Fodera Guitars Introduces the Imperial Mini-MG

[Honch]

Fodera is not the only company that can supply 30" headless strings I'm sure.
I had custom length ones wound by newtonestrings a while ago. There must be others able to do that, I guess.

Same as when Steinberger came out. First there was just D'addario, and some other. Then people wanted their own strings (regular) anyway. So the headpiece was invented that could take - not all strings - but regular single ball ends only. No matter how many had started to do double ball ends. Then, decades after came the headpiece that would accept both. I had Newtones too.

The main thing, is that the bass doesn't look that much different from "Steinbergers" or NS Design NS-CR5 basses in charcoal grey and basically the same headstock. I thought, by just looking at it, it would be around the same price, or at a stretch, double that of NS design. Which I would think be more appropriate.

Would you like to buy a car that looked like a Trabant but performed like a Lamborghini?

Still, it hasn't wowed me at all, and I can tell this just from by the looks and small details of it. No one's going to convince me that just small changes in this and that (described above) would produce huge amounts of impact on the feel, playability, and sound of this thing...

 

[FunkHead]

Well at least you could peel off the Butterfly sticker(Sure looks like just a sticker) and put it on a Squier. Then sell it as a Fodera on Craigslist.
On a serious note: It sure doesn't look like a Fodera Quality instrument. It looks like a bunch of random thoughts experimentally applied.

 

[Honch]

Well, as an ad it served its purpose as a click bait.

Wonder if it's just like that Steinberger click bait on E-bay that is now removed but was up at least a year. He had the faceplate of the steinberger printed out with his companies logos, and listed it as a rare item for 4 million bucks. Seeing the watched number it was really really high at least tenfold times than any other "regular" ad for Steinberger guitars. E-bay removed it just a long time afterwards when the complaints were too big. The company was some weird kind of "making sounds and presets" DIY cottage business, for a pedalboard or computer program (modelling) or whatever. Boss or Roland multieffects.

It isn't there anymore.

This reminds me of the newly re-marketed Gittler guitar or gittler bass made of steel only, and minimalist design. Only necessary things needed. I was impertinent on YT and asked in the comments below a video of their fishbone designs... it all looked like they were playing an antenna:

"Can you get in shortwave radio stations on that thing too?..."

I got banned from commenting on that vid, after that. Those were 5K. The thing is that that question wasn't far out. Any kind of steel rod, and lots of it, pointing out can very well start to pickup RF. And goes through it out the cable to the amp. Just as any long poorly made low budget cable can pickup radio.

Exactly like this bass, it seems like they lost the main reason why they make it at all. The end justifies the means in an awkward way, or maybe the other way around?

 

[Just Thumpin']

$1249.00 Just saying. View attachment 860287

Keisel Basses

And it

Yes, thanks please! I live in Sweden! What an opportunity for you. And me! Are the flight tickets (return) for me included in this price? It seems the only way to test drive it properly, to bring it onboard on any international flight. The main incentive for it.

LOL, whil

If so, what's the point fanfaring about it here then, when pics, and YT flicks only tells so much?

well then, start to debunk our fears then. What have we been wrong on? Double ball end strings? Does it takes just regular strings? We know that you've been wrong on one assumption, and that's the "headless lacks tonal character". Like...not some, not most, but all of them.

Please understand that we did make the initial post -- the good folks at TalkBass did because they felt that it was newsworthy -- so we were not planning on "fanfaring about it here."

And, I would be happy to answer questions about the bass -- for example, yes, the bass has been designed to use regular, short scale strings. And, to the person above who felt that it looked like the bass would be uncomfortable to play in the first position? It plays exactly like a "normal" Fodera in the first position.

Matthew Garrison has been around a long time and has been fortunate enough to play a LOT of basses. His technique also demands a tremendous amount of precision from an instrument. In fact, he plays with the lowest action / lightest tough of any artist with whom we regularly work. This instrument was designed around Matt's desires and needs as a pro player. Clearly it is not an instrument that is intended for every player -- it is a package of specifications designed to solve a specific set of issues that Matt wanted to solve. He wanted a bass that he could carry on a plane in a regular, electric guitar-sized gigbag and play and sound at least as good as his earlier Foderas. He also wanted it to be "stealthy looking" and have a matte black finish...

