I'm thinking about how incredible a hollow, extra-deep AJ Presentation is going to sound and I'm blown away. Imagine how it will resonate!
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I have not played any BO Foderas, but there is definately a noticeable difference between the DT and NT in terms of playability. The strings are further away from the top on DT basses.
Furthermore, you have more options on a NT than on a DT because the DT is basically a bottom wood with a top, while the NT has a three-piece body with the toneblock and so you have more options to choose from.
Singlecut or doublecut makes a noticeable difference in tone, too.
So I guess there are many things to consider, much more than just the neck construction. You would probably go for different wood choices on the three neck options.
The genral rule could be:
If you want a "traditional sound", you should go with a BO neck, or maybe a DT. A Fodera with DC, BO and classical woods like Alder body, maple neck and fretboard will sound close to the much desired "Miller" sound. You can choose mahogany as body wood for a slightly different and "deeper midrange" sound, or choose a maple body for more clarity and contour. The BO supports this sound the best.
The NT, especially with the SC models, means a thick, sturdy sound with lots of sustain and clarity and less punch. To achieve a thick sound, lots of NT basses have a mahogany body that helps developping the strengh of the NT construction. To get a little more clarity and punch, maple is a top choice as the toneblock wood, as well as a dense top wood like maple, koa as well as a ebony fretboard which adds lots of definition and clarity.
So you generally tend to choose woods that support the strenghts of the construction you choose, but especially with NTs, you have lots of options to balance things out.
Furthermore, you have more options on a NT than on a DT because the DT is basically a bottom wood with a top, while the NT has a three-piece body with the toneblock and so you have more options to choose from.
Singlecut or doublecut makes a noticeable difference in tone, too.
So I guess there are many things to consider, much more than just the neck construction. You would probably go for different wood choices on the three neck options.
The genral rule could be:
If you want a "traditional sound", you should go with a BO neck, or maybe a DT. A Fodera with DC, BO and classical woods like Alder body, maple neck and fretboard will sound close to the much desired "Miller" sound. You can choose mahogany as body wood for a slightly different and "deeper midrange" sound, or choose a maple body for more clarity and contour. The BO supports this sound the best.
The NT, especially with the SC models, means a thick, sturdy sound with lots of sustain and clarity and less punch. To achieve a thick sound, lots of NT basses have a mahogany body that helps developping the strengh of the NT construction. To get a little more clarity and punch, maple is a top choice as the toneblock wood, as well as a dense top wood like maple, koa as well as a ebony fretboard which adds lots of definition and clarity.
So you generally tend to choose woods that support the strenghts of the construction you choose, but especially with NTs, you have lots of options to balance things out.
Steuart - I had them apply your deposit to my bass, so I guess you have fractional ownership
A couple of pics of the Pomelle Sapele top and back:
You'll have to take it for a spin when it's done...
OK, as promised, an announcement. Ordered today at Bass San Diego:
Viceroy shape (no sliding pickup).
5-string
19mm spacing
34-inch scale
Mahogany body
Figured koa top
Matching Emperor headstock
Ebony 'board - no dots
3-piece maple bolt-on neck
Fodera/Duncan dual coil pickups
'70s bridge pickup placement
Pope/Fodera preamp
Black hardware (I think)
Now the wait.
Viceroy shape (no sliding pickup).
5-string
19mm spacing
34-inch scale
Mahogany body
Figured koa top
Matching Emperor headstock
Ebony 'board - no dots
3-piece maple bolt-on neck
Fodera/Duncan dual coil pickups
'70s bridge pickup placement
Pope/Fodera preamp
Black hardware (I think)
Now the wait.
Love the specs, Munji!
I'm really(really!) happy with my 5 string bolt on Emperor. Despite having originally been leaning towards an Imperial Elite for aesthetics, I am pretty sure the bolt on approach is the right choice for my playing.
