the top wood for a solid top (at least it's this way on the 6 Foderas I have had)--so you can tell by looking at the front as well and it feels a bit different to me. Sort of like the feel that a pickguard adds to a bass in terms of distance of strings/hand to the top surface.
Click to expand...

Interesting point. I never noticed/thought of that. I am not a fan of a large gap from the top to the strings.
 
#653
Actually the solid top option is not terribly expensive. Forum rules prohibit me from posting prices, but our website has the price list and the solid top option does not cost thousands...

Also, IMHO, the Elite build sounds noticeably different from a Deluxe with the same specs. One is a neck-through and the other is a dovetail. The Elites tend to excite faster and have more resonance and sustain to them. Lots of folks say they cannot tell the difference, but hearing both build types every week and owning and playing both build types myself (with the chance to A-B them in a controlled setting), I do feel that there is a difference in their sound. NOT a huge difference, but certainly a noticeable one...

That said, the vast majority of my personal basses are Deluxes as I like the slightly punchier sound they generate...

KJung said:
If you are interested in a solid top, I would HIGHLY recommend the bolt-on or deluxe models. They charge a fortune for the solid tops on the Elites.

I very much dislike the non-solid top look on the Elite's (i.e., having a beautiful AAA top with a chunk of maple or whatever running down the middle of it), but that upcharge is brutal. The Deluxe's sound literally identical to the Elites, and you will save literally thousands of dollars between a Deluxe and an Elite with solid top option. The only people who will know you don't have an elite are the ones who look at the back of the bass!
Click to expand...
 
#654
Just Thumpin' said:
Actually the solid top option is not terribly expensive. Forum rules prohibit me from posting prices, but our website has the price list and the solid top option does not cost thousands...

Also, IMHO, the Elite build sounds noticeably different from a Deluxe with the same specs. One is a neck-through and the other is a dovetail. The Elites tend to excite faster and have more resonance and sustain to them. Lots of folks say they cannot tell the difference, but hearing both build types every week and owning and playing both build types myself (with the chance to A-B them in a controlled setting), I do feel that there is a difference in their sound. NOT a huge difference, but certainly a noticeable one...

That said, the vast majority of my personal basses are Deluxes as I like the slightly punchier sound they generate...
Click to expand...
great answer， thanks u，jason
 
#655
-Timothy- said:
Radius of Fingerboard is meaning the curve of the fretboard ( r in the illustration), as some people like normal curve, some like less and some do prefer flat one.

720px-Fingerboard_scheme.svg.png


"Widen the width of fret" perhaps you are meaning "String Spacing"?
"Extend length of fret" perhaps you are meaning more frets? like 22, 24, 26 frets options of Fodera Basses

While 33", 34", 35" and 36" is represent the scale length of the instrument.

Hope this help.
Click to expand...
oic oh,i see，Very grateful for your help
 
#656
Just Thumpin' said:
Actually the solid top option is not terribly expensive. Forum rules prohibit me from posting prices, but our website has the price list and the solid top option does not cost thousands...

Also, IMHO, the Elite build sounds noticeably different from a Deluxe with the same specs. One is a neck-through and the other is a dovetail. The Elites tend to excite faster and have more resonance and sustain to them. Lots of folks say they cannot tell the difference, but hearing both build types every week and owning and playing both build types myself (with the chance to A-B them in a controlled setting), I do feel that there is a difference in their sound. NOT a huge difference, but certainly a noticeable one...

That said, the vast majority of my personal basses are Deluxes as I like the slightly punchier sound they generate...
Click to expand...

My 'thousands' quote included the cost of the solid top option AND the difference in cost between the Elite and Deluxe.... so it is thousands! Again, compare the cost of an Elite with a solid top with an otherwise identically spec'd Deluxe with the same solid top. HUGE difference, and again, maybe just a touch different in tone, but surely not a 'better or worse' sort of thing.

I've played a bunch too, and of course, every bass sounds a bit difference. I have not heard what sounds like a meaningful difference in tone and response between the Elite and Deluxe basses. I'm sure, as you say, there is a slight difference, but again, not worth the thousands of dollars for someone who really wants the look of a solid top. IMO and IME>
 
#657
I think the dovetail joints look really cool too.

Jason, a question. Have any six string basses been built with dovetail joints? I now most are neck through, and I've seen one or two bolt-ons, but never a dovetail. There doesn't seem to be any option for this in the price list either. Is there just no demand for six string deluxes or do you not build them for a reason? There must be one or two out there at least, surely?
 
#658
And yet, there are a good number of players that do hear a significant difference between them (and bolt-ons too) and this difference in opinion is cool and one of the things that I really dig about working at Fodera. Viva la difference...

KJung said:
My 'thousands' quote included the cost of the solid top option AND the difference in cost between the Elite and Deluxe.... so it is thousands! Again, compare the cost of an Elite with a solid top with an otherwise identically spec'd Deluxe with the same solid top. HUGE difference, and again, maybe just a touch different in tone, but surely not a 'better or worse' sort of thing.

I've played a bunch too, and of course, every bass sounds a bit difference. I have not heard what sounds like a meaningful difference in tone and response between the Elite and Deluxe basses. I'm sure, as you say, there is a slight difference, but again, not worth the thousands of dollars for someone who really wants the look of a solid top. IMO and IME>
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#659
Just Thumpin' said:
And yet, there are a good number of players that do hear a significant difference between them (and bolt-ons too) and this difference in opinion is cool and one of the things that I really dig about working at Fodera. Viva la difference...
Click to expand...

+1, although as you probably know, the VAST majority of those who have strong opinions about the impact of a single design component on a bass are basing that opinion on a very small, non-matched sample (i.e., playing a couple different bases of each design with many more differences than just neck construction).

Over-emphasizing a single, relatively minor design component on tonal differences without taking into account all the other stuff is one of the classic cases of 'causal mis-attribution'... (i.e., neck throughs have more sustain, bolt-ons have more pop, longer scale results in 'better' B string, etc., etc.).

Anyway, for those who are at the top end of their budget but really like the look of a solid top on a Fodera, the Deluxe is a great option, and will save you the price of a Sadowsky:D
 
#660
Belka said:
I think the dovetail joints look really cool too.

Jason, a question. Have any six string basses been built with dovetail joints? I now most are neck through, and I've seen one or two bolt-ons, but never a dovetail. There doesn't seem to be any option for this in the price list either. Is there just no demand for six string deluxes or do you not build them for a reason? There must be one or two out there at least, surely?
Click to expand...

Just Thumpin, sorry to be pushy and bump this, but it's something I've wondered about for a couple of years.
 
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