Fodera vs other high end basses

[scubaduba]

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

It's not that I am unimpressed with Fodera's. They are extremely well made with meticulous attention to detail. Again, this is a very subjective subject. Only you can decide what is right for you. Does a bass play well? Does it sound great? Does it look great to you? Does it feel great in your hands? Does it facilitate you becoming a better player? Can you afford it? These are all factors to consider when making an instrument purchase. How much weight you place on each of those factors should help determine which instrument is right for you.

So for me a Fodera bass is too expensive for what it is worth to me. Maybe not for you and that's OK.

 

[Bass_Thumper]

Why is most of the touring pro's in major bands or backing musicians use more production made basses like Fender, Musicman, etc and not high end basses?

I think that this can be related to the genre of music to a degree. I go see a lot of contemporary jazz and I would say that most of those guys tour with their Foderas or Roscoes, Fbass etc. That's just been my experience. I've never seen these in a rock setting but I did see moe. once and I believe that their bass player was playing a Ritter in a club.

 

[LakeEffect]

I would rather spend $5,000 on a bass I love (and I did) and quit slowly dropping 800-1000 here and there, taking losses while flipping basses looking for 'the one'.

That whole "grass is greener" mind-state and bass flip process was exhausting, and it kept me from playing as much as I should (despite my love for it, it lead to way too much time on TB).

After perusing the classifieds and coming to recognize a lot of the names on TB, it seems pretty likely many of those who bash the Fodera price point have spent just as much, if not more, on instruments they aren't completely happy with, all the while remaining in a perpetual state of lust for another piece. Some people may dig that, not me, I like to play more than talk/shop/desire other basses.

If you want one, check it out, you'll either love it or sell it, in which case, you won't really be in any worse of a place than you already were given how well they hold their value - yet there is also the potential to be wildly satisfied with your instrument. What've you got to loose if you can afford it?

 

[malthumb]

I would rather spend $5,000 on a bass I love (and I did) and quit slowly dropping 800-1000 here and there, taking losses while flipping basses looking for 'the one'.

That whole "grass is greener" mind-state and bass flip process was exhausting, and it kept me from playing as much as I should (despite my love for it, it lead to way too much time on TB).

After perusing the classifieds and coming to recognize a lot of the names on TB, it seems pretty likely many of those who bash the Fodera price point have spent just as much, if not more, on instruments they aren't completely happy with, all the while remaining in a perpetual state of lust for another piece. Some people may dig that, not me, I like to play more than talk/shop/desire other basses.

If you want one, check it out, you'll either love it or sell it, in which case, you won't really be in any worse of a place than you already were given how well they hold their value - yet there is also the potential to be wildly satisfied with your instrument. What've you got to loose if you can afford it?

I tend to agree with this mindset. The two most expensive basses I have are also the two I've had the longest. I could easily get rid of the other four and be at peace. Three of the other four are more or less a reflection of where I was decades ago with a particular bass that I really loved ('79 Music Man Sabre). The fourth is a really cool custom that I don't ever expect to part with, but if I ever did, my two mainstays more than have that ground covered. My Music Man basses and my Marchlewski are all solid, very capable instruments and very much gig worthy. But if they were all gone tomorrow, my Alembics are more than capable of getting me through.

The fact that I keep (and play) the two Alembics gives me the freedom to experiment with whatever I want and never WANT or NEED for anything because I am not looking for "the one" to replace them.

I keep saying that "I am not a P-bass kinda guy". As long as I have either of my Alembics, I don't need to worry about a P-bass.

I would tend to think that "Fodera-philes" probably feel much the same way. If you have, love, and appreciate a Fodera for whatever reason you love and appreciate your Fodera, your need to search for "the one" is probably replaced by curiosity to just try different stuff, knowing that your main squeeze is at home on a stand.

 

[KJung]

I would rather spend $5,000 on a bass I love (and I did) and quit slowly dropping 800-1000 here and there, taking losses while flipping basses looking for 'the one'.

That whole "grass is greener" mind-state and bass flip process was exhausting, and it kept me from playing as much as I should (despite my love for it, it lead to way too much time on TB).

After perusing the classifieds and coming to recognize a lot of the names on TB, it seems pretty likely many of those who bash the Fodera price point have spent just as much, if not more, on instruments they aren't completely happy with, all the while remaining in a perpetual state of lust for another piece. Some people may dig that, not me, I like to play more than talk/shop/desire other basses.

If you want one, check it out, you'll either love it or sell it, in which case, you won't really be in any worse of a place than you already were given how well they hold their value - yet there is also the potential to be wildly satisfied with your instrument. What've you got to loose if you can afford it?

