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If i had $8499...
- Thread starter gustobassman
- Start date
If point A is the starting line at Laguna Seca and point B is the finish line, with a goal of a low lap time, all of the sudden the "tool" starts to impact the results the user can extract.
Brad Johnson said:So there are differences in cars but wood doesn't matter?
It matters mostly for feel, looks and weight purposes...which are still important aspects in choosing a bass. That is why I was careful to use the word "sound" only, in my previous post.
That's the truly funny thing about this. Many folks act like the wood is the big expense in making an instrument. Probably because there's so much of it on most basses.
So they complain about price and are clueless as to what's involved in running a business building at this level.
"Hey, I can buy wood at Home Depot!"
Yes, you certainly can.
Brad,
Great thoughts and perspective...
No I dont consider the wood the major cost factor.. I get that these things cost money and time to build..I really do...
I find it amusing the ones in support of this kind of spending all own a Fodera ...why would it not make sense to you.
Go check one of the bigger bass only retailers and check out the variety of offerings. There are a number of high end (or considered) builders , who im sure take good time to build great basses that come in at half the price we are discussing.
Heck one of the basses for sale even proves my point. Theres a picture of Jason from Fodera , holding a bass while Vic Wooten is signing it with a magic marker... instantly its worth $2000 more..
I realize Im in the minority but NO .. I cant and wont ever justify that kind of coin for what I do. Perhaps Im not into my craft as some folks ...or dont have the desire of having some magic piece of wood tickle my fancy...but I do consider myself a lover of life and enjoying a number of hobbies.. $8000 to invest in one is not reasonable.
Again I realize Im at a different place than some of you guys when it comes to playing... and spending the $$ .. if i were in a different place ability or financially wise I may have a different perspective..
and speaking of inspiration... why dont I see all you inspired cats posting clips in the sound clips forum?
There is no "static" sound of a bass. How it's played has a large impact on that.
I thought that experiment and it's results were pretty funny. It proved nothing outside of the examples in the test. But many folks apparently thought it did.
you can find me on youtube, you won't like it, but i'm there:
http://www.youtube.com/results?sear...0.0.234.234.2-1.1.0...0.0...1ac.1.D0Jr3SPvnEw
http://www.youtube.com/results?sear...0.0.234.234.2-1.1.0...0.0...1ac.1.D0Jr3SPvnEw
I do own one. It cost me $2500. Think outside the box.
$8500 for a bass isn't a priority for me at this point. That doesn't keep me from understanding how it could be for someone else.
This is true. And how many of them are Foderas?
The point is there are options. And some people may not care for Foderas. I don't play mine very often so no, I'm not saying Fodera is the end all and be all for everyone... including myself. But for the folks who do for whatever reason "get it" and buy and use them... that's who they're for. Not for people who don't see the value. And there's nothing wrong with not seeing the value... Fodera will have to get their next customer elsewhere. Pretty sure they anticipated that.
Heck one of the basses for sale even proves my point. Theres a picture of Jason from Fodera , holding a bass while Vic Wooten is signing it with a magic marker... instantly its worth $2000 more..
Sarcasm or you actually saw the price raised?
And I seriously doubt you'll find anyone who begrudges you that. So why the focus on something you don't want that you have no desire to pay for? There are basses I don't want and I don't start threads about them. I will participate if the thread devolves into sillyness.
This is true. Never say never.
Too busy gigging. I'm really not a "hey check out this clip!" kind of bassist.
Heck one of the basses for sale even proves my point. Theres a picture of Jason from Fodera , holding a bass while Vic Wooten is signing it with a magic marker... instantly its worth $2000 more..
I assume you're talking about the first 10 Yin Yang Standards? They were $1000 more (not $2K - and they were the first 10 standards made, some people think that is worth the extra money, I didn't) and they did have Vic's signature.
But what is reasonable? If your profile is right you have two Roscoes - that is about $4-7K in basses depending on the details. My first Fodera (a YYS) was $4750. But somehow that Fodera is not reasonable but your pair of Roscoes, which cost the same amount of money (or more), is reasonable. How does that work? Because you get two instead of one?
careful what you ask for:
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In almost every business, labor is the number one expense. This is especially true when you're paying your employees a fair wage.
Munjibunga said:
Absolutely. Some people forget that it is other people taking great time and effort to make their basses.
Wow ,whats wrong with an 8500 dollar car. My truck cost 5000 grand and runs and drives just fine. Don't need a status symbol to get from A to B
Roy Vogt
Supporting Member
- Sep 20, 2000
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- Endorsing Artist: Kiesel Basses, Ampeg Amplification, Hotone Ampero II effects
Now that I think about it, I don't find the concept of an $8500 Fodera any more bizarre than an $8500 Fender Jazz or Precision Bass from the pre-CBS era that we used to routinely buy and sell for under $500 in the 1970s-to say nothing of the mediocre mid to late 70s Fenders with hinky necks and heavy weights that are now revered "Vintage" pieces.
Go figure.....
Go figure.....
Roy Vogt said:
couldn't agree more. thought this many a time. (especially those mid 70s basses, sheesh)
Foderas or vintage Instruments are both instruments to express yourself in the first place. But that can be also achieved on other brands or none vintage equipment.
