• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Fodera Club Part XVIII

Status
Not open for further replies.
#681
Generally in order from heaviest to lightest in terms of weight...

Walnut
Mahogany
Ash
Alder

That said, there is a LOT of variation in the possible weights of Mahogany and Ash. Some of each species can be lighter than Alder or heavier than Walnut. Walnut and Alder vary in weight but by nowhere near the amount than Mahogany and Ash do...

nostatic said:
Jason would have way more experience than me, but walnut tends to be heavier than alder.
Click to expand...
 
#682
EXACTLY!!! My lightest weight bass is my original 1964 Jazz Bass at 8.4 pounds. My heaviest bass is my 2007 Fodera (Mahogany body and Koa top) at 10.2 pounds.

Because of neck dive, I get fatigued playing the Fender in under and hour and I can play the Fodera on a 2+ gig with no problem at all...

J


Rich Treat said:
I wouldn't compare an 11lb Spector to an 11lb Fodera in terms of causing fatigue. In my opinion and experience, Spector basses are horribly balanced. I used to have a Spector 5 string that had a really bad neck dive issue. (But, it had a killer tone it and because of that it was one of my favorite basses.) My 6 string Fodera definitely weighs more than the Spector 5, but because the balance is better on the Fodera it is way more comfortable. For me, balance and tone is more important than weight.
Click to expand...
 
#683
We have Tom's Emperor II in the shop. I will weigh it on Monday and report back. I do NOT think that it weighs 8 pounds.

As for boat anchor Foderas, yes, there were some built in the the past that flat out weighed TOO MUCH. I do not agree with Ken's hard rule of nothing over 10 pounds as certain builds and woods (say a 36" scale Walnut body 6 with an Ebony FB) are just NOT going to weigh under 10 pounds.

I also know that weight is very subjective. Ken experienced Tom's Emperor II has being around 8 pounds...I am interested to see what it really weighs as I was plucking around on it last week and my subjective guess is 9.5 pounds or so...

Cheers,

Jason

KJung said:
Body weight has very little to do with balance or neck dive.

While every component of a bass impacts the tone somewhat, the impact of weight is IMO and IME greatly overstated. IMO, there is NO reason to make an instrument that weighs over 10 pounds... zero reason.

I've played Tommy Kennedy's Fodera a couple of times, and it is stupid lightweight (swamp ash body, reduced Emperor II body size). I've had a chance to A/B it with a couple of my buddies 'boat anchor' 11 and 12 pound Fodera's. Even with Tommy's bass having the neck pickup moved toward the bridge, guess what.... they all sounded very, very, very close.

Per Vics comment, once you get under 8 pounds with some chambering, I do think the low end opens and the top end sweetens a bit (which isn't a bad thing, but it is different). That 'magic' spec of between the mid 8 to mid 9 pounds should make virtually any player 'tonally happy', and it won't break your back.

Again, Tommy's 8 pound or so bass balances exactly the same as my old 11 pound Emperor;)
Click to expand...
 
#684
Jason,

At the gig Thursday one of the guitarist(Berkley grad) asked if I would play a tuning note. I played an A harmonic on the D string. He tuned his guitar, played a lick and put it back down on the stand. Turned around to pick up his glass of water then spun around really fast and said, "Is that note still ringing!!!" I let it ring and it sustained well over a minute and I didn't notice any decay in fundamental of the note.

I put the bass on my new digital scale and it's 11.2lbs. Or as I like to call it, perfect.

Just Thumpin' said:
When we listen to our instruments with a lightweight bridge and ultra light tuners, we feel that the level of sustain and tonal complexity drops fairly significantly.

...we need at LEAST 5 pounds of wood to make the bass sing...


J
Click to expand...
 
#685
Chris,

looks like the six-string sister to your 5 is available on the evil-bay. (See attached photo) For a second I thought you were flipping yours already....

Jim





chris.gotfunk said:
Hey all. First off, I have to give a huge thank you to the guys at Bassgear.co.uk! ...

