If i had $8499...

[johnpbass]

Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to log off and log on to the New England Patriots forum (I'm mrbadazfutbol924) and tell Bill Belichick and Tom Brady they don't know what they're doing at all.....

Could be worse Roy - at least you don't have Andy Reid as your coach!

Sorry for the football diversion - we now re-join the thread already in progress.

 

[Jared Lash]

One really, really odd feature of this thread is that we have had Justin from Fodera show up as well as steubig, who is a long-time endorser and people are still debating this and the various points.
But, hey, it's Talkbass. I get it. I've seen this happen in discussions about players, basses, education, you name it. Comes with the territory with an internet forum.
Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to log off and log on to the New England Patriots forum (I'm mrbadazfutbol924) and tell Bill Belichick and Tom Brady they don't know what they're doing at all.....

You know Roy, that last line would be funny if there weren't tons of armchair quarterbacks that do just that every week. Check out this video for proof of that (NSFW - language):



That guy not only believes he knows football more than the coaches and players but also apparently believes he can "pump the team up" with his YouTube videos. Odd. And amusing. Especially to a 49ers fan like myself.

As for Jason and steubig's contributions to this thread, I enjoy hearing their perspective and I completely understand where they are coming from.

But people with a negative view of things Jason is a Fodera partner (or corporate takeover specialist apparently ) who would say anything to sell more product and steubig is a guy who bought overpriced basses and is now trying to justify his purchases.

It's a strange world.

 

[rastap]

I think Fodera may have gone a bit too far. I understand their cost/quality makes them the "Rolls Royce" of basses, but for an alder body, flame maple top.... $8499???

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I have no gripes with Bass Central, they rock. I just checked their new arrivals and this just blew me away. I would expect a few more bells and whistles on the bass for that price.

I'd put $2,500 in my pocket and get the MTD 635 Andrew Gouche Model 6-String Bass. Just sayin'

 

[Roy Vogt]

You know Roy, that last line would be funny if there weren't tons of armchair quarterbacks that do just that every week. Check out this video for proof of that (NSFW - language):



That guy not only believes he knows football more than the coaches and players but also apparently believes he can "pump the team up" with his YouTube videos. Odd. And amusing. Especially to a 49ers fan like myself.

As for Jason and steubig's contributions to this thread, I enjoy hearing their perspective and I completely understand where they are coming from.

But people with a negative view of things Jason is a Fodera partner (or corporate takeover specialist apparently ) who would say anything to sell more product and steubig is a guy who bought overpriced basses and is now trying to justify his purchases.

It's a strange world.

Let's just invite them all to Combine, then!
I'm a Titans fan. Pray for me......
Oh, sorry, Fodera content......My friend John Billings lives close to LP Field and he has a sweet Fodera bolt-on. There, fixed!

 

[steubig]

One really, really odd feature of this thread is that we have had Justin from Fodera show up as well as steubig, who is a long-time endorser and people are still debating this and the various points.

hey, i want to be clear. i am in no way an "endorser."

my profile is way too low to ever be that.

what i am is a guy who had the good fortune to develop a relationship with the fodera guys way back when.

the deal is i *believe in what they do* and i appreciate *how they do it*.

i believe that their instruments have changed me as a player for the better (sometimes that came down to, "holy crap, i paid a lot for this, i better get off my ass and practice more!").

when i tell them this, you can tell it makes a difference to them. that's where *their* pride and artistry come into focus.

yeah . . . that's where their heart, blood, sweat and tears are shown.

and i've stuck with them even when i've been extremely pissed at them (i got caught in the great pre-jason wait for a long time for your bass situation).

i like their basses. some people don't. it's all personal preferences.

 

[Roy Vogt]

hey, i want to be clear. i am in no way an "endorser."

my profile is way too low to ever be that.

what i am is a guy who had the good fortune to develop a relationship with the fodera guys way back when.

the deal is i *believe in what they do* and i appreciate *how they do it*.

i believe that their instruments have changed me as a player for the better (sometimes that came down to, "holy crap, i paid a lot for this, i better get off my ass and practice more!").

when i tell them this, you can tell it makes a difference to them. that's where *their* pride and artistry come into focus.

yeah . . . that's where their heart, blood, sweat and tears are shown.

and i've stuck with them even when i've been extremely pissed at them (i got caught in the great pre-jason wait for a long time for your bass situation).

i like their basses. some people don't. it's all personal preferences.

You would be a perfect candidate for an endorser for a company. The best ones are players who use and believe in their product first, not someone who says, "I'm famous-gimme a bass!"
You're not that low of a profile. I've been aware of your work for a good while.

 

[nostatic]

You're not that low of a profile.

oh I don't know...I'm a fair amount taller than him

 

[steubig]

thank you roy. i'm flattered. how about i'm uber-niche(tm).

and yes, el señor nostatic is very much taller than me.

