Fodera really worth the cost?

[RedJag]

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

You’re paying for the skilled labor and time it takes to make a Fodera, along with materials cost. I don’t own one, but Fodera uses some of the best looking and sounding woods available, along with amazing electronics packages like their custom Mike Pope preamps, their proprietary bridges made by Hipshot. Every piece of it is meticulously hand crafted.

 

[Wisebass]

Just asking is it really worth the bread?

Hi jzfunkateer

This is not a brand new topic!

I hope for every bassplayer, that (s)he can buy a bass, that is worth the money (s)he spends.

And I hope for everybody who spends money for a car, a watch, a house…. or a bass

that (s)he will be happy with it!

I will never spend a lot of money for a big house a Rolex or a fancy car. (They don 't rock )

For a bass? Depends! It needs to have that drool- factor! Sound and design wise!

My own feelings are that if the question had to be asked then perhaps the Squire would have been just as good to the OP

Back in the days a Ritter had to start his career as a squire!

So maybe a Ritter would be better than a Fodera?


Wise(b)ass

 

[ElliottStrong]

You’re paying for the skilled labor and time it takes to make a Fodera, along with materials cost. I don’t own one, but Fodera uses some of the best looking and sounding woods available, along with amazing electronics packages like their custom Mike Pope preamps, their proprietary bridges made by Hipshot. Every piece of it is meticulously hand crafted.

Your also paying for service after the sale, Joey and company @ Fodera have upgraded preamps, replaced loose Dunlops, even completely refinished a bass for me, at no charge because they take pride in their work and don't want a faulty bass out there with their name on it. They take pride in their craft

 

[Axstar]

I don't believe it for a minute. Does anyone know their cost margins, i.e. net profit per bass. Me thinks it may be quite high.

Roger Sadowsky and Vinny Fedora, earlier today:

 

[GIBrat51]

Well, I suppose that if Fodera made something that filled an empty niche in my herd, then.. I'd probably own one. And yes, in that case, it would be worth it to me. But, Fodera doesn't make anything that fills an empty niche in my herd, so... no, a Fodera isn't worth it to me. But, if and when they decide to make a left handed, 34" scale, passive, 4 string hollowbody bass (which is the only unfilled niche in my herd), then maybe I'll consider a Fodera... As for others? "Worth it" is something only they can decide...

 

[RedJag]

Well, i suppose that if Fodera made something that filled an empty niche in my herd, then.. I'd probably own one. And yes, in that case, it would be worth it to me. But, Fodera doesn't make anything that fills an empty niche in my herd, so... no, a Fodera isn't worth it to me. But, if and when they decide to make a left handed, 34" scale, passive, 4 string hollowbody bass (which is the only unfilled niche in my herd), then maybe I'll consider a Fodera... As for others? "Worth it" is something only they can decide...

Well, most Fodera’s are built to order, so why can’t they make that for you?

 

[GIBrat51]

For the same reasons Gretsch won't build me one (and a left handed White Falcon Bass - or even a long scale Electromatic - would fill the bill very nicely). Gretsch won't do it because they don't want to... and they don't need my money. Fodera won't do it; can't be bothered. They build solid body basses and guitars with active pickups - period. And, far as I can tell from their website, left handed bass players don't exist - which is pretty common for "custom" makers, IME. They're doing just fine without my money, anyway... Simple as that...

 

[Watchootognbout]

Why do you need us to convince you?
Either it is or isn't.

 

[rogerbmiller]

For the same reasons Gretsch won't build me one (and a left handed White Falcon Bass - or even a long scale Electromatic - would fill the bill very nicely). Gretsch won't do it because they don't want to... and they don't need my money. Fodera won't do it; can't be bothered. They build solid body basses and guitars with active pickups - period. And, far as I can tell from their website, left handed bass players don't exist - which is pretty common for "custom" makers, IME. They're doing just fine without my money, anyway... Simple as that...

They build passive basses. In fact more than one of their ultra high end Masterbuilt basses have been passive. And their line of P and J standards are passive.

And they absolutely make lefty basses. Here is one:

Invalid Link Removed

I believe you are correct that like most makers of electric basses, they only make solid body basses...

 

[darkinners]

For the same reasons Gretsch won't build me one (and a left handed White Falcon Bass - or even a long scale Electromatic - would fill the bill very nicely). Gretsch won't do it because they don't want to... and they don't need my money. Fodera won't do it; can't be bothered. They build solid body basses and guitars with active pickups - period. And, far as I can tell from their website, left handed bass players don't exist - which is pretty common for "custom" makers, IME. They're doing just fine without my money, anyway... Simple as that...

Fodera have Hybrid model, it's hollow body but it cost more than an arm plus a leg tho.

 

[Bass Viking]

Thanks man.. Sadowsky does all their New York Series work in house.. Just like Fodera. I have been to the shop..

I'm pretty sure the Sadowsky necks and bodies are made elsewhere, then further work is done on them in his shop.

