Fodera Club Part XVI

[nostatic]

I need some quick advice. I want a Fodera. Is it better for me to get the ES5, or just save up and wait, then order a Custom? Basically, are the customs THAT MUCH MORE superior than the ES5?

If you are comfortable with the specs, the standards are the way to go. If you want something different, then go custom. You aren't getting short-changed on either the playability or sound front when you get a standard. But if you want a dovetail neck instead of bolt-on, or want narrow spaced bridge, then you have to go custom. If however you are fine with bolt-on and 19mm spacing with 34" scale, you won't find a better 5-string imho. Different perhaps, but not better.

 

[Modern Growl]

Nother quick question - what is the nut width of the Monarch 4 String?

 

[iwearpumas]

I went there, he was acting funny. He really didn't want people to play them. He was like no slapping and stuff.

 

[iwearpumas]

I will most likely end up ordering a ES5 for the time being, then in a few years, order a custom. I just want to know if I will get a sub-par sound than the Custom basses.

 

[SirMjac28]

That's a great question because even the ES5 isn't cheap and I would hate to get one and not be happy thanks nostatic for the answer.

 

[nostatic]

Nother quick question - what is the nut width of the Monarch 4 String?

Should be 1.5". Since they are all hand-made there may be some minor differences but we're talking millimeters.

As for tone, you aren't losing much if anything going from Std to custom. Only real differences are the mid frequency switch and the eq is a bit more subtle on the customs. But the flip side is that the standards have a bit more oomph than the customs imho.

 

[iwearpumas]

I played it, and it felt very comfortable. The tone was nice. But I couldn't really test it out because the guy was all nervous.

 

[gkbass13]

Understandable with the 9,999.00 price tag they had on it when i went a couple months ago....ridiculous.

He let me play multiple Foderas and Sadowskys when I went...must have just been an off day.

 

[DirtPoorRobins]

Wow $10K!! Well I guess the "M" in MSRP stands for maximum in this case.

 

[steubig]

for what it's worth, someone is selling an e5s in boston. craigslist, mid $5,000. been there a while. could be motivated?


i have no connection to the seller or the bass.

 

[cnltb]

I need some quick advice. I want a Fodera. Is it better for me to get the ES5, or just save up and wait, then order a Custom? Basically, are the customs THAT MUCH MORE superior than the ES5?

I think it is a matter of what you want...and what 'better ' means for you.

 

[Munjibunga]

I will most likely end up ordering a ES5 for the time being, then in a few years, order a custom. I just want to know if I will get a sub-par sound than the Custom basses.

You will not get a sub-par sound compared to a custom.

 

[pedulla-2007]

Being a jazz bass guy at heart, I thought I would see if the NYC Empire line was a worthy representation of the Fodera line, and I find myself very satisfied with the money spent on this bass, although I had to wait half a month for it's arrival.

 

[Steveman]

Go to the Sam Ash in midtown. They have a hugely overpriced ES5 hanging on the wall and Larry Hartke would be happy to let you play it. If you dig it, order one.

I think it mostly comes down to specs. If what you would order mirrors the ES5 for the most part, then I don't see much reason to go custom. But if you've always been jonesing for a chambered walnut body, ebony board and figured myrtle top...well....

I remember somebody saying in the last thread that the ES5 at Sam Ash was listed at $9999. I was just there a few days ago and it's $6499

 

[gkbass13]

I'm glad they lowered it a bit. I was there in late September and it was 9,999. Insane!

They had a few bass duplicates though, where the used ones were listed higher than their new counterparts....it was an odd experience in that regard. Everything else about that day and my 2ish hours spent with Larry Hartke was awesome. He brought out a few of his personal basses for me to try, let me play anything I wanted and was extremely helpful showing me Aguilar gear, despite half of the Amps in the room bearing his name. I wound up buying an Aguilar DB 750 a few weeks later as a result of that day.

 

[Tom7]

Being a jazz bass guy at heart, I thought I would see if the NYC Empire line was a worthy representation of the Fodera line, and I find myself very satisfied with the money spent on this bass, although I had to wait half a month for it's arrival.

Congratulations, it's beautiful. Why a month, do you know?

 

[Munjibunga]

Congratulations, it's beautiful. Why a month, do you know?

It was two weeks.

 

[Steveman]

I'm glad they lowered it a bit. I was there in late September and it was 9,999. Insane!

The $9999 price was probably just there as a tourist trap. That Sam Ash is located in Time Square afterall...

 

[basses55]

I was at the 48th st Sam Ash less than a few weeks ago and played the ES5. I did mention to the guy the list price of ES5s coming out of the Fodera shop ...which is also the same as the dealers...quite a bit less than what was on the tag. I'm pretty sure he said something to the affect that he would match any price. They are just not up to snuff on Fodera pricing etc. (for some reason).

So I would NOT give up checking out or even buying that ES5 at Sam Ash as most likely if you point them to the Fodera site and any other Fodera dealer they will see what the should be selling it for. Also, I'm not sure that Fodera would like them to be selling their Standards for more than they do.

BTW, it was a nice one.... and the few I've checked out so far have been very consistant.

 

[pedulla-2007]

Congratulations, it's beautiful. Why a month, do you know?

I just shipped a Fender Squire Protone to NY a month ago, snail mail for 24.99, and it arrived in 6 days. I bought this NYC Empire, on the 7th of November, and paid immediately after the auction. This Ebay seller, also in NY, charged me "expedited shipping charges of 75.00", and sent it snail mail, in which I received a delivery notification on the 20th, or 13 days later. I consider that to be, "half a month",especially when the seller received his funds immediately.