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I may just have to change my name to Foderaholik because I just bought two of em!
After a rough year of selling off all of my music gear, including my beloved DB, to pay bills I finally came into some good fortune and money. I decided to take a chunk of it and try and find the ONE for me. I'm tired of owning multiple basses. None of them were ever exactly what I wanted and I've always had to compromise. I've wanted a Monarch for years, especially because I'm a die-hard PJ fan.
I originally had a new Yin Yang on order through Bass Central, but because of a situation beyond my control I had to cancel the order. It broke my heart to do it. I sold my favourite bass for the deposit and looking forward to getting it got me through some really rough times. My luck finally started to change this fall and I came into some money. Luckily, a TBer had one of the first 10 Yin Yangs for sale and I couldn't resist.
I have to say that this bass is SICK!!!! I have never in my life owned a bass this easy to play and I've owned a lot! None of the statements made about the playability of a Fodera where hyperbole at all. At first I had some trouble until I realized that I was playing WAY too hard. I eased up with both of my hands and used a delicate touch and there it was. I don't want to use any of the cliche statements, such as it plays like butter, but it's just incredible. The first test was to try songs that used a lot of fast, sticcato notes with a lot of left hand muting that I've always struggled with and I was finally able to pull them off. I was actually very surprised by the ease with which I played them.
The tone is also just amazing. I was expecting a very modern sound, but it pulled off a great vintage tone both in passive and with the preamp on. Just swing the blend towards the P pickups and there's THE P tone. Pull it back to center and it becomes much more articulate for faster songs. The fit and finish is also fantastic. The finish is soooooooooo smooth and the transition from the flat areas to the curves have a very sharp, defined line. Simply amazing.
Immediately after agreeing to purchase the Yin Yang, a Monarch came up for sale that was actually my ideal combination of woods and the price was great. I actually comprised on the Yin Yang a bit as I really wanted a mahogany body with a rosewood board. I couldn't help myself and I bought that one as well. The Monarch should be shipped to me sometime today and I'll hopefully get it early next week. I'm going to compare and contrast the two and find out which one is the best fit for me and my playing style. I'm very lucky to be able to have the funds to try them both, but I definitely don't have enough to keep them both. I'll have to let one of them go. I'm sure I'll be selling it here, so if anyone wants dibs just hit me up.
I'm very excited and very lucky!
Michael
After a rough year of selling off all of my music gear, including my beloved DB, to pay bills I finally came into some good fortune and money. I decided to take a chunk of it and try and find the ONE for me. I'm tired of owning multiple basses. None of them were ever exactly what I wanted and I've always had to compromise. I've wanted a Monarch for years, especially because I'm a die-hard PJ fan.
I originally had a new Yin Yang on order through Bass Central, but because of a situation beyond my control I had to cancel the order. It broke my heart to do it. I sold my favourite bass for the deposit and looking forward to getting it got me through some really rough times. My luck finally started to change this fall and I came into some money. Luckily, a TBer had one of the first 10 Yin Yangs for sale and I couldn't resist.
I have to say that this bass is SICK!!!! I have never in my life owned a bass this easy to play and I've owned a lot! None of the statements made about the playability of a Fodera where hyperbole at all. At first I had some trouble until I realized that I was playing WAY too hard. I eased up with both of my hands and used a delicate touch and there it was. I don't want to use any of the cliche statements, such as it plays like butter, but it's just incredible. The first test was to try songs that used a lot of fast, sticcato notes with a lot of left hand muting that I've always struggled with and I was finally able to pull them off. I was actually very surprised by the ease with which I played them.
The tone is also just amazing. I was expecting a very modern sound, but it pulled off a great vintage tone both in passive and with the preamp on. Just swing the blend towards the P pickups and there's THE P tone. Pull it back to center and it becomes much more articulate for faster songs. The fit and finish is also fantastic. The finish is soooooooooo smooth and the transition from the flat areas to the curves have a very sharp, defined line. Simply amazing.
