Fodera Club Part XXV

[Mitchthebassplayer]

i was a fodera owner for nearly a decade. had three of them. they didnt make me a better player. i can understand spending a ******** of money lighting a fire under your ass to practice a ton, but i dont really see an instrument making anyone a better player. you either have music in you or you dont imo. i still absolutely love what they do and if i had money to burn id pick one up again.

That's a shame, cause I def don't feel that way. My first fodera felt like no other bass I had ever played, and it's insanely low action and incredible feel suddenly allowed me to play things I had never even thought to play on my fenders and fender style basses. My second, current fodera, is a smaller scale and has smaller string spacing making it even more effortless, which then in turn makes me play differently and come up with new things I hadn't thought of before. True, it's all in my head to begin with, but I def believe certain instruments can subconsciously make you play a certain way based on their feel. When I pick up my vintage p basses, I instinctively play them a certain way, and I can do things on my imperial I could NEVER pull off on a vintage P....

 

[Vic]

i was a fodera owner for nearly a decade. had three of them. they didnt make me a better player. i can understand spending a ******** of money lighting a fire under your ass to practice a ton, but i dont really see an instrument making anyone a better player. you either have music in you or you dont imo. i still absolutely love what they do and if i had money to burn id pick one up again.

We very definitely differ here.

An instrument won't give you talent if you have none, to your point about having music in you. We agree on that, BUT...

I've OFTEN found it the case that an instrument that just gets that sound you crave, and that feel you love, will inspire the best in me to come out, make me want to play/practice more often and get more out of it.

BUT, this is NOT me saying everybody has to spend buku bux to get that. This is just me saying whichever instrument that is, is what makes whatever the price tag worth it. For the person that says "why would I spend buku on my gadget bass when I totally love my widget bass and don't see much difference between the two?", I say, "you don't... you're done".

The arguments usually start here when someone who's happy with a less expensive instrument either intentionally or unintentionally "guilts" an owner of a much more expensive instrument to somehow "justify" their purchase, for fear of being made to look like an idiot for spending so much more money when it was "unnecessary".

IMHO/IME, the artist/instrument relationship is such a huge personal thing, and to the passionate artist, even if they're not famous, price should be dictated by whatever it's worth to that specific person to get what truly speaks to them, and not worry about if that works for someone else or not.

My .02.

 

[LakeEffect]

Has anyone taken a deep breath and bought a Fodera without ever having played one?
If so, what has been the experience?

Yes, for me, it was definitely an "aha, this is what I've been missing out on", moment (and that was even on a bass that I didn't particularly like the pups on). Nevertheless, I immediately realized what each other brand I'd played was more or less trying to do and where, what are otherwise excellent basses, fall short in comparison for me. I've only been a Fodera owner for about two months, and I sold off all the other basses I own. I also realized that buying a Fodera Standard is actually a lot cheaper for me than continuously riding the bass carousel, taking losses here and there (they add up quicker than you might think when you really look back). Now, I have to admit, I definitely want more Foderas, and that is not a cheap proposition - but the difference is that I no longer need to find that one 'go to' bass, a void has been filled.

I just got a Monarch Standard Special and aside from potentially wanting a fretless or a five string some day, the MSS4 is all I 'need' in a bass, and if I ever get another four string its because I'm able to and I feel like treating myself, not out of some 'still searching for the right bass for me' quest.

 

[LakeEffect]

they didnt make me a better player. i can understand spending a ******** of money lighting a fire under your ass to practice a ton, but i dont really see an instrument making anyone a better player. you either have music in you or you dont imo. i still absolutely love what they do and if i had money to burn id pick one up again.

Yeah, differ as well, I think the instrument absolutely can make you a better player if it facilitates your ideas the best. For example, a doctor will never perform successful surgery without the necessary knowledge first, but even with that knowledge he's not at his best with a buzz saw instead of a scalpel. Nor are most photographers at their best with disposable cameras, perspective artists with soft mediums like water color and pastel, carpenters with the wrong tools, etc.

 

[Lennard III.]

We very definitely differ here.

An instrument won't give you talent if you have none, to your point about having music in you. We agree on that, BUT...

I've OFTEN found it the case that an instrument that just gets that sound you crave, and that feel you love, will inspire the best in me to come out, make me want to play/practice more often and get more out of it.

BUT, this is NOT me saying everybody has to spend buku bux to get that. This is just me saying whichever instrument that is, is what makes whatever the price tag worth it. For the person that says "why would I spend buku on my gadget bass when I totally love my widget bass and don't see much difference between the two?", I say, "you don't... you're done".

The arguments usually start here when someone who's happy with a less expensive instrument either intentionally or unintentionally "guilts" an owner of a much more expensive instrument to somehow "justify" their purchase, for fear of being made to look like an idiot for spending so much more money when it was "unnecessary".

