Fodera Club Part XIX

[Steveman]

Don't kill me for saying this, but while his solo is phenominal, that bass's tone is... well... let's just say I'm glad he's playing Fodera now.

Haha, I've been saying that for years and for a while I thought I was the only one that felt that way. I'm pretty sure the sound has to do with the maple fretboard. Honestly, I don't mind the tone too much when he's just grooving but it's a whole different story when he's soloing in the higher registers...

 

[DELACIUS]

Hi guys!

I'm thinking on buying this Emperor II

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

But there are 2 things that make me doubt: the pink ivory fingerboard and the 36" scale. The pink ivory wood is prone to cracking, and the 36" seems to be uncomfortable to play (I'm used to 34").

Can you please share your thoughts and experiences with this fingerboard and scale? Thank you!

Man I think this bass is awesome, but you are right with 36", I wouldn't worry about Ivory.


That bass sounds insane. That's all I can help.

 

[jasonbraatz]

Unless you are super certain about the 36" scale I would not do it. You'll end up selling it right quick.

 

[steubig]

Haha, I've been saying that for years and for a while I thought I was the only one that felt that way. I'm pretty sure the sound has to do with the maple fretboard. Honestly, I don't mind the tone too much when he's just grooving but it's a whole different story when he's soloing in the higher registers...

huh, i actually really like the sound of the maple board. what i don't like is what sounds like chorusing on the bass, which is not a fave sound of mine.

 

[nostatic]

This is *the* version of that tune imho:

 

[mikkoantt]

Hi
Just found new awesome sound from my Monarch new standard. It has only two band eq but I think that's enough to me. It's full bridge pick up,bass control full and highs little bit back off. Cuts through like a knife and dont have to use much power from the amp. (Amp is Epifani UL-501 with Epifani cabs). Are you having favorite pre amp settings?

 

[iwearpumas]

Don't kill me for saying this, but while his solo is phenominal, that bass's tone is... well... let's just say I'm glad he's playing Fodera now.

Would his maple FB sound better if it was a Fodera?

 

[DirtPoorRobins]

This is *the* version of that tune imho:

Yeah, Todd, my favorite too. I just love brecker's solo.

 

[Vic]

Haha, I've been saying that for years and for a while I thought I was the only one that felt that way. I'm pretty sure the sound has to do with the maple fretboard. Honestly, I don't mind the tone too much when he's just grooving but it's a whole different story when he's soloing in the higher registers...

huh, i actually really like the sound of the maple board. what i don't like is what sounds like chorusing on the bass, which is not a fave sound of mine.

I don't think the issue is with the maple board. While maple is not my favorite board for a fretless, I've played great sounding maple board'd fretless basses before (even relatively thinly finished ones like I believe that one is.

No, I actually hear lots of issues with that thing, and while the chorusing doesn't bug me that much, it's not helping the issue, either. IMHO, the ONLY thing making it even bearable is the tone in his fingers.

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

I have ALWAYS hated christian's tone. HATEDDDDD. Insane bass player. Super tasteful. Amazing on the upright as well, but his electric tone has always made me gag. So tinny and thin and you can hear all his finger noise. Even his upright sound is like that a bit....I know I'm not the only one!

 

[Vic]

Would his maple FB sound better if it was a Fodera?

Absolutely.

 

[Vic]

I have ALWAYS hated christian's tone. HATEDDDDD. Insane bass player. Super tasteful. Amazing on the upright as well, but his electric tone has always made me gag. So tinny and thin and you can hear all his finger noise. Even his upright sound is like that a bit....I know I'm not the only one!

Ok, so what blows my mind is, he's obviously played a lot, and I would think would know good bass tone. Why would he even remotely be ok with that sound?

Case in point, his tone on the national anthem is just fine, and I bet it'd still be fine if that Fodera had a maple board, BUT, I still also say ebony is better, which is I think what's on that Fodera anyway. In short, he's got the right stuff now, at least.

 

[nostatic]

Yeah, Todd, my favorite too. I just love brecker's solo.

I listen to McBride's solo and think, "amazing - I can't play that."

I listen to Brecker's solo and think, "amazing - I can't even imagine that."

 

[Vic]

I listen to McBride's solo and think, "amazing - I can't play that."

