Fodera Club Part XVI

[Brad Johnson]

I've been buying some mahogany basses lately. Love 'em.

Nice stuff.

I got a couple of Mahogany basses this year. Not the tone I normally go for but these worked out great. You never know.

 

[Modern Growl]

Satin? What kind of finish was it? Typically Foderas are a satin finish but they develop shine as they wear in.

Regarding tone, I certainly think Fodera's generally have a focused sound but depends on your definition. Also, why morado? I vastly prefer ebony fingerboards, but that is a personal bias. Also, I do find Foderas to be more flexible than MTDs, but the MTDs I've played have all had the same top-end sizzle tone that I could not dial out of them. To me they have their own distinct sound, at least the half dozen or so I've played over the years. But again, different set of hands and ears can give different results.

Perhaps it was Satin and played very much, because it felt like a gloss neck. Kinda "grabby'.

Morado because that's all the coin I can drop right now (Emperor 5 Standard or Monarch 4 Standard) which are both ash/morado.

I really would love to play a bolt on dual coil Fodera with the above (or similar) specs... again, anyone in the NJ/NY area?

 

[steubig]

Perhaps it was Satin and played very much, because it felt like a gloss neck. Kinda "grabby'.

Morado because that's all the coin I can drop right now (Emperor 5 Standard or Monarch 4 Standard) which are both ash/morado.

I really would love to play a bolt on dual coil Fodera with the above (or similar) specs... again, anyone in the NJ/NY area?

what year was the bass?

 

[DirtPoorRobins]

Perhaps it was Satin and played very much, because it felt like a gloss neck. Kinda "grabby'.

Morado because that's all the coin I can drop right now (Emperor 5 Standard or Monarch 4 Standard) which are both ash/morado.

I really would love to play a bolt on dual coil Fodera with the above (or similar) specs... again, anyone in the NJ/NY area?

Why not just go to fodera, they will have both of those standards there, or you could go to that Sam ash, or gtr might have an es5 still.

 

[gkbass13]

I live in NY and have a great bolt on emperor 5. Alder/rosewood maple neck, dual coils.

 

[antontanzil]

Im still pondering what a bolt on ash/morado Monarch (or Emperor) would sound like. Anyone in the NJ/NY area have one I could check out? I can bring any bass in my current stable for you to check out as well

Getting back to the Fodera vs. MTD thing... do you guys feel a Fodera has a more "focused" sound? I know Michael's designs are to provide the widest spectrjm of sounds possible. Me, I like a more focused mid punch.

I have a custom made MTD on the way, and MTD is the Bass that I played the last 2 years or so, I own the Emperor for around 3 months. And if you compare Fodera vs MTD or any bass vs MTD in terms of sound, no one is going to 'win'. MTD has a sound that NO Basses I've ever played and own sound like. And yes, so is a Fodera, that's why I jhave to have them both, there is no way I can get both sound that I really like, by choosing only one.

And just like a Fodera, not all MTDs are the same, my last MTD that I sold to fund the custom made is Mahogany Body, with maple neck and Rosewood board, and surprisingly warm and punchy. I use that one exclusively on live gigs and recordings, and never heard anyone complain about it being to 'hi-fi', 'sizzling treble', etc, it just sits well in the mix.

Even, there's one sound guy that I met almost every week (in house engineer), that said to me that he can handle my MTD easier than my Fodera (same amp, etc), he has to tweak the EQ knobs more when I use my Fodera, with my MTD it's just almost 'flat' on the mixing console.

Focused sound? Well, I have to say for me it's the other way around, In case of live playing, I hear that my MTD is more 'focused' and 'cut through' the mix with more ease, just like the sound guy said, BUT my Fodera can make the Low frequency sounds like it 'Surrounds' the whole music, imagine listening to a good Recording where you can hear the Bass' every note, but not 'in front', yet it fills and kind of 'wrapping' the whole tune with it. And to hear a sound of my Bass like that on Stage is just amazing.

So IMO playing an MTD or a Fodera. whatever their specs are in a music store. etc may not be the best experience, but to take it out and play it. is what counts and why we pay so much for them, but play as many of as you can. before spending your money, and visiting the Fodera Shop is the best thing you can do, I visited 2 years ago, everybody was nice, etc. Mike Tobias is also great to talk with, he picks up the phone himself everytime I called, so you can't go wrong with both... Good luck

 

[KoaFodera]

I have a custom made MTD on the way, and MTD is the Bass that I played the last 2 years or so, I own the Emperor for around 3 months. And if you compare Fodera vs MTD or any bass vs MTD in terms of sound, no one is going to 'win'. MTD has a sound that NO Basses I've ever played and own sound like. And yes, so is a Fodera, that's why I jhave to have them both, there is no way I can get both sound that I really like, by choosing only one.

And just like a Fodera, not all MTDs are the same, my last MTD that I sold to fund the custom made is Mahogany Body, with maple neck and Rosewood board, and surprisingly warm and punchy. I use that one exclusively on live gigs and recordings, and never heard anyone complain about it being to 'hi-fi', 'sizzling treble', etc, it just sits well in the mix.

