Fodera Club Part XX

[Lonnybass]

I have been following this thread with great Fodera envy for a while now and was surprised to see the the turn taken over the last couple days about the allegations of neck and service issues.

Needless to say, Jason's response and approach to the situation could not have been more thoughtful or well-handled, and I continue to believe that they are among the best in the business. Good stuff Jason.

Lonnybass

 

[pierreganseman]

Jason's reply is second to none. I have been watching this develop over the last days.

I was a Fodera owner in the past, but it was not the right bass for me (used). So i sold it. I emailed Jason asking a few questions. Got an answer within 30 minutes , of about 10 lines. On a bass they had not made a single cent on it....

Answer in 30 minutes + on a bass they had not made a cent on = me ordering a custom when I can.

that's about as good as it can get.....

 

[christoph h.]

Please note that as of this moment (9:48am EDT) I have never received a PM from you, I have no emails from you and no one on our service team has fielded any inquiries from you in recent memory. I just called everyone that handles incoming service inquiries together and shared your posts to ask specifically if they have been working with anyone recently related to an issue like this. No one said that they have been (and there only four possible people who answer service inquiries). I do not understand why you would make a post like yours in light of no one here having heard from you. Again, these posts over the past two days are the first time anyone on our Team has heard anything about this in recent memory.

Usually I do not make posts that directly contradict another TB member, but in fairness, we do take customer service extremely seriously and your post makes it sound as though we have been unresponsive. Is it possible that you are using an old email address to try getting in touch?

Sincerely,

Jason

Jason, I sent you a PM right now, in an effort to keep things civil.

 

[Vic]

Jason, I sent you a PM right now, in an effort to keep things civil.

I have no dog in this race, but if you don't mind me offering up a thought, I would actually recommend email over talkbass PMs. Jason is probably the most responsive vendor member here on talkbass, but honestly, direct phone/email contact is always best with any vendor. And I can tell you from personal experience Jason is very responsive to emails. I've done a lot with him well before I became a customer.

Anyway, for whatever it's worth. My intent is only to help if I can.

 

[christoph h.]

Thanks Vic, I have emailed him an updated version of my initial PM.

I have no dog in this race, but if you don't mind me offering up a thought, I would actually recommend email over talkbass PMs. Jason is probably the most responsive vendor member here on talkbass, but honestly, direct phone/email contact is always best with any vendor. And I can tell you from personal experience Jason is very responsive to emails. I've done a lot with him well before I became a customer.

Anyway, for whatever it's worth. My intent is only to help if I can.

 

[christoph h.]

But maybe it's smart to at least publicly state the following:

1) I have definitely contacted and communicated with Fodera about the issue, including sending photos. Please talk to Holly Wagner. The outcome of this communication was truthfully described in my posts and assessed as "good customer service".

2) Nowhere in my posts have I ever stated that anyone at Fodera was unresponsive. In the part of my post that Jason (Just Thumpin') quoted, it is very clear that I'm exclusively referring to a (hypothetical) response to my posts in this thread and my expectations regarding this response.

The only explanation for this "misunderstanding" I can come up with is that I wrote "whether they decide" instead of "whether they WILL decide" - I'm not sure, please remember that English is not my native language. Still, it's very clear that I am talking about "my posts", obviously referring to the ones I made in this thread.

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

+1 to Jason's response, and I think it's apparent that the guys at Fodera don't want ANYONE to be unhappy. When I had a problem with my bass, I brought it to the shop and both Jason and Joey were super friendly and did what they could to help. Can't see why this situation would be any different.

 

[Just Thumpin']

Christoph --

I have answered your PM. As I mentioned in my previous post, please definitely always contact me directly at my shop email at:

[email protected]

Unfortunately the last shop email that we have been able to look up from you was received in the third week of October, 2012. This was a thread back and forth between you and Holly Wagner. It is obvious (now) that you ended up not being 100% satisfied with that interaction. Again, this is one of the reasons that I try to make myself (and our Company) completely accessible through as many methods as possible...so that we end pleasing all of our customers as close to 100% of the time as possible.

Unfortunately, I am not sure how much differently we could have answered you given that your bass was originally built in December of 1998 and (according to your email) purchased used by you in either 2004 or 2005.