I listen to Brecker's solo and think, "amazing - I can't even imagine that."

I listen to the whole thing and can't even imagine myself... *POOF*

 

[curt basner]

Hi guys!

I'm thinking on buying this Emperor II

But there are 2 things that make me doubt: the pink ivory fingerboard and the 36" scale. The pink ivory wood is prone to cracking, and the 36" seems to be uncomfortable to play (I'm used to 34").

Can you please share your thoughts and experiences with this fingerboard and scale? Thank you!

I don't think I'd worry about the ivory board. If there are issues with it, I'm sure the guys at Fodera will address it. The 36" scale I can't help with...I know it would be too long for me. Listen to the demo on Bass Club Chicago's website; it sounds absolutely KILLER on that video!

I would have considered that bass myself except for the scale...and the 6th string. A 34" 5 string would have been perfect.

 

[jsbarber]

I have a Fodera with 36" string length and Pink Ivory FB. It is over 15 years old and the fingerboard is perfect. ( You can see it here http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/fs-fodera-anthony-jackson-presentation-9-a-941077/ )Scale length is only one parameter in the playability equation. Play it and see how you feel about it. If that is the bass that was in the youtube video that was discussed on this thread (actually one of its preceding incarnations) aobut 6-8 months ago, then it sounded awfully good.

Play it and see if you like it, there is no issue with Pink Ivory, IME, especially on a Fodera.

FWIW,

Jim

Hi guys!

I'm thinking on buying this Emperor II

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

But there are 2 things that make me doubt: the pink ivory fingerboard and the 36" scale. The pink ivory wood is prone to cracking, and the 36" seems to be uncomfortable to play (I'm used to 34").

Can you please share your thoughts and experiences with this fingerboard and scale? Thank you!

 

[kamakiriad7]

Ok, so what blows my mind is, he's obviously played a lot, and I would think would know good bass tone. Why would he even remotely be ok with that sound?

I always felt that way about other players, like Eddie Gomez and NHOP... in fact compared to them I felt Christian's upright tone was amazing. I still really like it, very Ray Brown-influenced but with his own vocabulary and fluidity.

One of my favorite concerts ever was at the Blue Note in NYC two years ago: a tribute to Ray, with Hutchinson and Green... Christian was actually playing Ray's bass, and the music he made on that thing was unbelievable.

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

Ok, so what blows my mind is, he's obviously played a lot, and I would think would know good bass tone. Why would he even remotely be ok with that sound?

Case in point, his tone on the national anthem is just fine, and I bet it'd still be fine if that Fodera had a maple board, BUT, I still also say ebony is better, which is I think what's on that Fodera anyway. In short, he's got the right stuff now, at least.

I've always just assumed it was one of those "tone is subjective" situations. He thinks he sounds amazing, and I think he sounds awful. He's certainly not the first famous player I've felt that way about, but since he's such a big name in jazz and does a lot of solo stuff I feel like I hear his solo bass sound a lot and I've just never been into it. Still think WHAT he plays is excellent, but I've never been able to listen to him for more than like a minute. I thought he sounded OK doing the anthem despite some out of tune moments, but his little fills just sound so clanky to me!

but +1, maple board would sound great as well. I notice maple doesn't get a lot of love in this thread but I've never met a maple board I didn't like!

 

[Vic]

I always felt that way about other players, like Eddie Gomez and NHOP... in fact compared to them I felt Christian's upright tone was amazing. I still really like it, very Ray Brown-influenced but with his own vocabulary and fluidity.

*POOF*... wow, that was weird.

Anyway, regarding your post, I was speaking solely of his electric tone. His upright tone in that other vid sounded fine to me.

FWIW.

 

[steubig]

maple for fretless is very cool. different sound, which is part of the attraction for me.

i *used* to think it sucked, until i had a friend in 74/75 who had fretless maple p bass (mine was probably a 71 or so rosewood fretless p neck on a j body). he lent it to me and didn't get it back for 6 months ;-)

mark egan's first fretless was a defretted maple p bass . . . and there are a bunch of rock guys who have used the maple p as well.

it's a good sound . . . imho.

i wonder why people don't like his fretless sound? (i know what i think about it.) what do you feel is wrong with it or what do you want to hear?