Fodera Club Part VI

[DonovanBankhead]

KILLER bass! And it's awesome that they would send you those pics! It's like ultrasound pics of your new baby.

This probably isn't kosher, but I got these in the mailbox from my dealer today, as the guys at Fodera wanted to double check a few details (and I'm very glad they took the time to do that!). They're just a few quick photos taken to compare some details- the wooden pickup covers are someone else's- but it shows what the instrument will look like, roughly.

Holy crap!! The guys at Fodera are awesome. I've never been so excited for an instrument. I can't wait to hear it!!

<---- been like this for a while now.

 

[fretless4string]

I think Joey was afraid it wouldn't be warm enough without a neck pickup, but I don't use a neck pickup unless I have a tuning with a high F/E.

+1 The location of the 'neck' pickup is really interesting. You are going to find it much more useful in that position.

Regarding the ramp and the pickup covers. Is this going to one seamless unit or will the ramp be a separate piece?

Are we are going to hear about the stunning wood selection later? The contrast between the top and the fingerboard...wow!

 

[Angus]

KILLER bass! And it's awesome that they would send you those pics! It's like ultrasound pics of your new baby.

Haha, yeah, I'm lucky- I don't think they do that normally, but the reason it happened here is because there was some confusion about pickup location and width. Without that confusion I would not have seen it until it was done!

+1 The location of the 'neck' pickup is really interesting. You are going to find it much more useful in that position.

Regarding the ramp and the pickup covers. Is this going to one seamless unit or will the ramp be a separate piece?

Are we are going to hear about the stunning wood selection later? The contrast between the top and the fingerboard...wow!

Yeah, those positions are not exactly where they will be in the end- the picture were just intended to be showing pickup width's. The bridge pickup will be in 60's position, and the neck will be about where Anthony Jackson's pickup is- most manufacturers call it the "sweetspot" position. Whatever it's name, it'll be a lot more useful to me for this bass than a standard neck position pickup.

I like neck position pickups on high-tuned basses. I use the neck pickup all the time on my Zon 6 string, because I tune it E-E and the neck pickup evens out the volume and thinness of the tone substantially. On a bass like this 5 string, I never ever use them.

I originally ordered a single, long ramp with both pickups built in, but they had some reservations about doing that, so now it will be two pickups in radiused shells with radiused ramps in between. It'll be one long even playing surface, but just split into 5 pieces.

The wood selection? What did you want to know? The top is katalox, which is my favorite wood and is used on every single one of my main instruments bar one!

I'm lucky I'm so insanely busy right now (I post on TB during 10 minute downtime periods I get during the day) or I'd barely be able to sleep due to anticipation!

 

[syw902]

The bridge pickup will be in 60's position, and the neck will be about where Anthony Jackson's pickup is- most manufacturers call it the "sweetspot" position. Whatever it's name, it'll be a lot more useful to me for this bass than a standard neck position pickup.

Actually, I'm thinking the same thing that you are.!!! And, I seem to go for it

 

[Lennard III.]

I'm thinking of puting my Imperial into a fretless..... the Bass has a Walnut body, Maple neck, Ebony board and has a warm , singing tone.

What do you guys think ? I mean in the worst case I could the Bass let being fretted again

 

[mrbassman_de]

I'm thinking of puting my Imperial into a fretless..... the Bass has a Walnut body, Maple neck, Ebony board and has a warm , singing tone.

What do you guys think ? I mean in the worst case I could the Bass let being fretted again

Perfect wood combo for a fretless I agree, but...

Think twice about it - at least about the RE-fret !

First - After de-fret (and re-fret) the board will be thinner and the board (and fret) height lower than before. This may result in setup problems at the bridge. Is there enough space left in the bridge saddles to compensate the difference ?

Second - You will need to shape the nut after de-fret, and to replace it after re-fret.

Third - EVERY de-fret I have seen caused small injuries in the surface of the board which have to be repaired with filler.

Forth - EVERY de-fret I have seen resulted in a fretless bass that sounds like a fretted bass without frets - which is not the same like a genuine fretless bass - designed to be a fretless and played as a fretless from the beginning.

Fifth - You will decrease the value of the bass.

Personally I won't do it again. Tried it with 6 basses (Tobias, Smith, Ovation, ...) and I was never really satisfied with the result. A waste of money, time and efforts.

My recommendation: If you are not really into the sound of your bass, sell it and buy a fretless. Tastes are different and others may dig this warm, mellow, fretted tone much more than you and are willing to pay for it a decent amount of money. As always - I might be wrong...

 

[Lennard III.]

Thanks Rainer

I just can't sell it - there are too many memorys in the Bass. So it would be no problem for me if the value would go down.

I would even now loose a lot money if I would sell it

I'm lefty and I just could NOT trade it for other Foderas like you could


it's just a thought because I want a fretless again .... and I still have my great Emperor

 

[cnltb]

Thanks Rainer

I just can't sell it - there are too many memorys in the Bass. So it would be no problem for me if the value would go down.

I would even now loose a lot money if I would sell it

I'm lefty and I just could trade it for other Foderas like you could


it's just a thought because I want a fretless again .... and I still have my great Emperor

I can't see why not go for it. You can have it fretted again if you don't like it a a fretless.
Plus putting different pickups into it can quite drastically adjust the result in cae you don't like it once defretted and the original pickups are not doing it.
And-You're in Germany, right?-Pretty much the best pickups around are made there IMO which may make it all a little easier still to get a good result.