Your email to us was thorough, detailed, considerate and asking us for help. Unfortunately, with a bass that we have not seen for a minimum of seven years (that was 14 years old), there is just no way that we can be of much help with this kind of problem without physically having the instrument in front of us.

We stand by ready, willing and very able to try to develop a solution for your instrument that makes you want to play it every day -- and enjoy doing so. That is what we are about. We look forward to hearing from you at the shop.

Regards,

Jason

But maybe it's smart to at least publicly state the following:

1) I have definitely contacted and communicated with Fodera about the issue, including sending photos. Please talk to Holly Wagner. The outcome of this communication was truthfully described in my posts and assessed as "good customer service".

2) Nowhere in my posts have I ever stated that anyone at Fodera was unresponsive. In the part of my post that Jason (Just Thumpin') quoted, it is very clear that I'm exclusively referring to a (hypothetical) response to my posts in this thread and my expectations regarding this response.

The only explanation for this "misunderstanding" I can come up with is that I wrote "whether they decide" instead of "whether they WILL decide" - I'm not sure, please remember that English is not my native language. Still, it's very clear that I am talking about "my posts", obviously referring to the ones I made in this thread.

 

[DirtPoorRobins]

Christoph, if you want your fodera to be everything you always dreamed it would be, fodera can make it happen, but they need your bass in their hands (that makes sense right?). I would risk my entire fodera (tshirt) collection that they would make the bass perfect for you. When I visited, their front desk had an emperor standard jigsaw puzzle (thanks to the bandsaw) because the wood had a small knot or something in it. I thought jason only joked about cutting a bass to pieces if it wasn't up to their standards. They not only strive and achieve perfection in their craftsmanship, they remind themselves everyday that anything less than the best is unacceptable.

 

[oldfretless]

I just have to say that if anyone is afraid of the EMG's, don't be. I thought I had a perfect bass, everybody raved about it, I love it, and it has DC's. The new YYD was something I knew I would love, but didn't think others would after hearing thd DC bass. But, to a person, everyone likes the YY better, thinks it's crisper, cleaner, and both have walnut bodies. I don't think one is better than the other, but all the recent buzz about the DC's may just be personal preferance. Then again, EMG-X?

 

[nostatic]

I love the EMGs in my YYD. I went with DCs in the new builds partially because they are 5-strings and not sure about how well EMG does the 5-string thing. The DCs on fretless I think are the right choice, I still wonder about DC vs EMG for the fretted 5...

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

apparently both Janek Gwizdala and Felix Pastorius have both swapped out their DCs for the new Aguilar DCMs....I got to try them when I worked at Aguilar, and liked them, but definitely didn't find them as warm or nuanced as my DCs.

 

[DirtPoorRobins]

I love both EMGs and DCs, I could never choose between the two, so ill have both. The clarity of the EMGs is just so much fun to hear in a thick mix.

 

[christoph h.]

Unfortunately, I am not sure how much differently we could have answered you given that your bass was originally built in December of 1998 and (according to your email) purchased used by you in either 2004 or 2005.

I will simply repeat what I said before: I understand that your offer/answer is completely reasonable. I'm not complaining about Foderas communication or customer service.

From now on I will contact you via email so that we can continue to communicate privately.

 

[SRFSterling5]

Christoph, if you want your fodera to be everything you always dreamed it would be, fodera can make it happen, but they need your bass in their hands (that makes sense right?). I would risk my entire fodera (tshirt) collection that they would make the bass perfect for you. When I visited, their front desk had an emperor standard jigsaw puzzle (thanks to the bandsaw) because the wood had a small knot or something in it. I thought jason only joked about cutting a bass to pieces if it wasn't up to their standards. They not only strive and achieve perfection in their craftsmanship, they remind themselves everyday that anything less than the best is unacceptable.

I definitely agree. The Fodera team are a great bunch of folks and Jason is very good at responding promptly. Plus he is someone that is extremely willing to go the extra mile to help. I'm confident that you will be taken care of.

