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The body is Ash, the top is Bubinga, and the pickups are Duncans.
The bass is pretty sublime. Everything about it is literally perfect. The level of detail and craftsmanship really surpasses anything else I've played... by a pretty significant margin. It's a true masterpiece.
AJ's point was the "AJ Presentation" is a very specific design that, once departed from in any way, changes the intent of the original. Clearly mine has two pickups and a pre-amp -- which are significant differences from AJ's design. What Vinnie said to me when I got it was "It's a Presentation with more stuff in it!"
My invoice from Vinnie says "Presentation" pretty clearly!
Here we go again: You may indeed have been told that you have a "Presentation with more stuff in it"--may indeed have an invoice that says "Presentation"--but as I said the last time this instrument showed up here, what is displayed is NOT A PRESENTATION. I alone decide what constitutes my instrument, regardless of markets and fashion, and I have refused to allow it to become just another "build-your-own", regardless of potential qualities...and regardless of what anyone else thinks about it, including its cost (which, I should add, I do not determine, was not consulted on, and receive no income from). Vinnie, Joey and Jason will back me on all this. I must say again that the Presentation is not now, and has never been, pushed on the bass world by me or Fodera, and it exists in their literature only because there is considerable worldwide interest in it. Only about 2 are made each year, so it does not, despite the pricing, keep the lights on. Over the past 21 years there have been many refinements, but these have served my purposes only, and I have no interest in whether or not they might stimulate demand. This ultra-personal, even self-indulgent, myopia keeps the Presentation pure, an uncorrupted concept, at least by my lights...and that's the way it will stay as long as I'm here to watch over it.
Just Thumpin'
Commercial User
- Mar 7, 2008
- 4,534
- 1,664
- Disclosures
- Manager and Partner, Fodera Guitars (10/14/09 - 12/16/19)
There has been a great deal of confusion about this over the years -- frankly some of it caused by the shop itself. In the past 6 months, Anthony, Joey Vinny and I have had numerous conversations aimed at ensuring that we are all 100% in sync going forward. The reality of it is this...an AJ Presentation is a replica of Anthony's instrument with Anthony's specs. Period. This instrument has been a lifelong passion and pursuit of Anthony's that Vinny and Joey (and now me) are incredibly proud to be a part of. Out of respect for that, we no longer take new orders on "Modified Presentations" (and have not been since October last year).
Another great point that Anthony makes is about cost and royalties, etc. The AJ Presentation, even at its seemingly lofty 2010 pricing, is simply NOT a profitable model to build or sell. It is completely hand-built from the very best pieces of wood that we have in the shop at any given time. Just the wood selection precess for a Presentation takes longer than I imagine it takes to build many basses.
Once a Presentation hits the shop floor it takes Vinny, Vadym, Joey, Rob (and even sometimes me) as much time to craft as it would take to build roughly four (4) Monarch 4-strings. We continue to offer these for sale because they represent a lifelong commitment on the part of both one of our instrument's greatest artists -- Anthony -- and our shop to always be pushing the envelope of what is possible so that we are always learning and growing. We do not build these to make money. Over the years even Anthony himself has not made $1 on the AJ Presentation other than by playing it as one of the tools of his art.
Then again, this is one of the most wonderful things about Fodera. Everyone involved is passionately committed to the art of our instrument -- sometimes to a level that actually runs counter to "good business practices."
Another great point that Anthony makes is about cost and royalties, etc. The AJ Presentation, even at its seemingly lofty 2010 pricing, is simply NOT a profitable model to build or sell. It is completely hand-built from the very best pieces of wood that we have in the shop at any given time. Just the wood selection precess for a Presentation takes longer than I imagine it takes to build many basses.
Once a Presentation hits the shop floor it takes Vinny, Vadym, Joey, Rob (and even sometimes me) as much time to craft as it would take to build roughly four (4) Monarch 4-strings. We continue to offer these for sale because they represent a lifelong commitment on the part of both one of our instrument's greatest artists -- Anthony -- and our shop to always be pushing the envelope of what is possible so that we are always learning and growing. We do not build these to make money. Over the years even Anthony himself has not made $1 on the AJ Presentation other than by playing it as one of the tools of his art.
Then again, this is one of the most wonderful things about Fodera. Everyone involved is passionately committed to the art of our instrument -- sometimes to a level that actually runs counter to "good business practices."
Just Thumpin'
Commercial User
- Mar 7, 2008
- 4,534
- 1,664
- Disclosures
- Manager and Partner, Fodera Guitars (10/14/09 - 12/16/19)
It was!! It was a bass that I bought privately from a TB member. It originally had single coils in it. We completely stripped the finish, added dual coils and all-new electronics and it became my first and only 5-string Fodera for the first several months of the year. It is flat out one of the most gorgeous Emperor Deluxe 5's that I have ever seen and it plays equally beautifully. Alas, as I am not much of a 5-string guy and only keep one 5-string in the stable, this gorgeous instrument did not have "my tone." I am much more of an Walnut body, Ebony FB kind of guy and because of this, I found myself wishing that this amazing Emperor sounded a bit different.
