Fodera really worth the cost?

[RickyWoo]

If it's the "Ferrari of basses", expect Ferrari prices. Don't expect that just because it's a "Ferrari" that it's anything more than a "car" though. A nice car.... but still.... just a vehicle with the primary purpose of getting you to your destination.

 

[Whippet]

It’s amazing to me, as someone new here, how rude and snarky some people are to others asking a question. So what if it has been asked in the past, maybe he’s asking the question because he’s heard things hyped up and something isn’t jiving for him. Sometimes it’s just nice to get opinions from others, even if they don’t necessarily fall inline with your own thoughts. There comes a point when the old phrase if you haven’t got anything nice (or constructive) to say about something, maybe it’s more thoughtful to say nothing.

Anyway, OP, I understand your feelings. I like it to any “luxury” purchase. For me, some of those take good time for me to gather my real feelings. There have been times when I’ve felt underwhelmed by something everyone else thought was marvelous. Regardless of technical or artistic merit, there’s a personal aspect involved that sometimes can’t be conveyed. But asking for what others feel, see, think, and hear is a good way to help gather your own thoughts.

My husband has a custom built instrument made by a luthier that was well known as the ultimate maker of those instruments. He got on a very long waiting list and spent a great many thousands of dollars on it. It is an outstanding piece of work. There are little details that set it apart, even from other custom made pieces. It’s a work of art. But, it never set his heart afire the way another he owns did. In all technical and quality aspects it’s outstanding but it just leaves him a bit cold. Maybe that’s what’s happening to you with Fodera right now.

It is talkbass and we're all online. No one is really held accountable. At worst they get banned. No one is going to get punched in the face. Snarky behavior isn't going to get you banned. Make no mistake, I think you're right and agree with all what you wrote. But many people just don't care in real life, never mind online.

Just try not to get calloused and wooden. Eventually as in everything else in life, this type of behavior will catch up. If you manage to avoid the consequences, bet your hiney that it'll manifest in your offsprings.

 

[DrayMiles]

I think peoples expectations of this type of guitar are too high

Hmm... Christine, that looks like Welsh....

Ah, Abergavenny and Aberystwyth...

 

[Whippet]

If it's the "Ferrari of basses", expect Ferrari prices. Don't expect that just because it's a "Ferrari" that it's anything more than a "car" though. A nice car.... but still.... just a vehicle with the primary purpose of getting you to your destination.

you should try picking up women with that car called Ferrari. Destination be damned, you will not want to end the ride. And it aint the car ride. LOL

Sadly a Fodera isn't all that great in picking up women..... at least I've never heard anyone on talkbass talk about this aspect.

 

[CoffeeLove]

Just asking is it really worth the bread?

To me, the answer is no, but to others it might be yes. I have had similar experiences to you while moving up in the "expense factor" of an instrument over the years. Increased expensive does not always equally improved quality or love for a given instrument, which are obviously two different things.

I empathize with you because it can be frustrating, and now I just play whatever feels and sounds good despite the cost or hype, which is currently a Bossa 5 and Stingray 5, my more expenses instruments have since been sold off because they did not sound or feel as good to me (subjective of course). Peace

 

[bassballs27]

It’s like owning a particular brand of car. At the end of the day, it’s a bass. It doesn’t have to cost all that much.

Many will tell you that it’s a game of diminishing returns. The more you spend, the less you get. Sure, you get the name...but there are plenty of basses that will get you by for a heck of lot less.

I much prefer bolt on neck construction over all others. Neck through construction is costly and not worth it.
Set neck is better... but still I prefer bolt on.

Whatever anyone decides to buy for a bass...it’s all about how it makes you feel when you play it! Much like a vehicle. If you don’t like it...you won’t play or drive it!

 

[chadds]

You sound foolish. Nobody in their right mind buys a Ferrari thinking "Hm, I wonder what this is all about? Let me try it." 100% of people that buy Ferraris are going after the look/name. It fundamentally does exactly the same thing as a Volkswagen; gets you from one place to another. It's more luxurious and nice, yes. But tremendously more luxurious and nice than a $70K Mercedes? Probably not. If you didn't know that spending $5000 on a bass was a luxury purchase and that it wouldn't sound/play twice as good as a $2500 bass then I don't know what to tell you. You're naive.

The driver or player who has the experience with performance would see/feel/hear the difference between the consumer and pro gear. Now folks who buy because they have the monies may not appreciate the distinctions. I for one can’t care about that. Get what you want. Don’t starve, save, and take care of your responsibilities. Outside of that no one can tell what value you place on the artistry of a creation and what you should spend on it.

 

[RickyWoo]

you should try picking up women with that car called Ferrari. Destination be damned, you will not want to end the ride. And it aint the car ride. LOL

Sadly a Fodera isn't all that great in picking up women..... at least I've never heard anyone on talkbass talk about this aspect.

Hey, I never said there weren't any perks with a Ferrari. And yes, the only women that ever got picked up by a Fodera owner are the wives who've passed out on the floor after hubby told them how much they paid for it. (Kidding)

 

[Spirit of Ox]

The first big instructional video for Victor Wooten came out in the late 90's. When he was talking about his gear he said, and I'm paraphrasing here, "just a four string Fodera with active EMGs, nothing special".

