Fodera Club Part IX

[fivestringdan]

I wouldn't buy one for an investment purpose. You'll lose money immediately on a new build. You may be able to find a used one and turn a profit but it would be mild.

I would trust the company with the amount they ask for a build.

You should contact Fodera directly. You may be surprised to learn that a company that has had back log since the 1980's!!!!... doesn't need a strong sales pitch and will give it to you strait. Personally I wouldn't hesitate on the thought for another moment if I were you.

Hi, need to ask for advice. Am thinking of investing in a Fodera bass - 4 string. Is it worth the price? Love to hear advice from Fodera owners. Is it true that they are reliable builders or any horror stories?

Thanks

Eugene

 

[cnltb]

Hi, need to ask for advice. Am thinking of investing in a Fodera bass - 4 string. Is it worth the price? Love to hear advice from Fodera owners. Is it true that they are reliable builders or any horror stories?

Thanks

Eugene

I've heard just as many good or bad comments/stories about fodera as I have about just about any other builder(in terms of built quality, parts etc.)

Same goes for like/dislike.
I have also heard some very organic sounding marleaux basses,and like fodera and others they are not inflexible when it comes to fulfilling customer's requests.
( I don't know where the marleaux comparison came from, but since it did...).
As always, try before you buy.

 

[nostatic]

I actually haven't heard (m)any bad comments/stories from actual owners. Seems to me it is mostly haters who get stuck on the price. No builder or instrument is flawless, but the top tier shops certainly tend to have very few QC issues.

No bass is perfect, and people have different playing styles, sound goals, and personal preferences. I was a Fodera cynic until I played one. Then I went back and bought it the next day. Now I'm figuring out my next one. One nice thing about some small shops is that the builders are passionate about their craft and really want to get you exactly what you want/need. For some players and builders, instruments are just a bunch of parts. For others they are more than that. But ymmv.

 

[DELACIUS]

hey guys I found a looong video clip on youtube where one Russian (actually Belorussian) is visiting Fodera....


check it out

Fodera - YouTube

 

[Ivan M]

OMG, the bass in that video is GORGEOUS. Congrats it looks AWESOME!

 

[pringlw]

I've heard just as many good or bad comments/stories about fodera as I have about just about any other builder(in terms of built quality, parts etc.)

Really?

Hasn't been my experience. Honestly I've not met a Fodera owner yet that isn't delighted with their purchase and experience.

Just saying....

 

[narud]

Really?

Hasn't been my experience. Honestly I've not met a Fodera owner yet that isn't delighted with their purchase and experience.

Just saying....

i wasnt particularly thrilled but this was back in around 2001 or so. jason really seems to have improved the goings on at the shop since then.

 

[cnltb]

Really?

Hasn't been my experience. Honestly I've not met a Fodera owner yet that isn't delighted with their purchase and experience.

Just saying....

I should probably add that most of the less than flattering things I heard were said prior to jason's involvement with fodera.

 

[Just Thumpin']

Thanks for the kind words guys...prior to 2010 the shop was, for better or worse, under-managed. Joey and Vinny could just about keep up with building let alone spend the necessary time to run what is a very complicated business. We now have a really wonderful team of people that make sure that (hopefully) it is as good to deal with us from a customer service perspective as it is enjoyable to play our instruments.

Should that ever not be the case, please let us know!!!

Kindest regards,

Jason

I should probably add that most of the less than flattering things I heard were said prior to jason's involvement with fodera.

 

[pringlw]

I should probably add that most of the less than flattering things I heard were said prior to jason's involvement with fodera.

Fair enough. I absolutely used to hear frustration about the process of waiting for a bass - not knowing when it would arrive, etc - before Jason got on board.

However even back then, I haven't heard of anybody that was disappointed with the bass itself (just to clarify what I'm saying).

 

[emjazz]

Here's a video with a wonderful bass player from NYC named Moto Fukishima playing his 6 string Fodera MG. I heard him just after he left Berklee.

Djigee home video - YouTube

 

[Gilsonite]

Cool Video,

I wonder what ever happened to Martha! she was so cool!

hey guys I found a looong video clip on youtube where one Russian (actually Belorussian) is visiting Fodera....


check it out

Fodera - YouTube

 

[lamarjones]

Really?