At that point I offered it back to its original owner first (because I had promised him that this was for personal use and not resale) and when he declined, it became part of the Certified Pre-Owned Program to be purchased by Rainer...it is now in very good hands and (hopefully) being lovingly played by someone that digs its tone rather than fights it...
At that point I offered it back to its original owner first (because I had promised him that this was for personal use and not resale) and when he declined, it became part of the Certified Pre-Owned Program to be purchased by Rainer...it is now in very good hands and (hopefully) being lovingly played by someone that digs its tone rather than fights it...
Sehr schön Rainer !!!!
I thought that this Bass was Jason's new one ???
You guys don't think it's problematic that some Presentations have been sold that are marked Presentations but are no longer "Presentations"? Seems like there should be "AJ Presentations", which keep AJ's specs and keep him from getting ruffled, and then a "Presentation", which is just the body style.
Because there is history in it for AJ for sure, and that's wonderful, but to modern players, it's just a body style. I find it odd that after working so long to find the perfect bass for himself and his sound, AJ requires that other people get his bass exactly if they like something similar. Ironic, right? For the high cost of the, they should be be able to get a second pickup without the thundergods roaring.
But hey, whatever works.
"That which we call a rose, by any other name..." (and I mean that in the ironic sense.)
Because there is history in it for AJ for sure, and that's wonderful, but to modern players, it's just a body style. I find it odd that after working so long to find the perfect bass for himself and his sound, AJ requires that other people get his bass exactly if they like something similar. Ironic, right? For the high cost of the, they should be be able to get a second pickup without the thundergods roaring.
But hey, whatever works.
"That which we call a rose, by any other name..." (and I mean that in the ironic sense.)
The fingerboard is is Brazilian. It's a beautiful piece with some really rich figuring. Really pretty stuff!
While you may not have an "Anthony Jackson Presentation Contrabass Guitar" it certainly looks like a beautiful Fodera bass with the Presentation body style. No knock on you Joel you paid your hard earned money for it, if they wanted to call it something other then a Presentation Fodera should have done so and AJ should have demanded it sooner if he was going to have a problem with it.
I am curious what the concensus is where there is at least one other AJ bass on the Fodera website with a chestnut top and pink ivory fingerboard. Is there only one single formula, as the listed specs on the site, that constitutes an AJ in the eyes of AJ himself or Fodera or is the wood choice open to interpretation?
Yeah, I imagine Joel still paid "AJ Presentation" price for "not a Presentation".
It's a Presentation.
It's a Presentation.
I meant no ill will or disrescept towards Joel, just doing my best to be politically correct in the Fodera thread..
Oh of course not- neither do I! I think it's unfair to Joel to sell him an AJ Presentation then later tell him it ain't.
Honestly... does it really matter? We all know it is not an exact spec AJ Presentation. BUT, it is an AJ Presentation body style. One of the great things about Fodera is your ability to customize YOUR own bass.
So, you are telling me that a Vic Wooten signature with dual coils is NOT a Vic Wooten Yin Yang sig model? I see two examples of the Yin Yang on the site that has dual coils and one in a PJ config that is a 4 string that does not have the holly/ebony top.
I really don't know what my point is here, just tired of seeing this arguement. Joel paid HIS money for this bass and anyone that knows about AJ, Fodera or high end basses will know this is not an exact AJ Presentation. To me, Joel can call it anything he wants. Most of all, it is a Fodera and a gorgeous one at that.
Hi guys,
Honestly, I couldn't be happier with the bass and I don't think Fodera did me any wrong. It sounds like AJ and the Fodera gang have recently made the decision to more clearly define exactly what they are and aren't calling a "Presentation" going forward. It doesn't lessen the quality of this particular instrument. I guess it's a little odd for them to sell me "x" and years later change the moniker... but it doesn't have impact of any real significance on my situation.
I've played enough of what AJ defines as a "Presentation" to know that, in it's purest sense, that design wouldn't work for me. I needed a second pickup, onboard EQ, and did not need/want more than 24 frets.
Hope that makes sense.
JC
Honestly, I couldn't be happier with the bass and I don't think Fodera did me any wrong. It sounds like AJ and the Fodera gang have recently made the decision to more clearly define exactly what they are and aren't calling a "Presentation" going forward. It doesn't lessen the quality of this particular instrument. I guess it's a little odd for them to sell me "x" and years later change the moniker... but it doesn't have impact of any real significance on my situation.
