Fodera vs other high end basses

[JAUQO III-X]

Put a blind fold on, would you be able to tell if it's a Fodera?


I own a 5 string Fodera Imperial great bass but there are a lot of great basses on the market today.

 

[bassbenj]

I think your "gawking" comment is funny as is thinking a Fodera or other similarly priced boutique basses are status symbols out in the real world. Beyond TB and a small handful of musicians, NOBODY knows what a Fodera is. I have played dozens of gigs with a Fodera and beyond comments about how good it sounded and the rare comment about how it looks kinda cool, not one other musician or audience member knew what brand it was or had a clue to how much it cost. Generally the same deal when I had my Roscoes, MTD USA, Sadowskys, Spector, etc. My 70's Fenders generate more interest by far.

Again, to each their own.

There are those who buy high end to show off, but really out there in the real world a Fender is what people know. Never get any recognition for my Alembic, Ken Smith, or Modulus. My cousin the guitar player was very taken with the tone of my Modulus but had never even heard the name before. I've not played a Fodera or Sadowsky but I'm not big on Fender-style basses anyway.

I guess you CAN buy a high end bass for looks, like say a Ritter or a Drozd, and you can buy it for many other features, but the bottom line for high end has nothing to do with cost or fame. How much different can a bass be? Once you bring the quality up to a certain level, what is left? They all mostly have the same parts. The differences are in the details.

Actually a lot is left. when you get into the high end it's like trying to choose a painting to buy. All artists use the same canvas and paint, but you spend your money only because a certain artist speaks to YOU. You can lay out a million for a Picasso or a couple hundred for some student work at the local art college. But it's all about YOU and your opinon of the work.

So the only way to buy a high end bass is to get some in your hot little hands and see if the luthier has a philosophy that is parallel to YOUR philosophy. So when you find a luthier that makes instruments that make you say, "Gosh if I were as talented a bass builder as this luthier, THIS is just how I would build a bass!" Then no matter what the bass costs it's WORTH IT. It's worth it because it's an artistic expression in perfect alignment with your artistic expression.

The fact that Victor Wooten plays Fodera doesn't mean squat if your musical and artistic philosophy are not the same as his. The cost of a bass means little as well. I can cover my Squier P/J with diamonds and make it worth a fortune. It will still play the same. I've got a bunch of modded SX basses that cost $100-$200 that I play all the time because they all have a certain "something" that fits within certain areas of my taste and philosophy. A Ritter can impress a certain crowd but another crowd may be more impressed with an instrument that looks like it had been laying in the swamp for three years.

That is how art works.

 

[Gizmot]

I'm an admitted brand snob - but I got that way simply trying to find the sound and feel that I liked. I learned decades ago that I wanted something nicer and more unique than a Fender. Although I don't consider them high end, I'm playing a Warwick and a Rickenbacker and like both of them.

If you have the means to buy a nice bass and it sounds and feels right to you, then go for it. After all you only go around once and he that dies with the most toys wins.

 

[svlilioukalani]

I would suggest taking a road trip down to Seattle and visit Bass Northwest. They have a bunch of high end basses you can get your hands on. All basses are all different, it helps to play as many as possible to ensure you find the bass that's right for you.

 

[Mark Sacchetti]

I would highly recommend Skjold Design Guitars. I think they're undervalued at the moment and should be selling for much more then they are. If your considering a customized bass, Pete is building some of the finest instruments in the USA . The feel and playability of his basses are second to none.

 

[bThumper38]

Put a blind fold on, would you be able to tell if it's a Fodera?


I own a 5 string Fodera Imperial great bass but there are a lot of great basses on the market today.

You wanna Sell it???

 

[GRAHAM JACOBS]

I think you would be equally happy or maybe more than happy with something thousands cheaper than a Fodera. Its been discussed at length..those that can rationalize the insanity that is a Fodera bass do...Im in the othet group that thinks they are overly inflated . If having a pretty butterfly with folks to gawk at is your thing..have at it...but again you can get equal performance for thousands cheaper.

Very interesting thread.
I would really like to know from LightGroove and others like scubaduba what leaves them unimpressed with Foderas.

I ask this because I live a continent away from the nearest Fodera dealer (and most other high end bass dealers, for that matter) so trying one out for myself is not an option ........ And yet I've become fascinated with Fodera basses purely on the strength of the obvious passion and loyalty shown towards these instruments by their owners, as well as what I've been able to dial up on Youtube.

Also, look at the Fodera club posts, for example, and note how regularly this club's threads are updated. That alone speaks volumes .....so what is it that evokes this passion - or to put it the opposite way: what is it about Foderas that leave folks like scubaduba and LightGroove (who I presume has played a fodera) unimpressed?

I'd be fascinated to know because these basses honestly do fascinate me, albeit that it has to be from a distance.