 

[wheresmyric]

Alembic's unique tone compelled me to make the purchase of a new bass. The people behind the company made that purchase easier, as I was happy to help put food on their table. Which, in essence, is what you're doing when you make a purchase of such an instrument.

All of my Alembics had issues. Switches, bridge bottomed out, neck won't take light strings due to truss rods/neck, etc. For two of them, I provided the top wood so they had one chance to get it right. With that said, I was happy with my purchases.

Anyone who thinks these basses, or any expensive bass, are all "that" are mistaken. It's just a bass, and it's meant to be played.

And I never understood how someone would value a bass to the point where they would think they are not worthy of playing it due to it's price. They must not think too highly of themselves. Trust me, at any level of skill you are worthy of playing it. Human beings are better than any bass. Just get it insured.

 

[chadds]

As a college student I worked for a prominent car dealership. Besides the trade-Ins the used car buyer would buy cars he wanted to. Corvettes etc. He bought a Fiat 124 Spyder convertible. Red with caramel tan interior. Normally I’m tooling around in the Corvettes, Mercedes or the new hi-end dealer sedans.

A Friday rush hour I’m driving the Fiat top down up the boulevard in front of the dealership. Women at the bus stop stepped up to the curb. It was then I knew the stories are true.

Basses? Not so much. It’s how you move on stage that attracts the babes. Especially if they can feel it’s you that is driving the band. If you achieve your goal and take your new lady out to some rusted hoopty Nova well we can’t help you. If there are dirty clothes on your floor and dishes in the sink take a break from TB and consider your priorities.

 

[eyeballkid]

Any bass is just pieces of wood and a couple hundred bucks of electronics. It's up to you of those are put together in a way that's worth the asking price.

 

[MD Stingray]

Good point.

Their roots are in NYC so they take the brutal beating of NY tax and shop maintenance fee, pay their workers real world wages, but without all this they might have not gotten anywhere....

Thanks. And your explanation sounds sensible to me. Fair answer.

 

[Jabba the bass]

I’ve owned a few high end basses and traded them off.. great basses but didn’t fit me. I just picked up a low budget passive Yamaha 5 and it’s a good one for me.. it’s all about what feels right and sounds right..

 

[Christine]

Did You just say the "G" word? I love you for it. But.. be prepared to take it from the "B" Guys. They're VERY serious!!!

If they’re that serious I would suggest they spend more time practicing than reading the rubbish I write here then they might at least appreciate the subtleties of expensive guitars even if they don’t need them

 

[rashrader]

They are beautiful instruments and, in the right hands, they can sound phenomenal. But, truth be told, I don't think any bass is magical or will make you a better musician. Also, I am amazed by the number of used ones that I see for sale.... I feel like folks probably set their expectations too high. With all of that being said, If I stumbled across the money, I would buy one.

 

[nonohmic]

I’ve owned a few high end basses and traded them off.. great basses but didn’t fit me. I just picked up a low budget passive Yamaha 5 and it’s a good one for me.. it’s all about what feels right and sounds right..

I've always thought an old TRB-P4 would be the perfect do all bass.

 

[4001]

(pardon my ignorance) (and all basses have their own unique tonal qualities)
... but, does the Fodera have a tone that screams Fodera and you know when you are hearing one like someone can pick out a P-Bass or a Rickenbacker 4001 just because the sound is unmistakable?? (for the most part)

What is their "signature" tone??

 

[J.KEEFE_bass]

Ok I realize these basses are nice looking well built great sounding instruments... And my whole career as a bass player I have been enticed to own the “Ferrari” of basses .. But now that I own one, I am wondering why the hell they cost so much...? Let me back up and say the bass I own is a standard... But still not cheap by any means... And it does play, look and sound great. It isn’t all that though... Let me also say that I own a Sadowsky that was made for me.. I get it was made for me to my personal tastes but it came in only slightly more costly then the Standard. And of course I love it.. It is a primo instrument and sounds good no matter what gig I use it on. It plays like a dream weighs less due to it having chambers. I get that Fodera does neck throughs with tone blocks and Yadi Yadi yada...I am not trying to do a Fodera vs. Sadowsky post here either. Just asking is it really worth the bread?
Discuss

In 2001 i dropped today's equivalent of $5,500 on a boutique bass. Although i still own it... I've always played my $1500 and less basses (Fender P & J's, Stingray) over it. So, I share your sentiment completely. I don't feel that a Fodera nor the like (Avella Coppollo) is worth the bread. I wish i had the money back and I could buy a 1960-62 slab board fender jazz bass.

 

[Eric Swaim]

Are Fodera's really worth their cost? I have owned 3 monarchs, one I bought brand new.

1) If you can afford it then cost is no issue.
2) If your buying it to play for $50-100 a night just to show everyone you have a really expensive bass, then the answer is no.
3) If your buying one to think your now in the Victor Wooten Club of bass playing then the answer is no.
4) if your going to play the bass all the time and and make this your signature bass and your sound then the answer is "YES"

So are Fodera basses worth the money? I have been asking the same question about a 1962 Fender Jazz Bass or 1959 Fender Precision. If you can afford it then Yes, go for it. If your taking money away from the family that needs it, then no that's a stupid idea to buy one.

Good Luck

 

[mdogs]

mostly it is a marketing technique that a manufacturer uses to position their products.

And here we go, I think this is actually at the root of the issue...too many people believe this!!

This is so typical of TB, I can’t afford it, it can’t be worth it.