Fodera Club Part XVI

[nostatic]

geez, I hope not

The Deep 4 is a totally different beast. I don't see the Monarch 5 fretless stepping into that territory much, if at all. My goal with the M5 fretless is to get somewhat back to the days where I would show up as house bassist for a jazz/blues jam and play fretless the whole night long. In that case I'm not trying to cop an upright vibe, but instead just wring a bit more out of the notes as opposed to fretted. Of course getting where my playing is these days, who knows how that will play out. There was a time when I played like 95% fretless. These days it is almost reversed, and for some gigs I don't bring a fretless at all.

I bring two basses to every show, so for a straight jazz hit it is RA and one of the fretted - 4-string if I'm just "being a bass player," 5-string if I'm going to do some comping. For Steely Jam, it is 4-string fretted, though I used to cover those gigs with fretless 5 (B-G). Karaoke is a 4-string as there generally is two guitars and keys. For my band I'm figuring it will be the pair of 5s, though some tunes I have arranged for 4-string and play banjo on a song or two so maybe two isn't enough

I'm still going to hold out at five basses max, and may try to drop down to four. Depends how they all fit.

 

[MostlyBass]

Can you all give details on what makes Fodera a Fodera? Describe the little details... I need to play vicariously

 

[steubig]

geez, I hope not

The Deep 4 is a totally different beast. I don't see the Monarch 5 fretless stepping into that territory much, if at all.

yeah, i'd have to agree with this assessment. i assume that the monarch will be a "faster" instrument than the rob allen, less bloom, more apparent attack.

and . . . i think the garrison could become nice sort of a baritone guitar if you strung it up for A-F or something like that. . . .

 

[nostatic]

Can you all give details on what makes Fodera a Fodera? Describe the little details... I need to play vicariously

 

[steubig]

Can you all give details on what makes Fodera a Fodera? Describe the little details... I need to play vicariously

nostatic gave you picture.

i'll tell you that i still have my first fodera that i got 28 years ago—and it's still one of the best instruments i've ever played— and i have bought more after that.

not many times you'll go through that long with an instrument.

to me, that's a testament about what they are.

 

[Plunger]

I have been admiring the VW Ltd. Edition Monarch and had a question for Jason or anyone who may know. When and why did Fodera stop making three piece bodies for dovetail and bolt on necks? I personally would love to have the option of mixing tone woods with the punch of a bolt on neck.

 

[TapyTap]

Has Fodera ever made a piezo-only bass guitar?

 

[nostatic]

nostatic gave you picture.

i'll tell you that i still have my first fodera that i got 28 years ago—and it's still one of the best instruments i've ever played— and i have bought more after that.

not many times you'll go through that long with an instrument.

to me, that's a testament about what they are.

I wake up in the morning, and I want to play my bass. I come home in the evening, and I want to play my bass. I go do a gig, come home, and want to play my bass.

Not many instruments have had that effect on me over the decades. My Foderas do.

 

[DirtPoorRobins]

I wake up in the morning, and I want to play my bass. I come home in the evening, and I want to play my bass. I go do a gig, come home, and want to play my bass.

Not many instruments have had that effect on me over the decades. My Foderas do.

I gave a short little master class at a middle school after one of our gigs for them, and I told them this very thing about my fodera. It's the only bass that I've ever played that I can't wait to wake up in the morning and play. That's why I play foderas now, because it just inspires me to play every day, and I've never had a bass do that like these basses.

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

+1! And thanks for the kind words!

 

[Just Thumpin']

We still will do 3-piece bodies on bolt-ons and dovetails, for a nominal additional charge. Back in the early days of the shop they were offered for two reasons...

1. Those that did not want to pay for an Elite instrument but wanted the look, and,

2. It was a great way to use narrow pieces of body wood that otherwise may have gone to waste...

Regards,

J

I have been admiring the VW Ltd. Edition Monarch and had a question for Jason or anyone who may know. When and why did Fodera stop making three piece bodies for dovetail and bolt on necks? I personally would love to have the option of mixing tone woods with the punch of a bolt on neck.

 

[Just Thumpin']

+1

Additionally, I was so taken with the instruments that I started hanging around the shop a LOT, started writing a book about them and look at where that ended up!

I owned a fair number of basses before my first Fodera and have been playing since around 1980. The only bass that I have now other than my Foderas is my original 1964 Jazz Bass -- everything else has long since been sold.

To say that my first Fodera changed my life would NOT be an understatement. I simply could not get the tone, feel and aesthetics out of my mind...they were almost haunting to me...still are!

J

I wake up in the morning, and I want to play my bass. I come home in the evening, and I want to play my bass. I go do a gig, come home, and want to play my bass.

Not many instruments have had that effect on me over the decades. My Foderas do.

 

[Lugzy]

I actually haven't changed up that much, and it is two instruments so we're doing double duty

Well, actually I originally was going to do 33" scale MGS and now have ended up at 34" scale Monarch. Only other variables I've changed were pups on the fretted (dual coil to PJ now back to dual coil) and fingerboard on the fretted (ebony to maple). Part of that has been driven by changes in my amp rig and also just getting more seat time with all my basses. I've also changed my technique and approach to the instrument a lot over the past year or two, so much of my old dogmatic "this is what I like" doesn't quite hold any more. Buying the Lull was challenging my preconceived notions (and also previous experience) and it has been eyeopening. It won't replace my Foderas, but it has given me insight into being a bit more open to change. I dig ebony, and on the fretless that is a no-brainer. On the fretted though, I've got ebony with PJ on the YYD.

