Fodera Club Part XVII

[Just Thumpin']

I would hope that in this case our customer would let us know rather than suffering silently and not loving their bass. The Standards have all been incredibly consistent tonally. That said, once you get into the Customs with all of the options, there is always a risk (rare though it may be) of a miscommunication that ends up with a bass being built for someone that they don't think sounds the way they expected. In those rare situations, solving the problem always starts with talking and letting us know that the problem exists.

But make no mistake, we are very committed to solving those kinds of problems.

Regards,

J

There are none better...if you get the specs that you like and the wood gods are kind enough to make the wood sound like what you expect. Sometimes it doesn't happen that way.

 

[Lennard III.]

So true!!! There is this misperception here on TB that you show up at a gig and everyone looks at your gear and says "hmm, a Fodera, this guy is playing a really expensive bass." I just did a gig last night that is far more typical (IMHO)...after we were done with our second set and we were breaking down our gear, a middle aged woman came up and said "how do you make your bass sound so clear?"

I chatted with her for awhile. She was not a musician but loved seeing live music and noticed that she was able to "hear each note much more clearly than I am used to" (her words, not mine). It was pretty cool that she came up and asked. I do get this kind of feedback and/or compliments on the way the bass looks, etc. However, it's been fewer than a handful of times in fives years that someone from the audience corners me after a gig and asks about my Fodera by name.

The idea is the tone and the way they make you feel when playing them. That's it.

so true - oneself may think "damn, everybody here knows that I'm playing a Fodera and everybody is expecting sth. big..." but the reality shows it that is is like you just said.

The last gigs with my Videroy I only got comliments of that great tone and none of them knew the brand

Here in germany it's even worse between Bassplayers -like "What you're playing a Bass over 1500,- euros, why do you need that.." or "Ah, a Fodera !!! So you are dentist and you think you can play like Victor Wooten with this Bass...?" I would never post a pic of my Bass in a german forum...that's just waist of time

 

[Lennard III.]

Jason,

is this new Braz. RW topped Emperor (30th anniversary) Bass one of those instruments where you only could say how many strings and scale lenght you want to have and the rest is decided by Vinny ??? How many are going to follow ?

 

[cnltb]

There will be one in the Newborn Section in a week or two! We are building one right now with a gorgeous Brazilian top and one Dual Coil PUP...

J

Nice!
I look forward to seeing it !

 

[DELACIUS]

so true

Here in germany it's even worse between Bassplayers -like "What you're playing a Bass over 1500,- euros, why do you need that.." or "Ah, a Fodera !!! So you are dentist and you think you can play like Victor Wooten with this Bass...?" I would never post a pic of my Bass in a german forum...that's just waist of time

I think that's the same in most cases!!

so are you a dentist?

 

[Mulebagger]

I'm a broke ass school teacher and carpenter, but I've played for 20 years and heck yes I want a nice bass.

Ive had other bassists come up to me and ask, "did you make that bass?" " what brand is it?"
But for years I've had guys come up to me and say " man that's a killin Fender! What model is it or where did you get it?" I like to chat w people, but I'm a ball buster too so I'll say I bought it at the modulus store or its fenders new modulus model

Truth is that most people know fender and gibson, peavey and ampeg.
I'm just glad they like the sound and do my best to promote the brands I play because I am a fan.

 

[gkbass13]

I have been on both sides of a lot of these Fodera gig stories. I'm not terribly shy about asking a working player about gear, as often times with players in wedding bands or local/cover bands, gear choices are huge decisions. Not to say that gear choices arent big for all musicians, but I think you are more likely going to run into a reluctance to discuss gear vs. music when speaking to an international music star when compared to a "working player". Anyway, The first time I was approached at a gig about my Fodera was due to brand recognition but ever since it has always been regarding tone and the 3D quality to the quilted maple top wood. "it sounds so clear" "your bass suts through the music like a lead guitar" etc...all fun comments to hear.
Since buying my Emperor last year, I have approached one other bassist at a gig about his Fodera (a couple times before personally becoming an owner/player). I manage a catering company and was setting up a bar for service when the band started sound checking behind me. After hearing the first few notes I knew instantly that it was a Fodera in dual coil mode. Turned around and saw a gorgeous 5 string presentation shaped creation from the folks in Brooklyn. It was a cool feeling to recognize that tone and know it was how my music projects when I play live as well.

