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Fodera Monarch P

#82
With the expansion and therefore presumptive success of the Standard lines, I wonder how much cheaper they would be if Fodera wasn't in NYC. Of course, that's where the company began, and there are clear benefits to being in a city that great musicians frequent. Still, would there be a significant savings (and therefore cheaper instruments) if Fodera moved their Standard production to, say, a shop near their string production operation out in Pennsylvania? Obviously, Fodera would lose their advertising pitch of "made in the same shop, by the same people as our customs" but I don't believe quality would necessarily have to suffer. Just curious.
 
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#83
Dr. Cheese said:
That is a truly eloquent post. I know there is a market for an incredibly well made and refine
P-bass even though the beauty of the actual P-bass is more like a Volkswagen Beetle instead of an Audi A3.
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Exactly! It's not that luxury cars aren't awesome -- I'm a Pedulla player who is saving/shopping around for a custom fretless, I totally get it -- it's just that a P-bass isn't a luxury car. Like if Lamborghini produced a pickup truck, who would buy it? If you could afford and wanted a Lambo, you probably want a racecar. If you wanted a pickup, you probably couldn't afford and/or don't want a Lambo.

I don't know, I'm lost in my mixed metaphors now. I forget which hobby we're talking about.
 
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#84
Is it really worth bout $2,700 more than a Mia pbass? Bet no one in the audience would hear a difference. Bet the incremental improvement in craftsmanship, finish, etc. won't make you a better player..... If you're a wealthy man, knock yourself out and buy it and many other expensive premium basses, but if you're saving up for one, well ............
 
#85
stringthrough said:
Is it really worth bout $2,700 more than a Mia pbass? Bet no one in the audience would hear a difference. Bet the incremental improvement in craftsmanship, finish, etc. won't make you a better player..... If you're a wealthy man, knock yourself out and buy it and many other expensive premium basses, but if you're saving up for one, well ............
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No, won't make you a better player, but when you're really psyched about the instrument you're playing, it's inspiring. And as musicians, this is very important.

By the way, you check the prices on pre- CBS Fender Basses?
 
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#86
hbb-zz26-bf-555.jpg


I don't see what's wrong with the Fodera. I wanted a 6 string with a P pickup, Nordstrand Big Man, headless, fretless, and strung with TI Jazz Flats. It's active/passive with a tone knob. Very versatile, very easy to play, light, and the headless design allows it to fit into a guitar gig bag.
 
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#88
Sure, this is a chunk of change for a passive, four string Pbass. But so is a Fender Custom Shop Pino or a Nordy, Alleva-Coppolo or Sadowsky four banger. I've seen early 70's Fender Precisions sell for more.

Nobody seems to complain about those. I think in part it's because this is Fodera and it's a boutique P that looks like a boutique P rather than a boutique P that's trying to look like a Fender.

In some ways it's like Mercedes putting out a pickup truck - something that apparently will happen in a few years. For some people that just flies in the face of the very nature of a pickup truck.

For others, they see all the functionality they need from a truck plus extra styling and nice appointments that they like at an higher price point, but one they can afford so it appeals to them.

I can see both sides.
 
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#89
andruca said:
4k for a P-bass is definitely not ok for me. Not into boutique stuff at all (I'd have much more to say on the subject but prefer to leave it at that just so nobody feels offended) so for me it's a total waste of money. BTW, the pick playing in the Fodera P video is as sloppy as it gets. Pick playing on a bass has evolved a lot since that amorphous semy muted crap he plays. Properly picked (and grooved) P bass samples on a 88€ P-bass kit. Still sound more P bass than the Fodera. It's never the bass (much less a $4K bass). Looking that way is the wrong way for me, unless you're a collector of fine furniture, this is as far from a real life gigging P bass as it gets.
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If you think this guy's pick playing is "as sloppy as it gets" I think you need re-think what good bass playing is. BTW, that sound sample you posted isn't any better.
 
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#91
Smooth_bass88 said:
No, won't make you a better player, but when you're really psyched about the instrument you're playing, it's inspiring. And as musicians, this is very important.

By the way, you check the prices on pre- CBS Fender Basses?
Click to expand...

If the OP is (and many other TB members are) like me, no matter how much he drools after a bass, once he has it for a few months it will become "just" a goto bass, no more and no less. Said differently, the special thrill of playing it vs. any other fine bass he might have in his stable will largely be gone.

As for pre-CBS Fender basses, yes, they're very expensive. In my book too expensive just to get older/ dryer wood and a bit of that early Fender mystique. BTW, it's been pretty well reported that some pre-CBS Fender are stinkers and some CBS Fender are quite good. A lot of it comes down to how wood, metal, ceramic, etc. come together on any particular instrument. AKA, luck..... Some of this is evident by how desirable 70's JBasses have become thanks to the likes of Marcus Miller and Geddy Lee.
 
#93
stringthrough said:
If the OP is (and many other TB members are) like me, no matter how much he drools after a bass, once he has it for a few months it will become "just" a goto bass, no more and no less. Said differently, the special thrill of playing it vs. any other fine bass he might have in his stable will largely be gone.

As for pre-CBS Fender basses, yes, they're very expensive. In my book too expensive just to get older/ dryer wood and a bit of that early Fender mystique. BTW, it's been pretty well reported that some pre-CBS Fender are stinkers and some CBS Fender are quite good. A lot of it comes down to how wood, metal, ceramic, etc. come together on any particular instrument. AKA, luck..... Some of this is evident by how desirable 70's JBasses have become thanks to the likes of Marcus Miller and Geddy Lee.
Click to expand...

I must be an odd exception then. My main go-to bass (US Lakland Joe Osborn 4) I've had for about 4 years now and I'm still blissfully enamored with its tone every time I pick it up! (worth every penny btw!)
 
#94
Jared Lash said:
In some ways it's like Mercedes putting out a pickup truck - something that apparently will happen in a few years. For some people that just flies in the face of the very nature of a pickup truck.
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Unimog - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mercedes has been making these since the 40's.

Porsche's top selling vehicle is an SUV.

MV Agusta is building a sport touring bike:

24feb16-1.jpg


The idea of a luxury or high-end builder making something "utilitarian", yet still very much high-end, is nothing new :D
 
#96
SanDiegoHarry said:
Do the toys ever end with y'all???
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Life is short and you're dead a long time.

Reinforcement - one of Shirley's mentees died in a car wreck Tue while heading to campus. Was going to graduate this spring - very talented artist. She met with his parents this morning.

So as long as the bills are paid, I'm going to play basses I love and ride motorcycles that have some soul. Until I can't anymore...
 
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#97
nostatic said:
Life is short and you're dead a long time.

Reinforcement - one of Shirley's mentees died in a car wreck Tue while heading to campus. Was going to graduate this spring - very talented artist. She met with his parents this morning.

So as long as the bills are paid, I'm going to play basses I love and ride motorcycles that have some soul. Until I can't anymore...
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Sad to hear that - pass along my best to the girl. And yeah - toys are good!
 
#99
nostatic said:
Life is short and you're dead a long time.

Reinforcement - one of Shirley's mentees died in a car wreck Tue while heading to campus. Was going to graduate this spring - very talented artist. She met with his parents this morning.

So as long as the bills are paid, I'm going to play basses I love and ride motorcycles that have some soul. Until I can't anymore...
Click to expand...

Amen brother... that is exactly why I play in 2-3 bands and am divorced.
 
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