Fodera Club Part XXII

[svtb15]

Nice basses but that is so messed up.. counterfeit Fodera's.. M Bass was doing some near knock offfs of Fodera and Allevas for a while too.. Ughhhhhh
My friend gets these Gibson Les paul Knockoffs from China.. for $200... Says Gibson and all. Almost impossible to tell except for the hardware... It is a crime.. But how do you stop this stuff?. I wont partake in it... To me its like knowing you have stolen property .. not cool

I though I let you guys know... if this is not the place for such things, feel free to delete it.

Fodera knock-offs from the beautifull city of Mielec (Poland) return....

Here is a picture from the luthier`s website:

http://www.martch.pl/produkty/go:basowe:125

If you`ve had anything to do with photoshop you sould easily notice, that the truss rod cover and the top part of the headstock have been brushed over.

Why, you ask?

Because the same instrument, with THE SAME PHOTO (without the photoshopped parts) is being sold as a legit Fodera:

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From what I`ve gathered there are quite a few of those being built, so beware - they look like instruments built well enoguh to fool somebody into buying them as the real deal.

 

[basses55]

I'll let Jason confirm or set me straight....but I do know that some other boutique luthiers wont use it because of its toxicity.

Some level of irritation when cutting or sanding...

They won't?

 

[cnltb]

I'll let Jason confirm or set me straight....but I do know that some other boutique luthiers wont use it because of its toxicity.

Some level of irritation when cutting or sanding...

Ah ok.
I was unaware.

 

[Baird6869]

Nice basses but that is so messed up.. counterfeit Fodera's.. M Bass was doing some near knock offfs of Fodera and Allevas for a while too.. Ughhhhhh
My friend gets these Gibson Les paul Knockoffs from China.. for $200... Says Gibson and all. Almost impossible to tell except for the hardware... It is a crime.. But how do you stop this stuff?. I wont partake in it... To me its like knowing you have stolen property .. not cool

Common sense IMO. I wouldn't buy a used Rolex online from anyone that isn't a reputable dealer, same with basses.

I ordered my 2 customs direct and thru Ultimate.

In any case, I think it would be real difficult to get away with a fake Fodera if the buyer was smart enough to call the shop with a serial # to confirm build details.

 

[svtb15]

I should really clarify.. the M basses were not direct knock offs of fodera etc.. but really had the visual of ultra inspired by look

 

[steubig]

In any case, I think it would be real difficult to get away with a fake Fodera if the buyer was smart enough to call the shop with a serial # to confirm build details.

indeed. i would always do this (and have).

it would also probably help ensure that the bass hadn't been stolen (assuming that the real owner would alert fodera
that it had been stolen).

 

[Just Thumpin']

No, we won't. Gorgeous material, but incredibly oily and Vin does not like putting it through the process of deresinating it...

J

They won't?

 

[Just Thumpin']

The bottom line is that there are those out there that wear a fake Rolex (or play a fake Fodera) and feel like they have gotten a great deal and "beaten the system." Others cannot imagine owning anything other than the genuine article.

Honestly, I have yet to see a fake that came anywhere close to fooling me, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some folks are content waking up in the morning asking "what am I going to copy today?" If that were my life I'd never bring myself to get out of bed...

Regards,

J

Common sense IMO. I wouldn't buy a used Rolex online from anyone that isn't a reputable dealer, same with basses.

I ordered my 2 customs direct and thru Ultimate.

In any case, I think it would be real difficult to get away with a fake Fodera if the buyer was smart enough to call the shop with a serial # to confirm build details.

 

[nostatic]

Some fretted love from Fri night (with some drop-D)

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[SRFSterling5]

Some fretted love from Fri night (with some drop-D)

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Yep, I detected the drop D towards the end. LOL

I think if your 5 was strung b-g, that low b would be massive. Sounds great as always.
Funny thing is in the beginning, if I didn't know any better, I thought some guitar player
tried to get a few chords in there just because.

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

I agree. But great playing either way!

 

[SRFSterling5]

I agree. But great playing either way!