That is a bit of a different topic, and I agree in general. However, the OP was asking specifically if the $9K-$12K of a Fodera makes it 'better' than the $3K to 4K of most other hi end boutiques.

The only answer is 'maybe'

Edit: I am a fan of Fodera's in general, to be clear, and given they are selling every bass they make, their price point is by definition reasonable and appropriate. I was just speaking to the more general point of 'absolute level of workmanship and quality and tonality and playability' versus other high end instruments. They are parity with the other top luthiers/companies, IMO in an absolute sense, but of course, like any other instrument, might be worth the price if the entire package speaks to you more than another boutique (or non boutique!).

 

[Altitude]

For me, high-end basses are about getting the tone, woods, electronics, and look just the way I want them, and about having a bass nobody else has.

There's not much of a business case for a $4000 bass in the utility of the instrument itself, when a $900 Fender will get you through almost every gig you may ever get.

Foderas are gorgeous, and they do have a certain tone. I'd love to have one someday.

 

[scubaduba]

A very pretty Fodera just appeared in the classifieds.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/fs-fodera-flame-koa-monarch-deluxe-5-string-1041910/

 

[KevInDaBassment]

For me, on bass, it's a total package kind of thing...feel and tone are both paramount to me. I've been quite surprised at times by cheaper basses that I liked for feel FAR more than the more expensive alternatives. My local guitar center has a Musicman SUB bass for a wopping $289 that has a waaay better feeling neck than all the $1k+ Musicman Stingrays out there on the wall. Pickups aren't anything special, but that's around a couple hundred bucks for an electronics overhaul that would make it sound great. I'm a tweaker and have weird taste in setups and tone, so I'd say a high-end instrument is too much of a crap shoot for me.

The closest I came to was a USA-made Peavey Cirrus 5'er. For a 5 string, the feel of it was really really nice, but the tone just wasn't there. Even using super bright strings (D'Addario Pro Steels) it just wasn't there for me. I've had plenty of people that liked theirs and rightly so, just wasn't my cup of tea. The only high-end instrument I can think of that I might like is a Wal MK3, because I absolutely love their tone.

A lot of people on here don't have this viewpoint necessarily, but you get gear snobs who think that people who don't play or prefer these instruments don't because they are inexperienced and have poor taste. Often times it's about picking the right bass for the job. In one of his videos, Marcus Miller talked about the advantages of having a common or well-known bass on hand. Paraphrased, he essentially said you'll have guys that come in on a session with exotic, expensive basses that are uber complicated and the producer will take one look at it and go "somebody grab this guy a Fender, we gotta finish this record" lol. Put the song before yourself, sometimes the song needs a Fodera and sometimes it just need a solid, old Fender P-bass

 

[LakeEffect]

Edit: This is in response to post 65, forgot to quote it.

Not really, it is just a specific consideration within the "better" umbrella.

A 9-12K bass is, by at least one measure, "better" than a 2-4K one if the owner of it stops desiring other basses, no? I just brought the consideration up specifically because I read the thread, and most others are covered.

I definitely consider my YYS to be "better" than any other bass I've ever owned in large part, and almost exclusively, because I all of a sudden do not want any other basses... That makes the price very justifiable to me, because I've done the math: I spent much more money looking for the equivalent of a Fodera than I did on my actual Fodera, without a doubt. I wish I would have just sacked up and got one sooner, doing so would have saved me money.

 

[LakeEffect]

I would tend to think that "Fodera-philes" probably feel much the same way. If you have, love, and appreciate a Fodera for whatever reason you love and appreciate your Fodera, your need to search for "the one" is probably replaced by curiosity to just try different stuff, knowing that your main squeeze is at home on a stand.

Entirely agree. I like picking up other basses, seeing what they're about, what they have to say. But I do not need them.

 

[gkbass13]

I have owned and played a ton of basses and would say confidently that the Imperial Elite 5 that I have right now is the most versatile, best playing and sweetest sounding bass I have ever touched. The main difference I notice with Fodera instruments is how effortless they play.

 

[Tom Howland]

I've never owned a Fodera but played a few. They are wonderful basses.
The so called high end basses I have own.
Roscoe.
Wal.
MTD
Padulla.
Sadowsky.
They were great also. What I've learn is price tag does not always equal greatness.
For me I walk the fence where I love old Vintage fenders.
But also dig what Fodera has to offer.
If and when I get the money I would have Vinny & Joey make me a dream bass. ( Fodera AJ Presentation I )
Till then I rock what I have.

 

[bassbully]

+1


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

Again..not always true. A few years ago my wife and I ducked into a local dive bar that's known for great food and blues. It was kind of a rough joint in a rough part of town.
Inside was a very good blues trio and the bass player was playing a Fodera..the first I have ever seen in person. Now if it was me in that dive I would of played a Squier and left it home

 

[Mark Sacchetti]

There are several luthiers who are building top notch instruments.