Hasn't been my experience. Honestly I've not met a Fodera owner yet that isn't delighted with their purchase and experience.

Just saying....

I've owned many at one point or another, although admittedly they were just passing through. (very stoked about getting one specifically for me!)

Most were tremendous instruments. Some of them I could not get along with. Either tone or specs or something else, but definitely lacking a little something for me.

But these are very custom instruments, to say the least. If a person knows exactly what they want, then they will get just that. The chances that combo is for everyone is not great, and so you will have some instruments that aren't crowd pleasers out there. There is no escaping this fact.

Can Fodera deliver on a customer's spec? I absolutely believe that. Will you be pleased with any Fodera out there? I doubt it. If you're going used you need to play it if you are worried about the loot. My honest opinion.

 

[fivestringdan]

I caught a performance they did, minus bass player, in a Manhattan park. It was unreal! You wouldn't believe the number of people who were listening compared to other street performances.

Here's a video with a wonderful bass player from NYC named Moto Fukishima playing his 6 string Fodera MG. I heard him just after he left Berklee.

Djigee home video - YouTube

 

[Hankenstein]

I wouldn't buy one for an investment purpose. You'll lose money immediately on a new build. You may be able to find a used one and turn a profit but it would be mild.

I would trust the company with the amount they ask for a build.

You should contact Fodera directly. You may be surprised to learn that a company that has had back log since the 1980's!!!!... doesn't need a strong sales pitch and will give it to you strait. Personally I wouldn't hesitate on the thought for another moment if I were you.

I suppose some people buy 'm for investment but I buy'm to play! Nothing else I've played comes close.

It seems a waste to buy such a remarkable instrument to put it in the closet.

And Joey, Jason, Vinny, and the rest of the staff at Fodera are the best.

Definitely buy a Fodera if you are looking for a top notch bass. Don't think there are too many other reasons to spend the money.

 

[Lennard III.]

You're not alone ! I've heard real bad storys from the "Pre-Jason area" - and if he wouldn't have showed up and made everything so transparent I would not have ordered a new Bass like I did 2 month ago

Also Jason is a real pleasure to deal with (phone and service)

I was incredibly lucky to get my new orders in record times back then (which was only possible of the hard work of my Fodera dealer) and I never thought that everything that Joey and Vinny did was out of a bad purpose - they were just not the best buisness guys but just trying to make it right to everyone. Which was not possible as we saw

I should probably add that most of the less than flattering things I heard were said prior to jason's involvement with fodera.

 

[curt basner]

To change up the direction of the thread a bit...Jason told me in an e-mail today that strings should be going on my new YY Deluxe Monday or Tuesday... I cannot wait! Not only will it be a first for Fodera to put flat wounds on such a bass, but it means that my new bass is less than a week away from heading my way! Woohoo I'm also getting a new little Fender amp (a Bronco 40), maybe coming tomorrow, for practice (and programmable amp modeling), with a headphone jack and iPod input...perfect for learning and not bothering the household with too much thump.

By the way, does anyone know what Fodera's standard shipping is? FedEx, UPS, overnight, second day air, etc.? The only reason I ask is that I've always tried to expedite delivery of my instruments, primarily because I like to minimize the amount of time they are in transit...less chance for anything bad to happen on the way, don'tcha know!?

 

[Lennard III.]

Congrats !!!!

I still have 13/14 month to get to the happy point where you're right now

 

[nostatic]

Actually I'm just impatient

I have paid the difference to expedite shipping with a couple of different builders over the years. It also depends on the time of year you're shipping and the distance. I don't like to let instrument sit in trucks or non-climate controlled places during the summer or winter.

 

[curt basner]

Actually I'm just impatient

I have paid the difference to expedite shipping with a couple of different builders over the years. It also depends on the time of year you're shipping and the distance. I don't like to let instrument sit in trucks or non-climate controlled places during the summer or winter.

I'm TOTALLY with you on that one! I'm less worried about winter, but thinking of expensive instruments in 120-150 degree trucks in the summer out here in the southwest is NOT something I want them to experience.