Fodera Club Part VII

[Just Thumpin']

Since the Tone Block is more of a spice than a main ingredient, I think that you might actually dig it. Compared with a Maple Tone Block the bass is different in the following ways...

1. Weighs about 1/2 pound less
2. Has an added depth and warmth to the lows
3. Overall sounds a touch more full spectrum from the low mids into the lows than with just Ash / Maple.

Of course, this is to MY ears and this is the perilous thing about sound...for better or worse, it IS subjective. So, my "added warmth" is another person's "mushier." LOL...

BTW, another way of getting some of that additional warmth but in a tighter, less "round" fashion is, as you asked earlier, to go with a Walnut Tone Block...

Thanks J--how would you compare effect of the alder tone block to tha of maple? Overall, alder body and maple fingerboards are not my favorite combination, but maybe as an accent to an ash body it would work nicely.

 

[Joelc73]

Thanks J--how would you compare effect of the alder tone block to tha of maple? Overall, alder body and maple fingerboards are not my favorite combination, but maybe as an accent to an ash body it would work nicely.

climb

I've played a bunch in both combos (ash heel and alder heel.) My main Fodera is Ash wings with an Alder heel and Maple board. The Alder heel gives the bass just a bit more body to my ears. At the end of the day, it will still sound like an Ash bass but with just a hint of the edge rounded off tonally.

I hope that helps.

JC

 

[giacomini]

God, those Fodera basses sure look great!

I wanna have one when I grow up!

 

[Lennard III.]

Happy Birthday for being 28 years in buisness !!!!

off to the next 28

 

[Just Thumpin']

Thank you!!! We will try to make the next 28 years even better than the last...

Happy Birthday for being 28 years in buisness !!!!

off to the next 28

 

[KoaFodera]

climb

I've played a bunch in both combos (ash heel and alder heel.) My main Fodera is Ash wings with an Alder heel and Maple board. The Alder heel gives the bass just a bit more body to my ears. At the end of the day, it will still sound like an Ash bass but with just a hint of the edge rounded off tonally.

I hope that helps.

JC

My Imperial 6 string, Ash body/Olive top, will be spec'd with an Alder heel block. I wanted to add a touch of warmth to my bass but not loose the aggressive tone I'm after. Additionally, Alder is a nice contrast to the Ash body wings.

Just 5 1/2 months to go!

 

[climb]

Sounds nice--did you consider any other heel blocks besides alder?

I'm staring at my Imperial elite 5, which has a maple heel block and alder body. It seems that the heel is thinner than either of the body wings, but not that different as far as overall dimension compared to either wing, which means it's maybe 25% of the total volume of the body. Plus, it's attached right to the neck, which I assume would give it a somewhat important role tonally. Again, I'm not trying to overanalyze it, but I am pretty curious about the actual impact.

 

[Steveman]

What determines if a top wood is "presentation grade"

 

[Christian Houmann]

My Imperial 6 string, Ash body/Olive top, will be spec'd with an Alder heel block. I wanted to add a touch of warmth to my bass but not loose the aggressive tone I'm after. Additionally, Alder is a nice contrast to the Ash body wings.

Just 5 1/2 months to go!

Sounds like a nice bass

 

[KoaFodera]

Sounds like a nice bass

Indeed it will be! Given what we have been seeing on the Newborn pages, the basses coming out of the Fodera shop are among the finest ever. Your bass is a prime example.

I was fortunate to secure a second top from the Crotch Olive block so it will look just like this bass: http://www.fodera.com/Main/NewBornDetails.aspx?FeaturedItemID=11

The only differences will be that it is a 17.5mm spaced 6 string and have Ash body wings instead of Walnut. Same Brazilian Rosewood f/b as Newborn #11. I have yet to play a Fodera with the Ash body/ BRW f/b combination but Jason tells me these 'hybrid' basses sound really nice.

 

[SummonK1]

Anybody have experience with Wood cover pickup ? Is there any difference compare with plastic cover?

 

[Angus]

Anybody have experience with Wood cover pickup ? Is there any difference compare with plastic cover?

Yeah, they're made of wood. What kind of differences are you looking for?

 

[SummonK1]

Yeah, they're made of wood. What kind of differences are you looking for?

Is there any sound differences or just for decoration ?
Thanks

 

[Ben Coffin]

Just decoration. Since the wood doesn't effect the magnetics of the pickup, no sound changes. They just look really nice

 

[Munjibunga]

Anybody have experience with Wood cover pickup ? Is there any difference compare with plastic cover?

They add a warmth to the tone that can't be achieved with plastic. I can hear plastic pickup covers a mile away.

 

[Bass Collector]

They add a warmth to the tone that can't be achieved with plastic. I can hear plastic pickup covers a mile away.

HA!

 

[Lennard III.]

They add a warmth to the tone that can't be achieved with plastic. I can hear plastic pickup covers a mile away.

 

[Just Thumpin']

When we buy wood from our suppliers for tops, we try to source all really prime, interesting looking pieces. However, some are invariably better than others. Presentation Grade are those super rare, highly and/or uniquely figured pieces that are the finest of the finest. It is certainly subjective, but after you see hundreds of pieces of a given type of wood, you get the sense of what is truly exceptional...

Hope that helps!

J

What determines if a top wood is "presentation grade"

 

[steubig]

They add a warmth to the tone that can't be achieved with plastic. I can hear plastic pickup covers a mile away.

and let's face it, partially crystalline and partially amorphous plastics sound *very* different.

 

[thepontif]

What kind of plastic were the Storm Troopers' uniforms in "Star Wars" made of? That sounded great.