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Help me understand Fodera pricing a little better.
- Thread starter alienstarguest
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My Epiphone Tbird is incredible. It cost me 500.00. That doesn't mean anything though. Whatever you need is whatever you need. If it's an Epi Thunderbird for 5 bills or a Fodera for 5 grand, it doesn't matter. As long as you can afford it and it inspires you, go for it. If you need to justify it, you haven't done enough research...regardless of price.
As the OP, this was not a thrashing of Fodera. If you read the post I also offered much positive thinking regarding Fodera.
My problem in regards to price was that I couldn't reason my way into some of the price points, like I could with other very high end bass makers. I'm willing to be open to the idea that I've not had enough exposure to the brand.
My conclusion echoes some others posters view here. Its simple. That being the fact that there is no shortage of willing Fodera buyers. Good for them, as this indicates they must be doing a lot of things right. I'm not willing to concede that these are the only price points to which they have to be at to survive as a company. Nor will I say it's incumbent for a company to just survive, companies should be able to thrive if possible. As a consumer, I may personally not want to pay for the costs associated with operating in NYC. And maybe New Yorkers rub me the wrong way. And maybe the name 'Fodera' sounds too Euro-Metro-sexual for my tastes, especially for a US made bass. I joke.
Yet it was a little weird reading of Victor Wooten "Championing" an $8k budget model (as a opposed to his $15k flagship), so that the poor huddled masses could take home a Fodera. I don't think I've ever come across anything like that before regarding making music gear more accessible.
My problem in regards to price was that I couldn't reason my way into some of the price points, like I could with other very high end bass makers. I'm willing to be open to the idea that I've not had enough exposure to the brand.
My conclusion echoes some others posters view here. Its simple. That being the fact that there is no shortage of willing Fodera buyers. Good for them, as this indicates they must be doing a lot of things right. I'm not willing to concede that these are the only price points to which they have to be at to survive as a company. Nor will I say it's incumbent for a company to just survive, companies should be able to thrive if possible. As a consumer, I may personally not want to pay for the costs associated with operating in NYC. And maybe New Yorkers rub me the wrong way. And maybe the name 'Fodera' sounds too Euro-Metro-sexual for my tastes, especially for a US made bass. I joke.
Yet it was a little weird reading of Victor Wooten "Championing" an $8k budget model (as a opposed to his $15k flagship), so that the poor huddled masses could take home a Fodera. I don't think I've ever come across anything like that before regarding making music gear more accessible.
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I just put in an order with another high end luthier with a stunning reputation and it's going to be $7500 when it's all said and done. That's a lot of money for some people, but for me it's worth it because I love everything about the 2 that I already own. It's like his basses were made for me. So, if people feel that way about Fodera, it's definitely worth it. I owned a Fodera Standard and it was 100% the truth and their custom stuff can basically be tailored to every single idiosyncratic need that you have.
I have nothing but respect for Fodera, but they are charging what they do because they have customers willing to pay their price. That's not a knock - that's reality.
They're located in NY because that's where they want to live. That doesn't add any value to their products.
Every year, I visit Fodera's booth at NAMM and check out their stuff. It looks well made - as it should for what they cost. All I can say is that I haven't felt the vibe yet that would gèt me interested enough to spend that kind of money. Maybe if I win the lottery ?
They're located in NY because that's where they want to live. That doesn't add any value to their products.
Every year, I visit Fodera's booth at NAMM and check out their stuff. It looks well made - as it should for what they cost. All I can say is that I haven't felt the vibe yet that would gèt me interested enough to spend that kind of money. Maybe if I win the lottery ?
I definitely think there are instruments that are made for people. I've played Fodera's. Didn't feel right. Didn't sound right. So I didn't pursue them. The only luthier that made me consider dropping more than 2 grand is Pete Hanewinckel. In fact I did drop more than that on a custom. Didn't work out. Now I sit with an MIM Fender and an MII Epiphone Thunderbird which are the best basses I've ever owned. Apparently I'm a cheap date
He hasn't, IIRC. Fodera had a lot of requests for Y/Y basses and the top-of-the-line model is a profoundly involved and time-consuming build. i think they only do less than 8-10 a year, if that. The Y/Y Standard is a less involved build and can be made quicker to fulfill more orders while still being a pedigreed Fodera. If there was an Anthony Jackson Standard I'd buy one!