Immediately after agreeing to purchase the Yin Yang, a Monarch came up for sale that was actually my ideal combination of woods and the price was great. I actually comprised on the Yin Yang a bit as I really wanted a mahogany body with a rosewood board. I couldn't help myself and I bought that one as well. The Monarch should be shipped to me sometime today and I'll hopefully get it early next week. I'm going to compare and contrast the two and find out which one is the best fit for me and my playing style. I'm very lucky to be able to have the funds to try them both, but I definitely don't have enough to keep them both. I'll have to let one of them go. I'm sure I'll be selling it here, so if anyone wants dibs just hit me up.
I'm very excited and very lucky!
Michael
Time flies when you're having fun. Though it can be painfully slow as the delivery date gets closer...
Painful already, my friend, painful already!
Although I gotta admit...it will give me something to to look forward to over the next 1.5 years or so...
Although I gotta admit...it will give me something to to look forward to over the next 1.5 years or so...
Tom7
I'm so bright, my mom called me son! ;-)
At least you've gone a very nice Yin Yang to hold you over... that's not suffering, you know?
Michael, Thanks so much for sharing your story..I mean that honestly. It's uplifting to hear that after battling with life's struggles that you finally had a break of good fortune which allowed you to achieve a lifelong goal. Good on you bro.
Isn't it strange that only after giving up most of your (musical) possessions that you had a breakthrough in fortune.
Like you, I wasn't prepared to buy into any hype, I wanted to play one and judge for myself and having done so, I have not been disappointed in the slightest.
Enjoy...
I know exactly what you're saying. I was a skeptic, then I played one. Now there is no hope for me
Which Monarch did you get? There was one in there that I was eying a little while back but I've got some other irons in the fire.
Thanks man, I really appreciate it! The past year had a lot of financial hardships, but it also included getting married and the birth of my daughter, so can't complain at all. It does feel good to be financial secure again though.
I know exactly what you're saying. I was a skeptic, then I played one. Now there is no hope for me
Which Monarch did you get? There was one in there that I was eying a little while back but I've got some other irons in the fire.
There's definitely no hope for me now. Foderas have ruined me for all other basses.
I bought a Monarch Standard that was ebay. It has a beautiful quilted maple top on a mahogany body. I'm really excited to try it out, but it's going to have to be incredible to beat the Yin Yang.
Michael
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)
I finally have my new (to me) Fodera Monarch Deluxe 4 in my hands!
Amaizing bass, killer tone, versatility,... just BIG
The only thing is that I can't get the action as low as I want
still working on it.. (there's a screw under the G strings's saddle of the bridge, blocking it to go lower.. how can I fix this?)
And the distance between the strings and the body is a bit too far... gotta get used to it..
Here's some pictures
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Amaizing bass, killer tone, versatility,... just BIG
The only thing is that I can't get the action as low as I want
still working on it.. (there's a screw under the G strings's saddle of the bridge, blocking it to go lower.. how can I fix this?)And the distance between the strings and the body is a bit too far... gotta get used to it..
Here's some pictures
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libanass said:I finally have my new (to me) Fodera Monarch Deluxe 4 in my hands!
Amaizing bass, killer tone, versatility,... just BIG
The only thing is that I can't get the action as low as I want
And the distance between the strings and the body is a bit too far... gotta get used to it..
Here's some pictures
That's my old bass. When I had it the action was really low. Remember you can adjust the neck to.
Enjoy it
Of course, I have been slowly adjusting the neck since thursday (it had a good curve when I got it), I still have some hope, but the neck is almost perfectly straight now..
anyway, the bass plays already great, but not too great yet as much as another bolt-on (not dovetail) Fodera I've tried
anyway, the bass plays already great, but not too great yet as much as another bolt-on (not dovetail) Fodera I've tried
At least you've gone a very nice Yin Yang to hold you over... that's not suffering, you know?
Well, suffering is relative, isn't it?
Tom, you are, of course, correct. It is the YY that got me thinking abut the new bass, after all.
Is it me, or has the Fodera Club been more quiet than usual these last several days?
I find this statement amazing, that someone finds the Monarch large! The Monarch is the smallest (body) Fodera, and one of the things I found so appealing is how guitar-like it feels, that is to say, small and lithe. I guess we're all different!
- Apr 23, 2003
- 725
- 17
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- Artist Relations/Product Specialist: Mesa Boogie
Changes in temp and humidity are going to affect your neck relief before anything else....start with getting that set correctly.
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