 

[nostatic]

better to be flattered than flattened - which would result in an even lower profile.

Thanks, I'll be here all week. Try the veal.

 

[Pete skjold]

No builder gives a crap about a bass that has shipped. None. Do you think they ask for photos from the customers? Updates on the health and well being of the bass over the years? Chistmas cards with the bass on Santa's lap? Please....

Are you serious!? I hope this is just flaming and trolling or just a joke. I for one care very much about my basses after the sale. These all are induvidual pieces of art and myself and the customer who inspired it. I often check in with my customers years later to see how things are going. I also contact buyers of used basses and ask them how the bass is working out for them and offer my help if I can give any. I often ask customers to take pics of themselves with the bass, this is a really cool part of the experience. I haven't had time or the money to do the Chrismas cards but it is on the list.

 

[steubig]

^^^^^^^

this

*boom*

 

[Just Thumpin']

Thanks so much for the kind words. And, as you know personally, making these instruments is far, far more to us than the money. It's the relationships we build, the things we learn from people, the music we get to be part of helping people make. Some get it, others don't. In the end it all matters little...love waht you do and allow others to love what they love...

Regards,

J

I wasnt going to respond. I have enjoyed reading the thread for the most part. However the post about the alleged "corporate takeover" is out of line. So.... I am going to do what should not be done, which is respond to an ignorant post. Lol but not because the ignorant will be any less ignorant, rather because I have dealt with Jason and like the guy.....

I think its pretty lame to sit and take a cheap shot behind a computer screen at someone you dont know. Probably not the kind of thing you would say to a good man's face. Not but once anyway. Just saying....

I have owned two Fodera's and have the third on order. One I loved but sold when I really did not need to. I was just being careful of unexpected taxes that slipped up on me. The second just didnt fit me and I sold it. Great instrument I am sure, but it just did not work for me. A bit bulky feeling and I did not like the look. Nothing wrong with the sound.

I have my third one on order, and my bet is I will own it the rest of my life. Lol dont laugh.... I totally understand... but I bet I am correct. It is a Monarch Standard (thanks Jason if you are the father of the idea of the Standards!)

Anyway, I have never bought a Fodera. I bought the team, if you will. I dont play well enough to own one. I am ok, and get no complaints but simply do not have the drive to make myself into a professional at the top of my game. However I do know when something fits and when it a piece of personal treasure. In my humble opinion, the folks at Fodera have it. Yeager called it The Right Stuff. That's Fodera. I think some of the USA Spectors have it also. Others I am sure have the right stuff, I just have not played them I guess. The right stuff is not exclusive, but it is paid for with much effort and some talent, in that order.

For what it is worth, I have a gold chain I wear on my neck most of the time. It cost over 8k. They went out of style many years ago. I wear it because I can afford it and am proud of my ability to buy it. Lol, it makes absolutely no sense to anyone who has never been poor I am sure. But after I got out of the Army I was poor when I was working my way through a couple of degrees. I was poor for years, trust me. But I was grinding, grinding, working it out and pulling myself up by my bootstraps. Eventually it worked out.

To some the gold chain may be a bit gaudy. But I dont wear it to impress anyone, I wear it because I am truly thankful to God I can afford it. It's simply pride in accomplishment, not pride to impress anyone. That is the difference. When a good man does all he can to make something the best the pride comes through. A lot of hard work, a little talent and there ya go. It's not a "corporate takeover" game. Quite the opposite. The corporation takes over the individuals involved.... Like I say, either you have it or you dont.

For me a Fodera is overkill. But I grew up around some truly talented workmen in various fields when I was a boy. My dad was probably the best. He worked on electrical lines, climbing poles in all sorts of weather, both day and night, replacing transformers, and many other things. Being around him, and some others made me grow to recognize when someone had it, and when they didnt.

Jason has been extremely nice to me. He even chimed in when I sold the Monarch I bought from him and helped here on TB by putting in a very kind word when I was selling it. And I am quite sure he could have possibly gotten the guys money for a brand new Fodera from the "corporation".

The only thing wrong with Fodera is they are not in Texas. Here they would pay much much less in Taxes. Their profits would be greater and they would sell for less.
Hell, I understand the mayor up there in New York City, wont even let his serfs drink soda! We would drown the sob in it down here if he tried that.....

Anyway, thanks Jason, and all you people at Fodera for all you do. I know you could be sitting on the porch drawing a wellfare check. Yet you all come to work and do the very best you can to make the finest instruments possible. So you all just ignore the ignorant and keep it up. And hurry up on those Monarch Standards, you hear. At least one of them needs to get to Texas

Best to you all. And let us know when you make the move down here, ok? It gets a bit hot in the summer but it grows on you. You would all be welcomed.