Now, onto my new used AJ5... This thing sounds like the hand of God by the way. It's a little heavy, but not as bad as I was expecting. I'm going to say low 11's... I'm used to playing my 10.2lb Sadowsky, so this isn't that bad of an adjustment. Anyway. Here she is before and during my "wipe her down" session.

photo1-1_zps59d8f803.jpg
Click to expand...
 

Attachments

  • 6-String AJ.JPG
    6-String AJ.JPG
    76.7 KB · Views: 109
#686
Im considering an emperor deluxe for my next possible custom to arrive at the properties between a neck thru and bolt on and consolidate the collection.

Does anyone know if the neck angle is the same on an elite and a deluxe?

Also how is the upper fret access compared to an elite?

Thanks!
 
#688
nuwavedc said:
Im considering an emperor deluxe for my next possible custom to arrive at the properties between a neck thru and bolt on and consolidate the collection.

Does anyone know if the neck angle is the same on an elite and a deluxe?

Also how is the upper fret access compared to an elite?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I bet Jason would know. :)
 
#689
nuwavedc said:
Im considering an emperor deluxe for my next possible custom to arrive at the properties between a neck thru and bolt on and consolidate the collection.

Does anyone know if the neck angle is the same on an elite and a deluxe?

Also how is the upper fret access compared to an elite?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I don't know about the neck angle, but a NT seems to have better upper fret access than a dovetail. Not incredibly more, but enough if you play past the 17th fret a ton.

Personally, my Monarch 5 build (build starts late this year) ended up being a dovetail as the cost of the Monarch Neckthru Elite was above my budget.

After talking to Jason, we decided on a bigger cutout on the treble side to allow for better access. Not really that noticeable from the others I have seen, and didn't cost me any more $$$.

Can't wait to get it!
 
#692
As an eBay Associate, TalkBass may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
#696
jsbarber said:
Chris,

looks like the six-string sister to your 5 is available on the evil-bay. (See attached photo) For a second I thought you were flipping yours already....

Jim
Click to expand...

The position of the neck pickup on that six string is unusual. Seems a little closer to the bridge than is normal for a Fodera. Not quite Tom Kennedy spacing but not p bass position either. It's a stunning bass though. Alder body?
 
#697
nuwavedc said:
Im considering an emperor deluxe for my next possible custom to arrive at the properties between a neck thru and bolt on and consolidate the collection.

Does anyone know if the neck angle is the same on an elite and a deluxe?

Also how is the upper fret access compared to an elite?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

my deluxes are same as my elite. Standard is different neck sits higher off body but i would say the angle is pretty much the same
 
#699
jsbarber said:
Chris,

looks like the six-string sister to your 5 is available on the evil-bay. (See attached photo) For a second I thought you were flipping yours already....

Jim
Click to expand...

Haha!!!! I saw that. Too funny. I think that ones a neck through though. Mine is a bolt-on. I'll be honest, at first I didn't care at all for this body shape. But, the more I look at it, play it and most importantly, hear it; I can't imagine getting rid of it. It weighs at least 11lbs but just absolutely crushes in the tone department.

I've owned a few Fodera's and heard hundreds over the years, but to my ears, there is only one other Fodera that I think sounds better than mine. That would be Anthony Wellington's #1 bass. His Imperial 5 with an ash body, chestnut top and insane Birdseye board. Tom Kennedy's and Richard Bona's are up there too.
 
#700
The neck angle is not the same on a Deluxe due to the Dovetail joint. For Bolt-ons and Neck-throughs we provide a slight back angle to the neck to make for easier reach in the first position. We cannot do this to the same degree for Dovetails.

That said, the upper register access is still excellent on the Dovetail because of the sculpted heel...close to being equal to a Neck-through and MUCH better than a Bolt-on (at least from the standpoint of anchoring your thumb comfortably).

J

nuwavedc said:
Im considering an emperor deluxe for my next possible custom to arrive at the properties between a neck thru and bolt on and consolidate the collection.

Does anyone know if the neck angle is the same on an elite and a deluxe?

Also how is the upper fret access compared to an elite?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back