Part of the cost of a Fodera is the overhead, staff, and benefits package for their employees. It's reflected in their retail price.

I did my due diligence in the purchase of my Skjold. I was looking for a luthier who is innovative and using the highest quality materials and electronics.
Here are a couple of pictures of my Skjold Catacomb .

 

[bassbully]

I think that this can be related to the genre of music to a degree. I go see a lot of contemporary jazz and I would say that most of those guys tour with their Foderas or Roscoes, Fbass etc. That's just been my experience. I've never seen these in a rock setting but I did see moe. once and I believe that their bass player was playing a Ritter in a club.

And that's a good point. A more complex bass and setup for the type of music they are playing. It also might match the player ability and skills say hard rock root note vs. say jazz fusion jamming.

 

[narud]

i bought my first fodera in the early 2000's because i thought they looked awesome. however, you could pick up a used fully decked out 5 string in the 3k range. my interest in them is still purely visual but at the current price i dont think they look THAT awesome.

 

[nostatic]

These threads always have a mix of real-world experience and informed opinions, along with other posts that reflect a different world view. To be expected on TB where the participants run the gamut from touring and session pros to weekend warriors to "rich doctors" to kids playing in their bedroom. And that's...ok.

A couple of points based on personal experience. Plenty of pros tour with their Foderas and other high end basses. Joe Local rock player doesn't, because he doesn't play a Fodera. It's a numbers game.

Foderas get played in dive bars. Many of us "day job +" players take gigs in a lot of places. I've played mine on large festival stages, hotel ballrooms, nice clubs, not so nice clubs, coffee houses, etc. if the gig is safe for me, it is safe for my Fodera.

Fodera is not "the name" but it is up there, and many of the most influential bassists play them relative to other boutiques. At the end of the day it doesn't make a difference to me because I have to play my bass not them. And those influential players are unknown to 99% of the listening public so the whole status argument falls flat unless you're talking about trying to impress TB'ers.

Bottom line - play what you love. One reason that I gladly spend "stupid amounts of money" is that not only do I get a phenomenal instrument that speaks to me, but the people behind that instrument are flat out awesome. The personal attention that a customer gets from Jason, Laura, etc, the attention that the instrument gets from Vinny, Joey, Vadim, etc, is part of the equation and worth the price of admission. I get why some people can't or won't spend the money for one. I totally understand the law of diminishing returns and for some things in my life I impose a stricter budget and worry more about bang for the buck.

That said, I can say that for me the big bucks I paid for my YYD has proven to be perhaps the best value purchase I've made. Why? Value is about more than price. The emotional return and gratification I get playing that bass is worth far more than I paid for it. But that is for me - can't say that happens for everyone. Ymmv.

 

[nutdog]

I would rather spend $5,000 on a bass I love (and I did) and quit slowly dropping 800-1000 here and there, taking losses while flipping basses looking for 'the one'.

That whole "grass is greener" mind-state and bass flip process was exhausting, and it kept me from playing as much as I should (despite my love for it, it lead to way too much time on TB).

After perusing the classifieds and coming to recognize a lot of the names on TB, it seems pretty likely many of those who bash the Fodera price point have spent just as much, if not more, on instruments they aren't completely happy with, all the while remaining in a perpetual state of lust for another piece. Some people may dig that, not me, I like to play more than talk/shop/desire other basses.

If you want one, check it out, you'll either love it or sell it, in which case, you won't really be in any worse of a place than you already were given how well they hold their value - yet there is also the potential to be wildly satisfied with your instrument. What've you got to loose if you can afford it?

I don't know, man. From my TB classified perusing it seems high end bass owners can be some of the gassiest.

 

[LakeEffect]

I don't know, man. From my TB classified perusing it seems high end bass owners can be some of the gassiest.

No doubt, thats why I'll emphasize the last paragraph, "If you want one, check it out, you'll either love it or sell it, in which case, you won't really be in any worse of a place than you already were ... yet there is also the potential to be wildly satisfied with your instrument."

 

[pjmuck]

And that's a good point. A more complex bass and setup for the type of music they are playing. It also might match the player ability and skills say hard rock root note vs. say jazz fusion jamming.

And to add to that, marketing and who the target bassist or musical genre in mind is come into play as well. You're not likely to see a Fodera marketed to the punk or "Nu Metal" crowd, for example, or see endorsements from, "Sid Vicious-types". That's not to say a Fodera couldn't handle that style of music if needed (and likewise, a company like BC Rich or Schecter could probably get you through a fusion gig too), just that they've gone a certain direction in their marketing and endorsement choices for a reason, and it's worked well for them.