I was used to packing aroung 12 pound Stingrays and now that i've got 9 pound Premium and Prestige basses that to me sound better and look better I could never go back to the Stingray. Unless I could luck into one around 10 pound or so.
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Ibanez SR5BBLTD: Poor Man's Fodera
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
Actually depends on what standard you're talking about. Monarch 4 Standard is $4750. And that is built by hand in Brooklyn rather than a factory in Indonesia. I've played and briefly owned a few of the Premium and Prestige Ibanez basses and imho they are not in the same league wrt fit and finish and quality of materials as the Fodera Standards. Actually for what they are some of the Ibanezs are great bang for the buck and very nice instruments. But I have yet to pick one up and think, "this is as good as a Fodera." It does look pretty though.
That's understandable since in comparison the most expensive Ibanez bass at 2499.00 pales in comparison price wise to to a Fodera at around 7-8000 and up. That's like comparing a Squier to a Premium Ibanez. Big Difference in price and quality.
The five string Standard, is close to $6,000, and that is a better comparison. I don't expect a Fodera owner to say the Ibanez SR5BBLTD equals a Fodera. I didn't say that either. I said was a great bass, and I am sure a great deal of hand finishing was involved in making this bass.
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You can get a brand new Fodera for under $5K. There are those however that argue that anything over $1500 (or some other number - varies from person to person) is a waste of money due to the law of diminishing returns. While I agree in the law, I disagree in the slope of the curve and where the quality and value lies.
I don't disagree. But the reason that the Fodera is twice the price (for a 5-string) is that the hand finishing is being done by a person in Brooklyn who was personally trained by Vinny Fodera, and gets health benefits, a 401k, etc. That isn't to denigrate the people working on the line in the factory in Indonesia, but odds are they aren't at the same level of expertise or compensation. Now whether an individual is willing to pay that extra money is up to that individual - we're back to the question of "value." And that is not an objective metric.
And the shark has officially been jumped. Look, can we all just agree that it's a major faux pas to use the term "poor man's" to describe *anything*? Especially when the object itself is relatively lavish? And B) Never, ever compare something to a Fodera. Now matter how innocuous your intent, I promise you: IT WILL NOT END WELL.
If my emoticons for TB worked on my iPad, I would type a bunch of smiley faces. Obviously, a $2,499 bass is pretty extravagant in and of itself.
mark beem
Wait, how does this song start again??
Man, people sure get their noses outta joint whenever that phrase is used.. No one's disparaging anyone's favorite brand here.. When using the phrase; "a poor man's ...." what's usually meant is a similarity in appointments between the two items..
Kawai basses are called "the poor man's Alembic" because of general similarities in appearance, multi-laminate necks and bodies and filter based electronics. Same situation here.
Sure other companies use buckeye burl tops but none have the name recognition that Fodera has. So it's only natural to key in on Fodera when looking at a bass with a beautiful buckeye burl top. The Ibanez has a lot of high-end appointments for a production bass but no one has said they're equal to a hand-made NYC Fodera.
Having never played one personally and going solely on reputation & what I can hear in recordings, I feel safe in stating that Fodera basses are excellent in every way. However I can think of no musical situation, stage or studio, where this Ibanez wouldn't perform just as well.
Edit: All IMO, of course..
Kawai basses are called "the poor man's Alembic" because of general similarities in appearance, multi-laminate necks and bodies and filter based electronics. Same situation here.
Sure other companies use buckeye burl tops but none have the name recognition that Fodera has. So it's only natural to key in on Fodera when looking at a bass with a beautiful buckeye burl top. The Ibanez has a lot of high-end appointments for a production bass but no one has said they're equal to a hand-made NYC Fodera.
Having never played one personally and going solely on reputation & what I can hear in recordings, I feel safe in stating that Fodera basses are excellent in every way. However I can think of no musical situation, stage or studio, where this Ibanez wouldn't perform just as well.
Edit: All IMO, of course..
True, except you left out the defining attribute of "poor-man's"- the vastly smaller price tag. Now, my nose isn't out joint, nor do I think Queso MD was trying to be disparaging, quite the opposite. Unfortunately, the words "poor-man's" and Fodera seem to elicit a similar reaction from people, and usually for the worse. But Mr. Mozzarella saw where I was going, so that's good.
Hey, Mark? I think that post came off combative, which was not my intention. My apologies, sir. Always enjoy reading your take on things when I run across your posts.
mark beem
Wait, how does this song start again??
My problem with really high end basses is that I don't make enough money to shrug off a dent or scratch.
The trick is to buy used, and get one with a ding it in somewhere already. The 2nd ding isn't nearly as bad as the first
mark beem
Wait, how does this song start again??
Kinda like wives....The trick is to buy used, and get one with a ding it in somewhere already. The 2nd ding isn't nearly as bad as the first
Doug Parent
Supporting Member