I've played enough of what AJ defines as a "Presentation" to know that, in it's purest sense, that design wouldn't work for me. I needed a second pickup, onboard EQ, and did not need/want more than 24 frets.
Hope that makes sense.
JC
I agree with some of what you wrote but there is a side to this that does matter;
First, I agree that in terms of artistic content and tone ( which by far for me is the most important ) the bass is everything it should be and from Joel's account is a stellar bass. It is what it is musically, and from a craftmanship point of view.
But,
What price did Fodera use?....base "Presentation" price?
Or some hybrid price?
I agree also that anyone who knows about Foderas will know this bass for what it is and what it is not with regards to specs...but given these basses are at the top of the price scale for electric basses, resale value does become more important IMO.
Collectors, not just players, set the resale market for these things around the world and my guess is that they would not pay as much for a "Non Presentation" (no matter what it looks like) than a Fodera that is called a "Presentation". May not make alot of sense, but collectors and people who care about things like this do make a difference.
So Joel might be out alot of $$ on resale because Fodera retroactively changed the model name of this particular bass. No matter what the highest ideal was for AJ in terms of propietary name and design, THIS bass seemed to have been advertised, quoted, and billed as a "Presentation" by the manufacturer.
Thats a problem.
QUOTE=chris.gotfunk;9279926]Honestly... does it really matter? We all know it is not an exact spec AJ Presentation. BUT, it is an AJ Presentation body style. One of the great things about Fodera is your ability to customize YOUR own bass.
So, you are telling me that a Vic Wooten signature with dual coils is NOT a Vic Wooten Yin Yang sig model? I see two examples of the Yin Yang on the site that has dual coils and one in a PJ config that is a 4 string that does not have the holly/ebony top.
I really don't know what my point is here, just tired of seeing this arguement. Joel paid HIS money for this bass and anyone that knows about AJ, Fodera or high end basses will know this is not an exact AJ Presentation. To me, Joel can call it anything he wants. Most of all, it is a Fodera and a gorgeous one at that.[/QUOTE]
First, I agree that in terms of artistic content and tone ( which by far for me is the most important ) the bass is everything it should be and from Joel's account is a stellar bass. It is what it is musically, and from a craftmanship point of view.
But,
What price did Fodera use?....base "Presentation" price?
Or some hybrid price?
I agree also that anyone who knows about Foderas will know this bass for what it is and what it is not with regards to specs...but given these basses are at the top of the price scale for electric basses, resale value does become more important IMO.
Collectors, not just players, set the resale market for these things around the world and my guess is that they would not pay as much for a "Non Presentation" (no matter what it looks like) than a Fodera that is called a "Presentation". May not make alot of sense, but collectors and people who care about things like this do make a difference.
So Joel might be out alot of $$ on resale because Fodera retroactively changed the model name of this particular bass. No matter what the highest ideal was for AJ in terms of propietary name and design, THIS bass seemed to have been advertised, quoted, and billed as a "Presentation" by the manufacturer.
Thats a problem.
QUOTE=chris.gotfunk;9279926]Honestly... does it really matter? We all know it is not an exact spec AJ Presentation. BUT, it is an AJ Presentation body style. One of the great things about Fodera is your ability to customize YOUR own bass.
So, you are telling me that a Vic Wooten signature with dual coils is NOT a Vic Wooten Yin Yang sig model? I see two examples of the Yin Yang on the site that has dual coils and one in a PJ config that is a 4 string that does not have the holly/ebony top.
I really don't know what my point is here, just tired of seeing this arguement. Joel paid HIS money for this bass and anyone that knows about AJ, Fodera or high end basses will know this is not an exact AJ Presentation. To me, Joel can call it anything he wants. Most of all, it is a Fodera and a gorgeous one at that.[/QUOTE]
^ I doubt a lot of this, because anyone that really knows what Fodera does knows that there are a lot of basses that have SLIGHTLY different charecteristics from the base model because that is a lot of what Fodera does (true custom shop). And from the times I have talked with them in the past this always comes up in conversation and is certainly known to anyone who places an order.
Many collectors are not knowledgable, and some are but still care about how the manufacturer is treating the piece. You cant argue that for every collector (or even player) that would purchase this piece they would NEVER be swayed by it . There are some people in the market who have nothing to do with playing, but they have $ and a bend for collecting the finest "things" -whatever their fancy. The Fodera "AJ Presentation" is one of those "things" at the top of the bass world. Its a collectable both interms of its artistry and its lineage through AJ. There are collectors all over the world, in Asia, the Middle East, Europe etc....not just in the US and on this forum.
How can anyone say that in 20 years there would not have been any difference in value if it was still known and considered an "AJ Presentation"?
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