In terms of our statement about the headless instruments that we have played lacking tonal character? This is based on the collective opinion of a bunch of folks who have built and played a lot of bases over many, many years -- including a lot of headless instruments. There certainly may be headless instruments out there whose tone we would love. They just haven't crossed our benches yet. And, as always, tone is highly subjective and great tone lies in the ears of the beholder. Just because we don't like the tone of a certain headless bass doesn't mean that others might not love it. That is what makes building instruments so highly personal and continually exciting.

Kindest regards,

J

 

[Just Thumpin']

Well at least you could peel off the Butterfly sticker(Sure looks like just a sticker) and put it on a Squier. Then sell it as a Fodera on Craigslist.
On a serious note: It sure doesn't look like a Fodera Quality instrument. It looks like a bunch of random thoughts experimentally applied.

The butterfly Fodera logo is hand-inlaid abalone and mother-of-pearl.

As for the looks and design of the instrument, everyone is entitled to their personal idea about what beauty and good design are, but each and every spec of the Mini-MG was made in consultation with Matt -- since this was designed as his personal instrument. Matt is thrilled with it and already considers it to be a significant step forward from his previous four Foderas. We don't really do "random thoughts experimentally applied" here. A great deal of time and thinking -- in consultation with the artists for whom we are building the instrument -- goes into a new build. So while I can completely understand how you might not dig the Mini-MG, making a statement that it is a bunch of random thoughts is just not factually correct.

 

[Just Thumpin']

Well, as an ad it served its purpose as a click bait.

It wasn't an ad. It was a press release that we sent out to a great many media outlets and TB picked up on it and posted it...

 

[Honch]

If I would sit next to one on an airplane see him stow it away under or on top of my things, I would feel very tempted to "accidentally slam" my bags or "accidentally drop" (whatever they contain) upon this thing. And go "oooops...so sorry...hope it's insured". As I now know what the case contains.

 

[FunkHead]

The butterfly Fodera logo is hand-inlaid abalone and mother-of-pearl.

As for the looks and design of the instrument, everyone is entitled to their personal idea about what beauty and good design are, but each and every spec of the Mini-MG was made in consultation with Matt -- since this was designed as his personal instrument. Matt is thrilled with it and already considers it to be a significant step forward from his previous four Foderas. We don't really do "random thoughts experimentally applied" here. A great deal of time and thinking -- in consultation with the artists for whom we are building the instrument -- goes into a new build. So while I can completely understand how you might not dig the Mini-MG, making a statement that it is a bunch of random thoughts is just not factually correct.

Thanks, I feel better now. I know it's not "random thoughts experimentally applied" But to me that's how it looks. for example: The headstock looks like a normal one that was cut off somewhere around the A string. Then wrapped with a Piece of metal. Then the Sticker looking Butterfly is stuck on. It just looks so cheesy to me but that's Just one persons impression. I really don't want to be mean but I simply don't care for it at all. Not that anyone cares what I think.

 

[Honch]

By and large, it's a (and the) perfect bass for MG, Matt. For him it's "ne plus ultra" or whatever it's called in latin. We all should be glad for him. That he finally found the end of the rainbow.

However, my quest going on still, for the perfect bass for my needs wishes and dreams. Aren't we all?

Maybe it'll be the next Fodera? Who knows?

 

[Honch]

Not that anyone cares what I think.

I do.

 

[Just Thumpin']

I don't know what they want their instruments to be.

We want to be able to continue to build in a completely no-compromise manner. To have the staff necessary to provide the finest customer service of which we are capable of. To treat each of our customers like family and to solve their individual playing needs and tonal goals. We want to use only the finest materials, and make sure that they are all be sustainably sourced (if they are raw materials) or are manufactured by companies that treat their employees well. We want to treat our employees well and make sure that they earn a living wage that allows them to plan a future here within our company.

We want to be able to build custom instruments to the exact specifications and needs of the player for whom we are building without worrying about whether or not the resulting instrument will be a "commercial success." Please consider the vastly different specs of the Mini-MG, Victor Wooten's Bow Bass, Anthony Jackson's Presentation II and Andy Cichon's 4-string Emperor -- all instruments that were created from a completely blank sheet of paper over the past several years and all serving musicians with vastly different visions of what they want from an instrument.

We want to continue to be able to take what we learn from working with the wonderful variety of musicians with which we work and apply it to instruments that a wider audience will enjoy playing. We want the people that do end up entrusting their hard earned money to us for a "dream instrument" purchase to feel like they have made a good investment in an instrument that they will hopefully play for a lifetime and in a Company that will support them and back them for that lifetime.

