Fodera Club Part XV

[curt basner]

Better late than never..
Here's a few shots of my Imperial (MG Shape) 33" 6string, I couldn't ask for a better bass.

Many thanks to all at Fodera for a great build.

Cheers!

Lugzy

Wow, Lugzy, I LOVE the top on your bass! What is it?

 

[Lugzy]

Wow, Lugzy, I LOVE the top on your bass! What is it?

Hi Curt, It's Claro Walnut, but highly figured.
I spent ages trying to post a high res shot of the full bass, but couldn't for some reason.

The bass below has the Sister top to mine, a stunning single-pup design that I was almost tempted to copy, but so glad I didn't.

 

[basswalker2004]

Hi Curt, It's Claro Walnut, but highly figured.
I spent ages trying to post a high res shot of the full bass, but couldn't for some reason.

The bass below has the Sister top to mine, a stunning single-pup design that I was almost tempted to copy, but so glad I didn't.

I think if you put the hi res shot up in photo bucket (or similar) you can just stick the link in the thread.

 

[Lugzy]

I think if you put the hi res shot up in photo bucket (or similar) you can just stick the link in the thread.

Thanks Basswalker,

Here we go!

 

[basswalker2004]

Thanks Basswalker,

Here we go!

That is a sweet bass..

 

[Christian Houmann]

That is a sweet bass..

+1

 

[anonymous111813]

Very resonant wood, too especially if you compare it to buckeye burl

 

[Lugzy]

That is a sweet bass..

+1

Thanks guys.

It plays and sounds great. I'm afraid I can't post any sound clips just at the moment but they'll come in time. I've played it at a few band rehearsals and at the end of the first night I asked our drummer "how does it sound" he replied "I could hear every note as clear as a bell."

The bass is strung with Fodera Ultra light Nickel' 0.28, 0.40, 0.55, 0.75, 0.95, 0.120 (tapered B) and string spacing at the bridge is 17.5. Fingerstyle is really comfortable although the 26 fret config means slap & pop is a little more tricky, but doeable. My biggest hurdle now is to adjust my damping technique, the bass is so sensitive that you could blow on the strings lightly and they'd ring. So I'm going to have employ some floating thumb technique which is new to me. The action is set real low and there's no fret buzz unless you play hard and dig-in. Many thanks to Joey for perfect set-up. I confess, I tried to replicate the same action on my Emperor 5 today and totally lost it.
Fodera basses are extra sensitive and even minute adjustments can have a great impact..lesson learnt.

The picture quality isn't great but the guy's holding the bass are (minus yours truly). Thought I should include this one as it gives a sense of scale of the bass. Wish I we're as photogenic as those Brooklyn boy's..
Vinnie, Joey & Jason, I Can't say thank you enough..

Cheers!

 

[DELACIUS]

Thanks Basswalker,

Here we go!

That is a beautiful bass... My jaw is hanging

 

[Lugzy]

That is a beautiful bass... My jaw is hanging

Thanks D, I haven't forgotten about giving you first dibs.

Easy!

 

[Joelc73]

Thanks guys.

It plays and sounds great. I'm afraid I can't post any sound clips just at the moment but they'll come in time. I've played it at a few band rehearsals and at the end of the first night I asked our drummer "how does it sound" he replied "I could hear every note as clear as a bell."

The bass is strung with Fodera Ultra light Nickel' 0.28, 0.40, 0.55, 0.75, 0.95, 0.120 (tapered B) and string spacing at the bridge is 17.5. Fingerstyle is really comfortable although the 26 fret config means slap & pop is a little more tricky, but doeable. My biggest hurdle now is to adjust my damping technique, the bass is so sensitive that you could blow on the strings lightly and they'd ring. So I'm going to have employ some floating thumb technique which is new to me. The action is set real low and there's no fret buzz unless you play hard and dig-in. Many thanks to Joey for perfect set-up. I confess, I tried to replicate the same action on my Emperor 5 today and totally lost it.
Fodera basses are extra sensitive and even minute adjustments can have a great impact..lesson learnt.

The picture quality isn't great but the guy's holding the bass are (minus yours truly). Thought I should include this one as it gives a sense of scale of the bass. Wish I we're as photogenic as those Brooklyn boy's..
Vinnie, Joey & Jason, I Can't say thank you enough..

