Fodera Club Part XIV

[Brad Johnson]

by the way, out of curiosity, how many truss rods does it have?

Mine has one.

 

[Damian Coccio]

I don't understand the logic that goes with wanting an 8 and half thousand dollar bass just to explore chording. I understand wanting an MGS, I want one too. But you don't need a single cut MSG to explore chording and harmony. This comment gets made a lot on TB. Why not get a theory book on jazz harmony and a cheap nylon string guitar and explor the sounds that chords make when resolving and spend the rest on a fodera you actually want to play bass on. I figur if you can't use chords on a four string, an extra string will only makes it more complicated.
I'm not taking a crack at anyone and I don't mean to offend. I love reading this forum and love all the input. I would dig playing and owning a MGS as much as the next guy, but don't let not owning one get in our way of playing the **** out of the bass you do own. Maybe I'm crazy I don't know. Maybe GAS has rotted my mind. Foderas will do that.

Agreed. If you want to explore chording, it can be done for less money on a cheaper bass. I used a carvin tuned tenor, then a smith and now this. This is most playable.

 

[Damian Coccio]

I love it. I'm not much of a jazzer (which seems kind of rare for someone interested in the mighty Fodera), so the piece itself really worked for me. Does the bass come E-C as standard? That seems to work for the shorter scale. I'd love to get one, but I wouldn't want it as my main axe either. I just think it would really help me with my chording.

Its very easy to chord on IMO. I used a tenor carvin, then smith before this one. This one is easiest to play. You could use it as a main axe, but you won't have the huge bottom. Has a nice slap tone though. Turning the bass up increases the bass and just my opinion it loses the focus of a bass with greater scale length and thicker strings. How I judge a basses bottom is really based on its passive performance (its natural low end) For this bass, it does what I wanted it to. Which is being able to switch between playing bass and chords / lead melody on the fly. If my hands were bigger I'd have went with a six, but been down that road and 6=pain for me.


Here's a better recording with the mgs if you want to hear the detail just one section of an old tune. http://soundcloud.com/damian-coccio/long-and-arduous-road
I'm favoring the front pickup on this bass, thats the first time ever.

 

[roadkill2309]

re the whole fodera = jazz thing . . . dunno.

played a bunch of rock and funk in my days with them . . . and a bunch of noise/improv too. guess i've played jazz too . . . but i don't think that's all there is to them.

Agreed. I've just noticed that there seem to be more jazz dudes using them. Or at least online, anyway. But I assure you that when I'm finally in the position to call the shop to order a bass, it won't be used for jazz.

 

[senmen]

Damian, again, really great sounds of the MG-S.
I need to think.... GAS......

 

[roadkill2309]

I don't understand the logic that goes with wanting an 8 and half thousand dollar bass just to explore chording. I understand wanting an MGS, I want one too. But you don't need a single cut MSG to explore chording and harmony. This comment gets made a lot on TB. Why not get a theory book on jazz harmony and a cheap nylon string guitar and explor the sounds that chords make when resolving and spend the rest on a fodera you actually want to play bass on. I figur if you can't use chords on a four string, an extra string will only makes it more complicated.
I'm not taking a crack at anyone and I don't mean to offend. I love reading this forum and love all the input. I would dig playing and owning a MGS as much as the next guy, but don't let not owning one get in our way of playing the **** out of the bass you do own. Maybe I'm crazy I don't know. Maybe GAS has rotted my mind. Foderas will do that.

True. And since my chances of buying multiple Foderas are essentially zero, I'd look for something more affordable. But I think that everyone has a lottery-win list. Even then, a specced-out Emperor is a lot higher on that list, as I'm pretty singlecut-averse. And by 'pretty,' I mean 'a lot.'

I also don't think that GAS should always be fulfilled, so I don't see anything wrong with enthusing about an axe but leaving it in the bucket list rather than selling a kidney for it. Especially because, in this case, we're talking about what is essentially a $10,000 purchase.

 

[Christian Houmann]

Matt Garrison Standard in the house arrived today.

Thanks to Donovan over at http://www.fretspot.com/ for helping to quickly alleviate this most recent gas attack. He's a great guy to deal with. Fodera made another fine and very playable instrument.

Spent a couple hours with it when I got back, I know this isn't the jazz stuff a lot of guys here like, but it's what comes out : )



The bass takes some getting used to and I wouldn't want it as my only axe, but so far I really like it. It has a good jazz solo tone too, just haven't gotten to it yet. The bottom isn't huge, but that's what my other basses are for. It can get very growly tones. The bass came setup with action ridiculously low and buzz free. The top is nice, but it didnt blow me away, it's about what I expected in a standard and its quite elegant. Construction - its a Fodera enough said.

Nice! Is it different in sound than your old 34 scale Ash/Ebony MG?

 

[Damian Coccio]

Nice! Is it different in sound than your old 34 scale Ash/Ebony MG?