IMHO/IME, the artist/instrument relationship is such a huge personal thing, and to the passionate artist, even if they're not famous, price should be dictated by whatever it's worth to that specific person to get what truly speaks to them, and not worry about if that works for someone else or not.

My .02.

I like that....

 

[Justice4trance]

I am just one who can GAS at a fodera at this moment.
I believe my 4hrs daily sleep will be fruitful when I get my hands on one .
The hours in my daily live is made up of work - to have the stash for a fodera. The rest of the hours are checking out on fodera basses and superb tones that can come out of these.
(Oh and of course practice hours on my current basses)

 

[Lugzy]

Hey Narud, can you tell us more about the 3 Fodera's you owned previously (likes & dislikes) and what you'd order tomorrow if you had the cash to throw down?? Just curious.

I agree with you regarding "owning one won't make you a better player," but I fall very much into Mitch's camp in that, a Fodera' will allow you to execute stuff you might find more difficult on other basses..

Cheers!!

i was a fodera owner for nearly a decade. had three of them. they didnt make me a better player. i can understand spending a ******** of money lighting a fire under your ass to practice a ton, but i dont really see an instrument making anyone a better player. you either have music in you or you dont imo. i still absolutely love what they do and if i had money to burn id pick one up again.

That's a shame, cause I def don't feel that way. My first fodera felt like no other bass I had ever played, and it's insanely low action and incredible feel suddenly allowed me to play things I had never even thought to play on my fenders and fender style basses. My second, current fodera, is a smaller scale and has smaller string spacing making it even more effortless, which then in turn makes me play differently and come up with new things I hadn't thought of before. True, it's all in my head to begin with, but I def believe certain instruments can subconsciously make you play a certain way based on their feel. When I pick up my vintage p basses, I instinctively play them a certain way, and I can do things on my imperial I could NEVER pull off on a vintage P....

 

[Damian Coccio]

I like instruments that get out of the way and let me do my thing. After all it's an extension of body/mind. If I'm fighting with action, a neck that moves around or tone that's not inspiring the bass isn't around long. Unless it's vintage and a special exception applies

 

[vision]

I've OFTEN found it the case that an instrument that just gets that sound you crave, and that feel you love, will inspire the best in me to come out, make me want to play/practice more often and get more out of it.

BUT, this is NOT me saying everybody has to spend buku bux to get that. This is just me saying whichever instrument that is, is what makes whatever the price tag worth it. For the person that says "why would I spend buku on my gadget bass when I totally love my widget bass and don't see much difference between the two?", I say, "you don't... you're done".

The arguments usually start here when someone who's happy with a less expensive instrument either intentionally or unintentionally "guilts" an owner of a much more expensive instrument to somehow "justify" their purchase, for fear of being made to look like an idiot for spending so much more money when it was "unnecessary".

IMHO/IME, the artist/instrument relationship is such a huge personal thing, and to the passionate artist, even if they're not famous, price should be dictated by whatever it's worth to that specific person to get what truly speaks to them, and not worry about if that works for someone else or not.

My .02.

This should be a sticky in every forum on TB.

 

[Baird6869]

I love to oick mine up all the time.

Yup. Oicking is the new twerking. I don't have time to explain everything new and hip to you guys.

 

[nostatic]

... i dont really see an instrument making anyone a better player. you either have music in you or you dont imo.

If one views music as a largely logical and mathematical endeavor, then this viewpoint has merit.

This goes along with the whole "wood doesn't matter" argument and those that claim that double-blind *listening* studies prove the differences in tone are indistinguishable. To me, that is a specious argument, because at least to me, making music is part science/math and part art. And I'm afraid that art can't really be distilled down numbers. It is a process, not a product.

Certain combinations of wood, metal, and the craftsmanship that went into creating an instrument can influence a player in ways that don't make absolute sense. There is no metric for mojo, and for some it doesn't exist. For others it does. And that's…ok.

 

[sanwin17]

Why play Baldwin, which is a perfectly good piano, when you can play a Steinway? You'll know why when you've played them both.

 

[Just Thumpin']

The Hybrid is a platform on which we fully plan to experiment in any number of ways...including those. All at some point in the future...

Regards,

J

Jason,
It makes perfect sense, thanks for the detailed reply. It's an unorthodox but very intriguing use of spruce. Also, for this particular instrument, did you guys at some point consider or experiment with bending the sides and/or a two-piece archtop style bridge?
Thanks,
Sergioman

 

[Vic]

I agree with you regarding "owning one won't make you a better player," but I fall very much into Mitch's camp in that, a Fodera' will allow you to execute stuff you might find more difficult on other basses..

No offense, but this seems contradictory. If it allows you to execute better, how does it not play a significant role in allowing you to become a better player?

 

[Just Thumpin']

First off, thanks so much for the kind words!

