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Fodera strings, first impression

Winston H

Winston H

Apr 3, 2021
193
604
Melbourne, Australia
#1
New string day, first time I've tried Fodera strings. They are standard scale stainless steel, 34-130, round wound/core, not tapered.

Initial thoughts, wow these are bright, even brighter than DR Hi Beams I would say, and feel quite a bit stiffer than same gauge nickel wound. Massive low end, only need a kick from the preamp when dialed to the bridge pickup. Pulling a bit out of the highs until they wear in.

A note to Warwick players, with the two piece bridge, I can confirm a 130 non tapered string JUST fits. And also, I had to completely re-set floating bridge height as without a taper the 130 was sitting too high even with the saddle at its lowest. Also had to reset the nut height and truss rod. So a bit of fiddling around.

All up, I like them, not sure if I'll love them. Might be inclined to go a lighter gauge next time. Maybe like 28 or 30 - 125, but still in stainless.

Let's see how they age.

20210810_145432.jpg
 
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#2
Hey man that thumb bass is absolutely beautiful! That wood grain is better looking on the thumb than the corvettes I've seen with that look. So I was seriously eyeing those strings for my Corvette 5er. What I'm looking for is something that adds bite and definition to the heavy lows and huge growl these Warwick basses seem to have. How would you describe the mid presence and overtones with these strings?
 
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#3
GTHintz said:
Hey man that thumb bass is absolutely beautiful! That wood grain is better looking on the thumb than the corvettes I've seen with that look. So I was seriously eyeing those strings for my Corvette 5er. What I'm looking for is something that adds bite and definition to the heavy lows and huge growl these Warwick basses seem to have. How would you describe the mid presence and overtones with these strings?
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Thank you so much!

I'd say they definitely add bite and they have some serious low end push that sits nicely with the low mid growl inherent to Warwick basses. For my next set I will see how DR Lo Riders compare. I'd say it would be a close choice between the two from what I've heard.
 
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#4
Winston H said:
Thank you so much!

I'd say they definitely add bite and they have some serious low end push that sits nicely with the low mid growl inherent to Warwick basses. For my next set I will see how DR Lo Riders compare. I'd say it would be a close choice between the two from what I've heard.
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Dang it sounds like I have another runner up to try. I've tried lo riders on another bass and they are good strings. They sound pretty well rounded with good fundimental and felt great in both hands. Nice tension and nice feel for finger plucking.
 
#6
smeet said:
Interesting. I’ve been mostly using Dunlop Super Bright Nickels (great all round string) and sometimes Cobalt rounds (more aggressive sounding with bigger lows and sparklier highs). I used to love Fat Beams too. Any idea how these compare?
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Those are all strings I've never tried. Lol it sounds like you would probably like sadowski blue labels. I'm playing the stainless strings and they remind me a little bit of nickels or nickel steel when they are new except for the tone doesn't die quick like nickels.
 
#8
smeet said:
Thanks, I'll check those out!
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Hey just remembered that I've played regular Dunlop steels and the Sadowski strings will be similar to those except I think they have a little more meat in the mids so you'll have a different overtone. Cool strings though. I really think they sound Taylor made for either a stingray or an MTD or maybe a ken Smith something you'd want to push low mids and get growly tones.
 
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#10
Ok so new development, the Foderas with my very low action do not like to be drop tuned at all. I went to a half step down tuning and the B was way too floppy. In standard tuning they are fantastic, and still have great brightness after two weeks of solid play and I am enjoying playing them. I'm also thankful for the callouses on my fingers as they are definitely not smooth on the lower strings.

Trying to play the verse in Diary Of Jane by Breaking Benjamin (B♭tuning) with fingers is near on impossible. The string simply doesn't spring back quickly enough for the next finger to pluck.

Still impressed, but I wouldn't say $100AUD impressed. Lo Riders are definitely my next port of call.

I wish they made DR DDT in a 6 set. Frankly there is a total lack of 6 sets available. The Warwick strings that came with my bass were far too light on the higher strings.

#frustrated.
 
#11
Winston H said:
the Foderas with my very low action do not like to be drop tuned at all. I went to a half step down tuning and the B was way too floppy.
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My experience tells me hex-core strings tend to do better with down-tuning due to their natural stiffness. The Forderas being round-core, I can see why they don't work too well with down-tuning.

Winston H said:
Lo Riders are definitely my next port of call.

I wish they made DR DDT in a 6 set. Frankly there is a total lack of 6 sets available.
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The Lo-Riders (hex core), both SS and Nickel, do come in a factory 6-string set, 30-45-65-85-105-130.
 
#12
michael_t said:
My experience tells me hex-core strings tend to do better with down-tuning due to their natural stiffness. The Forderas being round-core, I can see why they don't work too well with down-tuning.



The Lo-Riders (hex core), both SS and Nickel, do come in a factory 6-string set, 30-45-65-85-105-130.
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Yep, aware of that.

Its a shame the Warwick strings age so badly, so quickly. And also that the C string is way too light. It flicks off the fretboard with even a light touch.
 
#14
GTHintz said:
It makes me wonder how Ryan Martinie plays his goofy low tunings with the Dr high beams he plays. Those are round core too. I think they are a little too low tension for my style and I typically play in standard tuning even.
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It would all be about how his bass is set up. My last bass - a Belman Custom 5 - only ever had Hi Beams on it, and I could comfortably tune down a whole step because of the way it was set up.

My current - Warwick Thumb 6 - has an extremely low action, so unless I run a hex core I'll have trouble tuning down unless I adjust my string heights. And realistically, I have no need to tune down. The singer/guitarist plays in standard tuning usually, occasionally drop D or C, but I've got that covered.

Tonally, these strings are beautiful. I'm just not sold on the feel.
 
#15
I know for high beams I literally have to raise the bridge up a bit because of how floppy it can be. Cool thing is how easy we can change both the nut height and bridge height. I just wish the Fodera strings were cheaper it would get me trying them that much faster. Lol I know at some point I'm probably going to try just about every string out there. I'm just fascinated with the little details and subtle difference in everyone's strings.
 
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#16
GTHintz said:
I know for high beams I literally have to raise the bridge up a bit because of how floppy it can be. Cool thing is how easy we can change both the nut height and bridge height. I just wish the Fodera strings were cheaper it would get me trying them that much faster. Lol I know at some point I'm probably going to try just about every string out there. I'm just fascinated with the little details and subtle difference in everyone's strings.
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They certainly aren't the cheapest strings getting around. Set of 6 put me back $100AUD. Still, if I get 3 months out of them it's not a massive spend for an $8.2k bass.
 

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