 

[gkella]

Isn’t any purchase relative to how deep your pockets are.
I mean that if you are financially fortunate that you won’t be happy with a $1000.00 Bass.
Just that you can drop the coin on a more expensive one.
Same as a car.
I can only afford a mid size Chevy.
It gets you where you want to go, but it is not a Porsche.
If I had the coin, I would have no problem buying a Fodera.
I am not going to run up my credit card to get one.

 

[bassballs27]

Isn’t any purchase relative to how deep your pockets are.
I mean that if you are financially fortunate that you won’t be happy with a $1000.00 Bass.
Just that you can drop the coin on a more expensive one.
Same as a car.
I can only afford a mid size Chevy.
It gets you where you want to go, but it is not a Porsche.
If I had the coin, I would have no problem buying a Fodera.
I am not going to run up my credit card to get one.

And there are some people who drive Chevys and own Foderas. Where eventually the Fodera will hold more value than the car will. There’s plenty of people who own cars on the brink of failure yet own basses worth $20K plus. It’s all about priorities.

An interesting fact though, once people attain these prize expensive instruments, they realize they don’t want it anymore. The chase and anticipation seems to hold more value because of such a high expectation not being met immediately when they pluck the first string they touch.

Anyway, everyone’s mileage varies. Being happy and satisfied with what you have is worth far more than an expensive bass is worth. Bling is overrated.

 

[Rib 13]

Ive said this here before: Theres a subjective variable in microeconomics called "Utils". A Util is a unit of measurement for the amount of joy and satisfaction something gives you, regardless of its price-tag or how it was made. Only you can answer that.

 

[Usidore T Blue]

Ive said this here before: Theres a subjective variable in microeconomics called "Utils". A Util is a unit of measurement for the amount of joy and satisfaction something gives you, regardless of its price-tag or how it was made. Only you can answer that.

Leave it to the dismal science to replace words like joy and satisfaction with utils! Sheehs!

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Looking at the value for money within the domain of the so-called "boutique basses", I believe that the tone of a F Bass VF4 P/J bass is better than that of a Fodera Monarch ... yes, this is subjective, but the F Bass is more bassy, got more balls, a little impolite if we want ... fact is that, IAMNM, it costs half than the Fodera, so we should conclude that there's better value for the money in a F Bass whereas Fodera is not really worth the cost ... (Furlanetto against Fodera ... mmh ... who is the best ? Don't know but they are both of Italian origin, so they equally win ... I like F Bass more however eheh)

 

[HalfManHalfBass]

Haven't read all this thread but in my opinion: no.

I played a couple once in a shop and they had great, low actions but I was a bit surprised on the Yin Yang model that the routing around the P pickup could have been tidier.

If I had more money than sense maybe I'd have one along with a Ferrari and a Rolex, but in the real world there's no way I'd be able to or want to justify that amount of coin invested in what amounts to me as just a fancy piece of wood with steel strings stretched across it.

Rich people like to buy expensive things and I don't blame them for that -I'd do it too out of boredom/curiousity if I were rich! We all usually live just beyond our means in life. But while I have other commitments and low wages I'd just prefer the best I can afford and be done with it.

IMHO it's not necessary to spend 7k on a great bass these days and I want to buy other things, not just one fancy bass that I'm too scared to play out with and not be able to cover my rent for a few years.

 

[JZQuantum]

Just beacuse something costs a lot doesn't mean it's the right bass for you.

Yes, yes, and yes. I've had Sadowsky, Modulus, etc., etc., etc. The Sadowski just did nothing for me. I custom ordered it and waited 6 months to get it. Sold it with the quickness to someone that was happy to have it.

My favorite bass for many years now cost just $150 on ebay. A 1995 Peavey Fury 4 string with flats. I keep thinking..."shouldn't I have a more high end/boutique bass? I can afford it." But my Fury gets the call on most songs I write, while my 4 string StringRay gets the rest of my attention.

 

[David Sutkin]

One has to also take into consideration the volume and genre of the music one is playing. I play in heavy, alt rock trio .... Loud and often distorted. Over the years I have been lucky to amass quite a few basses in the collection including a Fodera Yin Yang Standard and a Fodera P bass and you'd be HARD PRESSED listening to my band to know when I am playing a $5500 bass and a $500 MIM FrankenP

Additionally, I was at a club last weekend on the Jersey shore and there was a live band playing in the room next to the bar I was in .... The bass tones were awesome, super warm, super deep and each note wonderfully articulated ..... When I walked over to see the gear, the bass player was playing an Ibanez SR bass .... Probably a $350 bass on the used market .... and his tone was KILLER.

It's MY opinion that the basses we buy are for US and US alone. We feel better playing high end basses but no one in the listening audience can hear the difference. Hell, I'm a bass player and I had no idea what their bass player was playing. It could have been a $10,000 Wal bass and it wouldn't have sounded any better than that Ibanez.

Perhaps if you're a solo bass player .... or play in a small ensemble at relatively "normal" volumes, one "might" be able to hear a distinction between a mortgage payment payment bass and a bass that costs as much as a dinner in a decent restaurant.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[David Jayne]

It's worth whatever people will pay. Me? Probably not. I did the pricey boutique thing years ago and now prefer simple passive bolt-on 4 strings. Preferences.