Fodera Club Part XVII

[Damian Coccio]

thank you for your feed back.

Indeed, bass weight is important.
It is coming just after tone and playabilities.
That is why I chosed the light-weight ash.

To you mean a MG shape would save some weight ?

Yes it will, Jason can tell you approx how much.

My normal sized imperial is 11.5 lbs (but has an ebony fb and ash block) Mgs is just over 10lbs.

 

[nostatic]

You could also chamber the Imperial. Can't chamber an MGS as there isn't enough room.

 

[Damian Coccio]

You could also chamber the Imperial. Can't chamber an MGS as there isn't enough room.

Maybe they can now, I have a chambered mg shape on order in my spec.

 

[Just Thumpin']

We can chamber an MG-shaped body but it does not save that much weight because there is only a reltively small amount of material that can be removed...

J

Maybe they can now, I have a chambered mg shape on order in my spec.

 

[roadkill2309]

I am happy to show you the olive top who will be used for my futur Imperial.

It will be a "almost" Richard Bona.
I changed some specs :
body will be a light weight ash
tone block will be in alder
and pickups will be Fodera/Duncan
FB in birdseye
24 frets
I have not decided about the hardwear color.

I wondering if I should go for a MG shape...
(kind of Richard Garrison style or Matt Bona...)

Any opinion about this point ?
(I never tryed MG shape)

I want to say that Jason have been very helpfull and provided a very hight quality service. (and a lot of patience)
I want to thank him for that.

So, I just have now to wait for a couples of months...

Love that top.

 

[curt basner]

thank you for your feed back.

Indeed, bass weight is important.
It is coming just after tone and playabilities.
That is why I chosed the light-weight ash.

To you mean a MG shape would save some weight ?

I can't say I know about the weight situation, but when I was trying to decide which body shape for my custom, Jason said that the two smallest bodies in the lineup are the Monarch and the MG Shaped Imperial (I have a YYD, so I know the Monarch shape/size). Since I wanted a single cut (I just like the look), I went with the MG. I am a very small person (5'6" with very small hands), and wanted a bass that was sized appropriately to me. The body shape I like the best, honestly, is the Emperor II, but it's the biggest body Fodera makes, and wouldn't be the best for me...

 

[Just Thumpin']

The difference in weight between an Imperial and an MG-shaped Imperial depends on the body wood. Obviously the heavier the body wood the more significant the difference. We've also never weighed two bodies made from exactly the same density woods, so my answer is pure gut / speculation, but I would say there is roughly 1/2 pound difference all other things being equal.

Yes it will, Jason can tell you approx how much.

My normal sized imperial is 11.5 lbs (but has an ebony fb and ash block) Mgs is just over 10lbs.

 

[Damian Coccio]

I can't say I know about the weight situation, but when I was trying to decide which body shape for my custom, Jason said that the two smallest bodies in the lineup are the Monarch and the MG Shaped Imperial (I have a YYD, so I know the Monarch shape/size). Since I wanted a single cut (I just like the look), I went with the MG. I am a very small person (5'6" with very small hands), and wanted a bass that was sized appropriately to me. The body shape I like the best, honestly, is the Emperor II, but it's the biggest body Fodera makes, and wouldn't be the best for me...

I can relate to that. I had an emp ii (which i really like) in my spec for a long time and changed to mg.

 

[Lennard III.]

Isn't it also possible to get a downsized Emperor II ???

As for the weight - I said on my final lock in that the weight of my new Viceroy 5 (Ash body) should please not pass 10 pounds - and they selected an incredible piece of Ash - it's so resonant - the Bass is really alive - but it's also light - I would say not more than 4,2 or 4,3 kg - I'm soooo happy. The Bass is perfect in every detail.

 

[asbs]

Thank you all for you answers.

I guess the choice between MG shape and "classic" will be done with an esthetic point of view, as the weight difference is not so big.
Maybe the chambered option is the best way to save some weight on a classical Imperial shape.

I want to keep some room for slapping between the pup and the FB. So I will stay with 24 frets.

I am not sure than a MG shape with 24 frets would keep the same pure design that bring the longer FB with 26 frets...
(just a matter of taste, of course)

I feel also that a dark FB match so well with a MG shape.
And I want a birdseye FB for sure (tone first)

But... MG shape looks very cool....

Hopfully I have some months to figure it out.

(is there any other place on earth where this kind of conciderations could find any interest ??? )

 

[asbs]

Isn't it also possible to get a downsized Emperor II ???

As for the weight - I said on my final lock in that the weight of my new Viceroy 5 (Ash body) should please not pass 10 pounds - and they selected an incredible piece of Ash - it's so resonant - the Bass is really alive - but it's also light - I would say not more than 4,2 or 4,3 kg - I'm soooo happy. The Bass is perfect in every detail.

Did you chambered your bass ?

