Fodera Vs Carvin

[/\/\3phist0]

I agree Carvin makes a great instrument.
Especially for the money, no doubt at all.

However these threads are liking playing with a porcupine.

@TonyP- : it's commonly called TROLLING!

 

[eligilam]

All right, I'm convinced. I think I want a Fodera.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

lots of eager Fish

 

[/\/\3phist0]

seriously this an epic troll, ya'll must be catfish because tha STANK on the bait was there in the title.....
Were this in Bass humor it would be funny...
mods closed the fodera vs squier thread ...

I'm starting one....
2x4 bass Vs Ritter... both are handmade , is it really worth 10K difference?

Link Removed

 

[Baird6869]

All right, I'm convinced. I think I want a Fodera.

Just one? Y

2x4 bass Vs Ritter... handmade , is it really worth 10K

Maybe if you used a Cuban Cohiba box instead of that MIM TeAmo box it would be.

 

[mmbongo]

Both Carvin and Fodera basses have something I completely DESPISE: Tilt back headstocks! Gawd! Noooooooo!!!!

Darn those improved designs!

 

[Sixgunn]

Some people have no concept of quality.

And some people think that $$$$ is automatically the gauge of quality.

 

[MCS4]

As a long-time Carvin user (I own three Carvin basses and Carvin guitar, and have owned others in the past) whose current No. 1 basses are a Carvin and Zon, my perspective is this:

There is a slight but noticeable difference in build quality and playability between the average Carvin instrument and the average instrument from the more expensive makers that I've played (Zon, Roscoe, etc.). For the vast majority of bassists, including myself, I don't believe the difference is worth the money -- but for people who don't care about the money, or people who want the absolute best, I think the difference is there.

I don't think there is much, if any, difference in sound quality, with the caveat that I change pickups on instruments all the time (and they are so cheap compared to the cost of a boutique bass) so I'm not factoring stock pickups into the equation.

Personally, my Carvin LB70 with Aero pickups is my favorite bass that I've ever played, and I think that it sounds the best out of all of them as well. My Zon gets more play time these days only because it is incredibly light (it is a custom 32" scale headless VB-4) and it admittedly has slightly better action -- I bought it mainly because I needed something lighter than my walnut Carvin for long rehearsals. The Zon is a great instrument, but for me it is worth the price compared to my Carvins mainly because of the weight and ergonomics rather than it being an overall "better" bass.

I love the concept of boutique basses and am finally at a place when I can afford them, but after years of trying basses I'd really rather just play Carvin.

 

[Sixgunn]

Food just provides nutrition. Time to switch to all Ramen.

The key here is you said you saw a Pedulla used w/ a $2k tag on it. You won't see a used carvin with a $2k tag on it unless it is brand new. Carvins just don't hold value, there's a lot of them out there. I own a carvin amp and love carvin basses BTW.

There's a hoydee toydee cafe in Breckenridge CO that sells a bowl of top Top Ramen with a couple of shrimps and some veggies in it for $20.00

 

[nostatic]

If you don't play a sunburst P-bass with flats, you're a poseur with too much money to spend.

Playable art - and just like art, everyone has different tastes and differing opinions. Play what you love, and as is the mantra of TB, piss on stuff that you don't like (often never having played it)...

As for me, I gig the crap out of this and love every minute of it

this was a TEDx talk, but I played during it

This was a spectacular bass (ended up selling it though)

 

[bholder]

I agree Carvin makes a great instrument.
Especially for the money, no doubt at all.

However these threads are liking playing with a porcupine.

 

[Sixgunn]

As I read this thread I am wearing a Rolex Yacht Master watch (two tone). I doubt that it keeps better time than a Timex but it is definitely worth much more (to me). Also the resale value is outstanding, much like the Fodera. Only you can decide what is a better value to you.

A great story about Rolex here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

A Rolex race winner was given a Rolex watch BY Rolex and when he took it to a Rolex dealer to have the band adjusted, they assured him that it was a fake lol!!

 

[IconBasser]

And some people think that $$$$ is automatically the gauge of quality.

When it comes to custom basses, it usually is. Note the use of the word usually. There are certainly some overpriced lemons out there, same as with anything. I don't think it's even disputable, though, that the quality of a Fodera will trump a Carvin every time.

Please pay attention to the word quality. I'm not saying that everyone will prefer a Fodera to a Carvin. I already stated in a previous post that I actually prefer my Carvin to Fodera's that I've played. That's just my preference: I like the way my Carvin's neck is shaped and the way it looks more than Foderas that I've been exposed to. I do not, however, think that my Carvin is a better instrument because of it. The fretwork is tweaked ever so slightly, causing a couple weird buzzing issues. The truss rod is hard to get to. Some of the Satin finish is starting to bubble. One of the EQ knobs is sticky. You really won't see these kinds of things on a Fodera: every millimeter of those basses is worked over with a professional eye for perfection. Carvin's are factory instruments. It shows.

