Fodera Club Part XIII

[vibhas_2310]

Since we are discussing frets here, do you guys here believe that the material with which the frets are made out of significantly influences the tone of the bass ? So what kinda difference are we talking about when we compare the standard Nickel/Silver with say stainless steel and the brass ones(?) that Warwick use on their German basses?

 

[cnltb]

Since we are discussing frets here, do you guys here believe that the material with which the frets are made out of significantly influences the tone of the bass ? So what kinda difference are we talking about when we compare the standard Nickel/Silver with say stainless steel and the brass ones(?) that Warwick use on their German basses?

I think the fret material does absolutely have a noticeable effect on the tone of an instrument.
This seems more noticeable on acoustic instruments but on electrics as well.
Hence the question.
I am planning a future instrument,to be ordered in the near-ish future and am doing a little bit of research with the frets being one thing I am not 100% sure about yet.

 

[Bernie Connors]

Freakin A, Timothy, that's a gorgeous instrument.

 

[Just Thumpin']

Gang, the three Monarchs that we built with identical woods were all completed over the past two weeks and today Laura and I dropped them off at Matt Garrison's studio. We expect to have the recordings and videos back from Matt next Thursday. For once and for all we will be able to actually hear the differences between a bolt-on, dovetail and neck-through bass.

All three were made from the same blocks of wood, built at the same time, have virtually identical weights (within one ounce of each other) and were set up identically.

We expect to post the sound clips and video on our website within 2-3 weeks.

Regards,

J

 

[Just Thumpin']

IMHO the material does have an affect on tone. The wire that we use is an alloy that is fairly "standard" stuff in the industry...I'd rather not say exactly what alloy, but, like everything else we do here, it was selected after comparing the sound of various different possibilities. Joey and Vinny did this work long before I was here and we have been using the same alloy ever since...

Regards,

J

Since we are discussing frets here, do you guys here believe that the material with which the frets are made out of significantly influences the tone of the bass ? So what kinda difference are we talking about when we compare the standard Nickel/Silver with say stainless steel and the brass ones(?) that Warwick use on their German basses?

 

[KoaFodera]

Gang, the three Monarchs that we built with identical woods were all completed over the past two weeks and today Laura and I dropped them off at Matt Garrison's studio. We expect to have the recordings and videos back from Matt next Thursday. For once and for all we will be able to actually hear the differences between a bolt-on, dovetail and neck-through bass.

All three were made from the same blocks of wood, built at the same time, have virtually identical weights (within one ounce of each other) and were set up identically.

We expect to post the sound clips and video on our website within 2-3 weeks.

Regards,

J

Awfully nice of Matt to offer his studio and time to A/B/C the three basses. Looking forward to the results. Jason, are you able to divulge the spec's ( I might have missed this from a previous post) on these Fodera's or will they be posted on the Newborn page soon?

 

[mhduffl]

Gang, the three Monarchs that we built with identical woods were all completed over the past two weeks and today Laura and I dropped them off at Matt Garrison's studio. We expect to have the recordings and videos back from Matt next Thursday. For once and for all we will be able to actually hear the differences between a bolt-on, dovetail and neck-through bass.

All three were made from the same blocks of wood, built at the same time, have virtually identical weights (within one ounce of each other) and were set up identically.

We expect to post the sound clips and video on our website within 2-3 weeks.

Regards,

J

Thanks Jason,

Really can't wait the A/B/C test by Matt

Cheers!

 

[WarwickOfficial]

Since we are discussing frets here, do you guys here believe that the material with which the frets are made out of significantly influences the tone of the bass ? So what kinda difference are we talking about when we compare the standard Nickel/Silver with say stainless steel and the brass ones(?) that Warwick use on their German basses?

As far as we believe - yes, the material does have an impact on tone. We use Bell Brass as standard, and we also offer nickel-silver, etc. They all have a unique tone that contributes to the overall sound of the instrument.

 

[Chris_J]

Hi guys,

Hope to get some help here. I am getting my first Fodera bass and I was think of the fodera emperor 5 standard ($5800) but I have not much information on it even on this post or seeing anyone post it. Should I just go for the fodera emperor 5 series? Or the fodera emperor 5 standard cause the price different is alot which is about $1500 to $2000. How much different are there between the 2 of them.

Thanks for the help!

 

[nostatic]

If you are fine with the specs, the standard series basses are the way to go imho. Fodera's bolt-on joint is quite good, and if you want a 24-fret 5-string with dual coils and 19mm bridge spacing, it is hard to go wrong. If however you want something different, then you need to pay the extra money to get a custom (and wait a lot longer).

