Getting the "your bass is about to enter production" email from Mike is better than Christmas as a kid. It's finally my turn 
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Congratulations! What are your specs?Getting the "your bass is about to enter production" email from Mike is better than Christmas as a kid. It's finally my turn
When did you order?Getting the "your bass is about to enter production" email from Mike is better than Christmas as a kid. It's finally my turn
4-string Monarch Deluxe
Alder body
Curly walnut top with matching peghead and pickup covers
Flamed ebony board
Wenge neck with yellowheart stringers
MoP block inlays
Duncan dual coils
Trickfish preamp (was pope when I ordered but they're TF now)
Special pickup switching to allow individual series, parallel, and single coil per pickup (think Warwick Corvette $$)
Can anyone recognize what model this one is?
It's from Cindy laufer 1991 live in Yokohama show available on YouTube
Highly recommended BTW
It looks like an Emperor with a custom electronics layout.
I watched this documentary about Steinway making pianos in New York and guess who/what it reminded me of? Somehow I suspect if the Fodera staff watched this, they'd be like "yep, yep, yep, we know exactly what they're talking about". I'm not fond of simple analogies and obviously our instrument is five minutes old compared to the piano, but just maybe, we play the Steinways of the bass guitar world? Care, craft and the energy of New York City. Enjoy!
Thank you for posting!
In another life, I used to maintain the HVAC equipment in their 57th St. showroom, and occasionally strolled through to ogle the pianos.
I specifically remember a Zebra-wood Grand for around $300k (at the time, around 2003 or so). It was probably the most beautiful in the showroom.
(Little pointless blurb)-
Little known fact that the facility in Astoria,
Queens where they build the pianos is such a major landmark, that there is a whole Neighborhood named Steinway, with the main thoroughfare named Steinway Street. Taken for granted by perhaps 90% of its inhabitants and the people that travel through.
Heck, I went to High School in Astoria and had a lot of friends that lived in Steinway…I never knew about the connection until 10 years after I graduated and started working for that HVAC company.
That's about 20 min walking from the Sadowsky shop, the Steinway pianos factory. yup there's a little liqour store around the corner. I love Astoria! 
It's probably been 20 years since I've been on Steinway St, so I don't know how much has changed. But man, on the corner of Steinway and Broadway, there used to be a street vendor that had THE BEST Shish-kabobs on the planet. $5 for a Kabob and a piece of baguette. Pure heaven!That's about 20 min walking from the Sadowsky shop, the Steinway pianos factory. yup there's a little liqour store around the corner. I love Astoria!
This is a super solid spec. The wenge neck is the trick- my wenge-necked MG is special. Love the flamed ebony choice too!
Been a while since I've posted.
Please don't treat me harshly, it's a serious question in my mind, although some folks may think the answers are easy and the question is stupid.
I have 2 Fodera basses - a Yin Yang Standard, and Monarch 4 Deluxe (Laurel Burl top). My Yin Yang has been my main bass, mostly because the deluxe is so gorgeous I'm scared of scratching it on accident. I recently decided, I'm too old, and I'm going to enjoy my Deluxe and play it.
Due to weight of the cases - especially the Deluxe case - I recently bought the Mono 80 Vertigo gig bag which was recommended to me by a (friend of mine) local pro who has 6 of them and swears by them. He uses them for acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and bass. So, I have been storing the basses in their respective HSC and using the Mono only for transport. I play out between 1 and 4 times / week. It's a bit of a pain to constantly be transfering the basses back and forth from the HSC to the gig bag.
TLR - Is it ok to just use the Mono case as THE case, and just put the HSCs in my garage? I would obviously purchase a second one if folks think its a sound approach. I live in Florida panhandle, AC home, non smoker for environmental purposes. I want my instruments well protected as I can, but age and arthritis are catching up.
The Laurel Burl is attached just for eye candy purposes
Please don't treat me harshly, it's a serious question in my mind, although some folks may think the answers are easy and the question is stupid.
I have 2 Fodera basses - a Yin Yang Standard, and Monarch 4 Deluxe (Laurel Burl top). My Yin Yang has been my main bass, mostly because the deluxe is so gorgeous I'm scared of scratching it on accident. I recently decided, I'm too old, and I'm going to enjoy my Deluxe and play it.
Due to weight of the cases - especially the Deluxe case - I recently bought the Mono 80 Vertigo gig bag which was recommended to me by a (friend of mine) local pro who has 6 of them and swears by them. He uses them for acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and bass. So, I have been storing the basses in their respective HSC and using the Mono only for transport. I play out between 1 and 4 times / week. It's a bit of a pain to constantly be transfering the basses back and forth from the HSC to the gig bag.
TL
R - Is it ok to just use the Mono case as THE case, and just put the HSCs in my garage? I would obviously purchase a second one if folks think its a sound approach. I live in Florida panhandle, AC home, non smoker for environmental purposes. I want my instruments well protected as I can, but age and arthritis are catching up.The Laurel Burl is attached just for eye candy purposes
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Another choice is the newer Fodera case. VERY lightweight, very protective, and reasonably priced. Use your Basses! Don't leave them for someone else. But this weekend I grabbed one with the new case, and one with the red liner, and couldn't believe how much lighter the new case is. Maybe half the weight.
i never use hardshell cases. all my fodera cases are encased in plastic bags in the rafters in the garage.
Beautiful laurel burl top! Totally fine to use the mono case! I transport my Fodera in a high-end padded gig bag while its 'real' Fodera teardrop case lives in the basement.TL
The Laurel Birch is attached just for eye candy purposes
Thanks for the replies. One of the things that I have loved about the Fodera Club is so many of the people are long time TalkBass members. It gives one a lot of confidence when the replies and advice are from long time Fodera owners that have an obvious love of their basses. I'll likely be ordering another Mono in the near future and retire my HSCs to the garage or a closet.
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