Fodera or Sadowsky

[Ace Of Bass]

I can't imagine too many gigs you couldn't take a Sadowsky on...the Fodera is more specialized in tone, but it has more versatility than some people think...it's not all about playing jazz..Marc Kelly plays a Fodera with The Roots on Fallon and at most live shows nowadays and they play a bit of everything at times and that bass serves him well...so many options not being considered for whatever reason, but between the two, I'd probably go Sadowsky if the OP gigs heavy in different genres..again, hard to go wrong with a well made clone..if it's for occasional gigs like church I'd probably go Fodera...

 

[allenhumble]

New York Bass Works is worth a look too....

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Basses are not good investments, with the potential exception of certain vintage pieces (usually Fender).

Both Sadowsky and Fodera make amazing instruments. Given the two choices and price differences, I would personally be looking for a Sadowsky P/J (probably) Metro for the type of music I play and sounds I prefer.

 

[Marial]

Were it me, I'd go with a Sadowsky, but I'm a Jazz bass devotee. The MG sig Fodera continues to intrigue me, but like a top of the line BMW GS1200 Adventure or a KTM 1190, the price of entry will always be too steep.

The few Sadowskys I've played had absolutely stellar, incredibly comfortable, necks. Someday...

 

[Eminor3rd]

I don't think anyone can help much with this question -- it's really a matter of taste. Everyone pretty much agrees that those builders provide top notch quality and service, but the products are substantially different aesthetically and tonally. You just have to decide which one fits you better.

 

[JonKim]

I think foderas are very versatile instruments. One I owned had nordy pjs with the fodera/pope pre and I was able to dial in all kinds of tone and even vintage like p and j tones!
Beautiful instruments but for what I play (mostly church) I like to play my fender wannabe (what others think)
Sadowsky gets my vote for the best instrument for the working musician!

 

[JonKim]

On the side note I have owned both at the same time and would keep both if I could justify having 2 awesome instruments

 

[RickyWoo]

Basses are not good investments, with the potential exception of certain vintage pieces (usually Fender).

Both Sadowsky and Fodera make amazing instruments. Given the two choices and price differences, I would personally be looking for a Sadowsky P/J (probably) Metro for the type of music I play and sounds I prefer.

Not good investments for resale value? Or not good investments for finally getting the bass you want, instead of repeatedly buying the basses you just settle on and have lost countless hard earned dollars over? The latter is a wise investment choice in my experience. I've sold so many guitars and basses over the years that could have summed up to a few great "keepers". It took a long time for me to grasp what I was doing. Which was essentially blowing my cash away. < That's not a good investment.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Not good investments for resale value? Or not good investments for finally getting the bass you want, instead of repeatedly buying the basses you just settle on and have lost countless hard earned dollars over? The latter is a wise investment choice in my experience. I've sold so many guitars and basses over the years that could have summed up to a few great "keepers". It took a long time for me to grasp what I was doing. Which was essentially blowing my cash away. < That's not a good investment.

Yeah, I consider an investment as money that you can recoup later, appreciating in value. I do not consider most music equipment as investments.

 

[kittywithabanjo]

Thanks to exchange I could easily sell my Fodera for the same price I bought it new for

 

[Ewo]

The sound of Fodera us sounding Victor Wooten? Then I vote Sadowsky as for me Wooten sound is hollow....

Well, I was talking about the Rock Candy Funk Party videos (Takes New York is a live concert at the Iridium Ballroom) as a good way to hear the difference. Mike Merritt plays a Sadowsky on some tracks and a Fodera on others. Same guy, playing the two basses you wanted to compare, in the same mix.

 

[tleebassist11]

To me Sadowskys are a great side-man bass. Fodera's can be designed for that purpose but I feel they are more of a connect to your inner voice type instrument. Anything is possible with Fodera tonally, and Sadowksys are great for that meat and potatoes cut through the mix sound. That being said if you can afford to get the Fodera I would go that way and spec it out to exactly the sound your after.
God bless

 

[H2okie]

Fly to a big music city and hit up the best bass shops in the vacinity.

Play everything you can - without looking at the brand (hard to do - but try to be objective).

You usually will find a few that "speak" to you.

I found this one. I'd never heard of the brand - but I love her now : )

View attachment 910569

On a much smaller scale I did this years ago in my local driving distance area looking for my 1st 5er. Ended up with this used strange shaped Bubinga J-type with a "W" on top. Never heard of the brand before I bought it ... thought it was Washburn or something ... and it's still my favorite playing 5er. Tough to close ur eyes and ignore brand ... but fun if you can let it happen.

 

[Sweet Willie]

I didn't vote. Two good choices for sure. And some variety in models for both (maybe a little more variety for Fodera).

