Fodera Club Part XXVI

[nostatic]

alder/ebony

Yup - nice balance between warm and sizzle.

EMG PJ and DCs are pretty much fire and ice. And I'm in the middle - lukewarm water.

Figure out the tone you're searching for, then they can build to that. After awhile you get to know what woods you typically like but learning by personal experience can be a bit costly...

 

[steubig]

learn to use/love the sound of the bass you have? mine it for all its worth?

 

[Damian Coccio]

Yup - nice balance between warm and sizzle.

That's exactly why I'm getting it. Not bad slapped either.

 

[LakeEffect]

You are correct that EMG's and DC's will change the whole thing. To me, it's interesting to note that there are several dealers that have ordered the same bass over and over with maybe one tweak. My EII is one of about 4 or 5. When we spoke, he told me his vision and exactly how it would sound. My point is, the only way to get your sound exactly is if you play that bass and it's you. Then order those woods. I'm lucky to have several "sounds" available, but I don't look for a specific tone. Hope this helps.

Yeah it does, I get what you're saying. Very, very true. Luckily, I don't obsess over having a specific tone as much some people, I am much more concerned with playability - which is what pulled me into Foderas in the first place. The main reason I'm even going the custom route is because i want a 17.5mm spacing 5-String Monarch, not necessarily to get the "end all" of tones. I even really like the tone of my bass I have now and thats Ash/RW, though I wouldn't necessarily want to build a custom with those specs. I think many basses sound very good, especially if they have DC's and a Pope preamp, never really heard a Fodera I couldn't appreciate. But, in the first instance I have where I get to choose specs, I'm going to give it a whirl and try to nail it.

Thanks for taking time out to respond everyone, this discussion has been incredibly helpful for a number of reasons.

 

[Just Thumpin']

Thanks for the kind words and vote of confidence! You can always get this kind of advice from us (me, Joey or Phil) as part of the spec process. I tend not to answer detailed questions about individual builds here as it is not really the best forum for it from me, but at the shop either by email or cell phone works great! By the way, Joey and I are just back from a weekend in London at the London Bass Show -- what a great little event! We got to meet a lot of wonderful folks, hear some great music (Paul Turner and his band were standouts) and talk bass for nearly 16 hours over two days!

Cheers,

J

IMHO, you should tell Jason those things you said, and take his advice. People can give you input based on their experience, but he plays every or almost every bass that leaves there. I like the ash, but I really like the walnut, and the different neck and fingerboard woods change that. Two I have I wasn't thrilled about until I changed the mid jumper in the pre. They became completely different, to my ear. I'm just sayin', congrats, ask questions, but just don't pick a bunch of woods without Jason telling you they fit your vision. Good luck!

 

[iwearpumas]

Whats good to eat in London?

 

[Angus]

It's like asking what is good to eat in NYC- London is one of the best food cities in the world.

 

[Munjibunga]

It's like asking what is good to eat in NYC- London is one of the best food cities in the world.

As long as you don't get English food. I had some of the best Italian food I've ever had in London.

 

[nostatic]

Indian ftw.

 

[Mitchthebassplayer]

+1. I stay in Camden every time I go, and the food is insane. The pub that Amy Winehouse used to work at is right there, and has some of the best meat pies I've ever had. But incredible Indian, middle-eastern, great pub food....it's all there. Always grew up hearing that food in the UK was awful. Totally untrue. Although it's quite easy to find bad fish and chips around just as it is finding a crappy slice of pizza in NYC.

 

[Munjibunga]

IMHO, you should tell Jason those things you said, and take his advice. People can give you input based on their experience, but he plays every or almost every bass that leaves there. I like the ash, but I really like the walnut, and the different neck and fingerboard woods change that. Two I have I wasn't thrilled about until I changed the mid jumper in the pre. They became completely different, to my ear. I'm just sayin', congrats, ask questions, but just don't pick a bunch of woods without Jason telling you they fit your vision. Good luck!

Yes, Jason was very helpful in sussing out what woods, pickup spacing and neck joints would get me close to my tone goals on both of my basses. In both cases, it was a three-point landing - I got exactly what I wanted.

 

[Lugzy]

I was going to side with Munji and say anything apart from British food but that's not quite true.. As long as you stay clear of dodgy looking Kebab houses, you'll be fine.

Whats good to eat in London?

 

[Lugzy]

Hi Jason. Glad to hear you & Joey had a good time. The London Bass Guitar show's a great event and getting better every year, but the number of exhibitors is still small. I wish there were more pro-audio stands but that's me. I'm sure Fodera's presence has helped to up the profile..BTW Bassgear UK has one of the better stands, especially if they had their usual spot, just outside of the main hall.."The Noise!!"