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

since I've had my Fodera, I've had a couple of cool NYC run ins with some other Fodera players that I had never seen before and suddenly I was "cool" since I had one, too. Of course, all wedding scene dudes.

Just wanted to share this funny story: So a little while before I had to send my Alleva-Coppolo back to the shop in CA for some repairs, I was playing around with my band in the studio and made them all close their eyes while I played all four of my basses in a random order (1. '73 P-bass with flats, 2. Fodera Imperial, 3. Squire P5, 4. Alleva LM5, and 5., the studio's bass which is some old crappy japanese thing). I wanted to see if they could not only tell my basses apart by just hearing them but which one they preferred to hear. I played the same little groove on each bass, and obviously the band knew the P-bass w/ flats sound, but when I played the Fodera they all yelled out "oh, that's def the fodera!". Surprisingly though, the drummer and singer chose the Squire, and the guitarist chose the Alleva. Interesting how we spend tens of thousands of dollars on nice basses for US, when clearly my $149 Squire can do the job and people like it's sound. Maybe it has to do with people's brains being programmed to like the fender sound that they've heard on records forever I don't know, but now they want me to only play the Squire! Suuurrreeeeee haha

 

[Just Thumpin']

No, this is actually for a dear friend of Joey and Vinny's that actually ordered a 20th Anniversary Bass (yes, you read that right) and patiently waited for us to have dug out from the terrible scheduling issues we had when we first became Partners. He was willing to wait until this year to get a 30th Anniversary bass...bless his soul!!

J

Jason,

is this new Braz. RW topped Emperor (30th anniversary) Bass one of those instruments where you only could say how many strings and scale lenght you want to have and the rest is decided by Vinny ??? How many are going to follow ?

 

[Baird6869]

Interesting how we spend tens of thousands of dollars on nice basses for US, when clearly my $149 Squire can do the job and people like it's sound.

True, but it is so much more exciting for me to pick up my Fodera to play than my Squier.... and my Squier is a super high end model ($299 Vintage Modified Jazz). it is actually a quality bass for the $$$, but it isn't a Fodera!

 

[Just Thumpin']

Okay, so I definitely broke one of the very rules that I am so often called upon to enforce.

Five minutes before my bass was due to be routed for Single Coils, I changed the Spec to Dual Coils...

At the end of the day as much as I love the single coil tone, I really cannot get away from the fact that I am in love with the flexibility that Dual Coils offer and love the fatter humbucking bridge solo tone.

I had such a great gig last night with my Ash bodied Monarch and was really enjoying the Duals in a big way, SOOOOOOOO, there it is.

 

[Baird6869]

Jason,

Do the SD dual coils completely nail the SD single coil sound in single coil mode? Close? Not close?

I like the single coil tone on my E5S but the only reference points i have for real single coils are Fenders.

Thx!

Okay, so I definitely broke one of the very rules that I am so often called upon to enforce.

Five minutes before my bass was due to be routed for Single Coils, I changed the Spec to Dual Coils...

At the end of the day as much as I love the single coil tone, I really cannot get away from the fact that I am in love with the flexibility that Dual Coils offer and love the fatter humbucking bridge solo tone.

I had such a great gig last night with my Ash bodied Monarch and was really enjoying the Duals in a big way, SOOOOOOOO, there it is.

 

[DirtPoorRobins]

Okay, so I definitely broke one of the very rules that I am so often called upon to enforce.

Five minutes before my bass was due to be routed for Single Coils, I changed the Spec to Dual Coils...

Oh man Jason! You are HUMAN, and it's nice to know you struggle with decisions just like the rest of us do . I do think that the sd duals sound the closest to a true single coil than any other hum canceling type of pickup, better than the split coil design, but I like that its not exactly the same, that's what gives it some character. Enjoy your new baby, only a couple more weeks huh?

