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Fodera Yin-Yang Standard Wait Support Group
- Thread starter ian_s
- Start date
It felt cheap compared to vics real bass.. Mostly the cosmetics and feel of it.. This is just what I thought don't think so hard about my dumb opinion...
It's like the real deal vs a generic copy... Still a sick bass (any fodera is duh)
I'm even thinking about getting one because I can't afford the real deal; I know it's 4750 I wonder how much it actually costs to make hmmmm
The bass I really want is a 83 monarch classic
It's like the real deal vs a generic copy... Still a sick bass (any fodera is duh)
I'm even thinking about getting one because I can't afford the real deal; I know it's 4750 I wonder how much it actually costs to make hmmmm
The bass I really want is a 83 monarch classic
Just Thumpin'
Commercial User
- Mar 7, 2008
- 4,534
- 1,664
- Disclosures
- Manager and Partner, Fodera Guitars (10/14/09 - 12/16/19)
Let's just say that to build things like this completely by hand using all of the best materials in this day and age is a very, very expensive endeavor. I believe that most folks would be shocked at just how little the shop actually makes...
- Apr 24, 2004
- 1,359
- 53
- Disclosures
- Designer Fodera Guitars/Michael Pope Design, Inc., Trickfish Amplification
Isn't the YYS alder too? With a maple top, half of which is painted black? Is it lighter than a full blown YY?
- Apr 24, 2004
- 1,359
- 53
- Disclosures
- Designer Fodera Guitars/Michael Pope Design, Inc., Trickfish Amplification
When HP came out with their first scientific calculators, the HP-35 and HP-45, they added weight to the case because they felt it would feel cheap if it was too light. I think what struck me most about the YYS is the fact that it seems lighter than other Foderas I've played. But if you closely examine the fit and finish of the instrument, you will see that there is absolutely no compromise in the craftsmanship between it and a custom. I believe heft adds fallaciously perceived quality and value. These are superb basses.
So if the craftsmanship is first rate and the sound is there, whats left out but a sore back?
Just Thumpin'
Commercial User
- Mar 7, 2008
- 4,534
- 1,664
- Disclosures
- Manager and Partner, Fodera Guitars (10/14/09 - 12/16/19)
I think that I have the answer to the feel question and it is a fairly simple one...
But first some facts and then the answer...
1. Vic's very FIRST Yin Yang had an Alder Body, Ebony FB and Holly / Ebony top. This is his fretless Yin Yang.
2. Vic's second Yin Yang had an Alder Body, Maple FB and Holly / Ebony Top. This is his most well-known Yin Yang...the one that most people recognize, the "traditional" Yin Yang.
3. Vic's newest Yin Yang ("new style") has a Walnut Body, Ebony FB and a Satinwood / Ebony top. He has played this one a lot since SMV and Palmystery.
4. The Yin Yang Standard has an Alder Body, Ebony FB and Curly Maple top...essentially the same wood combination as the very first Yin Yang minus the hand-joined Holly / Ebony top.
5. The weights of my personal Yin Yangs are as follows:
a. My "traditional" Ying Yang Deluxe (same woods as #2 above) = 8.8 pounds.
b. My "new style" Yin Yang Deluxe (same woods as #3 above except that my top is Pau Amarillo / Purpleheart) = 9.6 pounds.
c. My Yin Yang Standard = 9.0 pounds
My guess is that the guy that played both Yin Yangs back to back with Vic played Vic's Walnut bodied Yin Yang (the "new style" one), NOT Vic's "traditional" Yin Yang. There WOULD be a noticeable difference in weight between a Walnut bodied bass and an Alder bodied bass...always is! That's also one of the key reasons that they sound so different.
Now some other points...
1. We use EXACTLY the same woods for the YYS and the Deluxes (except for the top)...EXACTLY the same woods.
2. The finish process (except for the extra step of painting the black portions of the YYS) is IDENTICAL for the Standards and the Customs. 100% IDENTICAL, being done with the same materials and using the same process.