 

[Emanuel Apascaritei]

Once you play a really high-end bass all others feel odd, at least for me. I have my Adamovic for an year now and try other basses but doesn´t come even close to this one. To the point that I sold all the basses I had and only play the Adamovic.

 

[MaddAnthony_59]

Sorry to be such a quibbler, but I just don't regard all those makes as "high end". They're all definitely on the high side of middle quality, at least. But IMO, Sadowsky, Mike Lull and Fender Custom Shop simply don't make it to the elite level - despite their often hefty price tags.

High end: Alembic, Fodera, Smith, F Bass, MTD, Elrick, Ritter, Bordwell, Roscoe, Skjold, Zon, etc.

MM

+1

Lull, Sadowsky, Valenti, etc are all Finer basses, and are meant to be played by a working bassist. Cheap? nope. Worth the price? Hell yes!

The High End, Boutique basses would most likely not be played at a gig at Fitzi's Bar & Grill. (Where Hulk Hogan was discovered!)

 

[D.A.R.K.]

The only mistake you can make in trying/ buying a high end bass is waiting until your career is over. You'll never know until you've tried one for a reasonable amount of time.

 

[nostatic]

No bass is perfect for everyone. Period. Whether it is playability, ergonomics, sound, price, appearance, vibe, assumed attitude - everyone person brings baggage to the table when they pick up an instrument.

I can only speak for my own experience. I have been playing longer than many on TB have been alive, have a day job that makes it so I can afford expensive instruments, but also play over 100 gigs a year in 5 different bands. I came to Fodera relatively late in my life (about 3 years ago), and really wanted to not like the basses. My introduction, like many, was through Victor, and the Yin Yang Standard was the first one that really caught my interest, mostly due to the fact that it was about the same cost as a Sadowsky NYC, and had a PJ setup which is my preferred thing. I walked into a local shop that had one and really didn't want to like it. I'd played a few Fodera NYC basses in the past and wasn't impressed. Figured this would be the same. Wrong I was. Next day I bought it, and now I'm knee-deep in them.

Unlike a lot of people who post here, I've owned and gigged a lot of the usual suspects (as opposed to "played one in a shop" or heard one on youtube). I gigged a pair of Zon 5-strings from 2000-2010, then started on a merry-go-round of instruments including Sadowsky (multiple Metro and NYC), Lull, Roscoe, Elrick, Smith, Nordstrand, Skjold, Rob Allen, and probably a few other I'm forgetting. For whatever reason the Foderas have stuck with me and they push me to take my playing in directions that I hadn't before considered. Many of those other instruments were great basses, but in the end they didn't have "it." To be fair, I've owned a few Foderas that didn't have "it" as well. Like I said, no bass or builder is perfect. You need to find a builder who does work that speaks to you and then be happy. The guys behind those other basses are all awesome (perhaps Ken Smith is an exception ), but I like the Fodera family, and I love their instruments. They are brutally honest basses, and they will point out any weakness you have. Frankly, I think this is why some guys hate them. But they reward you when you get it right, and can inspire you to pick up the instrument more and more. And in the end, that's all I care about. If I get a smile when I pick it up - no matter what factors went into it (be it sound, playability, or looks), then the bass is a winner.

My Yin Yang Deluxe is hands down the best bass I've ever touched. My Monarch 5 fretted is a close second, but has a totally different vibe and pushes me in different directions. When a hunk of wood and metal can have that affect on your art and craft, you get passionate about it. And then you realize that perhaps the reason is that the people at Fodera who are making the instruments are as passionate as you are. It doesn't click with everyone - that is the nature of art and humans. But if it does - well, you usually can't stop at just one…

 

[pjmuck]

I own and have owned several low end to high end basses (Ken Smith, Pedulla, Wal, Spector, Warwick, etc). Most of the higher end basses I own(ed) I got exceptional deals on, as I'm the kind of guy who's unlikely to spend beyond a certain amount for any instrument because I either can't afford it or simply can't justify the price from a cost vs. overall enjoyment factor to be exponentially greater than my current favorite instruments. (Gold leaf flakes, mammoth tusk nut? I'm good, thanks). Some of my lower end stuff has been true diamonds in the rough and are some of my favorite instruments, while some of the higher end stuff has left me unimpressed. The more I spend on an instrument, the more I'm inclined to expect (hope?) it to live up to it's reputation. So far, several have (I WILL be buried with my Wal fretless), though I can honestly say that several less expensive instruments are right up there for me in overall enjoyment and satisfaction too. But don't let anyone tell you that a Fodera, Smith, fill in the blank, etc. will automatically raise your bass playing experience by virtue of what it is, as it still ultimately comes down to your personal taste and overall needs. So as much as I'd like to drive around town in a Ferrari I can still get from point A to point B in a Toyota. I CAN make music playing a Squire if I need to.