YES, IMO The Ebony board has a more bell like articulation when you pluck a note. The Paul ferro board in combination with the maple and alder gives a more "sizzle" on the top end and a little more midrange probably in the 700-2k region. I'm definitely an ebony man. But i have to try in the mix to really evaluate it. Harmonics and sustain are better on the 34" just my.02. But the playability of this instrument makes up for it, it took a little adjusting to intonate it Up to the 26th, but its almost there now. I'm still trying to find my favorite tones on this. You can dial in a nice jacoesqe tone, but it's just not as fat as the 34" with thicker strings. I played the crap out of the 34" ash ebony bass, so it's seriously broken in. This ones kinda fresh yet. Oh I really like the drop D. It's really useful for altered turnings.

I would love to hear a side by side of two 33" scale basses, like mg's old one and this one. That would eliminate the scale length differences.

 

[Christian Houmann]

YES, IMO The Ebony board has a more bell like articulation when you pluck a note. The Paul ferro board in combination with the maple and alder gives a more "sizzle" on the top end and a little more midrange probably in the 700-2k region. I'm definitely an ebony man. But i have to try in the mix to really evaluate it. Harmonics and sustain are better on the 34" just my.02. But the playability of this instrument makes up for it, it took a little adjusting to intonate it Up to the 26th, but its good now. I'm still trying to find my favorite tones on this. You can dial in a nice jacoesqe tone, but it's just not as fat as the 34" with thicker strings. I played the crap out of the 34" ash ebony bass, so it's seriously broken in. This ones kinda fresh yet. Oh I really like the drop D. It's really useful for altered turnings.

I would love to hear a side by side of two 33" scale basses, like mg's old one and this one. That would eliminate the scale length differences.

Thanks. What reason did you go from your 34 scale MG to the MGS?

 

[Damian Coccio]

Thanks. What reason did you go from your 34 scale MG to the MGS?

The old bass is in standard tuning and the new bass has much tighter string spacing for chording. Old one is 19.0 mm.

 

[nostatic]

I don't understand the logic that goes with wanting an 8 and half thousand dollar bass just to explore chording. I understand wanting an MGS, I want one too. But you don't need a single cut MSG to explore chording and harmony. This comment gets made a lot on TB. Why not get a theory book on jazz harmony and a cheap nylon string guitar and explor the sounds that chords make when resolving and spend the rest on a fodera you actually want to play bass on. I figur if you can't use chords on a four string, an extra string will only makes it more complicated.
I'm not taking a crack at anyone and I don't mean to offend. I love reading this forum and love all the input. I would dig playing and owning a MGS as much as the next guy, but don't let not owning one get in our way of playing the **** out of the bass you do own. Maybe I'm crazy I don't know. Maybe GAS has rotted my mind. Foderas will do that.

In my case I've played guitar for over 40 years so that side of chords has been explored once or twice But chords on bass is a different story - different from either playing "regular" bass or guitar. Yes, harmony is harmony but tunings are different and where they sit in the spectrum is different.

As for chords on a 4-string, sure you can do them. And if you're using 3-string chord shapes you've got a fair amount of flexibility. But 4-string chord shapes, much less so. In my skype lesson with Ant last night we covered chords and fwiw the C-string makes all the difference in the world.

Could I buy and Ibanez to explore this? Sure. Would it be the same? Umm...no. If I've already figured out that Foderas speak to me and I'm committed to exploring something, and I have the means, then why not? I could turn around and sell this for pretty much what I paid for it.

Played it last night on a jazz hit and was tossing some chord stuff in with regular lines. Extremely fun and the crowd was into it. It can cover pretty much whatever gig, though I'll likely be more on my 4-string doing the live rock karaoke thing.

Me exploring...something

 

[steubig]

Mine has one.

yeah, cool. yours is 1992, right?

mostly, i'm just trying to figure out the cutoff date for dual versus single truss rods in the aj6 as i'm not sure that this information was recorded in vinny's red book—and i'm not sure how rigid they were on this spec at this time.

here's a list of the basses i have 1985–1991. the 85s i bought new, the others i bought used. (the other basses i've bought new i requested with the double truss rods).

double truss rod:
1985: 149
1985: 223

1988: 414
1989: 452


single truss rod:
1989: 494
1991: 580

so i'm figuring that the changeover happened in mid 1989, but am interested if that's true.

and it's not *solely* about adjustment (though i do like a slightly different tension on the different sides of the neck). for me, the double truss rod bass sounds different and is a sound that i like a little better and that matches *me* a little bit more. the single truss rod basses have an airier, less solid sound to my ear.

it also lets me know that the needle in a haystack that i'm looking for is a 1986–1989 aj6. (looking for original pickups and pre guys! )

 

[portraitoftracy]

Anyone looking for a Fodera 4 string? Better deals for US buyers

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Invalid Link Removed

 

[Brad Johnson]

yeah, cool. yours is 1992, right?