Even, there's one sound guy that I met almost every week (in house engineer), that said to me that he can handle my MTD easier than my Fodera (same amp, etc), he has to tweak the EQ knobs more when I use my Fodera, with my MTD it's just almost 'flat' on the mixing console.

Focused sound? Well, I have to say for me it's the other way around, In case of live playing, I hear that my MTD is more 'focused' and 'cut through' the mix with more ease, just like the sound guy said, BUT my Fodera can make the Low frequency sounds like it 'Surrounds' the whole music, imagine listening to a good Recording where you can hear the Bass' every note, but not 'in front', yet it fills and kind of 'wrapping' the whole tune with it. And to hear a sound of my Bass like that on Stage is just amazing.

So IMO playing an MTD or a Fodera. whatever their specs are in a music store. etc may not be the best experience, but to take it out and play it. is what counts and why we pay so much for them, but play as many of as you can. before spending your money, and visiting the Fodera Shop is the best thing you can do, I visited 2 years ago, everybody was nice, etc. Mike Tobias is also great to talk with, he picks up the phone himself everytime I called, so you can't go wrong with both... Good luck

+1

 

[Modern Growl]

Thanks Guys... I may just go to the shop and check out their stuff. I should of thought they would have some models to play.

 

[Baird6869]

if you compare Fodera vs MTD or any bass vs MTD in terms of sound, no one is going to 'win'. MTD has a sound that NO Basses I've ever played and own sound like. And yes, so is a Fodera, that's why I jhave to have them both, there is no way I can get both sound that I really like, by choosing only one.

I have to agree with you.

I spent years buying and selling all of the top named basses and for me, playing my first MTD 535 was an "aaaaaahhhhh" moment. I still love my Spector USA, Modulus, vintage Fenders, but MTD just did/does it for me. then I played a couple of Foderas.

Until I played a Fodera, I honestly had zero intention of ever buying such an expensive bass.

I ordered a Fodera as IMO, it will be a great one two combination with my MTD. I don't know if Foderas sound better (apples to apples) than a MTD.... Just a bit different..... In a good way.... If that makes any sense.

 

[thehess]

Returning from a bit of a Talkbass hiatus (inspired by the horrendous, troll-feeding frenzy that was the "8000 for a bass???", or "Builders don't put love in a build" thread.)

ModernGrowl - I second many of the comments, especially "try for yourself". I picked up a 2011 Fodera NYC Deluxe over the summer. This is the Fodera that REALLY doesn't make sense to a lot of folks here on TB - a Jazz bass? From Fodera? For $4K+? Craziness! However, since picking it up, I have had a real hard time putting it down. Onstage and in the shed, it plays and sounds fantastic. I'm adding an E5S in the spring to compliment it. The Emporer will be the Fodera version of a Nordy dual core/Mike Pope FlexCore Lakland that is the only other bass that has been getting any playing time.

At this stage in my life, I want to invest in things that not only make me happy, but create a little karmic balance, too. Vinny, Joey, Jason, and the rest of the "butterflies" squarely fall in that category for me.

And...for the first time...I dare to put a little playing out there. I've started working through Patrick Pfeiffer's "Daily Grooves" (BTW - Patrick is a MTD and Fodera player!) I'm creating Band-in-a-box arrangements each day, and recording them live in my office/studio with my Zoom Q3hd. Uses pretty much the full range of the instrument.
Signal chain on this is:
--> NYC : a little passive tone and treble roll off; pups blended
--> Ag TH500
--> Berg HD210
--> room
--> Zoom Q3hd



Hope you all in the states had a happy Thanksgiving. I hope that those of you in the path of Sandy made out OK.

 

[antontanzil]

I have to agree with you.

I spent years buying and selling all of the top named basses and for me, playing my first MTD 535 was an "aaaaaahhhhh" moment. I still love my Spector USA, Modulus, vintage Fenders, but MTD just did/does it for me. then I played a couple of Foderas.

Until I played a Fodera, I honestly had zero intention of ever buying such an expensive bass.

I ordered a Fodera as IMO, it will be a great one two combination with my MTD. I don't know if Foderas sound better (apples to apples) than a MTD.... Just a bit different..... In a good way.... If that makes any sense.

Absolutely, it's like a Blonde and a Brunnette, only in this case, you CAN have them both , but IMO the difference is NOT subtle. I like my Fodera a LOT because it's a 'refined' version of a Jazz Bass in Single Coil mode (I'm a vintage Fender Fan in the past), not Jazz Bass on Steroids, just a very very niceJazz Bass with clear voice all the way to the Low 'B'.

And in Dual Coil mode it's like a 'Non Compressed' version of a Smith (The one reason I never own a Smith), it has the Dual Coil 'Smith' growl, without the 'choke'. So, in that comparison, the diffrence between MTD and Fodera is very obvious. I'm a big Fodera and MTD fan, so for me, if someone said that the one is better than the other, chances are he/she never spend 'quality' time with both Or, again it's just a matter of personal taste, can't debate on that basic.

