• 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 VII

Status
Not open for further replies.
#961
That actually makes a lot of sense. Well said Jason.


Just Thumpin' said:
It is all a question of timing and the correct product mix requires a very delicate balancing act. The Yin Yang Standard is something that we waited to do until we had taken on enough additional staff and smoothed out our internal operations enough to ensure that we could absorb them and still meet our quoted delivery schedules for custom instruments. In less than two years we have gone from a 24-27 month wait for new custom orders down to 15-16 months AND introduced the Standards.

Additionally, part of designing the Standards involved actually filling slack time in our staff's day. That is, while Vinny and Vadym were maxed out in terms of hand carving (which is how we make all of our Customs), we had excess personnel capacity for things like glue-ups, rough shaping, painting, sanding, set-up, etc. So, by designing the Yin Yang Standards (which all have an identical shapes) and having the necks made in our shop in Japan (necks are also very, very time consuming), we were able use our excess productive capacity in a way that has a very minimal effect on building the custom instruments.

Yes, it does have SOME impact, but far less than if we just tried to keep growing the number of custom instruments we were producing...

I hope that this makes sense.

Jason
Click to expand...
 
#962
I broke my Garrison out for the first time in years recently. The amazing playability reminded me what a great luthier Vinnie is. I forgot how big and full sounding that bass was. Really fun stuff.

Now I need to break out my AJ and Emperor also... it's been too long.
 
#965
Just Thumpin' said:
We did use them for awhile and then stopped. Generally I would NOT recommend doing this to your basses for the same reasons that we stopped using them...

1. We were getting a fair number of returns from folks that were over-tightening the screws and stripping the machine screws and / or pulling out the inserts...requiring a trip back to the shop to be replaced.

2. If you ever do strip the hole in the wood from a wood screw it is very easy to fix WITHOUT sending the bass back to the shop. We start by using very small screws when the basses are originally delivered and then can up the size of the screws if necessary. This should buy a customer a life time of use. Certainly my 1984 Monarch has wood screws and they are still serviceable 27 years later.

3. IF the larger screws no longer work, it is very easy to fill one of the holes with wood filler (or a portion of a toothpick and glue) and be right back in business again in 5 minutes.

Now, Angus takes phenomenal care of his instruments and is very careful as well, so the inserts probably DO work for him, but not everyone is that way and we felt that on average, the threaded inserts did more harm than good...
Click to expand...

my 2 cents... I've had my Monarch for 27 years and I've never had a problem with the wood screws. Admittedly I am a fanatic about being careful with my instruments but still, that is a long time with no issues. :-)
 
#966
I haven't had issues with wood screws, either, though I've seen plenty of it- but I have had ones that were excessively tight (as on the Fodera), which wastes time removing/installing the covers. So it's worth it to me.
 
#967
Just Thumpin' said:
It is all a question of timing and the correct product mix requires a very delicate balancing act. The Yin Yang Standard is something that we waited to do until we had taken on enough additional staff and smoothed out our internal operations enough to ensure that we could absorb them and still meet our quoted delivery schedules for custom instruments. In less than two years we have gone from a 24-27 month wait for new custom orders down to 15-16 months AND introduced the Standards.

Additionally, part of designing the Standards involved actually filling slack time in our staff's day. That is, while Vinny and Vadym were maxed out in terms of hand carving (which is how we make all of our Customs), we had excess personnel capacity for things like glue-ups, rough shaping, painting, sanding, set-up, etc. So, by designing the Yin Yang Standards (which all have an identical shapes) and having the necks made in our shop in Japan (necks are also very, very time consuming), we were able use our excess productive capacity in a way that has a very minimal effect on building the custom instruments.

Yes, it does have SOME impact, but far less than if we just tried to keep growing the number of custom instruments we were producing...

I hope that this makes sense.

Jason
Click to expand...



Thanks Jason for that explanation, and yes, makes sense. From the video it seems Vinny still works on the Standards though... I just hope Vinny keeps being the bottleneck mostly because he's working on customs, not because he has to work on 120 production "Standards".
 
#968
They can take as much time as they want with mine. I know it will be done right and really, two guy doing the amount of hand carving that goes into these instruments eats a lot of time. It's wonderful to see the guys doing wood work and not answering the phone.

I have worked in instrument production and what Jason said make perfect sense and wouldn't imo be an issue with custom production on a large scale.




78Jazzlover said:
Thanks Jason for that explanation, and yes, makes sense. From the video it seems Vinny still works on the Standards though... I just hope Vinny keeps being the bottleneck mostly because he's working on customs, not because he has to work on 120 production "Standards".
Click to expand...
 
#969
Joelc73 said:
I broke my Garrison out for the first time in years recently. The amazing playability reminded me what a great luthier Vinnie is. I forgot how big and full sounding that bass was. Really fun stuff.

Now I need to break out my AJ and Emperor also... it's been too long.
Click to expand...
First time in years? Man thats just wrong!!!!:D
 
#970
Oh by the way Joel when you get the spare time how about a a family picture of all your basses MTD, Fodera, Sadowsky etc.All of them, pretty please!:hyper: The Chestnut Emperor is the Hallee Berry of basses IMO. Davids former Beez was up there also.
 
#975
celinder 72 said:
Oh by the way Joel when you get the spare time how about a a family picture of all your basses MTD, Fodera, Sadowsky etc.All of them, pretty please!:hyper: The Chestnut Emperor is the Hallee Berry of basses IMO. Davids former Beez was up there also.
Click to expand...

I can definitely do that. I've been thinking it's time for an updated family shot. Will do.
 
#976
Joelc73 said:
I can definitely do that. I've been thinking it's time for an updated family shot. Will do.
Click to expand...

Thank you Joel ! Many of us on TalkBass will be looking forward to this. Joel i was thinking about the Groove Shoppe this morning, you were the guys to go to for Fodera porn. I remember talking to you about a ballpark figure for a Imperial this was about six years ago. Wish i could have followed through on this as the price has doubled. But i probably would have lost the deposit I was in real bad shape back then. Sobriety has blessed me with a Celinder and Spector so i not suffering:bassist::D But one day i would love to acquire a Fodera. The first time i saw one was in 1990, a walnut Monarch. Talked to the bass player after the gig, he found it at a pawn shop for 700!!! Ah the pre internet days.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back