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Help me understand Fodera pricing a little better.

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If you have stumbled across some of my recent threads, you might know that I'm selling off most of my personal inventory of basses, amps, guitars and other music related gear. I'm doing this because I want to target a dream bass and dream rig. For example, over the course of some years I've purchased a number of basses over $1000, over $2000, amps etc...
When perhaps I should have gone for some super high end equipment that might have gotten played more often. Some oversimplification there, but you get the picture. A lot of my gear just sits and it's time for a new approach.

So recently I've been researching what the best of the electric bass world has to offer. I am able to see, understand, and get the rationale on most of this rather pricey stuff.

Except possibly Fodera basses. When Victor Wooten has to appeal to his sponsor to make one of his signature models more 'accessible' to the masses by having them introduce an $8k model to accompany his $15k flagship.......well it gets a bit distorted. Even for me, a guy that understands art, craftsmanship, quality, and demand.

I mean for example, I think I can even break down a Sheldon Dingwall Prima Artist at $12k and understand it. There is a spectrum of features and prices of models that lead up to it. I have no idea what the actual markups are, but I could trace a $3k / $4k instrument to $6k, then $8 with various models and see how we arrived at the PA model.

Could someone, possibly some Fodera club folks help me understand where the cost of those come from. I was about to say 'where those obscene prices come from'. But that isn't fair. I've known about Fodera for a long time and have appreciated photos and specs of these beauties. One very positive impression about Fodera is I get that these basses are meant to be played and not put behind glass. I bass some of this on the artists that I've seen using them.

But only now, am I aware of the price tags. So, why so high? Why higher than any other makers I've looked at.

Thanks
 
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You gotta try some to see if they are for you. If they are, the price makes sense.

THe Fodera I bought was cheaper than the 12-piece Sonor kit with hand hammered cymbals that I used to play... perspective is all.

Dan
 
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Okay, you win. I could have avoided that, but the post is still fruitful with all the good links you sent. Thank you. I was kind of caught up in the moment and have posted a lot today, almost felt like I was personally speaking with people at the bar when I floated that question.

One thing to me is clear. The New York City factor. The price of doing business there must be part of it. I'd be against supporting a company's products if they are partially overpriced because they choose to do business in one of the world's most expensive cities. I wonder what the price of Martin acoustics would be if they decided to move from Nazareth PA. to NYC. A HD-28 might be $5k. Or what would a Cirrus bass cost if Peavey was forced to relocate from Meridian MS. yo NYC. Ouch.
 
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To summarize the old threads
1. They are using top notch materials
2. Their attention to detail is very very strong
3. Their construction techniques are often complicated
4. Everything costs more because they are based in NYC
5. Some of it is basic supply and demand. Even at current prices they are running a multi year backlog for custom work.
 
You can get a Standard in the $4k range. They are just as incredible instruments as the higher end custom models. Hand built by the same people and constructed with meticulous detail and high quality components. The one I recently got is hands down the best bass I have ever owned. And I have had Alembic, Ken Smith, Sadowsky and Roscoe basses (all which are incredible instruments in their own right).
 

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To summarize the old threads
1. They are using top notch materials
2. Their attention to detail is very very strong
3. Their construction techniques are often complicated
4. Everything costs more because they are based in NYC
5. Some of it is basic supply and demand. Even at current prices they are running a multi year backlog for custom work.

And to add to this, they pay their employees a decent wage and provide good benefits. Jason DeSalvo responded to one of these posts a while ago (it's probably in one of those links above) and outlined this stuff in pretty good detail. Bottom line is that even charging what they do nobody's getting rich off of these things. He said that if they offshored most of the line and took steps to reduce their cost per instrument (less handwork, cheaper materials, etc.) they could sell much cheaper basses and they would actually increase their profits substantially. But then they wouldn't be making Foderas.
 
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I'm playing over 30 years and have had dozens of high end basses from every maker you can think of. Recently sprung for an Emperor 5 standard and it is the truth. First thought was that I should have got one 20 years ago before running through every high end builder on earth. It's completely handmade and the build quality, materials selection, and playability are unmatched IMO.
 
Thanks @nostatic! I love that you seem to have those threads cued up and ready to paste every time a new Fodera trashing thread is generated.

Another thing to consider is that often times, an artist's genius or ability aren't fully appreciated during their prime years of practice. We are very lucky that a luthier as talented as Vinnie Fodera decided to primarily built electric basses.
 
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One thing many folks seem to have trouble coming to grips with is that the price of something is not necessarily related to the cost of producing it. And there's no dishonesty involved. I just bought some paint and a canvas for just over $20. And maybe if I spend every waking hour of every day painting for the next three weeks my resultant art might sell for the price of a lesser Rembrandt? A Jackson Pollack? Andy Warhol? How about I spend another 2 weeks on it - then? Better paint?
 
I'm playing over 30 years and have had dozens of high end basses from every maker you can think of. Recently sprung for an Emperor 5 standard and it is the truth. First thought was that I should have got one 20 years ago before running through every high end builder on earth. It's completely handmade and the build quality, materials selection, and playability are unmatched IMO.
One correction. I believe that their necks are machine made from an outsourced country. So not COMPLETELY hand made.
 
Fodera isn't alone in those kind of prices for musical instruments. It simply costs a lot of money to build an instrument in the USA that is created by master craftsmen who have benefits and health insurance provided while working in a shop in a high-rent area.

If you have no comparison to what Fodera charges, check out what an American made flat top acoustic, Jazz box, double bass, or classical guitar costs. They're right up there with Fodera, if not a lot more, and they don't have Wooten level celebrities playing their stuff either.
 
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I didn't see this as a thrashing thread, maybe I missed something.

Fodera has been at this a long time, longer than most custom shops. They've built on that organically IMO, as demand and costs increased so did pricing. That's normal.

Apparently their pricing is on point for the people who buy and own them. If not there are other options.
 
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Foderas are a different animal. People who own them usually love them and think they are worth the money. I sold a Fodera and two other basses to fund my current Custom Monarch Elite. Best bass I've ever owned. I still own a few G&Ls and a Sadowsky, but nothing feels like the Monarch's neck.
The Custom series Wooten Classic is $7650 and the Custom Yin/Yang is $12,700. You can also get the Standard series, as mentioned before, starting around $4000. Expensive, yes. If you saw the time and effort that went into each bass you would appreciate the price a little bit. Here's a link to a video explaining some differences in the Standard and Custom basses.
 
I'm playing over 30 years and have had dozens of high end basses from every maker you can think of. Recently sprung for an Emperor 5 standard and it is the truth. First thought was that I should have got one 20 years ago before running through every high end builder on earth. It's completely handmade and the build quality, materials selection, and playability are unmatched IMO.

Yep - ME TOO!
 
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