In Foderas case I think its not only the woods, electronics and working time that makes them so expensive it´s also that they work in New York which can be an extremely expensive place to life in and increased the number of employees which want to make a fair living etc.
In the end they are well made instruments. I´ve playd several custom Foderas and found good and (to me) not so good sounding ones. To me they are instruments build in ways like many others. I asked myself if I´d want such an expensive instrument just because of a Brand or bass heroes.
Another thought is that a Fodera becomes also a status symbol for bassists and interested musicians. But that should IMHO be no reason to buy an instrument.
For the audience it doesn´t matter if we play 8.500 Dollar + instruments or a Squier Jazz Bass for example. IF IT FEELS AND SOUNDS GOOD IT IS GOOD!
The only problem could be if it´s a Fodera that feels and sounds just right...
In Foderas case I think its not only the woods, electronics and working time that makes them so expensive it´s also that they work in New York which can be an extremely expensive place to life in and increased the number of employees which want to make a fair living etc.
In the end they are well made instruments. I´ve playd several custom Foderas and found good and (to me) not so good sounding ones. To me they are instruments build in ways like many others. I asked myself if I´d want such an expensive instrument just because of a Brand or bass heroes.
Another thought is that a Fodera becomes also a status symbol for bassists and interested musicians. But that should IMHO be no reason to buy an instrument.
For the audience it doesn´t matter if we play 8.500 Dollar + instruments or a Squier Jazz Bass for example. IF IT FEELS AND SOUNDS GOOD IT IS GOOD!
The only problem could be if it´s a Fodera that feels and sounds just right...
Foderas aren't just plain basses with nice woods as many would think. There are features that not many other makers have. For example, if you have the bass in an environment that calls for more truss rod tension than the rod can give in one direction, The rod can be taken out and flipped upside down to provide more tension in a different direction. Never seen that one before.
Also the electronics can be configured with little clip on jumpers to determine what knob and switch does what. That's a new one for me as well.
The list goes on. Combined with shop time, materials costs, company over head, you are getting the best bang for your buck. The bass will last you for a very long time if properly taken care of. I have had one or two basses that just flat fell apart from normal use. I think Foderas costs are fair. While they seem high, the reasons for that are there and may not be evident to everyone.
Also the electronics can be configured with little clip on jumpers to determine what knob and switch does what. That's a new one for me as well.
The list goes on. Combined with shop time, materials costs, company over head, you are getting the best bang for your buck. The bass will last you for a very long time if properly taken care of. I have had one or two basses that just flat fell apart from normal use. I think Foderas costs are fair. While they seem high, the reasons for that are there and may not be evident to everyone.
Frankly, I don't think they're particularly good as status symbols. At my last (church) gig, I played my LeCompte VB5. One of the comments was, "I've never seen a 5-string bass." In fact, that's the most common comment I get about any of my basses, although an old lady once commented that my Fodera was "... one of the nicest instruments she's ever seen."
No one knows what a Fodera is, not even most bass players. I think I've had one person raise his eyebrows over it being a Fodera, and I had one who recognized one of my Sadowskys. No sir, if you want status it's going to have to be a Rolex or a Ferrari.
Hmmm ... another thread idea, with poll.
The only thing that raises hairs on my neck when this topic comes up is the "some of us can tell the difference" argument, as though people who play "lesser" instruments are too dumb/unskilled to appreciate the tone/feel of a high-end bass.
I certainly can tell the difference betwen, say, my Leduc and my '72 Jazz. I just happen to prefer the Fender lots of the time. But if the only bass I had to gig with was my made-in-Indonesia Ibanez ATK, I'd be fine.
Being able to "tell the difference" and caring about the difference are two different things. I'm just a hobbiest when it comes to the bass, but I've never met a really accomplished musician who cared much at all about these things.
Functionally, a Timex tells better time than a Cartier; and a Kia is far more practical for 99.9% of all driving tasks than a Lamborghini. Besides, Cartiers are amongst the gaudiest of all watches and Lamborghinis are the douchiest of all sportscars. True enthusiasts stay far, far away from either brand.
I don't think the fans of boutique basses are arguing that they're basically expensive status symbols; functionally inferior to their mass-produced counterparts; and appeal largely to hair-chested cheeseballs with more money than taste
Instead, let's say Patek Philippe and Porsche
I certainly can tell the difference betwen, say, my Leduc and my '72 Jazz. I just happen to prefer the Fender lots of the time. But if the only bass I had to gig with was my made-in-Indonesia Ibanez ATK, I'd be fine.
Being able to "tell the difference" and caring about the difference are two different things. I'm just a hobbiest when it comes to the bass, but I've never met a really accomplished musician who cared much at all about these things.
It's funny, but if you were trying to make an argument for why boutique basses make sense, you couldn't have picked two worse examples!
Functionally, a Timex tells better time than a Cartier; and a Kia is far more practical for 99.9% of all driving tasks than a Lamborghini. Besides, Cartiers are amongst the gaudiest of all watches and Lamborghinis are the douchiest of all sportscars. True enthusiasts stay far, far away from either brand.
I don't think the fans of boutique basses are arguing that they're basically expensive status symbols; functionally inferior to their mass-produced counterparts; and appeal largely to hair-chested cheeseballs with more money than taste
Instead, let's say Patek Philippe and Porsche 