 

[narud]

apparently both Janek Gwizdala and Felix Pastorius have both swapped out their DCs for the new Aguilar DCMs....I got to try them when I worked at Aguilar, and liked them, but definitely didn't find them as warm or nuanced as my DCs.

when you roll off as much high end as these guys do, does it matter what pickups you have in there

 

[mrbassman_de]

+1 to Jason's response, and I think it's apparent that the guys at Fodera don't want ANYONE to be unhappy. When I had a problem with my bass, I brought it to the shop and both Jason and Joey were super friendly and did what they could to help. Can't see why this situation would be any different.

The difference here has been clearly posted by Christoph a few posts earlier: a few thousand miles to ship the bass 2 ways - which cost about 800-1000 USD without the funds for repair work - plus all customs hazzle etc. - all that just without the evidence that the issue could be fixed at all - instead of bringing it directly to Fodera going by tram or whatever, for the cost of a bus ticket...

To prevent a waste of time and money we in Germany (or elsewhere in EU) always try to get as much information how to fix an issue locally (or probably to find out that it is not an issue at all) BEFORE shipping a bass overseas. Even if that would be of course the best thing to do and even if we all know that the support at Fodera is the first choice here and has been so well elaborated since Jason joined them !

And - with all respect: Christoph clearly and politely pointed out that he does not have a problem with the Fodera members or their support, but with his bass. It is a wonderful benefit of this club given to all members that we all can share our experiences and get help here if it could not be achieved elsewhere.

Anyway - Christoph and Jason will find a way to discuss this further either in or outside this forum. I am sure that this issue will be history in a few weeks ... and I would appreciate if Christoph could post then which action was helpful in the end.

 

[cnltb]

I'd still suggest , have one of the luthiers in germany look at it before sending it off.
One of them may well be able to help as well.

Also... I heard of exactly the same situation with another builders instrument.
The bass was sold second hand and the neck didn't hold up(a figured one piece neck if I remember correctly).
The builder ended up making a new neck for it and as far as I know the new owner was rather happy in the end.

Good luck with this!

 

[gkbass13]

The difference here has been clearly posted by Christoph a few posts earlier: a few thousand miles to ship the bass 2 ways - which cost about 800-1000 USD without the funds for repair work - plus all customs hazzle etc. - all that just without the evidence that the issue could be fixed at all - instead of bringing it directly to Fodera going by tram or whatever, for the cost of a bus ticket...

To prevent a waste of time and money we in Germany (or elsewhere in EU) always try to get as much information how to fix an issue locally (or probably to find out that it is not an issue at all) BEFORE shipping a bass overseas. Even if that would be of course the best thing to do and even if we all know that the support at Fodera is the first choice here and has been so well elaborated since Jason joined them !

And - with all respect: Christoph clearly and politely pointed out that he does not have a problem with the Fodera members or their support, but with his bass. It is a wonderful benefit of this club given to all members that we all can share our experiences and get help here if it could not be achieved elsewhere.

Anyway - Christoph and Jason will find a way to discuss this further either in or outside this forum. I am sure that this issue will be history in a few weeks ... and I would appreciate if Christoph could post then which action was helpful in the end.

The hypothetical situations posted by Christoph didn't help the situation at all either, and certainly seemed to blur some lines for readers of the posts being discussed.

I also have an Emperor 5 bolt on, that was also bought used, also visited the Fodera shop before arriving at my door, and am now for the first time experiencing some neck movement...but it has been very humid here lately...so it is expected. I think the post about Fodera playability and the the nature of their neck shapes was an important one in this discussion. extreme care and attention is needed from the owner on a pretty consistent basis to maintain that sort of perfection.

I am sure the situation will be resolved. I feel fortunate after hearing stories like this, that I'm only 150 miles from the Fodera shop!

on a fun side note...my girlfriend got me a $150 gift card to Fodera to light a fire under my ass regarding a custom order...gears turning...

Grady

 

[firebass]

FWIW a related story with a happy ending...

I have a 1998 Emperor II that I bought used in 2005.

I have no idea what the previous owner did to it, but there were significant problems with the truss rod and neck stability which lead me to take it to the local Fodera approved shop, Ven/Main Street Guitars here in Tokyo.

They put in a new truss rod and the same neck is now *freaky* stable, even with the temperature/humidity swings of Japanese seasons the truss rod barely requires any adjustment.

So in my case, a new truss rod made all the difference, and completely transformed the bass into a keeper!