Yeah, but he said $8k, which would be the closer to the price of the VW Classic Monarch, which is a set-neck custom order bass, not the bolt on standard model. My question was more about Vic trying to champion a bass as a "budget model."
As a Fodera owner (emperor dlx 5) I can confirm what @eddiebo said:
"It's completely handmade and the build quality, materials selection, and playability are unmatched IMO."
Me too!
"It's completely handmade and the build quality, materials selection, and playability are unmatched IMO."
Me too!
Based on how you present it, the price of the bass is irrelevant to your problem.
What you need is to own one bass and one amp, Nothing more. They will get played.
Fodera is charging what the market will bear.
I think the level of customization of the Fodera Custom basses, is why, and with the exquisite quality in materials and craftsmanship. I don't think their prices are unreasonable.
When you are talking about custom instruments the word "unreasonable" is only applicable to the buyer. Every Fodera is unreasonably priced in my opinion. Luckily my opinion doesn't matter.
when you consider the cost of fender custom shop instruments, etc., maybe fodera stuff isn't so bad.
fwiw, i bought my first fodera in 1985 for $1,800. that was a lot of money then. i still play the bass all the time and it constantly rewards 32 years in.
so is that worth it? it is to me.
so if you buy a bass for $5,000 and it lasts you 30 years, is that a good investment? (i've see televisions that'll last 3 years go for almost $3,000. is that worth it?)
do i wish everything was cheaper? yeah. (movies "cost too much" now too.) but if it lasts me a lifetime, i'm good with it.
ymmv.
fwiw, i bought my first fodera in 1985 for $1,800. that was a lot of money then. i still play the bass all the time and it constantly rewards 32 years in.
so is that worth it? it is to me.
so if you buy a bass for $5,000 and it lasts you 30 years, is that a good investment? (i've see televisions that'll last 3 years go for almost $3,000. is that worth it?)
do i wish everything was cheaper? yeah. (movies "cost too much" now too.) but if it lasts me a lifetime, i'm good with it.
ymmv.
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Man, my boy TR has WAY too much time on his hands, hunting down all these links!
FWIW - I have never picked up a bass and felt anywhere near so "at home" as I have with a Fodera. I owned one for about a year, but lost my job so I've been selling off my high-end kit; I hope to own another someday.
How much would you have to pay for a Gibson Customshop Les Paul Standard, with a neck that match your whatever favorite neck, do you think?
That would be Fodera custom money, if not more. That's really all I'm saying; that Fodera prices is not really out of the norm or crazy high, when it comes to this stuff. I don't think Fodera customers pay for bull$hlt, like "the name", endorsement or guady bling. Gibson and (to a lesser extent) Martin, is at a whole different level, when it comes to gauding customers for cash.
But, as you said yourself, you're a "cheap date". You seem happy with the Mexican Fender and Epi Thunderbird, and Fodera didn't feel or sound right to you. So of course, getting a Fodera would be insane. I don't own Fodera. I'm a "Fender guy", so I have Fender and Sadowsky.
But I "get" Fodera, But on the other hand; I don't care for Alembics, for the same reasons that you don't like Foderas; sound and especially feel. But I do understand that some do, and I can appriciate the craft that goes into making them, which is extremely high.
So, basses made in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China would be the winners then ?
Robertson's is the Fodera of Double Bass dealers.
Many of their employees and former employees are first rate makers, but the most real Fodera of modern bass makers is Dan Hachez- impeccable work, amazing setup, best materials and a price tag of more than 50k. Many players own and love them, but they are still nearly twice the price of other makers. Robertson's controls the wait list for commissions.
As for old basses,
They have made some incredible deals with some magnificent old basses (with magnificent price tags to match)-
A close-up look at a legendary musical instrument
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This Montagnana was sold for 1million euros - the most expensive bass.
But this is a collector's game. They want to pay more so they can say they own the most expensive thing, and it inflates the market for other instruments they already own. Robertson's is, in general, more expensive than most other shops.
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