 

[mrbassman_de]

I can't see why not go for it. You can have it fretted again if you don't like it a a fretless.

Sure, all my concerns are it won't be the same bass after all.

Perhaps better, who knows ...lol.....

De-fretting is a one way ticket - imo.

 

[mrbassman_de]

Plus putting different pickups into it can quite drastically adjust the result in cae you don't like it.

I fully agree, but that's quite true for the fretted version too. Why not trying Aeros at first or EMGs (for Fodera compliance, both providing much more bite than the more mellow Duncans), Basscultures or Haeussels (custom made to your taste in Germany) before irreversibly affecting the wooden core of the bass ?

You won't get an Ash body / Maple Board punch out of it, but changing pickups provide a lot of options. I changed a mellow sounding Emperor Elite from Bartolinis to Aero Duals and it was a huge improvement in terms of attack and clarity.

But anyway - if you just feel the need for a high end Fretless, you are convinced to get it out of your Imperial and you don't care about concerns like mine - go for it. Makes no sense to regret steps which one has NOT done - once seriously considered. Nothing goes over experience...

 

[fretless4string]

I'm thinking of puting my Imperial into a fretless..... the Bass has a Walnut body, Maple neck, Ebony board and has a warm , singing tone. What do you guys think ?

Have you talked to your bass about the possibility of impending surgery?

 

[Angus]

Thanks Rainer
it's just a thought because I want a fretless again .... and I still have my great Emperor

You'll definitely regret it- I've never known anyone who was happy with their defretted Foderas, for whatever reason.

 

[lowerb]

I would keep the Imperial as it is and look for a Wal or a Pedulla Pentabuzz. These are IMHO by far the best sounding fretless basses.

The loss of value and the labour resulting from defretting the Imperial should be in the same range as the price of one of the above mentioned basses.

For me, defretting a Fodera is similar to doing some re-painting on an original Picasso or changing the nose on a Michelangelo statue.

 

[pringlw]

I'm thinking of puting my Imperial into a fretless..... the Bass has a Walnut body, Maple neck, Ebony board and has a warm , singing tone.

What do you guys think ? I mean in the worst case I could the Bass let being fretted again

Nooooooooooooooooooo

 

[cnltb]

If you are considering a new fretless bass, have a look at humanbase, magnusguitars, kristallbass( I just tried one of those and like it-extremely well made and very"acoustic sounding"), marleaux,christof kost. all those guys mak GREAT fretless basses(well, magnusguitars makes his own as well as kristall...).

 

[Just Thumpin']

IME Aeros do not have more bite than Duncans and do not work particularly well with our fretless instruments...again, IMHO and IME...

J

I fully agree, but that's quite true for the fretted version too. Why not trying Aeros at first or EMGs (for Fodera compliance, both providing much more bite than the more mellow Duncans), Basscultures or Haeussels (custom made to your taste in Germany) before irreversibly affecting the wooden core of the bass ?

 

[cnltb]

Fodera makes great fretless basses as well... I don't understand your point... The man was talking about converting his fodera to fretless... I would imagine if he were interested in buying another brand, he would be looking at one of those threads..
Just my opinion of course.

Peduly was suggested as well, no?
So was Wal.(#373)
Since he is in germany (If I am not mistaken) I mentioned some german luthiers whose basses may be a little easier to get where he is.
That's all.

That was my point. Easy.

 

[Lennard III.]

Acctually I don't like german basses - never heard one that had "Soul" and a unique sound.

I have two friends who have Imperial 6s fretless basses....so I know the Fodera fretless tone

I once did a defretting with an old Bass of mine and it sounded great.

You all are talking about loosing value but even selling it is a BIG value - I will loose at least 3500-4000 euro from the new price- only by selling it - so I will not sell it and I could do with it what I want - it's much to mellow that I could play it on any gig (I have ordered the same woods like my Emperor has (exept the top wood) but it turned out much more mellow - the Emperor is fast and rich sounding) The Imperial has a great Sustain and a lot of warmth in it's tone. And it sings - so why not giving it a try

I have no money to buy a new fretless Bass (and I'm selling two Basses at the moment and I'm into buyin an Alleva Copollo 5 Str. at the moment)

 

[lowerb]

Acctually I don't like german basses - never heard one that had "Soul" and a unique sound.

Same here!!!!

OK, if you really don't dig the sound of the Imperial get those frets out

 

[basswalker2004]

Acctually I don't like german basses - never heard one that had "Soul" and a unique sound.

I once did a defretting with an old Bass of mine and t sounded great.

You all are talking about loosing value but even selling it is a BIG value - I will loose at least 3500-4000 euro from the new price- only by selling it - so I will not sell it and I could do with it what I want - it's much to mellow that I could play it on any gig (I have ordered the same woods like my Emperor has (exept the top wood) but it turned out much more mellow - the Emperor is fast and rich sounding) The Imperial has a great Sustain and a lot of warmth in it's tone. And it sings - so why not giving it a try

I have no money to buy a new fretless Bass (and I'm selling two Basses at the moment and I'm into buyin an Alleva Copollo 5 Str. at the moment)

Yea man.. i say go for it.. The bottom line is no one knows your bass like you do. If you can hear it as a fret-less, that is what counts. Imagine if someone had talked Jaco out of ripping his frets out... I took a saw and cut off the lower horn of my '64 p-bass when I was a kid.. Got a lot of s@)(*% from folks over that but, I could reach the high notes better and it was my bass so that is what counted. Heck I may even to it again to a bass I have now. Here's to you....