 

[Just Thumpin']

Which is why I am reading this thread at 8:40pm when I have to be at the shop at 7:00am tomorrow...as I have stated many times before, if you don't love building instruments and care about the people that you are building them for there is just not enough money in this industry to make it worthwhile...

J

But if you reread your first post in this thread as quoted above, you can see how the most obvious interpretation of your comments is that people only do their job for a paycheck and have no emotional connection to their work.

 

[Just Thumpin']

smcd, I happen to be fortunate enough to NOT need to show up for work tomorrow (or the day after that). Working with Joey and Vinny has been one of the most rewarding things I have done even though financially it's done absolutely nothing to increase my Net Worth in dollars and cents terms. Knowing the team that we have at the shop, I would venture that all but maybe one or two of them would still be here the day after winning the lottery...

Jason

I think it's safe to say that if any one of the employees at any of the high end builders won the lottery on Friday, they wouldn't be showing up for work on Monday.

 

[Munjibunga]

Are you serious!? I hope this is just flaming and trolling or just a joke. I for one care very much about my basses after the sale. These all are induvidual pieces of art and myself and the customer who inspired it. I often check in with my customers years later to see how things are going. I also contact buyers of used basses and ask them how the bass is working out for them and offer my help if I can give any. I often ask customers to take pics of themselves with the bass, this is a really cool part of the experience. I haven't had time or the money to do the Chrismas cards but it is on the list.

No way!

 

[Munjibunga]

... even though financially it's done absolutely nothing to increase my Net Worth in dollars and cents terms ...

... yet.

 

[Roy Vogt]

Are you serious!? I hope this is just flaming and trolling or just a joke. I for one care very much about my basses after the sale. These all are induvidual pieces of art and myself and the customer who inspired it. I often check in with my customers years later to see how things are going. I also contact buyers of used basses and ask them how the bass is working out for them and offer my help if I can give any. I often ask customers to take pics of themselves with the bass, this is a really cool part of the experience. I haven't had time or the money to do the Chrismas cards but it is on the list.

Pete, this is exactly why you are a rising star in the Bass Building World and your instruments are on my "bucket list" as well as in the hands of Damien Erskine, David Dyson and many other World-Class Bassists. Props!

 

[lucas vigor]

If you think I was, that's all that matters. Right?


I don't think you can honestly keep track of the people you think are against you. The above proves it... I've had the same position about basses since I figured it out decades ago. And if I called you insane I would've gotten banned. I didn't.

Like I said....I don't remember....but you were on me about something and I am pretty sure it was in one of the cheapo bass tribute threads...though I could be wrong, of course.

 

[lucas vigor]

Are you serious!? I hope this is just flaming and trolling or just a joke. I for one care very much about my basses after the sale. These all are induvidual pieces of art and myself and the customer who inspired it. I often check in with my customers years later to see how things are going. I also contact buyers of used basses and ask them how the bass is working out for them and offer my help if I can give any. I often ask customers to take pics of themselves with the bass, this is a really cool part of the experience. I haven't had time or the money to do the Chrismas cards but it is on the list.

No, I for one don't think he is trolling. He has been a member of this forum for a long time.
Sadly, this is just a typical attitude towards high end basses that is contagious of this forum.

My opinion is that is is a form of anti-elitism. Most of these guys flaming high end basses have some sort of jealousy towards the people who play them. A large majority of people willing to spend bucks on a premium instrument, are themselves excellent players into jazz (as clef de la fa pointed out) and that makes them something to be villified, not admired.
On the other extreme are those players so insecure that they really want you to believe that the tone is ONLY in the hands, and that the instrument does not really matter. By default, I believe they are really bragging about their prowess on the bass, in an underhanded way. Scoffing at those players that they think need the premium bass to sound good.
This, despite the ample evidence that many top players use top basses, not squiers, and not SX basses. I feel they get a real kick out of supposedly bringing down the house with their cheapo bass, as if to say "hey, look at me...I can shred on ANYTHING".
In past threads over the last couple of years, I have read amazing statements made by these people. Even going as far as to blame you hi-end instrument players of price gouging.

No, SMCD's attitude is probably what he really feels. Sad that so many seem to agree with him.

 

[P. Aaron]

Some of those pre-CBS Fenders get well into & beyond the Fodera ranges. Many sit in glass cases, some actually get used.

It's all about what a player wants, thinks they want, or truly needs.

Keep building (& selling) them there Fodera's. I like lookin' at 'em. As much as I dig seeing outlandishly priced 'vintage' instruments.

If you wanna talk about instrument costs, peruse the DB classifieds and threads regarding finding the right instrument...for some perspective.