I am certain that I can't adequately convey what we want our instruments to be thoroughly with text and hopefully some of you will come and visit us here in Brooklyn as 30 minutes spent with us in the shop tends to be the very best way of explaining what we hope Fodera will continue to be. In the meantime, if you have five minutes, this short film was done by a film student a number of years ago. It does a pretty good job of showing us as we are and, hopefully, better describes what we hope that our instruments will be:

 

[Honch]

...Any of our opinions on the Mini G are not meant to degrade the Imperial Mini G's quality in any way. I'm sure it is a top quality instrument and is obviously intended for pro players who invest in only the best of the best...

Pro players? Not plural. It's one only.
Pro player. Matthew Garrisson.

But I don't know. These days you can do wonders with stem cells and DNA surgery. Maybe he's got 9 identical "twins" or siblings that'll buy the other 9 of them.

 

[FunkHead]

I do.

Thanks! Then I will elaborate:
If this Fodera was presented to me as a Prototype, I would understand it better. Then I would expect the "Real" one to include some changes. As an example: I would make the Headstock Symmetrical. It would be Fashioned from either wood or a lightweight metal such as Titanium or even Graphite.
The B string tuner would definitely have to be relocated. The Drop D Gizmo should be a new Higher=Tech design to fit the bass better. Better yet just leave the Drop D out of the picture as it's a 5 string.

 

[Honch]

Let it be known - now I am out of here, since it has turned poisonus by now - I would have no trouble in buying or investing in other Fodera instruments. It's not the company as such.

 

[cnltb]

We want to be able to continue to build in a completely no-compromise manner. To have the staff necessary to provide the finest customer service of which we are capable of. To treat each of our customers like family and to solve their individual playing needs and tonal goals. We want to use only the finest materials, and make sure that they are all be sustainably sourced (if they are raw materials) or are manufactured by companies that treat their employees well. We want to treat our employees well and make sure that they earn a living wage that allows them to plan a future here within our company.

We want to be able to build custom instruments to the exact specifications and needs of the player for whom we are building without worrying about whether or not the resulting instrument will be a "commercial success." Please consider the vastly different specs of the Mini-MG, Victor Wooten's Bow Bass, Anthony Jackson's Presentation II and Andy Cichon's 4-string Emperor -- all instruments that were created from a completely blank sheet of paper over the past several years and all serving musicians with vastly different visions of what they want from an instrument.

We want to continue to be able to take what we learn from working with the wonderful variety of musicians with which we work and apply it to instruments that a wider audience will enjoy playing. We want the people that do end up entrusting their hard earned money to us for a "dream instrument" purchase to feel like they have made a good investment in an instrument that they will hopefully play for a lifetime and in a Company that will support them and back them for that lifetime.

I am certain that I can't adequately convey what we want our instruments to be thoroughly with text and hopefully some of you will come and visit us here in Brooklyn as 30 minutes spent with us in the shop tends to be the very best way of explaining what we hope Fodera will continue to be. In the meantime, if you have five minutes, this short film was done by a film student a number of years ago. It does a pretty good job of showing us as we are and, hopefully, better describes what we hope that our instruments will be:

Thanks as always, for taking the time to answer to all this!
Yes; I do have 5 minutes!
A nice video that reminds me of what I have seen at a few companies I know of that work at the same level of craftmanship and overall quality.
If it wasn't so far, I'd love to come visit!

 

[jwilson67]

Bottom line is Fodera is an incredible company that makes amazing basses. And YES - If I ever happen to be in New York I would love to go by the shop and lustily play some Foderas!

 

[Roland GR 88]

If I would sit next to one on an airplane see him stow it away under or on top of my things, I would feel very tempted to "accidentally slam" my bags or "accidentally drop" (whatever they contain) upon this thing. And go "oooops...so sorry...hope it's insured". As I now know what the case contains.

Tja, ar du inte en sot kille......

 

[40Hz]

You can buy a top shelf Alembic for less money. Just sayin'

 

[Honch]

Keep it up for he rest'of them Fodera!

The MG is a bargain and happy hour offer compared to this one:

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USD 25.000

It's even pre-owned it seems.

 

[cnltb]

Keep it up for he rest'of them Fodera!

The MG is a bargain and happy hour offer compared to this one:

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USD 25.000

It's even pre-owned it seems.

The AJ P II does not have as many potential direct competitors.
It's a different story all together I think.
As far as I am concerned, all this is NOT about high priced basses in general but about the MG-Mini which to some has issues at this price point taking the competition into account.