My thoughts are fairly simple...using words for this stuff is really, really dangerous. I'd have to physically feel the neck in order to give you any really quality advice. I wish it could be other than that!! Remember that with the cost of a Custom, you can send us any neck that you really love and we will carve yours to match...

Cheers,

J

Jason, I fully appreciate you readily answering questions and queries. It is incredibly helpful for the community as a whole.

My question is, seeing that I have a build coming due shortly, neck profiles. I am not 100% on the different shapes and styles. My build sheet calls for a standard but I am dabbling in a neck that (based on what I have seen on the website) that is middle ground between the standard and slim/fast. Current playing a VW classic and I feel the neck could be a hair thinner. Phil, who is very helpful, says that it is a V neck shape. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

 

[Just Thumpin']

This is something that is better handled by emailing us at:

[email protected]

You need to be a member of Club Fodera in order for us to provide the answer, so make sure that you have signed up on the website before making the inquiry.

Kindest regards,

J

as I know how busy Jason must be but if there's an archive...

I've had my Imp 5 for at least 6 yrs now and know little about it like birth year, top wood and pre-amp.

It is an Imperial Elite (I was told by seller)
5 string
36" scale
fretless
3 piece neck
beautiful ebony board
mahogany body
gold HW including engraved truss rod cover
single coils

It looks like the serial number is: I51693N (but the 6 could be 8) it's hard to read

I did register it soon after getting it but I have no more info.

 

[Just Thumpin']

No issues other than making a new nut so that the strings don't slosh around in the B-G slots. Contact us at the shop for pricing...

Kindest regards,

J

Jason,

I was discussing with sanwin17 about his 5 string imperial II he has for sale. It has the extended B tuning peg set up. The bass is currently strung B-G

Are there any issues changing the string tuning to E-C with regards to the extended peg?

Sanwin17 mentioned the nut would have to be changed. Is that an absolute? If yes, what is the approximate cost to change the nut if the bass is sent to you?

Here is the bass in question

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/feeler-fodera-imperial-ii-elite-5-33-scale-1045719/

Thank you

 

[Just Thumpin']

It's a custom E5 Bolt-on largely based off of the E5S platform. It has an absolutely killer set of P/J PUPs in it that Andy worked on with us a Carey Nordstrand.

J

What bass is Andy Cichon pictured with in the new Ampeg ads?

Looks like an E5S/E5SS lovechild (look at the control layout, string retainer and seemingly plain maple headstock) but with a fat single looking bridge PU and a P5 neck pickup.

Definately different!

 

[narud]

Hey Narud, can you tell us more about the 3 Fodera's you owned previously (likes & dislikes) and what you'd order tomorrow if you had the cash to throw down?? Just curious.

I agree with you regarding "owning one won't make you a better player," but I fall very much into Mitch's camp in that, a Fodera' will allow you to execute stuff you might find more difficult on other basses..

Cheers!!

i actually sold the fodera i owned the longest because it was harder to play than my fernandes 5 string. the narrower spacing at the nut and bridge was considerably easier to play than the fodera. neither instrument made me a better player or inspired me to play anything. listening to michael brecker, herbie hancock,black flag or whoever inspired new ideas. i dont want that kind of relationship with a piece of gear to create.

before i started doing my own fretwork, i developed a relationship with repair guys to get the decked action i like. any instrument can have the playability a fodera does. it just depends if you want to throw the money at it. in comparison, the 300 dollars or so for a complete refret with the truing of the board thatll get that insane action is cheap. once thats done, the execution argument is out the window.

these are just my own thoughts/experiences with high end gear. trust me, ive churned out my fair share of stuff over nearly the last 15 years i understand that basses can inspire some guys. to the guy considering dropping this kind of coin thinking it may unlock some door of creativity/inspiration? maybe, maybe not. for me they dont.

ive owned 3 emperors. one 34" scale 5 string bolt on. alder/ebony duncan duals. and 2 35" scale emperor elites. alder/ebony. duncan duals and the one i had the longest had aeros for 7 of the 8 years i owned it and duncans at the end. one was chestnut the other was buckeye. id love to check out a 17.5mm spacing/1 3/4" nut fodera. even if had the dough, id have a hard time with the sticker price. i like a rounder fingerboard radius (love the 7.25" fender radius) and for the 1k they charge to change it, id be tempted to just buy another bass with the upcharge money

 

[Lugzy]

True it is a contradiction of sorts. I guess it's down to our personal interpretation. We're all unique as individuals and whereas I'm able to play faster phrases (with the Fodera) more fluently, for me personally, It doesn't mean I'm better, just means I've improved on a specific area of my playing.

When I get to the point where I'm able to control that with meaningful legato and add some precise controlled vibrato..then I might be able to say otherwise.

No offense, but this seems contradictory. If it allows you to execute better, how does it not play a significant role in allowing you to become a better player?