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Fodera Club Part VII
- Thread starter Bryan R. Tyler
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- club
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Topshelf man!
Hey Fodera lovers, let's start with pics
Just pulled this amazing toy from the used market:
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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.
Rainer, congrats in a great bass. But can you shed any light on why there was a long delay between payment and delivery? I also had inquired about that bass but felt uncomfortable with their email responses. Glad you got a great instrument in the end!
Not sure why it took about 5 weeks to clear. I think they offer the basses in consignment and the previous owner had to ship it to George, George to Franco, Franco to me.... plus Christmas plus NewYear plus NAMM...
But I never talked with George or somebody else from FClef US, so I can't tell what's going on there...
And yes - this Imperial smokes ! I hoped that it could replace my wonderful sounding Birdseye Board/Ash Body Emperor Elite, which I had to sell because of the 36' scale. And luckily it works...
By the way - I installed a 4-pole switch in the cavity and A/B'ed the INNER vs. the OUTER coils in single coils mode. And again I decided to use the INNER coils because of the less scooped tone. Seems that I am more a 60s guy
But I would be very happy if there could be a 3-way switch (INNER - PARALLEL - OUTER) in the Pope standard instead of a two way coil tap... the sound difference is evident and would be an interesting option.
Tom7
I'm so bright, my mom called me son! ;-)
Wow! Ash, maple, 34", dual coils, killer top... that was one heck of a find. Glad to read Fclef - Euro came through for you, even if it took a long time for it to happen. That bass was worth the wait.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.
BTW, I like it when clubs start their new threads with photos... it's a great reminder of how cool it is to be in the club to begin with, so here's a shot of Poseidon in our Alaska themed guest room:
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- Apr 24, 2004
- 1,359
- 53
- Disclosures
- Designer Fodera Guitars/Michael Pope Design, Inc., Trickfish Amplification
Not sure why it took about 5 weeks to clear. I think they offer the basses in consignment and the previous owner had to ship it to George, George to Franco, Franco to me.... plus Christmas plus NewYear plus NAMM...
But I never talked with George or somebody else from FClef US, so I can't tell what's going on there...
And yes - this Imperial smokes ! I hoped that it could replace my wonderful sounding Birdseye Board/Ash Body Emperor Elite, which I had to sell because of the 36' scale. And luckily it works...
By the way - I installed a 4-pole switch in the cavity and A/B'ed the INNER vs. the OUTER coils in single coils mode. And again I decided to use the INNER coils because of the less scooped tone. Seems that I am more a 60s guy
If my bass was 36 feet long I'd sell it too!
As for your switching idea...
The very first thing I ever did for Fodera in an effort to help them make the best use of the dual coil PUP way back in like 1996 or something was to make a 3 switch passive circuit with series/split/parallel for each PU and a 3rd switch that selected which coil was tapped (inner or outer). It was incredibly flexible for a totally passive setup. The problem is that the switches we want to use for that (4 pole versions of the ones we use now) are so incredibly expensive and have to be purchased custom in such large quantities that it's just prohibitive. There's a reason why when you look at a 13 year old fodera, the black on the switches is almost never visibly worn. Not the case with an off-the-shelf C&K switch. That said, if someone wants custom switching like that, it can be done, but it won't look right.
Andy Brown
Commercial User
- Jul 23, 2004
- 5,675
- 312
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- Founder/Owner: Wing Instruments
Tom7
I'm so bright, my mom called me son! ;-)
Out of the 2010 parts price list:
3 way 4 pole mini switches $30.00
Are these different to the standard switches ? If not then this low budget part should not be an issue for a ~10k instrument...
I understand that the small switch board needs a redesign. THAT might be expensive ...
Just Thumpin'
Commercial User
- Mar 7, 2008
- 4,534
- 1,664
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- Manager and Partner, Fodera Guitars (10/14/09 - 12/16/19)
- Apr 24, 2004
- 1,359
- 53
- Disclosures
- Designer Fodera Guitars/Michael Pope Design, Inc., Trickfish Amplification
There are still a precious few of these around. But to start offering it as a standard option would involve an investment of thousands and thousands of dollars in just that switch (and the feature it provides).
Mike, I think you (or maybe Joey) did the Series/parallel and inner/outer coil switches on one of Mike Frosts old Foderas. It was a really cool feature. Whenever I used that bass though I sort of settled in on one setting and just left it there. For someone looking for a lot of tonal flexibility though - that would be a really cool option to have.
JC
- Apr 24, 2004
- 1,359
- 53
- Disclosures
- Designer Fodera Guitars/Michael Pope Design, Inc., Trickfish Amplification
To my ears the TONE of the inner coils is very similar to parallel, but the inner singles gain you that single coil transparency you just don't get with humbuckers.
The word TONE gets overused a lot, actually. Because at the end of the day it really only describes part of the SOUND you're getting.
The word TONE gets overused a lot, actually. Because at the end of the day it really only describes part of the SOUND you're getting.
- Apr 30, 2008
- 17
- 15
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar, Magnusguitars
Joey had sent me a 3-way switch a couple of months ago. I was really looking foreward to be able to choose between different sounds with only one switch.
Since then I have been using the inner coil position exclusively.
That was one way to find out, that I had found my sound already.
At first sight it might look a bit odd, because the switch is chrome and has a different shape then the regular black ones.
But then again it matches perfect with the look of the bridge.
The black colour on the B- and E- string- side rubbed off completeley after only a few months of playing.
A very vintage look for a 3 year old Monarch, isn´t it?
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Peter in the club
Since then I have been using the inner coil position exclusively.
That was one way to find out, that I had found my sound already.
At first sight it might look a bit odd, because the switch is chrome and has a different shape then the regular black ones.
But then again it matches perfect with the look of the bridge.
The black colour on the B- and E- string- side rubbed off completeley after only a few months of playing.
A very vintage look for a 3 year old Monarch, isn´t it?
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Peter in the club
Attachments
- Apr 24, 2004
- 1,359
- 53
- Disclosures
- Designer Fodera Guitars/Michael Pope Design, Inc., Trickfish Amplification
If all you want to do is find out what inner coils sounds like, you can just reverse the red and black wires to the green screw terminal inside. No need for a special switch if all you need is inner and humbucking.
Mike,
I think that the circuit that you build for my five string back in 2003 Emperor Elite had the series/parallel inner/outer coil set up. It was killer. It was a custom 4-band preamp. Cool circuit with a ton of flexibility.
Ben
I think that the circuit that you build for my five string back in 2003 Emperor Elite had the series/parallel inner/outer coil set up. It was killer. It was a custom 4-band preamp. Cool circuit with a ton of flexibility.
Ben
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