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Fodera Club Part XXVII

#2,981
On another note (why I checked into the thread today before the soapbox post above)..

I am likely going to be listing my Monarch 4 Special (generation one) FS soon. It is dead mint, with black hardware and a Fodera installed drop tuner.

This is the Ash/RW board/Maple neck/Cedar top/Duncan DC, 24 fret rendition of the standard line. Original case/hard candy/typical "fodera owner" things. Case is also in perfect shape (I've used a Mono bag with it from day 1). She's on her way out for financial reasons, in anticipation of the holiday season and my taking delivery of a custom shortly thereafter. If anyone is interested, please let me know, i'll probably list it this weekend but wanted to give a heads up here.
 
#2,982
Just Thumpin' said:
We've done everything we can to get her out to ya'! Just waiting on clearance from U.S. Fish & Wildlife. Never imagined in a million years I'd have to write a statement like that...imagine that? Have to wait for a government agency for clearance to ship a bass guitar!
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It isn't a bass guitar. It is a Fodera.:) I waited a year, what's a few more days? All good. Spoke to Phil today (and yesterday)... The bass is boxed and ready to go. Stupid weird woods!

Mango is illegal in Canada, will that be a problem? :p

Better to do the right paperwork than have my baby sit in a dark damp warehouse for days in Niagara Falls, NY.
 
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#2,983
Angus said:
If by "Kala U Bass Killer", you mean "something that can crush a U Bass solely by virtue of it's tremendous mass", then yes! It's a full size instrument. And probably 400lbs. :D
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Is that yours?

If so, you gotta admit that the neck looks like a 20-25" from that angle. Weird.

I mentioned that as one of the Fodera gang's buddies brought a Kala U Bass to the shop when I was last there. Pretty funny to see a few of the Fodera folks play that little thing. BTW, it didn't sound even close tonally to any of the Foderas we were playing. Cool and fun little thing, but not much more than that.
 
#2,984
Baird6869 said:
Is that yours?

If so, you gotta admit that the neck looks like a 20-25" from that angle. Weird.

I mentioned that as one of the Fodera gang's buddies brought a Kala U Bass to the shop when I was last there. Pretty funny to see a few of the Fodera folks play that little thing. BTW, it didn't sound even close tonally to any of the Foderas we were playing. Cool and fun little thing, but not much more than that.
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When you get the bass you will have to do a soundclip with tone roll off and bridge pickup for me :)
Will it have 70's pickup spacing?
 
#2,988
Baird6869 said:
Is that yours?

If so, you gotta admit that the neck looks like a 20-25" from that angle. Weird.
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Hah, yeah, the angle squashes it a bit to me sure. Full 34"! It is mine (or, rather, will be when completed).

Speaking of which...

410120653.jpg
 
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#2,989
Baird6869 said:
Has Fodera done anything with pernambuco wood? The stuff a lot of violin bows are made of.
Seems hard as hell and can look pretty cool.
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It's hard to get in wide pieces, though you could probably get fingerboard size ones fairly easy (wide enough for bows, after all). Problem is that it is now listed by CITES as endangered, so it's both hard to get good quality pieces and its very expensive.

I've encountered two acoustic guitars that had pernambuco fingerboards. Looked like pau ferro and sounded like pau or rosewood. Probably not worth the upcharge.
 
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#2,996
ppal said:
Angus, what made you go with the 34" instead of the 33"? And 16.5 bridge spacing I assume?

Gorgeous bass! Can't wait to see it completed...congratulations
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Thanks! Been playing the snot out of my Zon 6 is the last few months- it'll always feel like home base!

I went for 34" because I wanted a little bit of a different feel than the 33"s- I wanted less of the "bouncy" string feel, and admittedly wanted something with a really strong, clear, thick B/E. I suppose its a bit of an insurance policy more than anything. 33" would've been fine I'm sure, but I wanted a bit more differentiation in sound and feel from the others I own.
 
#2,997
Baird6869 said:
Jason,

Has Fodera done anything with pernambuco wood? The stuff a lot of violin bows are made of.

Seems hard as hell and can look pretty cool.

Just curious......
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I will kind of just echo what Angus already said...it is incredibly hard (and thus VERY bright sounding), is generally only available in small pieces and is CITES listed. All in all, not a wood that would be easy to work with. Joey and Vinny have not worked with it in the past either.

Regards,

J
 
#2,998
Mastabass666 said:
How does it compare to maple or ash? It is something I am really interested to have on my next build. :D
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Wenge is really unique. One of the few tonewoods that REALLY stand out tonally. My ash/wenge/rosewood mayoes is extremely modern, bright and powerfull. Sounds great on the lowest notes. It`s not the warmest, fullest bass around and does not have the classic fender "bloom" - but works extremely well for what I need it for.
 
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