I figured ebony was the obvious choice for the fretted but I have liked how the maple is sort of in-between rosewood and ebony. With the maple I'll lose the ebony ping but on fretted sometimes I love that and sometimes it drives me nuts. So the YYD is kind of my bass to cover that vibe - P bass with ping. The Deep 4 has its own vibe, and these pair will cover everything else. I'll hang onto the Lull as there are some gigs where I end up doing instrument swaps and kinda hate to hand over a $10K instrument to my bandmates
.

Nostatic, Great to see how you've honed in on your specs. By coincidence I've also been toying with the idea of getting either a Mike Lull 5, with JJ's and Maple neck (Brian Bellar model) or an AC LG5 with same combo. I've had thoughts about an out & out Rock bass for sometime and thought Pink Ivory (living between Ebony & Maple) might be a great choice, shame it's so rare and pretty much out of stock; so Maple might get the vote. I have to agree with you on the Ebony fb. That Ebony ping is so distinctive that to my ears it's the essence of the note attack. Going 34" all the way is sound, but I thought you might have held onto the MGS for the fun of it.

So glad you mentioned it first, I don't think I'm being snobby, but I don't want to be passing around my big bucks guitars to anyone unless it's in a safe and controlled (by myself) environment i.e can't play if your wearing belts, buckles, buttons or any materials that might be abrasive to the wood and of course, gotta wash hands first..
Is that being pernickety or just over cautious?

 

[Plunger]

I would not call it snobbery. I call it good sense

 

[Plunger]

We still will do 3-piece bodies on bolt-ons and dovetails, for a nominal additional charge. Back in the early days of the shop they were offered for two reasons...

1. Those that did not want to pay for an Elite instrument but wanted the look, and,

2. It was a great way to use narrow pieces of body wood that otherwise may have gone to waste...

Regards,

J

Thanks for the reply Jason! That is a very helpful to know that there are so many options. I assume since it is bolt on/dovetail and not neck thru that a solid top would not be an issue as it is on the elite models?

 

[steubig]

my guess is that this will be of limited interest, but if you want to hear a 12-string fodera in action, here's one way:

http://steuartliebig.bandcamp.com/track/09-magical-kingdom

this is basically electronica/groove/trance stuff (well heavier groove track). ipad apps for synth sounds and drum programming, abelton live for some synth stuff plus other drum programming, a couple of different bass tracks (all fodera). (no guitars were hurt in the making of this track.)

the 12 was used for the intro and the main groove—has a fair amount of overdrive on it.

it's long, you get the idea by the time you get about 4:00 minutes in.

music to wash dishes to . . .

 

[Lugzy]

+1

Additionally, I was so taken with the instruments that I started hanging around the shop a LOT, started writing a book about them and look at where that ended up!

I owned a fair number of basses before my first Fodera and have been playing since around 1980. The only bass that I have now other than my Foderas is my original 1964 Jazz Bass -- everything else has long since been sold.

To say that my first Fodera changed my life would NOT be an understatement. I simply could not get the tone, feel and aesthetics out of my mind...they were almost haunting to me...still are!

J

++1, Yours and Nostatic's statement say it all.

I got bitten by playing an MG 5 for about 20 minutes. The first thing I did was a scaler run (whole tone thingy from low F through 2 octaves) up and down the neck and i was amazed at how I didn't have to fight against any string tension, it just wasn't present, therefore it felt effortless. I use a 3 fingered right-hand approach and the 3rd finger usually feels most of the tension; but not with the Fodera. So the playability factor was the decider for me.

 

[Damian Coccio]

my guess is that this will be of limited interest, but if you want to hear a 12-string fodera in action, here's one way:

http://steuartliebig.bandcamp.com/track/09-magical-kingdom

this is basically electronica/groove/trance stuff (well heavier groove track). ipad apps for synth sounds and drum programming, abelton live for some synth stuff plus other drum programming, a couple of different bass tracks (all fodera). (no guitars were hurt in the making of this track.)

the 12 was used for the intro and the main groove—has a fair amount of overdrive on it.

it's long, you get the idea by the time you get about 4:00 minutes in.

music to wash dishes to . . .

I dig this stuff ALOT...

 

[Lugzy]

my guess is that this will be of limited interest, but if you want to hear a 12-string fodera in action, here's one way:

http://steuartliebig.bandcamp.com/track/09-magical-kingdom

this is basically electronica/groove/trance stuff (well heavier groove track). ipad apps for synth sounds and drum programming, abelton live for some synth stuff plus other drum programming, a couple of different bass tracks (all fodera). (no guitars were hurt in the making of this track.)

the 12 was used for the intro and the main groove—has a fair amount of overdrive on it.

it's long, you get the idea by the time you get about 4:00 minutes in.

music to wash dishes to . . .

Steu, that is so cool.
Reminds me a little of KCrimson, Mastelloto, Trey Gunn a little Philip Saisse, I really enjoyed that.
I wasn't doing dishes, I was cleaning the stove actually!!
Making space on the hard drive later.

Cheers..

 

[Christian Houmann]

+1

Additionally, I was so taken with the instruments that I started hanging around the shop a LOT, started writing a book about them and look at where that ended up!

I owned a fair number of basses before my first Fodera and have been playing since around 1980. The only bass that I have now other than my Foderas is my original 1964 Jazz Bass -- everything else has long since been sold.

To say that my first Fodera changed my life would NOT be an understatement. I simply could not get the tone, feel and aesthetics out of my mind...they were almost haunting to me...still are!

J

Well said! I have the same thing with my Foderas