mostly, i'm just trying to figure out the cutoff date for dual versus single truss rods in the aj6 as i'm not sure that this information was recorded in vinny's red book—and i'm not sure how rigid they were on this spec at this time.

here's a list of the basses i have 1985–1991. the 85s i bought new, the others i bought used. (the other basses i've bought new i requested with the double truss rods).

double truss rod:
1985: 149
1985: 223

1988: 414
1989: 452


single truss rod:
1989: 494
1991: 580

so i'm figuring that the changeover happened in mid 1989, but am interested if that's true.

and it's not *solely* about adjustment (though i do like a slightly different tension on the different sides of the neck). for me, the double truss rod bass sounds different and is a sound that i like a little better and that matches *me* a little bit more. the single truss rod basses have an airier, less solid sound to my ear.

it also lets me know that the needle in a haystack that i'm looking for is a 1986–1989 aj6. (looking for original pickups and pre guys! )

Yeah, mine is a 1992 Fodera/Lane Poors and Hazlab preamp. I can't imagine a more solid sounding bass.


It does seem to have a very full spectrum kind of sound on all strings (highs on the lower strings, depth and punch on the higher ones) but bottom line it hits hard.

 

[steubig]

Yeah, mine is a 1992 Fodera/Lane Poors and Hazlab preamp. I can't imagine a more solid sounding bass.


It does seem to have a very full spectrum kind of sound on all strings (highs on the lower strings, depth and punch on the higher ones) but bottom line it hits hard.

sure. but you haven't heard it in comparison to one with double rods, right? ;-)

understand, i'm not suggesting that a single = bad, wishy-washy bass. i'm saying there's a tonal difference—and i think it's one that aj and the fodera crew have also commented on.

since i have both singles and doubles in my possession, and some with really close birth dates, i have a pretty good idea of the tonal differences . . . or at least i think i do ;-)

 

[Brad Johnson]

sure. but you haven't heard it in comparison to one with double rods, right? ;-)

understand, i'm not suggesting that a single = bad, wishy-washy bass. i'm saying there's a tonal difference—and i think it's one that aj and the fodera crew have also commented on.

since i have both singles and doubles in my possession, and some with really close birth dates, i have a pretty good idea of the tonal differences . . . or at least i think i do ;-)

No doubt... and I agree that trussrods can make a tonal difference. I haven't had both in my possession simultaneously, I do remember playing/hearing at least a couple of the older ones and don't remembering them sounding more solid than mine... that's all I'm basically saying. Just not hearing the airy thing.

 

[steubig]

No doubt... and I agree that trussrods can make a tonal difference. I haven't had both in my possession simultaneously, I do remember playing/hearing at least a couple of the older ones and don't remembering them sounding more solid than mine... that's all I'm basically saying. Just not hearing the airy thing.

it's all just words trying to quantify/qualify experience. no big deal. and—again—i did say, "to my ear" . . .

that being said, i think that aj/fodera dudes said something to that effect as well.

 

[Christian Houmann]

In my case I've played guitar for over 40 years so that side of chords has been explored once or twice But chords on bass is a different story - different from either playing "regular" bass or guitar. Yes, harmony is harmony but tunings are different and where they sit in the spectrum is different.

As for chords on a 4-string, sure you can do them. And if you're using 3-string chord shapes you've got a fair amount of flexibility. But 4-string chord shapes, much less so. In my skype lesson with Ant last night we covered chords and fwiw the C-string makes all the difference in the world.

Could I buy and Ibanez to explore this? Sure. Would it be the same? Umm...no. If I've already figured out that Foderas speak to me and I'm committed to exploring something, and I have the means, then why not? I could turn around and sell this for pretty much what I paid for it.

Played it last night on a jazz hit and was tossing some chord stuff in with regular lines. Extremely fun and the crowd was into it. It can cover pretty much whatever gig, though I'll likely be more on my 4-string doing the live rock karaoke thing.

Me exploring...something

Cool picture Is the MG body thinner than the others Fodera models?

 

[nostatic]

Cool picture Is the MG body thinner than the others Fodera models?

Seems about the same as my Monarchs.

 

[jsbarber]

Anthony commented on the double/single cutaway configurations in the double cutaway AJ Contrabass as follows:

"While checking the neck for movement on No. 6—the last double-cutaway—during a Phoebe Snow session, I noticed there
was no tension left on one of the trussrods. So I loosened it all the way and took it out. The instrument got lighter, and that led us to a single, properly placed trussrod—its location is a trade secret."

I'm guessing the bass being discussed here was built after they discovered the correct placement for a single trussrod.

See attached article.

FWIW,

Jim

sure. but you haven't heard it in comparison to one with double rods, right? ;-)

understand, i'm not suggesting that a single = bad, wishy-washy bass. i'm saying there's a tonal difference—and i think it's one that aj and the fodera crew have also commented on.

since i have both singles and doubles in my possession, and some with really close birth dates, i have a pretty good idea of the tonal differences . . . or at least i think i do ;-)