Come to NYC and visit both shops, as was previously suggested. While you're here, visit with Nick Epifani and Jeff Genzler and try out amps and speakers, too! I think Fodera, Epifani, and Genzler can all be checked out within a short walk from the 36th St R train stop in Brooklyn. And Long Island City in Queens for Sadowsky. Make a day of it in the outer boroughs! :-}

The only time I've seen Oteil play live was a couple of years ago with Oz Noy. Oteil was playing a Fodera at that gig. Sounded terrific. But talk about a fellah who also sounds good on a Fender P, a Modulus, etc...!

 

[Toptube]

In the next few years I'm going to invest in a top class bass. I'm torn between Fodera or Sadowsky. Talkbassers give me your opinions!

Why these two?

 

[drlndrve]

My 14 year old came up to me the other day and said, "Dad would you rather have a Lamborghini or a Ferrari ?"

 

[MD Stingray]

All I can say, don't just go for a "name". For many they are indeed the holy grail, for me they were a bit disappointing.

You might want to consider to add the option "other".

 

[Rich Emme]

You must definitely try both out in person, and as many different models as you can. I had serious GAS for both a Sadowsky and a Fodera for many years... last year I was able to purchase a Sadowsky NYC 5 and a Fodera E5S and while I liked both very much I ended up selling them because I didn't find the wide(r) fretboards as easy/comfortable to play as my other basses that are between 1.75"- 1.79" at the nut (They were both 1 7/8" @ Nut). I now know that a Sadowsky Will Lee model fits my specs, and unfortunately only the Fodera non-standard models do as well (which cost a lot more).

I wasn't able to try either before I bought them, but I "lucked out" and didn't loose any substantial money on them since I bought both used through TalkBass. Consider that you can recoup your money if you buy used and potentially be out of the shipping costs, but I see that as a negligible amount as if I was renting the bass for a few months

While I would love to own another Sadowsky/Fodera in the future, I don't have GAS for either anymore...as a matter of fact I've been happily gigging a Carvin PB5 GAS-free for a year.

I do have "curiosity" to play other brands out there like a Dingwall, Nordy, Adamovic, M Bass, but no GAS

 

[GBassNorth]

Having played both but owned neither (I went the vintage Fender and Alembic direction) I'd say each is a very different beast and probably best suited for very different playing situations.

I view the Sadowsky as one of the best modern Fenders you can buy (along with Nordy and Lull) and the Alleva Copella as the best vintage Fender you can buy (along with pre CBS). So if your intent is to gig rock covers and originals on stage the Sadowsky is a great choice along with the others mentioned.

The Fodera is a different animal in looks, feel and sound. It's very modern, hifi and piano like. It works very well in solo and modern jazz and new age type music and fantastic in the recording studio. I'd put it in the same camp as Alembic and Ken Smith basses.

Net - if you see yourself as a Fender kind of guy and you want the best there is, go with the Sadowsky (or Lull, Nordy or AC). However, if you see yourself as more of a free form interpretive and studio kind of guy then go with the Fodera (or Alembic). Either or both basses would be a welcome addition to nearly anyone's collection.

 

[bucephylus]

I must add that my current go to is a Carvin LB 75 modded out with nordstrand pickups and a Sadowsky Pre amp. I play through an Aggie th 500 and db112x2 and some days markbass lmt 800 and 102p travelers x2. Depending on my mood.

First, that should be a very serviceable axe. I've been gigging for the most part lately with a Sadowsky RV4 and a Fender Jazz with the Sadowsky preamp; both with Delano JMVC4 pickups. The Sadowsky is hands down a better instrument, especially as a player (the Fender has a pro fret leveling /ramp etc so setup not an issue); but both instruments produce essentially the same result in the mix. I keep the Fender because there are situations where one needs Fender on the headstock, especially on the pro/am bar circuit; or what's left of it.

IMO, for you getting a Sadowsky would give you a nicer instrument that would likely vibe better and be put together more carefully in all the right places; but your sound in the mix will be in the same zone. So, that choice kind of depends on what you can afford and what you value; but the raw result in the mix isn't going to be night and day. Roger, bless his heart, has made his sound accessible pretty much to any player who wants it.

The Fodera is quite a different situation. Impeccable instruments for sure. However, they have a much wider range of specification options; and between the variations in woods, electronics, scale lengths etc etc, they seem to me to purposely allow a much wider range in the tonal results. Which is great if you are pretty sure what you want and why you want it. But, you do see even players who are dedicated to Fodera sometimes going through a couple of instruments to get what they want. Sadowsky players also do this, of course; but I don't think the tonal results vary as much. Just something to be aware of. Fodera purposely puts the tonal result in the customer's corner, provides guidance, and produces stellar results. But, as a player, little things matter which you may or may not articulate well the first time around. Just something to be aware of. One good reason if you go that route to go play a few of their instruments first. But, then there is always that learning experience when you get the instrument out on the first gig....

Lots of great discussion points in this thread. Props to all the good comments. Nice to see TB'ers with so much knowledge and batting around a good discussion. Carry on.