It comes down to this: if you like the design, look, and sound of a Fodera, get it. You're getting a top notch bass that won't be topped by anything. If you don't, then don't shell out 10 grand for something that clashes with your personal sense of aesthetics. You'll be disappointed.

 

[Jared Lash]

To me it seems like a lot of what makes up these sort of threads is the sentiment that, "I'd never pay that much for a bass."

And I get that. My college buddy just paid nearly $7,000 for his new bicycle (a Trek Madone) while I hemmed and hawed about spending a little over $500 for mine a couple years ago and can't imagine spending that much on a bike.

Value is a a very relative thing. Someone who has the means and the passion may be looking for the very best (for THEM obviously as it's a very subjective goal) and for a bass player in that situation Fodera might be the answer. Or it might not. Maybe it's FBass or Ritter or Dingwall or Alleva-Coppollo or MTD. It's all about what you want and what you can afford.

Personally I've been pretty impressed with most of the Fodera's I've played. The double cut (Emperor, Monarch, Viceroy) models with dual coils tick a lot of boxes for me. And the EMG PJ equipped basses have a very cool sound that I could definitely see being a great option in my bass stable but quite honestly they aren't in my price range. Which was fine because aesthetically I'm more in a "trans or solid paint and pickguard" mode but then Fodera went and launched their Standard Classic line.

Still pricey, but awfully tempting to me. I've also owned and dug 4 different Carvins over the years (and lots of other brands as well) and recently got to check out a Bromberg B25 which was a really nice instrument for the price. It's all about what works for you and what you're willing to pay.

Me? I've found my sweet spot:

 

[Sixgunn]

I saw my favorite word on page 1, corvette! Let's talk about corvettes! Mine is an 07, Z51, 3LT. I like hotdogs too.

Isn't Fodera vs Carvin like a Corvette vs minivan? I don't see the comparison.

Nope. You can go just as fast and handle just as well on a Carvin as you can on a Fodora.

 

[irbass]

Yes!!!! Fodera is way better in sound, wood treatment, construction, setup, finish and quality.
The right question is:
Does fodera worth 10k??
Does carvin worth 1.7K??

My personal answer is No and No.

 

[Sixgunn]

There are a few important points that have not been made in this thread:

- The word "Fodera" sounds much cooler than "Carvin."

- Fodera does not use pointy headstocks...ever. Even the SB headstock is somewhat pointy and deranged.

- Fodera's logo is much cooler than Carvin's 1980's boxy WordPerfect "name logo."

- Lakland USA rules and is worth every penny, including the Fender J and P copies.

- Oh yea, I own an SB4000 and a PB4 fretless.

- Did I mention the Carvin headstocks?

- "Fodera" starts with "F" and so does "Fender" -- coincidence? I don't think so. "Carvin" starts with "C" and so does...well, um..."Charvel" -- coincidence? Impossible.

I don't like Fodora headstocks AT ALL.

 

[Sixgunn]

not quite true.

i'm a fodera owner (since 1985) and i was scouting carvin. and no tanking of my "portfolio" . . . as if.

it's funny, in a world where people will pay more than $5,000 for a large-screen tv that will be obsolete the minute it leaves the store, we worry about spending between $4,000 and $10,000 on an instrument that will last you a lifetime.

I would think a Fodora owner would be able to afford a keyboard with a caps button

 

[Sixgunn]

Both Carvin and Fodera basses have something I completely DESPISE: Tilt back headstocks! Gawd! Noooooooo!!!!

I think anything OTHER than tilt back headstocks look cheap and cheesy!!

 

[lfmn16]

Just my 2 cents, maybe 4 cents because this is my second post in this thread.

• Loving your bass = cool.
• Telling everyone you love your bass = cool.
• Telling everyone that your bass is a good value = cool.
• Telling other people that their bass is overpriced and not as good as yours = not cool.

• Asking a question: "Just curious, does a $10k Fodera MG play and sound that much better than my Carvin SB5001? "
• Answering your own question: "I know Im gonna get lit up on this one... its just I don't see it. "
• Having made up your mind before starting the thread: "Carvin man."

= TROLL

For the record I don't own a Fodera or a Carvin although I've played them both. I just get tired of these divisive threads. Why not just skip them? Because this type of rudeness spills over into other threads and can poison an online community. We really only need one rule on TB - don't be rude. If you don't want someone telling you that your $1,000 bass is overpriced and not as good as their $200 bass, don't tell everyone that your $1,000 bass is better than their overpriced $10,000 bass.