I could picture myself in a lounge with a fine port wine and a fine cigar, indulging
In great jazz. Although today, the cigar thing wouldn't work, so I'd have to just settle for
the port. LOL

Yep, I agree, great playing.

 

[iwearpumas]

Hey Jason, how does the construction of a bass differ between a 33, 34, 35, and 36 scale? Is the neck longer or the placement of the bridge?

 

[Lennard III.]

Hey Jason, how does the construction of a bass differ between a 33, 34, 35, and 36 scale? Is the neck longer or the placement of the bridge?

both

a 36' neck feels nearly 1 fret longer than a 34' neck ... at least to my hands ... but I still would be able to play one finger per fret in the first 4 frets

 

[SRFSterling5]

both



a 36' neck feels nearly 1 fret longer than a 34' neck ... at least to my hands ... but I still would be able to play one finger per fret in the first 4 frets

That's why I felt a 35" scale was a good compromise for my EII build. I figured if you move 1/2" in both directions, the change would not be that great. I've never played a 35" Fodera but I'm thinking if I can handle a Lakland 5, shouldn't be that different.

 

[nostatic]

I could picture myself in a lounge with a fine port wine and a fine cigar, indulging
In great jazz. Although today, the cigar thing wouldn't work, so I'd have to just settle for
the port. LOL

Yep, I agree, great playing.

Thanks - though you're missing part of the visual. The lounge is in a yacht club on the water in Marina del Rey.

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

I recently played a buddy's Fodera Imperial and when I put it down I said, "cool, the MG shape feels really good at 34"." and he laughed and said, "dude, that's a 35"!"

Had no clue it felt so comfortable. The 36", however, is a whole different story. I personally LOVE my 33" Imperial and feel the B is as good if not better than many other larger scale basses I've owned.

 

[nostatic]

I think I had a 35" scale Fodera 5 briefly (I've lost track ). Comfy, but I'm really liking 34" scale. The MGS was an incredible bass and got me started on E-C tuning but I eventually wanted to stick with just one scale length so that I could play all my basses blindfolded. Some guys have no problem swapping scale lengths - I could do it but I had to pay attention.

I have to admit that I've been wanting a B-string on a few of the recent gigs, but part of that is just not enough time integrating the drop-D into my playing. It takes a bit of a mind adjustment since the tuning/position changes. I've flirted with a 6 briefly in the past and never stuck with it. That said, I now have no problems switching between 4 and 5 (E-C), mostly because I treat them as completely different instruments. The Fodera 5-string neck is so comfy that you start thinking, "sure, why not get a 6?"

Then I get back on the YYD and just go, "ahhhhhhhh"

 

[SRFSterling5]

Thanks - though you're missing part of the visual. The lounge is in a yacht club on the water in Marina del Rey.

Never mind, bust out the cigars. Been through that area on a prior trip to Cali, very nice area. Fitting for a smooth jazz gig.
Out in this neck of the woods, it's either Hawaii Yacht Club or Waikiki Yacht Club. It's been years since I played in that environment,
But I distinctly remember great food and a very mellow crowd.

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

I think I had a 35" scale Fodera 5 briefly (I've lost track ). Comfy, but I'm really liking 34" scale. The MGS was an incredible bass and got me started on E-C tuning but I eventually wanted to stick with just one scale length so that I could play all my basses blindfolded. Some guys have no problem swapping scale lengths - I could do it but I had to pay attention.

I have to admit that I've been wanting a B-string on a few of the recent gigs, but part of that is just not enough time integrating the drop-D into my playing. It takes a bit of a mind adjustment since the tuning/position changes. I've flirted with a 6 briefly in the past and never stuck with it. That said, I now have no problems switching between 4 and 5 (E-C), mostly because I treat them as completely different instruments. The Fodera 5-string neck is so comfy that you start thinking, "sure, why not get a 6?"

Then I get back on the YYD and just go, "ahhhhhhhh"

Going from 33"-35" doesn't really bother me. 36" is all of a sudden a way greater effort, but only then do the frets start to feel awkwardly far apart. But going from 4 to 5 to 6 still throws me for a loop. I'd prefer all 5 all the time, but if I have to go back and forth I start losing my coordination with my right hand.