Possible he likes the tone of mahog/ebony over koa.
I'm really looking forward to the booth this year and Mike's new bass
I'm really looking forward to the booth this year and Mike's new bass
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Fodera Club Part VI
- Thread starter Bryan R. Tyler
- Start date
-
- Tags
- club
- Status
- Apr 24, 2004
- 1,359
- 53
- Disclosures
- Designer Fodera Guitars/Michael Pope Design, Inc., Trickfish Amplification
I wanted a wood that was a bit more neutral than Koa for this bass. I've played a LOT of mahogany basses over the years that I've liked a lot. And it never struck me as having TOO much of any one pronounced trait (does that sentence make sense?)
I like the feel of ebony better than any other fingerboard wood. And although it can be bright, in my opinion Maple is every bit as bright...but it's a bit grittier or maybe drier sounding to me. I feel like I can get the grit I need from ebony with a little coaxing, though.
I want this bass to be flexible. Between the preamp, the moving PU, the removable fingerboard piece, the not too "opinionated" sounding wood, and a little player influence I should have a lot of latitude tonally.
I uploaded a picture of the Viceroy in the spray booth. I checked with Jason and he said it was ok to show this now. The name was completely David Yates' idea. For those of you who don't know, David is my good friend and a true Fodera lover. He is a really brilliant electrical engineer. He has taught me a LOT over the years. We worked tirelessly on the new Fodera preamp together. He's one sharp dude.
I was initially on the fence about the name Viceroy because I didn't know if Vinny would like it. But when I said it, he immediately said, "hey, I like that". Go figure.
The body design was at my request. I don't like the offset in the emperors and the monarchs are too small for my taste. I wanted to create something that might be more like what the emperor would have been had it been more like a P bass than a Jazz bass. We went back and forth for an hour or so one day with a piece of tracing paper on the floor just making little changes and staring at it. What we ended up with was what many at the shop feel is sort of a hybrid. Like an overgrown monarch or a more symetrical emperor. Personally, I really love it. It's striking but classy and still decidedly Fodera.
I'm going to record a tune with a drummer friend of mine this weekend and bring it to NAMM without some of the bass parts. I'm building the tune around the bass, to show what it can do in a musical setting. NAMM is the perfect venue for that
I'm getting it on Thursday. First performance is Friday. So I'll be flying almost blind. Should be interesting!
I like the feel of ebony better than any other fingerboard wood. And although it can be bright, in my opinion Maple is every bit as bright...but it's a bit grittier or maybe drier sounding to me. I feel like I can get the grit I need from ebony with a little coaxing, though.
I want this bass to be flexible. Between the preamp, the moving PU, the removable fingerboard piece, the not too "opinionated" sounding wood, and a little player influence I should have a lot of latitude tonally.
I uploaded a picture of the Viceroy in the spray booth. I checked with Jason and he said it was ok to show this now. The name was completely David Yates' idea. For those of you who don't know, David is my good friend and a true Fodera lover. He is a really brilliant electrical engineer. He has taught me a LOT over the years. We worked tirelessly on the new Fodera preamp together. He's one sharp dude.
I was initially on the fence about the name Viceroy because I didn't know if Vinny would like it. But when I said it, he immediately said, "hey, I like that". Go figure.
The body design was at my request. I don't like the offset in the emperors and the monarchs are too small for my taste. I wanted to create something that might be more like what the emperor would have been had it been more like a P bass than a Jazz bass. We went back and forth for an hour or so one day with a piece of tracing paper on the floor just making little changes and staring at it. What we ended up with was what many at the shop feel is sort of a hybrid. Like an overgrown monarch or a more symetrical emperor. Personally, I really love it. It's striking but classy and still decidedly Fodera.
I'm going to record a tune with a drummer friend of mine this weekend and bring it to NAMM without some of the bass parts. I'm building the tune around the bass, to show what it can do in a musical setting. NAMM is the perfect venue for that
I'm getting it on Thursday. First performance is Friday. So I'll be flying almost blind. Should be interesting!
Attachments
Very interesting! I'm really curious to see what it looks like with a neck and sitting on someone- it looks like the balance will be very good when sitting given how much of the body's mass is aft of the knee carve.
I wanted a wood that was a bit more neutral than Koa for this bass. I've played a LOT of mahogany basses over the years that I've liked a lot. And it never struck me as having TOO much of any one pronounced trait (does that sentence make sense?)
I like the feel of ebony better than any other fingerboard wood. And although it can be bright, in my opinion Maple is every bit as bright...but it's a bit grittier or maybe drier sounding to me. I feel like I can get the grit I need from ebony with a little coaxing, though.
I want this bass to be flexible. Between the preamp, the moving PU, the removable fingerboard piece, the not too "opinionated" sounding wood, and a little player influence I should have a lot of latitude tonally.