Be careful though. The Yin Yang Standard that I bought was my gateway drug to Fodera. I now have a Yin Yang Deluxe, Monarch, and my Matt Garrison Std is almost done (plus I have another Monarch in the queue). It could happen to you

 

[kamakiriad7]

I picked up my Emperor 5 standard last month, and it's really an incredible instrument. The impression I get is that one could easily order a custom instrument with the same specs (with a few minor differences), but by going with the standard, you save lots in terms of cost and also in time.

I think you'll be happy with either. For me, I was about to order a Monarch bolt-on 5 with an ash body and maple fingerboard, and the Emperor standard was so close to that spec that it made so much sense to go that route and save $ and time. But Nostatic is right, it's a dangerous drug to be on...

 

[Chris_J]

Thanks guys!

I am Cool with the Spec on the Standard, was just wondering on how different it is gonna be between Standard and Custom (Some brands, they are hell lots of different). Guess i will go with the Standard Thanks for the information!

 

[nostatic]

Quality-wise there is no difference. As in *no difference*. They all are made in Brooklyn by the same guys. The quality of the wood is the same as the customs. The workmanship is the same. The rub is that you can only get the standard spec. So if you want a dovetail neck joint, you have to go custom. If you want a different body or fingerboard wood, you have to go custom. But what I've found is that the Standards are a pretty much ideal spec for that particular instrument. The only reason to go custom is if you want something that looks different or if you have have some specific feature. I played the E5S at BPL and it is a sick instrument. The only reason I don't have one is that I'm not playing B-G 5-string at the moment and I prefer the Monarch body shape.

 

[Chris_J]

Quality-wise there is no difference. As in *no difference*. They all are made in Brooklyn by the same guys. The quality of the wood is the same as the customs. The workmanship is the same. The rub is that you can only get the standard spec. So if you want a dovetail neck joint, you have to go custom. If you want a different body or fingerboard wood, you have to go custom. But what I've found is that the Standards are a pretty much ideal spec for that particular instrument. The only reason to go custom is if you want something that looks different or if you have have some specific feature. I played the E5S at BPL and it is a sick instrument. The only reason I don't have one is that I'm not playing B-G 5-string at the moment and I prefer the Monarch body shape.

I see Cool thanks for the help. Now it is the waiting game for it

 

[Tom7]

Gang, the three Monarchs that we built with identical woods were all completed over the past two weeks and today Laura and I dropped them off at Matt Garrison's studio. We expect to have the recordings and videos back from Matt next Thursday. For once and for all we will be able to actually hear the differences between a bolt-on, dovetail and neck-through bass.

All three were made from the same blocks of wood, built at the same time, have virtually identical weights (within one ounce of each other) and were set up identically.

We expect to post the sound clips and video on our website within 2-3 weeks.

Regards,

J

This is the coolest thing I've seen on talkbass since, well, Anthony's 6 string Yin Yang! Thanks to Fodera and Matt for doing this; I'm keenly interested.

 

[Tom7]

As far as we believe - yes, the material does have an impact on tone. We use Bell Brass as standard, and we also offer nickel-silver, etc. They all have a unique tone that contributes to the overall sound of the instrument.

This makes total sense since the string is being pressed against the frets as it vibrates. Does the fret material affect the attack too?

 

[Angus]

I think it (the material) affects the attack of the envelope more than anything.

 

[DELACIUS]

Omg, this is going to be best test to hear what's the real difference....

Gang, the three Monarchs that we built with identical woods were all completed over the past two weeks and today Laura and I dropped them off at Matt Garrison's studio. We expect to have the recordings and videos back from Matt next Thursday. For once and for all we will be able to actually hear the differences between a bolt-on, dovetail and neck-through bass.

All three were made from the same blocks of wood, built at the same time, have virtually identical weights (within one ounce of each other) and were set up identically.

We expect to post the sound clips and video on our website within 2-3 weeks.

Regards,

J

 

[Just Thumpin']

Specs are:

Monarch 5's (since I egged everyone on in the shop to do this, would you expect any other body shape? LOL!)

1-piece Mahogany Bodies (Except for the Neck-through which has Mahogany body wings and a Mahogany Tone Block cut from the same piece of Mahogany as the Body wings).

Brazilian Rosewood FB's (actually the remainder of the wonderful block that the FB for one of your personal basses was cut from!).

3-piece maple neck's

Quilted Maple tops

34" scale / 24 frets

Fodera / Duncan Dual Coils

Awfully nice of Matt to offer his studio and time to A/B/C the three basses. Looking forward to the results. Jason, are you able to divulge the spec's ( I might have missed this from a previous post) on these Fodera's or will they be posted on the Newborn page soon?

 

[Thomas Kievit]

Can't wait! Can't wait!!