One thing that has me pretty happy regarding the new Fodera is that I don't find myself "gassing" for anything right now. After owning one of their instruments finally, and visiting the shop and meeting everyone(except Jason ;-) ) I am sold on this company and the products they put out. I will definitely own another, not as a replacement, but in addition to the one I have now. I may find other basses along the way (more traditional less expensive ones that I don't mind beating up a little) but I am officially hooked on the feeling I get physically and mentally when playing this instrument. I have heard Fodera basses referred to as very clear mirrors, and I'm loving how that works for my playing so far. I find myself excited about music, the instrument and what I can do with it, every time I plug in. Very cool!
-Grady
I'm really(really!) happy with my 5 string bolt on Emperor. Despite having originally been leaning towards an Imperial Elite for aesthetics, I am pretty sure the bolt on approach is the right choice for my playing.
One thing that has me pretty happy regarding the new Fodera is that I don't find myself "gassing" for anything right now. After owning one of their instruments finally, and visiting the shop and meeting everyone(except Jason ;-) ) I am sold on this company and the products they put out. I will definitely own another, not as a replacement, but in addition to the one I have now. I may find other basses along the way (more traditional less expensive ones that I don't mind beating up a little) but I am officially hooked on the feeling I get physically and mentally when playing this instrument. I have heard Fodera basses referred to as very clear mirrors, and I'm loving how that works for my playing so far. I find myself excited about music, the instrument and what I can do with it, every time I plug in. Very cool!
-Grady
I want this one to be a little more flashy visually and "out-front" tonewise than my Emperor. It's walnut with maple top and dovetail neck. Most of the other specs are the same. I play the Emperor in my acoustic pop trio, and it's perfect for that. I want to use the new one in my classic rock band.
I get what you're saying. I feel "almost professional" playing the Fodera. It seems like I even make less mistakes with it, LOL. We played last night, and I was thrilled with the sound, even through a 15-inch cab. I think the Viceroy will give me the range of tones I need for classic rock, mostly due to the mahogany body.
I was talking to Jason today, and mentioned the kind of family feeling you get in dealing with them. That's what they're going for. Great guys.
wrp said:Steuart - I had them apply your deposit to my bass, so I guess you have fractional ownership
You'll have to take it for a spin when it's done...
ha! i actually bought a used aj 6 and flipped it cause i was a litte miffed at the boyz from brooklyn.
i'll be up in your neck of the woods in may, if all goes right.
mhduffl said:nice chestnut! spec?
we should have a fodera gathering
Monarch Elite 5-string. Walnut body, chestnut burl top, birds-eye tone
block, 5 piece 35" maple neck with ebony fingerboard, purple heart
stringers. Mike Pope pre amp with Fodera/Duncan Dual coil p.u.'s.
OMG.
That would've been the bass I'd ordered when I ordered my Monarch if there was still chestnut available. That. Is. Insane.
That's my favorite I've seen in a while.
That would've been the bass I'd ordered when I ordered my Monarch if there was still chestnut available. That. Is. Insane.
That's my favorite I've seen in a while.
steubig said:
Not gas like I've been dealing with, or most members on this site seem to deal with regularly. It is more of a long term understanding with a life long hobby/ passion. I'm not ordering one tomorrow, and have no intention of flipping my current fodera. I'd like to have another though, maybe 2 or 3 years from now. I'm
In no hurry(thanks to the current emperor) and would be dealing with the Brooklyn shop directly, not really worried about a finish date. Far from bad gas as I have been experiencing, which jnvolves multiple trips to FedEx an ups stores, and negotiating deals with other tbers.
t'was tongue in check. i have more than a few (fewer than jason, more than most) foderas and would still like some more.
Angus said:
It seems that There is still a last chestnut top in fodera shop but the grading is not that good. It would be perfect if it is in 34" scale.
gkbass13 said:
Totally agree. I will keep it and not sell/trade in next few years. It really take some time to "communicate" with it. The building time of 2+ years for a custom fodera is great as u can start planning your next fodera when u received the ordered one.
