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Fodera Club Part VII

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#7
I have a 4-string Emperor Deluxe (2002 model I think) that I love. But it has always had a curious problem. The bass has tremendous sustain, except for C# and D notes. It does not matter which string or where on the neck I play those notes, they just die out much quicker than any other notes. It is mostly the fundamental that dies out, especially on an open D. You can usually hear the harmonics continue to ring. It is almost like the body of the bass has what I call an "anti-resonance" that works against the string's natural vibration, centered inbetween C# and D. Has anyone ever heard of such a thing, or have any ideas on what I can do about it?
 
#9
Here's my baby. Walnut body w/ spalt maple top, ash neck w/ indian rosewood finger board, Aero PUPs and Pope Preamp. And now for some bass porn:

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#11
DocPBlues said:
I have a 4-string Emperor Deluxe (2002 model I think) that I love. But it has always had a curious problem. The bass has tremendous sustain, except for C# and D notes. It does not matter which string or where on the neck I play those notes, they just die out much quicker than any other notes. It is mostly the fundamental that dies out, especially on an open D. You can usually hear the harmonics continue to ring. It is almost like the body of the bass has what I call an "anti-resonance" that works against the string's natural vibration, centered inbetween C# and D. Has anyone ever heard of such a thing, or have any ideas on what I can do about it?
Click to expand...

That sounds like a dead spot. That is normal on basses. There are cures for this but I have never tried them. I know some can get a good result from adding mass to the headstock. This is often a problem in bolt-ons I believe.
 
#12
Hey Fodera lovers, let's start with pics :)

Just pulled this amazing toy from the used market:

Link Removed

Link Removed

Buckeye / Ash body / Maple Board
34', 9.5 lbs

Performs so well - I'm really happy with it.

Just as a footnote: I got this bass from the FClef shop. It took a long time between payment and delivery and I had huge concerns after reading the bunch of very bad posts about FClef here at TB. In the end I must say that the European FClef hub - Franco - was very responsive and friendly. He has set up the bass carefully before shipping it to me, threw in a new set of strings and packed it well. And the bass - as mentioned above - is in better condition than described by them.

So after so much bad reputation here I wanted to share my in the end good experience with FClef. Can't say anything about George because Franco took over all communication with him.
 
#14
DocPBlues said:
I have a 4-string Emperor Deluxe (2002 model I think) that I love. But it has always had a curious problem. The bass has tremendous sustain, except for C# and D notes. It does not matter which string or where on the neck I play those notes, they just die out much quicker than any other notes. It is mostly the fundamental that dies out, especially on an open D. You can usually hear the harmonics continue to ring. It is almost like the body of the bass has what I call an "anti-resonance" that works against the string's natural vibration, centered inbetween C# and D. Has anyone ever heard of such a thing, or have any ideas on what I can do about it?
Click to expand...

On an open string??
That sound bad :hmm:.
That does sound like dead spots.
First thing I'd try is diferent strings as I have notices on my abg which has a weak spot on the usual "c" on the G string.
I changed strings and played the bass A LOT and the weak spot improved drastically.
How old is the bass?

Also, A friend of mine used to have a great 4 string fretless and to solve the dead spot issue , he had the fingerboard replaced with a heavier one. I seem to remember that this did it.

A third person I can think of, had a beautiful instrument made, but as it was completed it turned out it had dead spots ( his story sounded just like yours does).
The builder agreed and made him another bass with the same specs and took the "bad one" back.
No dead spots on the new one.
 
#15
Every bass will have a note or two that does not sustain the way the others do. However, if it is overly noticeable and/or getting in the way of your enjoying the instrument and/or making music, this is an issue that should be looked in. Sometimes the fix is as simple as a proper set-up and new strings and other times it runs deeper and involves adjusting the mass of the instrument (often at the headstock) to "move" the dead notes to an area that is not an issue...

This is something that any Fodera customer should work with us directly at the shop about at:

[email protected]

cnltb said:
On an open string??
That sound bad :hmm:.
That does sound like dead spots.
First thing I'd try is diferent strings as I have notices on my abg which has a weak spot on the usual "c" on the G string.
I changed strings and played the bass A LOT and the weak spot improved drastically.
How old is the bass?

Also, A friend of mine used to have a great 4 string fretless and to solve the dead spot issue , he had the fingerboard replaced with a heavier one. I seem to remember that this did it.

A third person I can think of, had a beautiful instrument made, but as it was completed it turned out it had dead spots ( his story sounded just like yours does).
The builder agreed and made him another bass with the same specs and took the "bad one" back.
No dead spots on the new one.
Click to expand...
 
#16
Just Thumpin' said:
Every bass will have a note or two that does not sustain the way the others do. However, if it is overly noticeable and/or getting in the way of your enjoying the instrument and/or making music, this is an issue that should be looked in. Sometimes the fix is as simple as a proper set-up and new strings and other times it runs deeper and involves adjusting the mass of the instrument (often at the headstock) to "move" the dead notes to an area that is not an issue...

This is something that any Fodera customer should work with us directly at the shop about at:

[email protected]
Click to expand...

Absolutely,
Of course the first port of call should be the builder of the instrument. :-)
I merely posted in response to a problem someone has with their instrument and told about experiences I have had,either first or second hand, with attempts to solve issues such as the one described in the post(none of those involved foderas,but I guess all that is similar to all instrumets of this kind) I responded to.
:)
 
#19
mrbassman_de said:
So after so much bad reputation here I wanted to share my in the end good experience with FClef. Can't say anything about George because Franco took over all communication with him.
Click to expand...

Yea talked to him few times, seems to be a nice guy and very friendly...
Btw. Congrats on bass, looks beautiful...
 
#20
mrbassman_de said:
Hey Fodera lovers, let's start with pics :)

Just pulled this amazing toy from the used market:

Buckeye / Ash body / Maple Board
34', 9.5 lbs

Performs so well - I'm really happy with it.

Just as a footnote: I got this bass from the FClef shop. It took a long time between payment and delivery and I had huge concerns after reading the bunch of very bad posts about FClef here at TB. In the end I must say that the European FClef hub - Franco - was very responsive and friendly. He has set up the bass carefully before shipping it to me, threw in a new set of strings and packed it well. And the bass - as mentioned above - is in better condition than described by them.

So after so much bad reputation here I wanted to share my in the end good experience with FClef. Can't say anything about George because Franco took over all communication with him.
Click to expand...

Incredible bass!!
 
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