Cheers!

Beautiful!! If you ever want to flip that Emperor, let me know.

 

[Lugzy]

Beautiful!! If you ever want to flip that Emperor, let me know.

Ha, I know youv'e had the feelers out for one of these. It's a great bass and a keeper but if the right trade came along? This is the one bass that I promised myself if the opportunity ever presented itself I'd grab it..
I got lucky..

 

[DELACIUS]

Ha, I know youv'e had the feelers out for one of these. It's a great bass and a keeper but if the right trade came along? This is the one bass that I promised myself if the opportunity ever presented itself I'd grab it..
I got lucky..

Well if you ever consider trading 6 string for MG 5 I'm here

 

[nostatic]

My biggest hurdle now is to adjust my damping technique, the bass is so sensitive that you could blow on the strings lightly and they'd ring. So I'm going to have employ some floating thumb technique which is new to me.

This is one reason I am liking the E-C 5-string. I use floating thumb, but find it hard to damp the B string when I'm playing on the G-string (or C on a 6). Losing the B-string simplifies my life, but you do then lose the capability of the low notes as well. Always a compromise...

 

[Just Thumpin']

Yes and Yes...

Regards,

J

I really like the Viceroy shape. I was wondering if it is available for order as a 4 string deluxe dovetail model and if it is roughly the same price as the Monarch and Emperor.

 

[Just Thumpin']

Yes we have...not for a long time, but in the early days, Joey and Vinny did this as a custom request. We still would...

J

Does anyone know if Fodera has ever made a bass with a reverse pj setup?

 

[Just Thumpin']

It came back to us through the CPO process. It is a heck of a bass. It was built with the intention of being a vintage sounding 5-string. It definitely cops that vibe in a big way...

J

This belonged to a customer of mine. Like the pickguard or not, it's a great bass.

I sat in on a 10 piece Latin Band performance and it never got lost with all the horns, percussionists and keyboard player.

 

[Just Thumpin']

LOL, absolutely purely coincidence. We ARE rather detailed oriented, but with all honesty, not to that degree...

J

That's a beauty of a bass. I tinkered with the idea of getting the Viceroy and I would've gone the whole way, slideing pup, removable fingerboard extension etc, it must be great to flip between 60's & 70's spacing and the variations between.

Q. Who's the wizard at the shop that strung your bass? I love the fact that all the pegs face the same direction, if you find out how it's done and you don't mind passing on the secret I'd love to try it.
You should give it a shot when you string up your Emperor..

 

[Just Thumpin']

Wow, you own my old Emperor 5!! The Chestnut topped one!!

Cool.

J

Thanks guys.

It plays and sounds great. I'm afraid I can't post any sound clips just at the moment but they'll come in time. I've played it at a few band rehearsals and at the end of the first night I asked our drummer "how does it sound" he replied "I could hear every note as clear as a bell."

The bass is strung with Fodera Ultra light Nickel' 0.28, 0.40, 0.55, 0.75, 0.95, 0.120 (tapered B) and string spacing at the bridge is 17.5. Fingerstyle is really comfortable although the 26 fret config means slap & pop is a little more tricky, but doeable. My biggest hurdle now is to adjust my damping technique, the bass is so sensitive that you could blow on the strings lightly and they'd ring. So I'm going to have employ some floating thumb technique which is new to me. The action is set real low and there's no fret buzz unless you play hard and dig-in. Many thanks to Joey for perfect set-up. I confess, I tried to replicate the same action on my Emperor 5 today and totally lost it.
Fodera basses are extra sensitive and even minute adjustments can have a great impact..lesson learnt.

The picture quality isn't great but the guy's holding the bass are (minus yours truly). Thought I should include this one as it gives a sense of scale of the bass. Wish I we're as photogenic as those Brooklyn boy's..
Vinnie, Joey & Jason, I Can't say thank you enough..

Cheers!

 

[Lugzy]

This is one reason I am liking the E-C 5-string. I use floating thumb, but find it hard to damp the B string when I'm playing on the G-string (or C on a 6). Losing the B-string simplifies my life, but you do then lose the capability of the low notes as well. Always a compromise...

So true, but I had to go for it. As you mentioned the high C opens up a myriad of possibilities, I want that too but can't afford to lose my low B. Alot of this journey is going to be uphill..