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Fodera Club Part XIV

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#301
The Emperor 5 Standard is mind-blowingly good. Frighteningly great sounding.

I had a wonderful experience in June when I picked up my bass in person, and Joey was very careful to make sure I understood the parts of the instrument and that the setup was perfect. Furthermore, upon realizing I forgot to pack a patch cable (I was getting a week's worth of lessons while there), I asked Joey if the shop sold cables, to which he shook his head no. But then he left the room for a sec and returned with an old cable he had dug out of a drawer in the back. He handed it to me, smiling, and said "free of charge". I couldn't believe the generosity!

Of course, the last day of the trip, I made a trek out to Brooklyn to bring the cable back. Fair is fair, after all. :)

I had a handful of great lessons with a few teachers, among them Lincoln Goines and Chris Tarry. Both thought the bass sounded wonderful. In fact, it turned into a pretty Fodera-heavy trip, as I got to see Tony Grey and Mike Pope play at Shapeshifter Labs (and I got to meet Matt Garrison as well).

Finally, I managed to record me playing with a local jazz trio at a gig last week, and it turned out pretty ok (the lower bass register doesn't really come out that well on the recording), but check it out to hear how great the Emperor Standard sounds! It's killer.

 
#302
Also... the glamour shot once I got her home!

323260_3567484745564_1257305157_o.jpg
 
#304
kamakiriad7 said:
The Emperor 5 Standard is mind-blowingly good. Frighteningly great sounding.

I had a wonderful experience in June when I picked up my bass in person, and Joey was very careful to make sure I understood the parts of the instrument and that the setup was perfect. Furthermore, upon realizing I forgot to pack a patch cable (I was getting a week's worth of lessons while there), I asked Joey if the shop sold cables, to which he shook his head no. But then he left the room for a sec and returned with an old cable he had dug out of a drawer in the back. He handed it to me, smiling, and said "free of charge". I couldn't believe the generosity!

Of course, the last day of the trip, I made a trek out to Brooklyn to bring the cable back. Fair is fair, after all. :)

I had a handful of great lessons with a few teachers, among them Lincoln Goines and Chris Tarry. Both thought the bass sounded wonderful. In fact, it turned into a pretty Fodera-heavy trip, as I got to see Tony Grey and Mike Pope play at Shapeshifter Labs (and I got to meet Matt Garrison as well).

Finally, I managed to record me playing with a local jazz trio at a gig last week, and it turned out pretty ok (the lower bass register doesn't really come out that well on the recording), but check it out to hear how great the Emperor Standard sounds! It's killer.

Click to expand...


Great bass and clip! Good stuff.
 
#306
I think I actually prefer the single coil sound most of the time - has a bit more bite up top. If you're game, move the jumpers to switch the mid freq switch from low and hi (which I think is the way they ship) to low and mid. You can then slice through a mix with reckless abandon on the mid setting.
 
#309
nostatic said:
I think I actually prefer the single coil sound most of the time - has a bit more bite up top. If you're game, move the jumpers to switch the mid freq switch from low and hi (which I think is the way they ship) to low and mid. You can then slice through a mix with reckless abandon on the mid setting.
Click to expand...

Alas! If only I could. I've got the Standard preamp in mine, which is almost identical to the Customer Shop preamp sans mid freq. switch.

Thanks Robin, it definitely is an investment but I'm quite happy with it and am looking forward to the years ahead with it. Also what are the specs of your Imperial?
 
#310
kamakiriad7 said:
Alas! If only I could. I've got the Standard preamp in mine, which is almost identical to the Customer Shop preamp sans mid freq. switch.

Thanks Robin, it definitely is an investment but I'm quite happy with it and am looking forward to the years ahead with it. Also what are the specs of your Imperial?
Click to expand...

It will pay off. I like listening to you on it! Somehow that's worth something I think!

My bass is an MG body style Imperial 5 elite. 34", B-G. Claro walnut solid top, ash body, mahogany tone block, Brazilian Rosewood board, 3 piece maple neck, Dual coil Duncans.

Sound perfect, doesn't it? :D
 
#311
kamakiriad7 said:
Alas! If only I could. I've got the Standard preamp in mine, which is almost identical to the Customer Shop preamp sans mid freq. switch.
Click to expand...

Ahh, gotcha. Actually I think you're already set. Iirc with my YYS, the mid control sounded closer to the 1K position that is the "mid" setting with the custom. You do have the coil split with ends up acting as a bit of a de facto eq as well. Plus I find that the passive tone combined with the hi freq knob give you a lot of sonic options. It can be cool to roll off the passive a bit and crank in some highs.

The other thing that I've found is that the 5-strings (and probably 6 but I don't own one) seem to really make some techniques easier to accomplish. For instance my palm muting sounds better on the Foderas. Could be a mix of the playability of the neck, low action, and the clarity of the pup/preamp combo. The downside is that you can't really hide when you hit a clam - the bass lets you know :D
 
#312
kamakiriad7 said:
The Emperor 5 Standard is mind-blowingly good. Frighteningly great sounding.
Click to expand...

Really nice playing. I liked the tone that the recording picked up - much more low end and it would have lost your deft right hand touch.

My folks have a summer place in PEI. PM me if you are gigging out that way, or with your trio in St. John. They love live music. Work keeps me nice and busy over the summer, so I have yet to make the trip.
 
#316
Rich Treat said:
Mr. Kennedy is just ridiculous!
Click to expand...


I am really hoping to get out to NYC tonight to see him with Mike Stern (Lionel Cordew on drums). 10pm hit at 55 Bar.

On a funny note - I saw Mike with Anthony Jackson and Lionel a few years back. I got their names totally swapped, going up to Lionel and saying, "Mr Jackson, I really love your playing!" He pointed to Anthony, and said with a smile, "THAT's Mr. Jackson. I'm Lionel. Nice to meet you!" (facepalm) You can tell that this was long before I had gone deep on the bass.
 
#317
Oh man, I love hearing Mike Stern at the 55 bar. I live in TX and only get the chance to go to NY once a year. Hope you make it out there tonight!

thehess said:
I am really hoping to get out to NYC tonight to see him with Mike Stern (Lionel Cordew on drums). 10pm hit at 55 Bar.

On a funny note - I saw Mike with Anthony Jackson and Lionel a few years back. I got their names totally swapped, going up to Lionel and saying, "Mr Jackson, I really love your playing!" He pointed to Anthony, and said with a smile, "THAT's Mr. Jackson. I'm Lionel. Nice to meet you!" (facepalm) You can tell that this was long before I had gone deep on the bass.
Click to expand...
 
#318
Alright everybody else has their video playing foderas so here's mine. Sorry, this is in my basement in smelly workout clothes, half a cup of coffee in me, unshowered & unshaven during my early morning practice before going to work. When the MSG arrives I'll post a better video ( and delete this one).

 
#319
Last night I was practicing and spent a bit of time swapping back and forth between instruments. I've also had a fairly constant gig schedule as well so the instruments have had time under fire. I can honestly say that last night I was thinking that I really don't have any GAS at this point, and I've not been let down by my instruments or felt wanting. I've sold off the instruments that didn't really speak to me and only have one bass that isn't getting used (Rob Allen Deep 5). I can cover any of my gigs with the current arsenal and frankly don't want any other instruments taking time from these. For any particular gig I can pick a pair depending on the band and know that I'm covered. RA Deep 4 fretless, YYD, Monarch 4, MGS - any combination will kill. So it's all on my shoulders now...I can't blame the bass or spend my time/energy chasing "the one." They're already here.

Of course I reserve the right to change my mind tomorrow :D
 
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