Fodera really worth the cost?

[Bass Viking]

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

I'm in the same situation so I get where you're coming from. I bought a Monarch Standard (as a retirement gift to myself) because I was also curious about the brand. I bought it sight unseen, which is pretty much the only way I'll get to try one around here. As far as worth, there are so many great quality instruments available for less money and Foderas cost what they do in part because of where they are located. For me, I find it's worth it to spend the money if a bass gives me something unique, e.g. the signature tone of a Ken Smith. My Fodera sounds and plays great but there's nothing really identifiable about the tone. I also have a Sadowsky Metro that sounds killer and is much less $$. And don't get me started on my Roscoe!

As far as Sadowsky pricing versus Fodera, I know that Sadowsky outsources the parts whereas Fodera does the woodworking inhouse.

 

[lfmn16]

Yes !!!!!

 

[dhagopian]

I am wondering why the hell they cost so much...?

Because they pay a staff of people to live in NY.

 

[fishdreams]

I tried them in their shop, A/B-ed their fretless against my beloved Linc. It doesnt sound 'better' than my Linc, but the Linc only does its own tone - albeit extremely well, and it now has a crack in the body that because of the idiosyncratic construction can not be repaired; also it is not as comfortable. The Foderas, on the other hand, I perceive as the perfect journeyman bass/swiss army knife - not much 'character' of it own, but it does every possible generic bass tone extremely well, is super easy to play; the kind of instrument you can take to every gig imaginable - a wedding in the afternoon, backing a singer/songwriter in the evening, and then a jazz/fusion show late at night - and you'll never have to worry, which makes life so much easier in a city like NYC if you do that kind of thing. And they are constructed traditionally enough that everything can be repaired, with Fodera themselves around the corner (for me). So yes, I think they are worth the dough, and I am pondering their fretless model to succeed the Linc.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

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

I've read your original post a few times through, and I'm not clear if the Fodera you bought was new. It just says that you own one. Hopefully, you bought used, and it shouldn't be too hard to get at least most of your money back. At least, that's what I'd do if this were my post.

 

[Gizmot]

The Harvard Business School Formula for Value:

Value = Utility x Esteem / Price.

The biggest single factor of value is ESTEEM. In that aspect, Fodera basses are very high. So - I'd say that even though they cost a lot, they deliver the "cool guy factor" that makes their high price worth it to some people.

 

[jwr]

Personally, I've bought basses for thousands a bunch of times without knowing what they will be like. How am I supposed to do that without putting it in my hands? Now, I always purchase used so that I can get most of if not all of my money back.

Worth it? I'm not sure. Never tried one of these and I'm not you, so I cannot determine that. Was it worth trying though? Sure, why not. You only live once as far as I know, so I don't really subscribe to the whole buyers remorse thing unless it hurt my wallet for a long time.

 

[Mechanical]

Foderas are beautiful instruments. Let's get that out of the way.

But...if I want something precise, I want it machined.

 

[elgranluis]

A caterham will own almost any sports car in a track. Yet ,it doesn’t say “I’m a wealthy guy” like a Ferrari or lambo does.

That’s kinda how I feel about fodera. Sure , you could be playing whatever thing and probably sound just as good at a fraction of cost , but then you wouldn’t be able to say “look at me work, I’m a pro player , like a real real pro that plays big acts and has a fodera “

 

[Element Zero]

... but then you wouldn’t be able to say “look at me work, I’m a pro player , like a real real pro that plays big acts and has a fodera “

Quite literally never heard or read any Fodera owner ever saying that.

 

[Mechanical]

Quite literally never heard or read any Fodera owner ever saying that.

I don't think they literally say that.

 

[Rumbledore]

would definitely grab-up a Wal before a Fodera. I think Wal has a better voice. A voice more distinctive than a jazz want to be

 

[dhagopian]

Am I the only one who finds it ironic the OP is basically claiming Fodera isn't "worth it" while he plays a high-end, NY-made, expensive jazz clone? Maybe it's just me...

 

[sawzalot]

Not to me. But I do love Tom Kennedy's work, and some of the sounds he gets out of his basses.

 

[TNCreature]

The recurring and unanswerable question; is X worth $Y?
The only possible answer is: Yes. No. Maybe. It Depends, Really.

ENJOY!

 

[DrayMiles]

Hmm...

I have this analogy...

When I played a few in the shop, I remember thinking "***n, this thing is solid. It reminds me of a high end Mercedes... As far as quality goes."

That's about as close as I can put it...

I love Fender, but quality wise, Fodera is way out of the ballpark. Holding one was eye opening.... Imagine having it built for you exclusively?

 

[DrayMiles]

As I understand it, all their employees receive medical benefits and a retirement plan. That is excellent.

That's what I was told in the shop. They have benefits...

That says a lot...

 

[Nohrellas]

At that pricepoint you're far into the territory of diminishing returns. You can easily get a bass that is 95% there in terms of sound and playability for a quarter of the cost or less. And yes I would absolutely expect your custom Sadowsky to feel and sound better since it was designed to your specs.
You have to know for yourself whether the prestige, looks and maybe extra few % are worth double or quadruple the cost. That has nothing to do with Fodera, it's pretty much true across the board for all kinds of items.

 

[Maynjo]

I agree with you ... And I am glad there is so much to choose from.. But what makes one worth more or less then the other?

What makes something "worth" a certain amount is based solely on what someone is willing to pay for said object. Since you chose to pay that much for it, you validated it's "worth". I would never pay that much for a bass, especially not when a 600 dollar schecter or an ibanez can play/sound just as nice.

On the other hand, I would really love to own a Roscoe. I would never buy one new though.

 

[David Sutkin]

I've never seen a thread on here asking what tuners to 'upgrade to' on a Fodera, or which pot values work better with the pickups... not to say it doesn't happen, but I don't recall ever seeing it.

That’s a GREAT point.