 

[DELACIUS]

STOP GIVING ME THE G.A.S.

beautiful

http://www.fodera.com/Main/NewBornDetails.aspx?FeaturedItemID=516

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Just Thumpin']

We start shipping #60 around the first week of January and will be shipping #60 - 100 between then and the end of March. So, you should have yours some time in the first two weeks or so of January if all goes according to plan!!

Cheers,

J

Hi Jason - any timeframe on completion dates for E5Ss from the summer's order? I'm #63, I saw a TBr in the last thread was #65 and was thinking January?
Thanks, and Happy Holidays!

 

[Just Thumpin']

We have worked two weekends so far and one more to go. We are also working late every Thursday night. I THINK that we will catch up by year-end and if we don't, we will not be off by much more than a week or two.

Nostatic, "they've pretty much been on-time with everything" is the most wonderful thing to see in print about our company! When I first came on board here three years ago, that is the LAST thing anyone would ever say about us!!

BTW, one of our very first goals we set for ourselves was to be realistic with build dates and to get the wait time on Customs down from the 30+months it was in the Fall of 2009 to 12 months. We are almost there!!! As of this moment we are running at 13 months for new orders...

Cheers,

J

Jason said they were going to work some weekends to make up for the Sandy issues. They've been on-time with most everything.

 

[fivestringdan]

That is great news Jason!

BTW, one of our very first goals we set for ourselves was to be realistic with build dates and to get the wait time on Customs down from the 30+months it was in the Fall of 2009 to 12 months. We are almost there!!! As of this moment we are running at 13 months for new orders...

Cheers,

J

 

[Just Thumpin']

Folks, please keep in mind that if you live in the Tri-State Area, you can always make an appointment to come in and try the Standards out. We keep one of each available at all times for exactly this reason -- if you are trying to select among different instruments, there really isn't any substitute for hearing / playing one.

If you do not live near us, you can check out our Dealer page here:

http://www.fodera.com/PublicPages/FoderaDealers.aspx

Many of them also have Standards on hand for you to try.

Kindest regards,

J

Thanks for the input. I narrowed my choices down to a Roscoe or Fodera. MTD's are very bright.

Im looking for a punchy bass above all. I tend to cut highs and depending on the material, high mids around 1k for a very fat/jazzy tone. But at the same time I would like the bass to be ultra responsive and quick... with the ability to dial out some upper mid grind.

Anyone?

Also, do you guys know where the midrange is centered on the new Monarch Standard? (Wish it had the 3 way switch)
And do you know if the pickups are in the 60' or 70's style position?

 

[Just Thumpin']

We use 70's PUP position for the Emperor 5 and Monarch 4 Standards. When you are playing the instrument in single coil mode (only the outer two coils) you will be playing them with 70's spacing.

I find MTDs to have way too much sizzle. I could never own one but I get why some guys like that tone. Both the Roscoe and Fodera will punch, but I prefer the Pope preamp over the Bart. It also depends on what amp/cab you're using as that will impact the tone as well. Not sure what mid freq the preamp is, but I remember from my YYS that it was useful for cutting through a mix when I needed it. As for 60's vs 70's, since they are dual coils not sure how well that will translate. I think when you split it is the outer coils but I could be wrong.

As for responsive and quick, those are two words that go with Fodera. They are brutally honest basses - they let you now immediately what you've played.

 

[Just Thumpin']

I am definitely NOT one of the cool kids. LOL!

J

Just once I would like to be with the cool kids

 

[Just Thumpin']

1 9/16"

J

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

 

[Just Thumpin']

I know that this might sound silly, but...

Were the batteries fresh?

Was the set-up correct?

Were the strings reasonably new?

Was the Preamp running neutral?

For better, or worse, we have had any number of people with a similar reaction call us at the shop and later pay us a visit so that we can dial in the same instrument and at the end of the process they cannot believe how much the way the instrument sounds can change.

Of course woods and PUP spacing make a huge, huge difference too and if you are an Ash / Maple single-coil PUP guy and someone hands you a Mahogany bodied iunstrument with a Brazilian FB and 60's-spaced dual coils running in humbucking mode, you will probably hate it.

For better, or worse, outside of the Monarch 4 Standard and Emperor 5 Standard -- which were deliberately designed to appeal to a broad audience, Foderas (by their very nature) were each built to be dialed-in for a particular person and their likes / dislikes. So, playing someone else's custom Fodera can kind of be like trying on someone else's custom suit...

Regards,

J

Got the chance to play an Emperor II today... Mahogany body, Morado board. To be quite honest, I didnt connect. It didnt have that immediate snap and punch I guess Im so used to out of my J's.

Perhaps it was the NT desigh vs. Bolt on? Dual coils when Im used to the response from singles? Mahogany vs. a more snapy body likeAsh? All of the above?

Dunno... but I wasnt crazy about it I wanted to love it too...