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Fodera Club Part XVII

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Somebody was asking about the legitimacy of this supposedly Fodera P-Bass with a blank headstock in another thread.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/fodera-p-bass-953979/

Here's the picture
attachment.jpg

Do you really have to ask?
 
I cannot ever imagine Vinny allowing a headstock that looked like that to get out the door...

J

It's clearly not a Fodera - but, looking at the bridge, the construction of the body (is that a koa top? And it has the accent line between the top and body wood) it wouldn't surprise me if it was built as personal bass by any of the other luthiers who worked at Fodera over the years. Would be interesting to see better pictures of it. But I agree the headstock is hideous.
 
Do you really have to ask?

Well yeah, I do. Since I know Fodera is a very respected but somewhat niche brand that I'm not an expert on - I figured TB was the place to see if this was some early(valuable?) model that was unlike their current offerings. It may be obvious to an expert, but to me it was just "hey, if this is a super early 'made in the owner's basement before he had a real shop' model, I could actually be one of those guys that gets a smokin' deal on an unknown sleeper of a bass". Based on the feedback to my original thread, that seems to not be the case:-( So I'll go back to searching pawn shops for the elusive $300 all original '63 P-Bass:D
 
It's clearly not a Fodera - but, looking at the bridge, the construction of the body (is that a koa top? And it has the accent line between the top and body wood) it wouldn't surprise me if it was built as personal bass by any of the other luthiers who worked at Fodera over the years. Would be interesting to see better pictures of it. But I agree the headstock is hideous.

Yeah that accent line between the top and body wood made it look like a little more than just a basic parts P bass copy. Like some early attempt at some kind of semi custom bass.
 
Yeah that accent line between the top and body wood made it look like a little more than just a basic parts P bass copy. Like some early attempt at some kind of semi custom bass.

If there is any Fodera connection here (see my earlier post) I doubt very much if it is an 'earlier' model. It's far more likely to have been built in the 90s or 00s. It's not any kind of prototype and I doubt that Vinny Fodera ever laid a finger on it. Like I said, if there is a Fodera connection it is a (probably ex) Fodera luthier's attempt at a personal p bass either built at home or in the Fodera shop in his own time but maybe using Fodera's wood stock and the Fodera bridge.

Of course, I could be completely wrong but the fact that the body really does look quite well made and that bridge on there leads me to think there is some kind of Fodera connection going on.
 
If there is any Fodera connection here (see my earlier post) I doubt very much if it is an 'earlier' model. It's far more likely to have been built in the 90s or 00s. It's not any kind of prototype and I doubt that Vinny Fodera ever laid a finger on it. Like I said, if there is a Fodera connection it is a (probably ex) Fodera luthier's attempt at a personal p bass either built at home or in the Fodera shop in his own time but maybe using Fodera's wood stock and the Fodera bridge.

Of course, I could be completely wrong but the fact that the body really does look quite well made and that bridge on there leads me to think there is some kind of Fodera connection going on.

Thanks for the info.
By the way, my gf is from Ukraine.
 
I'd love to have more and better photos as it is possible that the body was done here and the neck by someone else. I just cannot tell much from the photo. That said, it does have a version of our bridge and the style knobs that we used in the early 1980's...

J

Yeah that accent line between the top and body wood made it look like a little more than just a basic parts P bass copy. Like some early attempt at some kind of semi custom bass.
 
It is not a shape that I can imagine Vinny making...

I'd love to see some head-on pictures of it...

that bridge and knobs would place it about 85. by late 86 the knobs changed to a less shiney, closer to current style.

late 85

foderabeechwood1.jpg


late 86 early 87

Foderasycamore1.jpg




Jason I know you guys are probably backed up from NAMM and all but check with the guys when I can come by and hang. Between jobs (as they say) so i have some free time for the first time in 22 years. I have some little issues (like broken saddle screws etc) , you should take some pictures of some of my babies, thinking about some pickup and/or preamp upgrades, we HAVE to meet in person one of these days, and i have some great spanish and bordeaux. No particular order on the above :) Jimmy
 
Hey Jason, I have one question.
Is there a sound difference between pickups with exposed poles and the one with not exposed, and also is there a difference between pickups with wood and plastic cover.

Btw. I like wooden covers, but just because I have them.
 
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