Thanks for the kind words and vote of confidence! You can always get this kind of advice from us (me, Joey or Phil) as part of the spec process. I tend not to answer detailed questions about individual builds here as it is not really the best forum for it from me, but at the shop either by email or cell phone works great! By the way, Joey and I are just back from a weekend in London at the London Bass Show -- what a great little event! We got to meet a lot of wonderful folks, hear some great music (Paul Turner and his band were standouts) and talk bass for nearly 16 hours over two days!

Cheers,

J

 

[Molan]

As long as you don't get English food. I had some of the best Italian food I've ever had in London.

Ah man, you need to come back to London and see what's available these days.

The UK has some of the very best restaurants in the world these days. In fact there was a big piece of research published last year about the quality of British food and ingredients that so upset the French that questions were raised in their parliament about their falling food standards relative to ours

Of course there are still some dodgy places around but it's a very different world from where it was even 5 years ago.

 

[Molan]

Hi Jason. Glad to hear you & Joey had a good time. The London Bass Guitar show's a great event and getting better every year, but the number of exhibitors is still small. I wish there were more pro-audio stands but that's me. I'm sure Fodera's presence has helped to up the profile..BTW Bassgear UK has one of the better stands, especially if they had their usual spot, just outside of the main hall.."The Noise!!"

We moved back into the main hall this year because that nice little slot was changed in design and became a staging area for Elixir strings performance events

The main hall was not as bad as previous years but volume slowly rose over the weekend and was pretty nasty at times on the Sunday.

Number of exhibitors was down this year because the 'big boys' like Fender & Yamaha decided to pull out and support a guitar based event in Birmingham instead. They obviously felt that putting a few basses on their stand at a guitar show was more worthwhile than attending a bass only show.

How the music retail business ever allowed two shows to run simultaneously on the same weekend I'll never understand. . .

 

[Molan]

By the way, Joey and I are just back from a weekend in London at the London Bass Show -- what a great little event! We got to meet a lot of wonderful folks, hear some great music (Paul Turner and his band were standouts) and talk bass for nearly 16 hours over two days!

Cheers,

J

We had a wonderful time with Jason & Joey on our stand at the show. I learned soooo much from both of them about not only Fodera instruments but the business in general.

A real honour to be working alongside them and watching them help interested visitors.

We even finalised one deal and completed a second with their assistance!

There are some cool pictures on the Fodera FaceBook page
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.753630657989363.1073741842.374564999229266&type=1

I also took a few - one of my favourites was taken whilst watching Joey get to grips with a custom built 7 string with a 'bowel loosening' low F# tuning

 

[Lugzy]

Man, that's a shame regarding losing your spot to Elixir. If I remember rightly, they're stand was opposite yours last year and they were a pretty sad looking affair!! And double helping of raspberries to Fender & Yamaha for not supporting "The only Bass Event (of recognition) in the UK." Do the fat stringers not warrant enough attention???

We moved back into the main hall this year because that nice little slot was changed in design and became a staging area for Elixir strings performance events

The main hall was not as bad as previous years but volume slowly rose over the weekend and was pretty nasty at times on the Sunday.

Number of exhibitors was down this year because the 'big boys' like Fender & Yamaha decided to pull out and support a guitar based event in Birmingham instead. They obviously felt that putting a few basses on their stand at a guitar show was more worthwhile than attending a bass only show.

How the music retail business ever allowed two shows to run simultaneously on the same weekend I'll never understand. . .

 

[Just Thumpin']

I can only echo the sentiments already expressed. The food was fabulous. We ate Indian (with Dave Swift) one night, exceptional Chinese one night and at a really cool Mediterranean fusion restaurant named Nopi. London was glorious. I got to do some fantastic runs in Kensington Gardens / Hyde Park and we saw the sun every day!

I am a huge Foodie, and there is no question in my mind that the scene in London is exceptional in that regard!

Cheers,

J

Whats good to eat in London?

 

[Molan]

Just received this photo and had to share - the team from BassGear at the London show with Joey, Jason, Dan Veall and Dave Swift (who kindly loaned us his AJ Presentation for the duration of the show & even let people try it out!).

Really sums up the mood of everyone for the whole weekend

 

[asbs]

As a french Man I am totaly agree with that food point.
Paris is not any more the best place to eat.

Like everything in France, big taxes are the only reason for that.
If you are really good on something and if you want make money, so you would better start your business in other country.
I left France since couples of months for this reason.

Now back to Fodera !

Ah man, you need to come back to London and see what's available these days.

The UK has some of the very best restaurants in the world these days. In fact there was a big piece of research published last year about the quality of British food and ingredients that so upset the French that questions were raised in their parliament about their falling food standards relative to ours

Of course there are still some dodgy places around but it's a very different world from where it was even 5 years ago.