Fodera Club Part XIX

[Mitchthebassplayer]

I meant, does it perhaps add more low end, or curb the mids a bit, in the effort to make it lighter and resonant? When I say more resonant, I mean it becomes louder or rings out better. Doesn't necessarily mean the timbre of the wood combos would change....or maybe they would! haha that's why I asked!

 

[nostatic]

I think it takes a bit of compression away. I don't think it adds lows, more just opens up the mids a tad.

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

I think it takes a bit of compression away. I don't think it adds lows, more just opens up the mids a tad.

Cool. I've been entertaining the idea in an effort to make my next Imperial lighter (back injury years ago does NOT like my 10+ lb. Imperial!) and chambering sounds awesome. I wonder how much of that difference is heard plugged in? Is it like a huge noticeable difference?

 

[nostatic]

I don't think so - subtle at best since it isn't a huge chamber. But I think it is about a half a pound of weight dropped which makes a big difference to me.

 

[b-for-beatles]

I have both walnut/ebony and ash/rosewood (tulipwood) and I like the different sound of them

Hou,
After seeing your tulipwood fodera in youtube I decided to build one for myself. My initial spec is as follow:
Monarch 4 strings 34" dovetail
Body. Alder
Tone block. Ash
Top. Tulipwood
Fb. Tulipwood
Neck. ? Maple/Ash
Pick up. Duncan


However, the legendary tulipwood Wal bass of Mick Karn came to my mind and I want to build a Fodera "Mick Karn Wal" bass with same wood combination.

The spec is:
Monarch 4 strings 34" bolt-on
Body. Walnut
Top. Tulipwood
Fb. Ebony
Neck. Maple

I understand they will sound differently as one is fodera and one is Wal not mentioning the difference in pick up etc. I also understand that I won't play like Mick Karn even I have his Wal bass in hand. But building this "tribute" bass is kinda fun project.

Fodera fellows please give me your comment and advise. I still have not decided which one to go. I have quite a number of Ash and walnut basses and wanna try something else. Again, all constructive and destructive comments are welcome.

 

[b-for-beatles]

And lined fretless for Mick Karn one

 

[gridchin]

Hi Chris, thank you for your opinion!! I'm not sold to walnut/ebony yet. Walnut is more heavy than ash, which increase the bass weight. And BY maple is more appealing to me than ebony. I like Richard Bona's sound, and it's definitely ash/maple.

I don't know if I should buy this walnut/ebony Emperor II (http://www.fodera.com/Main/NewBornDetails.aspx?FeaturedItemID=589) or place an order for an ash/maple 6 string Imperial/Emperor II.

I have to admit... I'm a die hard ash/bem fan. But, when I got my AJ5 (used), I was worried it would lack that snap and bite. Mine is walnut body, ebony top and ebony fb. I can tell you that in single coil mode, it has the spank and stank I associate with ash/maple. I do have to dial in a bit more bass when going from dual to single, but it's def a great sound. I'm sold on this combo for a best all around combo for my ears. It's got great clear lows, clean precise highs and the mids sit right where I like them.

 

[Christian Houmann]

Hi Chris, thank you for your opinion!! I'm not sold to walnut/ebony yet. Walnut is more heavy than ash, which increase the bass weight. And BY maple is more appealing to me than ebony. I like Richard Bona's sound, and it's definitely ash/maple.

I don't know if I should buy this walnut/ebony Emperor II (http://www.fodera.com/Main/NewBornDetails.aspx?FeaturedItemID=589) or place an order for an ash/maple 6 string Imperial/Emperor II.

You should buy my chambered Walnut/ebony Emperor 5. It's weight less than Bonas bass

 

[Kmrumedy]

Hi

Just a question and opinions from buyers about the pictures on the newborn gallery and how accurate the color is to what you receive. The pictures on the new born site are stunning. But when I look at "amateur" pictures of the same bass they always tend to look much different to me.

Case and point I am looking at purchasing a bass almost exactly the same as Hou's new Imperial. Here is a newborn pic and a cell phone pic of the same bass. Very different. Beautiful bass but which is depicts the true color of the wood? If I didn't know this was the same bass and I saw these two photos, I would have thought they were different basses. Thanks.

Newborn
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Cell

 

[gridchin]

Jejee! Your bass is great! But I'm more into Imperial/Emperor II shapes

You should buy my chambered Walnut/ebony Emperor 5. It's weight less than Bonas bass

 

[Angus]

Kmruredy (did you get my email?),

Here is another example:

My picture, with washed out lighting:

Fodera's picture:

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I would say their pictures are quite accurate and representative- the difference you are noticing is mostly that a) they have a good camera, lighting and photo booth and know how to use them, and b) most of the rest of us take bad pictures with poor lighting. Thus their photos might be more color saturated, but they are by no means misrepresented (like some eBay wood suppliers).