I wonder if a light ash wood would support well (in a sonic way) to be chambered (or half chambered)

 

[oldfretless]

Just my opinion, but when you change things, things change. My Emperor II does not feel heavy, and I believe it has great balance. It does have a natural bottom that is earth shaking. The Emperor is far more articulate, but without the huge bottom. Both are outstanding and incredible, but different. I would make choices based on the tone you want, not the weight. IMHO,YMMV

 

[Lennard III.]

Did you chambered your bass ?

I wonder if a light ash wood would support well (in a sonic way) to be chambered (or half chambered)

nope - it's a 1 piece Ash body

and of course - the MG shape looks great with 24 frets... just check out the Newborn gallery - you'll find one of those there

 

[asbs]

You are absoluty right.
Tone comes on first.

Just my opinion, but when you change things, things change. My Emperor II does not feel heavy, and I believe it has great balance. It does have a natural bottom that is earth shaking. The Emperor is far more articulate, but without the huge bottom. Both are outstanding and incredible, but different. I would make choices based on the tone you want, not the weight. IMHO,YMMV

 

[nostatic]

Just my opinion, but when you change things, things change. My Emperor II does not feel heavy, and I believe it has great balance. It does have a natural bottom that is earth shaking. The Emperor is far more articulate, but without the huge bottom. Both are outstanding and incredible, but different. I would make choices based on the tone you want, not the weight. IMHO,YMMV

I guess it depends on the gigs you play and other factors. Once a bass gets above 9 lbs I start to lose interest. I can get great tone in a reasonably light package ( and actually my Rob Allen Deep 4 has more earth shaking bottom than any instrument I've owned and it is 7.1 lbs). I agree that balance is key and my MGS at just under 10lbs is well balanced. But on long sets I can start to feel the difference between that and my YYD (which is under 9lbs).

Tone is important, but weight is an important factor for me. If I was playing seated all the time it would be far less of an issue. If I didn't have decades of accumulated injuries and wear and tear on my joints it would be less of a factor. But I'm stuck with me As a result, I have chosen chambering to help deal with that. Luckily, I prefer the resulting tone as well - win/win. fwiw I used to be much more of a weight weenie, but Fodera cured me of at least part of that obsession. It remains a factor but I pushed my limit up a little higher...

 

[Damian Coccio]

I guess it depends on the gigs you play and other factors. Once a bass gets above 9 lbs I start to lose interest. I can get great tone in a reasonably light package ( and actually my Rob Allen Deep 4 has more earth shaking bottom than any instrument I've owned and it is 7.1 lbs). I agree that balance is key and my MGS at just under 10lbs is well balanced. But on long sets I can start to feel the difference between that and my YYD (which is under 9lbs).

Tone is important, but weight is an important factor for me. If I was playing seated all the time it would be far less of an issue. If I didn't have decades of accumulated injuries and wear and tear on my joints it would be less of a factor. But I'm stuck with me As a result, I have chosen chambering to help deal with that. Luckily, I prefer the resulting tone as well - win/win. fwiw I used to be much more of a weight weenie, but Fodera cured me of at least part of that obsession. It remains a factor but I pushed my limit up a little higher...

Exactly. I was playing an 11.5 lb bass since '08. I had to lighten it up because I play standing 99% of the time. You can get great tone out of basses in the 8-10 lb range, just my .02. I say tone comes second to comfort & ergonomics but this is a guy with a neck injury talking. Btw what did jaco's alder bass weigh, I think his tone was ok... Lol..granted no b string though.

 

[cnltb]

I guess it depends on the gigs you play and other factors. Once a bass gets above 9 lbs I start to lose interest. I can get great tone in a reasonably light package ( and actually my Rob Allen Deep 4 has more earth shaking bottom than any instrument I've owned and it is 7.1 lbs). I agree that balance is key and my MGS at just under 10lbs is well balanced. But on long sets I can start to feel the difference between that and my YYD (which is under 9lbs).

Tone is important, but weight is an important factor for me. If I was playing seated all the time it would be far less of an issue. If I didn't have decades of accumulated injuries and wear and tear on my joints it would be less of a factor. But I'm stuck with me As a result, I have chosen chambering to help deal with that. Luckily, I prefer the resulting tone as well - win/win. fwiw I used to be much more of a weight weenie, but Fodera cured me of at least part of that obsession. It remains a factor but I pushed my limit up a little higher...

The YYD is less than 9lbs?
That's a nice weight I recon!
For me personally a bass I'll keep is under 4kg.
Luckily both my main basses( a 36" scale 5 string an a '51 style P bass with one piece alder body maple neck and BR board on each of them) both fall into that category.
Both sound very good indeed!

 

[Just Thumpin']

I personally would not chamber a light weight Ash body. The tone does start to get a touch "thin."

But that's just IMHO...

J

Did you chambered your bass ?

I wonder if a light ash wood would support well (in a sonic way) to be chambered (or half chambered)

 

[fabinosto]

Hi

sunny winter pics:

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Little clip :

 

[jaysbassspace]

This is likey a dumb question, but how exactly does the mid boost switch work? I know it "boosts" mids but I guess I mean how does it work in relation to the mid control knob?