 

[narud]

Jason,

Do the SD dual coils completely nail the SD single coil sound in single coil mode? Close? Not close?

I like the single coil tone on my E5S but the only reference points i have for real single coils are Fenders.

Thx!

ime the aeros they used to use had a way better split to single tone than the duncans. the duncans sounded a little thinner. i greatly preferred the dual coil sound of the duncans though.

 

[polymad]

Jason, all I can say is.... You're awesome dude! you bring the human aspect to life every time a Fodera is mentioned.
I still can't believe I now finally own a Fodera! I also bought the Epifani piccolo head as both of them together just sound like heaven, also plugged it straight in virtually anything that amplifies sound and oh boy does it deliver the tones that I have dreamt of. By the way, thanks for the wonderful words on the description section of my Fodera on the site! Hehe, very thoughtful and humorous.

 

[sbabbaro1]

Any pictures?

Cheers,
S.

Jason, all I can say is.... You're awesome dude! you bring the human aspect to life every time a Fodera is mentioned.
I still can't believe I now finally own a Fodera! I also bought the Epifani piccolo head as both of them together just sound like heaven, also plugged it straight in virtually anything that amplifies sound and oh boy does it deliver the tones that I have dreamt of. By the way, thanks for the wonderful words on the description section of my Fodera on the site! Hehe, very thoughtful and humorous.

 

[CH Design]

At the end of the day as much as I love the single coil tone, I really cannot get away from the fact that I am in love with the flexibility that Dual Coils offer and love the fatter humbucking bridge solo tone.

Didn't feel like trying something different and go with a bridge DC and neck SC?

 

[jumbodbassman]

since I've had my Fodera, I've had a couple of cool NYC run ins with some other Fodera players that I had never seen before and suddenly I was "cool" since I had one, too. Of course, all wedding scene dudes.

Just wanted to share this funny story: So a little while before I had to send my Alleva-Coppolo back to the shop in CA for some repairs, I was playing around with my band in the studio and made them all close their eyes while I played all four of my basses in a random order (1. '73 P-bass with flats, 2. Fodera Imperial, 3. Squire P5, 4. Alleva LM5, and 5., the studio's bass which is some old crappy japanese thing). I wanted to see if they could not only tell my basses apart by just hearing them but which one they preferred to hear. I played the same little groove on each bass, and obviously the band knew the P-bass w/ flats sound, but when I played the Fodera they all yelled out "oh, that's def the fodera!". Surprisingly though, the drummer and singer chose the Squire, and the guitarist chose the Alleva. Interesting how we spend tens of thousands of dollars on nice basses for US, when clearly my $149 Squire can do the job and people like it's sound. Maybe it has to do with people's brains being programmed to like the fender sound that they've heard on records forever I don't know, but now they want me to only play the Squire! Suuurrreeeeee haha

Back in the early 80's Joey sold many a bass to the wedding band ciruit. Guy in one of my wedding bands actually bought a guitar to match my brazilian rosewood monarch. how's that for cheesy,...

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

wow that IS cheesy haha....but it says something that a lot of wedding guys play Foderas (myself included). Other than proving how much $ one can make doing weddings haha, it also shows how versatile they are as instruments that they can cover ANY sound for such a wide range of songs that have to be played at a wedding. Like I said before, obviously a Fender could do the same since most of those tunes were written with fenders, but having a bass that feels so nice it essentially plays itself sure helps get you through those 5+ hour gigs!

 

[jumbodbassman]

wow that IS cheesy haha....but it says something that a lot of wedding guys play Foderas (myself included). Other than proving how much $ one can make doing weddings haha, it also shows how versatile they are as instruments that they can cover ANY sound for such a wide range of songs that have to be played at a wedding. Like I said before, obviously a Fender could do the same since most of those tunes were written with fenders, but having a bass that feels so nice it essentially plays itself sure helps get you through those 5+ hour gigs!

I don't miss those wedding gigs much although at the time they never really seemed to bother me as it was always fun watching folks having a good time although there is the occasional B@tch. i didn't do a lot but always hated the screamer gigs i would take to make some money when the regular group was occasionally off.