Fodera Club Part VI

[Angus]

LOL, I can't complain- I'm not living in the middle of a blizzard right now! I can't complain.

 

[cnltb]

....just kidding. How about "it'll ship whenever they have more electricity and less blizzard." Haha.

No electricity???

 

[kamakiriad7]

Apparently NYC got hit by a blizzard the past couple of days, and we're getting the tail end of it here too. Brutal!!

 

[thepontif]

It SEEMS to me that most guys who play with ramps do a certain kind of thing musically. Whenever I play a bass with a ramp, I first think, "this is nice", followed shortly by, "this really irritates me". But if you're a "ramp-type-player", and I bet I could pick a "ramper" out by listening most of the time, the ramp is pretty critical. If it works for you, go for it.

As a side note, Matt Garisson, when handed a 70's jazz bass, can slap so funky it'd make Marcus Miller blush. But you never hear anything that would remotely suggest it when you hear him on his bass.

Personally, I believe the music should always be the driving factor with this stuff. I think if you put a ramp on your bass because there's something musical you want to do that requires it, why wouldn't you do it? I think if you do it for any other reason, why?

 

[narud]

I think if you do it for any other reason, why?

aesthetics

 

[Tom7]

... BTW, Tom7, the guitar spacing has nothing to do with this, as I can still get my fingers in there and pluck like normal when playing classical even without nails. Not an issue, imo. ....

You are probably right; heaven knows I am not a classic guitar player (nor do I play one on TV).

But when I do pick up a guitar, which I have a few, I've found that the closeness of the strings stop my plucking fingers, so they would not even reach a ramp if one were existing under the strings.

... Personally, I believe the music should always be the driving factor with this stuff. I think if you put a ramp on your bass because there's something musical you want to do that requires it, why wouldn't you do it? I think if you do it for any other reason, why?

What a great point.

I've noticed that playing with a classical guitar (thumb and 2 or 3 fingers) plucking style results a different tone than when playing with a traditional 2 (or 3) "walking fingers" plucking style.

I'm struck by how often I read that this CG style is a "secondary technique."

In other words, when the music calls for it, this technique is employed.

Of course, when the music calls for this technique most of the time, it becomes a primary technique, not a secondary.

For me, and I'm not talking about anyone else but me, a ramp helps me most when using the CG style pizzicato, and I'm hardly aware of the ramp when playing with walking fingers style.

 

[DonovanBankhead]

Hey Guys! I've been lurking in this thread for a while, and I wanted to share with you guys that I'm the newest Fodera dealer!

I've been so impressed with how Jason and his team have changed Fodera for the better. They've always made amazing instruments, and now they have a level of service and communication to match!

I was able to meet Jason at the recent NAMM show, and I was really impressed with how passionate and knowledgeable he is about this business, and how he took the time to talk to me and all of the people in the Fodera booth. This guy is really on top of things, and I couldn't be more excited to partner with him and the rest of the team at Fodera.

Anyway, I just wanted to share that with you. So - back to our discussions of ramp or not to ramp, 17" of snow, etc.

 

[thepontif]

aesthetics

Because you want to LOOK like you play like Matt or Gary?

 

[Angus]

Nah, I just want to LOOK like Gary himself. The grizzled-chic look is really in these days.

 

[dpbass66]

Because you want to LOOK like you play like Matt or Gary?

Absolutely...if cant ACTUALLY play like that I want to LOOK like I can...that why I like to wear a baseball cap when I play...looks like Gary. See how that works? If I want to look like I play like Patitucci, I move around alot on stage and make lots of faces at my drummer.

(no disrespect....JP is possibly my greatest influence and among my fav players, so all in good fun John if you happen to read this.......)

 

[narud]

Because you want to LOOK like you play like Matt or Gary?

ive heard/seen some super wack guys on youtube or whatever with their ramp equipped basses. im saying their going for the look

 

[jumbodbassman]

ive heard/seen some super wack guys on youtube or whatever with their ramp equipped basses. im saying their going for the look

Spinal Tap

 

[jumbodbassman]

This was my series of reactions upon finding my Fodera on the porch,....
First, Shock mixed with a bit of "WT*" :scowl:
Followed quickly by "holy crap it's here!" .
Then followed by "did they really just do that" .
And last "oh well,... holy cray it's here!"

well said

 

[lowerb]

FedEx finally managed to deliver my Monarch today. Oh yeah!!!!

This bass is overwhelming. It's so sensitive that I feel I have to adopt my playing style. There's no need to dig in as heavily as I'm used to. Like somebody recently mentioned I'm using the rear pickup as a ramp.

When I'm slapping I instinctively dampen the strings with my right palm, otherwise I get blown away by the richness of the sound.

I had a similar feeling when I got my NYC, but with the Monarch it's even more drastic.

I guess I'll need at least four weeks to discover this fine instrument and get accustomed to the different sounds it can deliver.

Many many thanks to the guys at Fodera. I kneel down in deep gratitude.

 

[cnltb]

Nice!

You said it's the walnut topped one with the block inlays?

 

[Rich Treat]

Congrats! Glad that it made it finally! Hope you enjoy it.

FedEx finally managed to deliver my Monarch today. Oh yeah!!!!

This bass is overwhelming. It's so sensitive that I feel I have to adopt my playing style. There's no need to dig in as heavily as I'm used to. Like somebody recently mentioned I'm using the rear pickup as a ramp.

When I'm slapping I instinctively dampen the strings with my right palm, otherwise I get blown away by the richness of the sound.

I had a similar feeling when I got my NYC, but with the Monarch it's even more drastic.

I guess I'll need at least four weeks to discover this fine instrument and get accustomed to the different sounds it can deliver.

Many many thanks to the guys at Fodera. I kneel down in deep gratitude.

 

[thepontif]

Spinal Tap

I bet if Derek Smalls had a ramp it would be in the shape of an a$$.

 

[Molan]

I bet if Derek Smalls had a ramp it would be in the shape of an a$$.

I wonder if Jason can get a price on this. . .

 

[Rich Treat]

I was wondering if any of you have messed with the preamp eq settings much? By moving the jumpers, you can assign different frequencies to the controls and also change the by-pass switch to a mid-select switch. I set mine up so that the mid-select switch also changes the bass frequency, so I get two very distinct tones with that one switch. It's very cool and I've been able to dial in the exact tone that I'm looking for.

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[lowerb]

Congrats! Glad that it made it finally! Hope you enjoy it.

Thank you.

Nice!

You said it's the walnut topped one with the block inlays?

YEP!

I was wondering if any of you have messed with the preamp eq settings much? By moving the jumpers, you can assign different frequencies to the controls and also change the by-pass switch to a mid-select switch. I set mine up so that the mid-select switch also changes the bass frequency, so I get two very distinct tones with that one switch. It's very cool and I've been able to dial in the exact tone that I'm looking for.

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Oh, I'm gonna try this. I've got an NYC with a prototype preamp with a 4-band EQ and two mid-select switches. Those switches are really usable.