3. Parts used are virtually identical too except for the bridges which are nominally different between the Standard line and the Custom line...however, until the beginning of 2010, these two types of Fodera bridges were actually used interchangeably by Joey and Vinny on the Custom line. Only after 2010, with the arrival of a fairly anal retentive, new partner did we begin to use one kind of bridge for the NYC's / Standards and one for the Customs.
My thinking is that the person that tried both basses is not very familiar with the way Foderas break in over time. The finish initially feels much different than it ends up feeling...even after only 100 hours of playing. I feel this difference every time I pick a new Fodera up and I much prefer the feel of our instruments when properly broken in.
This is true for all instruments. Vic's YYS might have had 20 hours of playing time on it...although he got it in January, we had it back at the shop until just 3 weeks ago. Since it was one of the two prototypes that we made, we wanted to keep in on hand here at the shop until at least the first 5 YYS were completed to make sure that we got everything JUST right.
One other main perceptual difference, IMHO, is the bolt-on versus Dovetail neck joint. Some love one and some love the other. I am personally a fan of the Dovetail joint. Whenever I actually get to pick my own specs and build a Fodera for me, it is my neck configuration of choice. I do believe that the Dovetail and Neck-through instruments that we make have a higher "perceived" level of quality...simply because the neck joints look exotic and elegant and bolt-ons are a bit, well, clunky looking. Bolt-ons ARE also less expensive to make.
That said, these differences in fact have nothing whatsoever to do with quality...we make continue to make all three because they sound different from one another. Many people (my partner Joey and Mike Pope to just name two) PREFER the sound of a bolt-on neck...However, for the YYS, the bolt-on was selected because it is the least expensive way to put a bass together.
So, again, IMHO, the combination of the Bolt-on configuration of the YYS and the brand new paint compared to Vics incredibly well-seasoned, broken-in, heavier Deluxe with its Dovetail neck definitely would feel substantially different for all of the reasons mentioned above...
Hope this is helpful and sorry that it was so long!
But first some facts and then the answer...
1. Vic's very FIRST Yin Yang had an Alder Body, Ebony FB and Holly / Ebony top. This is his fretless Yin Yang.
2. Vic's second Yin Yang had an Alder Body, Maple FB and Holly / Ebony Top. This is his most well-known Yin Yang...the one that most people recognize, the "traditional" Yin Yang.
3. Vic's newest Yin Yang ("new style") has a Walnut Body, Ebony FB and a Satinwood / Ebony top. He has played this one a lot since SMV and Palmystery.
4. The Yin Yang Standard has an Alder Body, Ebony FB and Curly Maple top...essentially the same wood combination as the very first Yin Yang minus the hand-joined Holly / Ebony top.
5. The weights of my personal Yin Yangs are as follows:
a. My "traditional" Ying Yang Deluxe (same woods as #2 above) = 8.8 pounds.
b. My "new style" Yin Yang Deluxe (same woods as #3 above except that my top is Pau Amarillo / Purpleheart) = 9.6 pounds.
c. My Yin Yang Standard = 9.0 pounds
My guess is that the guy that played both Yin Yangs back to back with Vic played Vic's Walnut bodied Yin Yang (the "new style" one), NOT Vic's "traditional" Yin Yang. There WOULD be a noticeable difference in weight between a Walnut bodied bass and an Alder bodied bass...always is! That's also one of the key reasons that they sound so different.
Now some other points...
1. We use EXACTLY the same woods for the YYS and the Deluxes (except for the top)...EXACTLY the same woods.
2. The finish process (except for the extra step of painting the black portions of the YYS) is IDENTICAL for the Standards and the Customs. 100% IDENTICAL, being done with the same materials and using the same process.
3. Parts used are virtually identical too except for the bridges which are nominally different between the Standard line and the Custom line...however, until the beginning of 2010, these two types of Fodera bridges were actually used interchangeably by Joey and Vinny on the Custom line. Only after 2010, with the arrival of a fairly anal retentive, new partner did we begin to use one kind of bridge for the NYC's / Standards and one for the Customs.
My thinking is that the person that tried both basses is not very familiar with the way Foderas break in over time. The finish initially feels much different than it ends up feeling...even after only 100 hours of playing. I feel this difference every time I pick a new Fodera up and I much prefer the feel of our instruments when properly broken in.