 

[curt basner]

Hi

Just a question and opinions from buyers about the pictures on the newborn gallery and how accurate the color is to what you receive. The pictures on the new born site are stunning. But when I look at "amateur" pictures of the same bass they always tend to look much different to me.

Case and point I am looking at purchasing a bass almost exactly the same as Hou's new Imperial. Here is a newborn pic and a cell phone pic of the same bass. Very different. Beautiful bass but which is depicts the true color of the wood? If I didn't know this was the same bass and I saw these two photos, I would have thought they were different basses. Thanks.

First off, I would say that the images that Fodera posts are pretty good representations of their basses (I have a Fodera, and it looks very much like the Newborn photo). That said, the issue is that any computer screen is problematic. As a pro photographer, I can tell you that unless 1) you have a calibrated monitor/screen, and 2) you have a properly color balanced image, you are not necessarily going to see what you would seem in the real world, in terms of color. Bottom line, it appears that Fodera takes pictures of their basses under the same conditions for each bass. You probably can assume that compared to another bass, you'll have a good idea of color. That is, if you have an actual bass in your possession, and compare it to the Fodera photo, you might get a sense of how another bass looks. Outside of that, there are no absolutes in color images on a computer monitor. Hope this helps.

 

[Christian Houmann]

Hi

Just a question and opinions from buyers about the pictures on the newborn gallery and how accurate the color is to what you receive. The pictures on the new born site are stunning. But when I look at "amateur" pictures of the same bass they always tend to look much different to me.

Case and point I am looking at purchasing a bass almost exactly the same as Hou's new Imperial. Here is a newborn pic and a cell phone pic of the same bass. Very different. Beautiful bass but which is depicts the true color of the wood? If I didn't know this was the same bass and I saw these two photos, I would have thought they were different basses. Thanks.

Newborn
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Cell

True. That's crapy cellphone picture Light is every thing when taking pictures

 

[Kmrumedy]

Kmruredy (did you get my email?).

Sorry I didn't. Sent you a PM with my email address. Thank you for responding.

 

[Kmrumedy]

True. That's crapy cellphone picture

Haha! It is such a beautiful bass Hou. I am trying to figure out based on the photo if the top looks like a lighter walnut in person or a darker chocolate/reddish color like the newborn photo. I will ask Dave for his opinion.

I've looked at the photos on the 3 different screens and still not sure. The bass I am looking at like yours is this one

http://www.fodera.com/Main/NewBornDetails.aspx?FeaturedItemID=624

But Ultimate basses is a 13-14 hour round trip drive for me to look at it.

 

[Angus]

Dude, jump on that bass. That is as near-perfect as they get as far as I am concerned.

 

[Kmrumedy]

Dude, jump on that bass. That is as near-perfect as they get as far as I am concerned.

I am talking to Dave about it. Seriously thinking about it.

Read your PM. Thank you.

What about the spacing? It is 19mm. Would you consider it wide? I think Hou's is 16.5 which is incredible to me. Would it use the same bridge? Can the width be adjusted by that much on the same bridge? I've never seen that before but I have been out of touch of the bass world for the past 8 years.

 

[Angus]

Mine is 16.5mm also, but you have to order your bass that way- it's a different bridge and a narrower neck. 19mm is Fodera's standard, and I'm sure 90% of their basses have that spacing. It is similar to your Ken Smiths (18mm), and the same as 4 string basses. Most people prefer that- it is just too wide for me.

 

[kamakiriad7]

Kmrumedy... I WISH it was a 13-14 hour round trip to Ultimate Basses. I'd snatch that baby up. Walnut/ebony is far from my personal favorite combination but given the opportunity to give it a bench test, I'd be all over it.

Worst case scenario, you find out that the wood combination isn't exactly what you're looking for and you're steered a little closer in the right direction toward your dream bass.

19mm spacing is Fender spacing. If you like the spacing on their 4 and 5 string basses, you'll like this bass. If you prefer, say, a Stingray 5 for string spacing, it'll be a little wide.

The spacing can indeed be adjusted but if you go too far you'll have a lot of extra wood on each side of the fingerboard and your left hand won't appreciate it.

The best solution IMO is also often the most tedious... trial and error. Hey, if you don't like the bass I'll buy it from you.

 

[Kmrumedy]

First off, I would say that the images that Fodera posts are pretty good representations of their basses (I have a Fodera, and it looks very much like the Newborn photo). That said, the issue is that any computer screen is problematic. As a pro photographer, I can tell you that unless 1) you have a calibrated monitor/screen, and 2) you have a properly color balanced image, you are not necessarily going to see what you would seem in the real world, in terms of color. Bottom line, it appears that Fodera takes pictures of their basses under the same conditions for each bass. You probably can assume that compared to another bass, you'll have a good idea of color. That is, if you have an actual bass in your possession, and compare it to the Fodera photo, you might get a sense of how another bass looks. Outside of that, there are no absolutes in color images on a computer monitor. Hope this helps.

Thank you Curt. That helps a lot. Love your avatar!