Did consider that but pushes the overall weight to much, most now being over 11lbs. Went alder for nice overall tone, but want the tone block to tighten the lows sometimes to much for me with alder and brighten the upper as well due to koa top
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Don't know about Fodera tone blocks but every walnut bass I've played had fairly strong mids so it might be a good match for the woods you have.
If you are taking the "warm" body wood route and you wanna stay very light with weight I would seriously consider a swamp ash body, which tonally to my ears is way warmer than regular ash, similar to alder but with more low end.
Fodera guys will tell you not to go with a swamp ash body - at least they told me that for my AJ5 build - because they say it's less present in the mix than medium/heavy ash (I agree with that).
Btw, swamp ash is largely used by every builder out there - boutique or not. I have a fretless with swamp ash body and ebony fb (Ibanez Gary Willis GWB-1) and it sounds spectacular. Had it for almost 10 years now and never had bad "lost in the mix" issues... and definitely lightweight for a 5 string.
Just ask Joey or Vinny.. they will give you the answer and explanation..
Congratulations on your new bass and I hope you don't have to wait too long for it !
Congratulations on your new bass and I hope you don't have to wait too long for it !
Now,that wasn't the answer to the question he asked, was it?
I would describe myself as a militant atheist, but even I wouldn't go there.
@JPMcGuire
If a 8k-10k Fodera makes your life better, by all means, do it. I recently bought a Lakland Skyline and now I'm thinking how many organs I should "donate" to be able to order a custom spec'ed US model.
Apart from that, don't you think 10lbs is a little bit heavy? Unless you only play sitting down, then I rest my case.
Opinion; No more , no less.I would describe myself as a militant atheist, but even I wouldn't go there.
@JPMcGuire
If a 8k-10k Fodera makes your life better, by all means, do it. I recently bought a Lakland Skyline and now I'm thinking how many organs I should "donate" to be able to order a custom spec'ed US model.
Apart from that, don't you think 10lbs is a little bit heavy? Unless you only play sitting down, then I rest my case.
In my experience, it won't change tone at all whatever you choose. It's a mental construction. Pick whatever looks better to you and you will like how it sounds.
It's a damn Fodera, it will sound fantastic either way.
First of all congratulations on commissioning such a wonderful bass - I have been having similar thoughts for a while about a Wal.
Musicman used a tone block (mahogany) on the SR5 20th Anniversary model - they may have used them on the 25th Anniversary/Reflex as well. I think they use tone blocks still for some of their guitars??
I doubt there are enough people here with experience to give you much of a pointer as to sound difference but clearly your builders will be able to advise. If builders provide tone blocks you can bet they affect the tone.
The guy advising to buy a Fender reminds me of a car show where the owner of a Ferrari was advised by the owner of a Ford Focus that his car was just as good because it had four wheels, an engine and went from A to B - I think he was carted away by men in white coats - can't remember if it was because he got a punch on the nose or if it was because of apparent mental illness - oh well not important but demonstrates the stupidity of the comment!!!!
Musicman used a tone block (mahogany) on the SR5 20th Anniversary model - they may have used them on the 25th Anniversary/Reflex as well. I think they use tone blocks still for some of their guitars??
I doubt there are enough people here with experience to give you much of a pointer as to sound difference but clearly your builders will be able to advise. If builders provide tone blocks you can bet they affect the tone.
The guy advising to buy a Fender reminds me of a car show where the owner of a Ferrari was advised by the owner of a Ford Focus that his car was just as good because it had four wheels, an engine and went from A to B - I think he was carted away by men in white coats - can't remember if it was because he got a punch on the nose or if it was because of apparent mental illness - oh well not important but demonstrates the stupidity of the comment!!!!
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As a fellow Fodera owner who plays jazz and worship first off awesome use for it. Why not give the Lord the absolute best we can.
Tone block wise, I personally think maple would work better. The walnut Fodera uses is too notch but that also means heavy, so it might bill you over the 10lbs
Tone block wise, I personally think maple would work better. The walnut Fodera uses is too notch but that also means heavy, so it might bill you over the 10lbs
OK, I'll fall on my sword for the rest of the dummies like me out there.
What's a 'tone block' and what is it supposed to do?
What's a 'tone block' and what is it supposed to do?
Honestly if this hasn't been mentioned already in this thread, I would ask the expert's at Fodera and they would tell you exactly the tonal aspect's of both of the choice's of tone blocks you are inquiring on, for me I would use Walnut.
I think it's just a fancy name for the central strip of wood in a neck-thru bass. The main body section that the wings attach to.
As for what material to use for it, I would think you'd want it to be the same as what the neck itself is made of.
All I know is that the Kingsford charcoal people say to never use hickory if mesquite is within driving distance....
I play P&W as well. Sorry I don't know anything about tone blocks. I know maple is brighter - check the warmoth custom bass site for a nice rundown of tonewood.
I play P&W as well. Sorry I don't know anything about tone blocks. I know maple is brighter - check the warmoth custom bass site for a nice rundown of tonewood.
Good question. The body on deluxe a bolt on models is typically one piece of some kind of wood. Adding a tone block allows you to spilt the body in three. In my case the two outer wings of bass will be alder and the center piece will be maple or walnut. So the tone block is close to one third of the body mass and imo/imo will have a influence. I'm targeting either maple or walnut to brighten & tighten. Alder on its own can sometimes too big in the lows for the tone I'm going for, but I like its midrange response.
Here's a clip from a bass similar to my target. This one has maple tone block. I will also have a koa top which will influence the tone as well compared to this maple burl.
Here's a clip from a bass similar to my target. This one has maple tone block. I will also have a koa top which will influence the tone as well compared to this maple burl.
I voted Walnut. I confess though it was as much for the lovely wood color contrast as for tone, even if it's only visible from the back.
What I really want to know is why you'd waste a perfectly good Fodera playing Jazz....
What I really want to know is why you'd waste a perfectly good Fodera playing Jazz....
I wasn't aware that you could get a tone block with a Deluxe, but you learn something new every day. Leave it to the boys at Fodera. I voted for the Maple tone block if you're looking to tighten up the sound and add some top end to it. The Walnut would be a bit darker. Good luck with your new bass, it sounds great.
I'd still stick with a Walnut tone block for what you're trying to achieve in terms of tone.
As much as maple can be used as a body wood....it tends to be a very neutral sounding wood (though not everyone agrees that it is, some say it brings some mids and highs). But the earlier suggestion of the Alder tone block and walnut wings is a tried a true combination too. That's what Matt Garrison used on his signature model.
As much as maple can be used as a body wood....it tends to be a very neutral sounding wood (though not everyone agrees that it is, some say it brings some mids and highs). But the earlier suggestion of the Alder tone block and walnut wings is a tried a true combination too. That's what Matt Garrison used on his signature model.
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