Fodera Club Part XIV

[polymad]

Hi guys!

This thread is awesome! I am not a Fodera owner yet, but will be as I just put in my order in August when I visited the shop during my stay in the US. Jason and the gang are an awesome bunch! My initial order was an Emperor standard, but I have convinced myself to go for the one that I have always wanted, which is the MG standard! Will find out the answer tomorrow whether its possible to change the order incase the guys havent started on the Emperor! Keeping my fingers crossed!!! Visiting the shop was a dream come true to me.... every bass player's dream is owning a Fodera...

 

[CH Design]

1986 Zebrawood Top, Ash Body, Zebrawood FB, EMG P/J, 2nd Gen HAZ Pre

2009 Rainbow Maple Top, Mahogany Body, Brazilian RW FB, EMG P/J, 2010 Custom Pre

Just based on looks, I really like these two. I'm a sucker for unique maple tops. I'm not sure why I like the zebrawood. I've never seen it used on a bass and liked the look of it until now.

 

[Mulebagger]

Beautiful collection Jason, but where are the 5 and 6 stringers?

 

[Joelc73]

Love your collection Jason. They couldn't be in better hands. I gotta get mine down to the shop some day for a good pic but here is a rough one.. Ignore the man holding it up. LOL
cheers

Very nice. What are the switches? Active/passive, standby, and ?

 

[basswalker2004]

Very nice. What are the switches? Active/passive, standby, and ?

Hi Joel, It's a 3 way frequency select. I don't know the ranges but I keep it in the up position. Seems to boost the lows and mids when placed there. The other two settings are pretty thin for my taste.

 

[basswalker2004]

I love the pic Guy!!

J

thanks Jason It's the only one I have that show's the color of the top wood. When I take a pic with my little digital, it just doesn't look right.

 

[Plunger]

Well, as usually a Fodera Std has served as a gateway drug...again. The MGS has been intoxicating, and my first experience with a high-C has been eye-opening. Of course that leads to another un-explored area...the dreaded 6-string. Instead of jumping into the deep end on that (I still have string damping concerns for a 6) I decided to put a toe in the water and have a used Zon Sonus 6 coming at the end of the week. But if all goes well...well...um...

Hi Nostatic!
How do you like the Zon? I actually had a question for you(assuming you got the Zon)..I have a Zon Legacy 5, and although I do dig it, I have not come to terms with the size of the frets...they are pretty large and round. I ordered a Monarch last month, and am on the fence on fret size. How does the fret size on the Sonus compare to your Monarch's?
I also have a Warwick Streamer with large frets that I am comfortable with. I know fret size really doesn't affect sound; I just want maximum comfort in fingering. Inquiring minds want to know(and help pass the time to my production date)
Thanks!

 

[Tom7]

What terrifies me more is my wife. Whenever we go through a rough patch financially I get the lock changed on the studio door! She has actually been amazingly accepting of my lunacy over the years. I guess that's why we just celebrated our 20th anniversary this year!!

J

Laughing! I could have posted this very same thought. Great collection, Jason.

 

[steubig]

my wife gave up on me years ago...

 

[DELACIUS]

as my dad used to say to me, "son, you're not useless...you can always serve as a bad example."

I'll steal this quote!

 

[DELACIUS]

Love your collection Jason. They couldn't be in better hands. I gotta get mine down to the shop some day for a good pic but here is a rough one.. Ignore the man holding it up. LOL
cheers

great photo Guy!!

 

[nostatic]

Hi Nostatic!
How do you like the Zon? I actually had a question for you(assuming you got the Zon)..I have a Zon Legacy 5, and although I do dig it, I have not come to terms with the size of the frets...they are pretty large and round. I ordered a Monarch last month, and am on the fence on fret size. How does the fret size on the Sonus compare to your Monarch's?
I also have a Warwick Streamer with large frets that I am comfortable with. I know fret size really doesn't affect sound; I just want maximum comfort in fingering. Inquiring minds want to know(and help pass the time to my production date)
Thanks!

The Zon is already up for sale . It actually is a totally sweet bass - plays and sounds great. But I just am not a 6'er guy, at least not at this point in my life. When I got the MGS I pretty much instantly bonded with it. Took me a few hours of 'shedding to get comfortable (though I gigged it the day I got it) but now it is what I'm mostly playing. Last night I probably spent about 4 hours comping real book tunes - very fun.

As for fret size, I have large on my Monarchs and small on the MGS. I actually tend to prefer smaller frets, but I have zero issue with the larger frets on the Monarch. In fact I think they probably make it easier to play slap and more aggressive parts. So on a 4-banger I think that is the setup.

On a 5 it depends on the player and what you're trying to do. I think that a typical B-G strung 5 for all around playing large frets are probably the best choice. For E-C and lots of chording, I personally think the smaller frets make the bass quicker. In fact I think the MGS is the perfect bass for those types of applications. It is a brilliant design/spec/execution.

 

[basswalker2004]

great photo Guy!!

LOL thanks Goran..

 

[basswalker2004]

wish i'd said that. encapsulates my feelings pretty exactly.

agree totally

 

[steubig]

The Zon is already up for sale . It actually is a totally sweet bass - plays and sounds great. But I just am not a 6'er guy, at least not at this point in my life.

it's just cause you haven't played a real (fodera) 6 ;-)

 

[Damian Coccio]

Anyone have a 33" scale tuned beadg? How's it sound?

 

[portraitoftracy]

Anyone have a 33" scale tuned beadg? How's it sound?

My 33 inch sale Ken Lawrence Chamberbass II low B absolutely killed the low B on the 2010 Fodera Emperor 35 scale I just sold.

 

[nostatic]

Anyone have a 33" scale tuned beadg? How's it sound?

I believe Tony Grey's 6-string is 33" scale, and maybe his 5-strings as well. From talking with Jason, a 33" scale B is viable but the player has to make accommodations in playing style to make it work (ie not just whack away at it).

 

[Plunger]

it's just cause you haven't played a real (fodera) 6 ;-)

My hats off to you Steubig..I've played the AJ6 double cutaway, and it is just too durn big for my hands. Doesn't mean a six with smaller spacing is out though.

Nostatic, thanks for the comments..they are very helpful. Without getting out the calipers and magnifying glass, would you say the frets on the Zon compared to the Monarchs are bigger, smaller, close to the same, or "why doesn't this guy go away"
I have played 5 string(B-G) for 15 years now, but have a 4 string currently on order, which I played for 13 years before the 5. The 4 vs. 5 spec will be decided later. I play mainly finger style. I slap some, but my thumb is straighter than a baptist minister, and I have too much trouble with double thumbing. I really should just get myself up to Brooklyn and play some basses with different sized frets to see what feels best. I think Jason has a few I could try..

 

[Damian Coccio]

My 33 inch sale Ken Lawrence Chamberbass II low B absolutely killed the low B on the 2010 Fodera Emperor 35 scale I just sold.

I believe Tony Grey's 6-string is 33" scale, and maybe his 5-strings as well. From talking with Jason, a 33" scale B is viable but the player has to make accommodations in playing style to make it work (ie not just whack away at it).

Thanks for the info guys. Just tossing some ideas around for a new bass.