But with a boutique instrument, it's all about the ARTISTRY, craftsmanship, the choice of materials, attention to details, appointments, etc. that people are willing to pay extra for, and especially what you're looking for in your instrument from a tone, playability, and aesthetic perspective. (Fender's not going to give you spalted maple anytime soon, for example). From purely a business standpoint, I'd much rather give my hard-earned money to a small luthier than some corporate entity like Fender...even if my Fenders get the call 75% of the time.

 

[Munjibunga]

I think you would be equally happy or maybe more than happy with something thousands cheaper than a Fodera. Its been discussed at length..those that can rationalize the insanity that is a Fodera bass do...Im in the othet group that thinks they are overly inflated . If having a pretty butterfly with folks to gawk at is your thing..have at it...but again you can get equal performance for thousands cheaper.

As the owner of a couple Foderas, I don't disagree with you. I started a thread many moon ago about what the price is at which bang for the buck drops dramatically. As I recall, the consensus hovered around the $1,500 to $2,000 dollar range. My Foderas don't sound or play better than several of my less expensive (but still expensive) basses, but if you want to play a Fodera you have to buy a Fodera. Similarly, a Yaris will get you around town in pretty much the same way a Bentley will. But if you're driving a Yaris, you're not driving a Bentley.

 

[Royalewithcheez]

As if any person who spent 4k plus on a bass would ever admit that it dint sound better than a 2k bass

 

[KJung]

I played a Fodera exclusively for quite a number of years, and have played many dozens of them over the years. Fine basses, but in NO way better than the other basses you list (I've also owned and played MTD, Roscoe, Sadowsky, etc.).

IMO, the current price of the Fodera brand is somewhat ridiculous. That being said, like any other bass, they have their own tone and feel, and if that is what you want, you will need to pay up! Very good, but IMO nothing special that would justify the massive cost at this point. That being said, if a Fodera is what you want, and you have the money, have at it!

A tip to the OP, if you do decide to get one, I would HIGHLY recommend the bolt-on or Deluxe (set neck) model. You won't hear any difference, get a solid top for free and save thousands over the neck through. That being said, make sure you play basses like the Roscoe, Sadowsky Modern, Nordstrand, etc. Equally great, lighter weight, massively less expensive.

 

[Schlyder]

I own a Jerzy Drozd custom. Worth every penny I paid, and every minute of the wait for it. Flawless instrument.

My advice, , if you are getting a boutique bass, is to get what you WANT the most, in every aspect, regardless of price. It is your dream bass right?

 

[Thomas Kievit]

Boy, do I love this kind of threads or what A lot of stories from people sharing there experience with those high end basses.

I know it's something you kind really discuss about (I know I can't since I didn't own any high end stuff ) but is Fodera really THE name when it comes to high end basses or is it just another case of ''it's something you have to find out by yourself'' ?

 

[Schlyder]

I knew what I wanted for a "dream bass" years before finding a builder to build it.
All the features I wanted. The playability, and craftsmanship I expected to get at that price point....which is , a flawless instrument.
Then I started looking for the builder who could deliver that. Price wasn't really a factor. I knew it would likely be between $5k - 10K going in, so it was about getting what I wanted, not about what it cost. (I'm lucky I'm not too extravagant )

It isn't a case queen. And was never intended to be. It's a bass, and it gets played. I didn't ever consider resale value, as it will not be sold.

 

[KJung]

Boy, do I love this kind of threads or what A lot of stories from people sharing there experience with those high end basses.

I know it's something you kind really discuss about (I know I can't since I didn't own any high end stuff ) but is Fodera really THE name when it comes to high end basses or is it just another case of ''it's something you have to find out by yourself'' ?

You hit the nail on the head. Fodera is in NO WAY the 'name' in high end basses. It is, for sure, among the top 10 brands above that $3K or so boutique price point, regarding quality, execution, etc. However, the differences among those top 10 brands are mostly 'player preference' versus any sort of absolute 'better or worse'.

There is no way that anyone can honestly look at a tricked out Roscoe, MTD, Sadowsky, Nordstrand, Ken Smith, Skjold, Fodera, etc. and say 'well, this bass is the best'.

I do have a bias toward instruments in the high end price point that really customize their hardware, pickups and preamp to work together. Fodera, MTD, Roscoe, Sadowsky, Ken Smith, Skjold, etc. all have various combinations of stock and OEM custom voiced/spec'd preamps, pickups, bridges, etc. that are designed to achieve the exact 'tone in the builder's head'. Combine that with neck design, feel and aesthetics, and there is something for everyone in the high end market.

The point is, don't limit yourself to some sort of preconceived notion that there is a 'best' out there.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

You wanna Sell it???

No