Just Thumpin'
Commercial User
- Mar 7, 2008
- 4,534
- 1,664
- Disclosures
- Manager and Partner, Fodera Guitars (10/14/09 - 12/16/19)
Jim --
This is a great question and one that tends to get asked repeatedly over time in this thread. The unfortunate reality is that even with us regularly building instruments using all three types of neck constructions, we have never had three basses with exactly the same body shape, scale length and woods that vary only in terms of neck construction to listen to side by side.
This is an "issue" that we talked about as a partnership in mid-2010 and as a result decided to add three "stock" builds to our Production Schedule that will solve this problem once and for all. Later this year (yes we wait in line too!) we will be building these three Monarch 5's all with EXACTLY the same woods and build specs EXCEPT for the neck construction. Once these instruments are finished we will be working with one of our artists to professionally record identical passages on each instrument. These recordings will be made available as downloads on our website.
With tone, there simply is no substitute for listening with your own ears. As I have said many times, my "fat and bloated" is another person's "round and warm." My "tight and articulate" could be your "overly analytical and sterile." This is the unfortunate, but very real space in which all of these discussions about individual sensory experiences happen.
Now, all of this said, the general thesis (subject to revision after we have all listened to the three test basses that we will be building) is that bolt-ons are the most "punchy," neck-throughs offer the most "sustain" and dovetails exist somewhere in the middle.
I hope that this at least starts to answer your question and that you stay tuned for our experiment.
J
This is a great question and one that tends to get asked repeatedly over time in this thread. The unfortunate reality is that even with us regularly building instruments using all three types of neck constructions, we have never had three basses with exactly the same body shape, scale length and woods that vary only in terms of neck construction to listen to side by side.
This is an "issue" that we talked about as a partnership in mid-2010 and as a result decided to add three "stock" builds to our Production Schedule that will solve this problem once and for all. Later this year (yes we wait in line too!) we will be building these three Monarch 5's all with EXACTLY the same woods and build specs EXCEPT for the neck construction. Once these instruments are finished we will be working with one of our artists to professionally record identical passages on each instrument. These recordings will be made available as downloads on our website.
With tone, there simply is no substitute for listening with your own ears. As I have said many times, my "fat and bloated" is another person's "round and warm." My "tight and articulate" could be your "overly analytical and sterile." This is the unfortunate, but very real space in which all of these discussions about individual sensory experiences happen.
Now, all of this said, the general thesis (subject to revision after we have all listened to the three test basses that we will be building) is that bolt-ons are the most "punchy," neck-throughs offer the most "sustain" and dovetails exist somewhere in the middle.
I hope that this at least starts to answer your question and that you stay tuned for our experiment.
J
Just Thumpin'
Commercial User
- Mar 7, 2008
- 4,534
- 1,664
- Disclosures
- Manager and Partner, Fodera Guitars (10/14/09 - 12/16/19)
Just Thumpin'
Commercial User
- Mar 7, 2008
- 4,534
- 1,664
- Disclosures
- Manager and Partner, Fodera Guitars (10/14/09 - 12/16/19)
Let's be frank with one another...is GAS ever completely gone? After taking delivery of my recent Olive top and Brazilian topped Monarchs I was 100% "done" with GAS. Heck, I handle and play these beauties day in and day out so I should be numb to it and never have GAS, right?
Well the past two days all I have been doing is sifting through photos from all of our wood suppliers, making decisions about new top material (spending ungodly amounts of money) and out of the blue, BANG a piece of wood so insanely gorgeous, so perfect in every respect AND representing one of my favorite top materials -- and one that I do not have a good example of in the stable. I again have GAS. So yes, one of the Monarchs I now own must go and I will get on the back of the line and wait...
J
Well the past two days all I have been doing is sifting through photos from all of our wood suppliers, making decisions about new top material (spending ungodly amounts of money) and out of the blue, BANG a piece of wood so insanely gorgeous, so perfect in every respect AND representing one of my favorite top materials -- and one that I do not have a good example of in the stable. I again have GAS. So yes, one of the Monarchs I now own must go and I will get on the back of the line and wait...
J
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