This is true for all instruments. Vic's YYS might have had 20 hours of playing time on it...although he got it in January, we had it back at the shop until just 3 weeks ago. Since it was one of the two prototypes that we made, we wanted to keep in on hand here at the shop until at least the first 5 YYS were completed to make sure that we got everything JUST right.
One other main perceptual difference, IMHO, is the bolt-on versus Dovetail neck joint. Some love one and some love the other. I am personally a fan of the Dovetail joint. Whenever I actually get to pick my own specs and build a Fodera for me, it is my neck configuration of choice. I do believe that the Dovetail and Neck-through instruments that we make have a higher "perceived" level of quality...simply because the neck joints look exotic and elegant and bolt-ons are a bit, well, clunky looking. Bolt-ons ARE also less expensive to make.
That said, these differences in fact have nothing whatsoever to do with quality...we make continue to make all three because they sound different from one another. Many people (my partner Joey and Mike Pope to just name two) PREFER the sound of a bolt-on neck...However, for the YYS, the bolt-on was selected because it is the least expensive way to put a bass together.
So, again, IMHO, the combination of the Bolt-on configuration of the YYS and the brand new paint compared to Vics incredibly well-seasoned, broken-in, heavier Deluxe with its Dovetail neck definitely would feel substantially different for all of the reasons mentioned above...
Hope this is helpful and sorry that it was so long!
I greatly prefer the tone of Vic YY with alder body/maple fingerboard to his walnut body/ebony fingerboard bass. The alder one seems to be much fatter sounding with a nicer mid range whereas the walnut one sounds a bit thin and harsh in the treble range.
Wow Just Thumpin awesome answer man..
Yeah the biggest difference i notice was vics real bass was heavily broken in whereas the standard seemed really new... I went to his camp a few weeks ago it was sweet!!!
I know you probably answered this already but if both basses are very similiar and the quality is almost the same what constitutues the 5,000 difference? the real wood versus painted?
Yeah the biggest difference i notice was vics real bass was heavily broken in whereas the standard seemed really new... I went to his camp a few weeks ago it was sweet!!!
I know you probably answered this already but if both basses are very similiar and the quality is almost the same what constitutues the 5,000 difference? the real wood versus painted?
Just Thumpin'
Commercial User
- Mar 7, 2008
- 4,534
- 1,664
- Disclosures
- Manager and Partner, Fodera Guitars (10/14/09 - 12/16/19)
The differences are as follows (YYS / YY Deluxe):
1 piece Neck / 3 piece neck
Bolt-on / Dovetail
Flat headstock / angled headstock
Painted YY Symbol / Hand-joined wooden YY Symbol
Pearloid inlays / MOP inlays
Fodera-Pope Standard Preamp / Fodera-Pope Custom Shop Preamp
Fodera Standard Bridge / Fodera Custom Shop Bridge
30-60 instruments per year / 6 instruments per year
No customization / Completely customizeable
Hope that helps!
Jason
1 piece Neck / 3 piece neck
Bolt-on / Dovetail
Flat headstock / angled headstock
Painted YY Symbol / Hand-joined wooden YY Symbol
Pearloid inlays / MOP inlays
Fodera-Pope Standard Preamp / Fodera-Pope Custom Shop Preamp
Fodera Standard Bridge / Fodera Custom Shop Bridge
30-60 instruments per year / 6 instruments per year
No customization / Completely customizeable
Hope that helps!
Jason
Just Thumpin'
Commercial User
- Mar 7, 2008
- 4,534
- 1,664
- Disclosures
- Manager and Partner, Fodera Guitars (10/14/09 - 12/16/19)
I am actually not sure that I am physically capable of it! LOL...thanks Mike, I do love what I do...
Cheers,
J
Cheers,
J
Just Thumpin'
Commercial User
- Mar 7, 2008
- 4,534
- 1,664
- Disclosures
- Manager and Partner, Fodera Guitars (10/14/09 - 12/16/19)
Congrats!!! It sounds and feels killer!!! I did the final set-up on it...I loved that one!!!
J
J