I uploaded a picture of the Viceroy in the spray booth. I checked with Jason and he said it was ok to show this now. The name was completely David Yates' idea. For those of you who don't know, David is my good friend and a true Fodera lover. He is a really brilliant electrical engineer. He has taught me a LOT over the years. We worked tirelessly on the new Fodera preamp together. He's one sharp dude.
I was initially on the fence about the name Viceroy because I didn't know if Vinny would like it. But when I said it, he immediately said, "hey, I like that". Go figure.
The body design was at my request. I don't like the offset in the emperors and the monarchs are too small for my taste. I wanted to create something that might be more like what the emperor would have been had it been more like a P bass than a Jazz bass. We went back and forth for an hour or so one day with a piece of tracing paper on the floor just making little changes and staring at it. What we ended up with was what many at the shop feel is sort of a hybrid. Like an overgrown monarch or a more symetrical emperor. Personally, I really love it. It's striking but classy and still decidedly Fodera.
I'm going to record a tune with a drummer friend of mine this weekend and bring it to NAMM without some of the bass parts. I'm building the tune around the bass, to show what it can do in a musical setting. NAMM is the perfect venue for that
I'm getting it on Thursday. First performance is Friday. So I'll be flying almost blind. Should be interesting!
Congratulation on finally getting this done.
Does it have the removable fretboard as well?
- Apr 24, 2004
- 1,359
- 53
- Disclosures
- Designer Fodera Guitars/Michael Pope Design, Inc., Trickfish Amplification
- Apr 24, 2004
- 1,359
- 53
- Disclosures
- Designer Fodera Guitars/Michael Pope Design, Inc., Trickfish Amplification
Whoa! Very nice, Mike!
I can definitely see the P bass influence you speak of and with me being a P guy, I'm really digging the shape!
Really can't wait to see and hear this bass completed.
Congrats on a long journey coming to fruition.
This will be available as a sig model, correct?
I can definitely see the P bass influence you speak of and with me being a P guy, I'm really digging the shape!
Really can't wait to see and hear this bass completed.
Congrats on a long journey coming to fruition.
This will be available as a sig model, correct?
- Apr 24, 2004
- 1,359
- 53
- Disclosures
- Designer Fodera Guitars/Michael Pope Design, Inc., Trickfish Amplification
Yes, although as I understand it, they will offer the Viceroy body shape as an option for anyone, whether you want the Mike Pope signature bass or not.
Very cool! Mahogany and ebony is a combination that has worked very well for Fodera over the years. Can't wait to hear it.
mike. the body shape looks great. from the initial pic, it might possibly be my fave fodera shape (other than the old jackson that i have). hope to see you at namm, but i probably won't be there for the grand reveal.
- Aug 21, 2008
- 1,168
- 33
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist : Fodera Guitars , Harvest fine leather bags & straps
KoaFodera
Commercial User
Mike: I see they must have pulled one of the Private Reserve tops out of the vault for you. That's going to be one sharp looking bass!
I trust it will find it's way onto the Newborn page? It's a really nice tribute from the folks at Fodera to honor you with a Signature model. But then it's well deserved! Congrats!
Will the sliding p-up be available for any of the Custom models or is it exclusive to the Viceroy? I have a few basses coming up this year that I may consider going with this option. In particular, the 1pc Mahogany body/Koa top Emperor Deluxe 5 string.
I trust it will find it's way onto the Newborn page? It's a really nice tribute from the folks at Fodera to honor you with a Signature model. But then it's well deserved! Congrats!
Will the sliding p-up be available for any of the Custom models or is it exclusive to the Viceroy? I have a few basses coming up this year that I may consider going with this option. In particular, the 1pc Mahogany body/Koa top Emperor Deluxe 5 string.
That's a description I often hear about alder too.
Interesting.
A nice looking bass, this non-offset emperor-ish shape.
- Apr 24, 2004
- 1,359
- 53
- Disclosures
- Designer Fodera Guitars/Michael Pope Design, Inc., Trickfish Amplification
I agree about alder. Although I've experienced alder petering out on the B string. It seems like it gets a little squishy on some basses.
The moving PU assembly is still being talked about in terms of the conditions under which it's available, but I THINK it is likely that it would be available on many different bodies besides the Viceroy. We've only made them for the plastic cover P4 shape dual coils so far but it could be made for many different shapes.
The moving PU assembly is still being talked about in terms of the conditions under which it's available, but I THINK it is likely that it would be available on many different bodies besides the Viceroy. We've only made them for the plastic cover P4 shape dual coils so far but it could be made for many different shapes.
- Apr 24, 2004
- 1,359
- 53
- Disclosures
- Designer Fodera Guitars/Michael Pope Design, Inc., Trickfish Amplification
It's called Pommele Sapele. It's an African wood which, I believe, is related to Mahogany. The body itself is Mahogany.
- Aug 21, 2008
- 1,168
- 33
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist : Fodera Guitars , Harvest fine leather bags & straps
Yea, that was one of the early fliers. Don't know if it was the first but I got it when I got the bass. I think they brought them to have at the store. It is framed on my wall.
- Status
