• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

If i had $8499...

#101
Munjibunga said:
Little-known fact: The T5 was going to be Taylor's next bass. After designing the body, one of the guys put a guitar neck on it, and the T5 was born. The T5 is a fantastic guitar, but Taylor has never gone back into the bass business.

I saw Bryan Beller playing a prototype a couple years ago. It sounded good, but not spectacular. It didn't look that great either. Three or four years ago, during a tour of their factory, I asked about that bass, and they said it would be relased in a year. Not really.
Click to expand...

I think I heard bits and pieces of that. Just about everything about the T5 suggests a lot of experimentation and throwing things together, which is probably why I like it so much. With the 5 pickup positions/sounds they added, makes ya wonder which ones they didn't add. Too bad it's very unlikely to catch on. Hard to find something with an acoustic, jazz box, Tele, etc at your fingertips.
 
#102
lucas vigor said:
Yes. in the world of electric basses, it is vanishing. CNC lathes, in India, Mexico, Korea, indonesia and taiwan are taking over the market. The idea of some guy pouring his heart,soul, wisdom, experience, energy, time and love into building a bass....is gone.
Click to expand...



No one ever poured his "heart,soul, wisdom, experience, energy, time and love" into building a bass. People build instruments to make money. The minute the money stops coming in, building stops.


CNC machining enhances quality. I'll take a CNC-made body over a "hand made" body any day. Furthermore, it's preposterous to look down on a CNC machine when the exact same tools and bits are used on the hand-operated machine.


Foreign manufacturers are another story. People want cheap goods, and they don't care where they came from. That's reality in the marketplace.
 
#104
smcd said:
No one ever poured his "heart,soul, wisdom, experience, energy, time and love" into building a bass. People build instruments to make money. The minute the money stops coming in, building stops.
Click to expand...

Seriously? I own my own business, a small software company. It took decades to build it into what it is today. Yes, I did it to make money but I take great pride in the quality of my product and my relationship with my users. I, personally, oversee the entire process. No software or fixes are released unless they meet MY standards.

I definitely pour my "heart,soul, wisdom, experience, energy, time and love" into my products. And into managing the company so that my employees are secure, happy, and rewarded. It's a team effort.

Part of the reason I love my Fodera is that they run their company with the same values.

I've dealt with other luthiers, Zon, Ken Smith, and others and other manufactures like DR and I got the same vibe from them. Yes, they do it to make a living but, with the luthiers I've dealt with, you get the best they have to give.

I'm sorry you never had the pleasure of experiencing this.
 
#106
smcd said:
No one ever poured his "heart,soul, wisdom, experience, energy, time and love" into building a bass. People build instruments to make money. The minute the money stops coming in, building stops.

CNC machining enhances quality. I'll take a CNC-made body over a "hand made" body any day. Furthermore, it's preposterous to look down on a CNC machine when the exact same tools and bits are used on the hand-operated machine.

Foreign manufacturers are another story. People want cheap goods, and they don't care where they came from. That's reality in the marketplace.
Click to expand...

I have to say I 100% disagree with your statement.

I built my bass, not to make money, but to help myself along in a career I wanted to pursue. I have spent about a month in time working and carving and cutting my bass and refining it to what it is now. I have given myself blisters from sanding and shaping. I didn't use a CNC machine. I made it all by hand, drew it out by hand. All of it.

And also, for you to say no heart, soul, wisdom, experience, energy, time, and love goes into building, you clearly have no experience with Carl thompson, Fodera, sadowsky, ken smith, and many other shops that put the maximum amount of time and finesse into each detail of their basses. Doesn't take experience, energy, time and love? Go build a Fodera. Cut each board from tree cuts. Shape each and every curve and contour to perfection, finish the instrument with the smoothest, cleanest finish around, and then tell me that that doesn't take some serious commitment. I'm offended by your comments As someone who has labored and stayed up countless nights because I have a passion for building.

The only time that applies is when you talk mass production. But to say "no one ever" is completely inaccurate.
 
#108
The whole "is this bass worth $X" conversation is growing old.

If Fodera sells the $8500 basses they make, they are worth it. Simple.

A Buddy of mine owns a $28,000 Cartier watch and my boss owned a Lamborghini. Yup, the Cartier tells time the same as a Timex, the Lamborghini gets you from point A to B the same as a Kia.... Blah, blah, blah.
 
#110
Just Thumpin' said:
TB is filled with "Foderas are over-priced" threads. Come and pay us a visit in the shop. See how we build. Play some of our instruments. Learn what we are about and why our instruments cost what they do. At the end of that experience you'll be able to make your own assessment about us and our work. If we are not for you...totally cool.

There are an amazing number of very good instruments being produced for less money than ours. Not everyone digs what we do and feels that the prices that we need to charge (so that we can remain a viable business) are worth it. We understand and respect that. For better, or worse, we simply cannot figure out how to build the way that we do for any less money without either exploiting members of our team (which we will not do) or cutting corners -- something else that we will not do.

Drop us a line at the shop if we can help you in any way with your desire to gain a better understanding of what we are doing here in Brooklyn.

Kindest regards,

Jason

[email protected]
Click to expand...

Hey Jason, i totally appreciate what you guys do and how much work is involved. I should have said something other than "Fodera has gone too far". You guys really do awesome stuff, just as a player/consumer if i could afford it i would. I have played Fodera basses, and like i said.. Rolls Royce..
 
#111
re only make instruments to make money and fodera = corporate.

i've had more than a few conversations with joey lauricella from fodera about corporations that wanted to buy the fodera name from them (a la gibson with tobias, etc.).

they wouldn't do it. they would've made a lot of money and probably had less stress in their financial lives—and they would've been less satisfied from heart/soul/love perspective.

i really wonder about what people are thinking about (or not) when they make statements about stuff they may not know about.
 
#112
pierreganseman said:
Well well, another "fodera are not worth it" thread... lol
Click to expand...

No, that's not what i was getting at. It was more about a "flame maple/alder body". I can get one at Warmoth for $350. I should've made that a little clearer. Fodera makes awesome stuff. After seeing their phenomenal products, I just "expected", a little more for the price.
 
#113
smcd said:
No one ever poured his "heart,soul, wisdom, experience, energy, time and love" into building a bass. People build instruments to make money. The minute the money stops coming in, building stops.


CNC machining enhances quality. I'll take a CNC-made body over a "hand made" body any day. Furthermore, it's preposterous to look down on a CNC machine when the exact same tools and bits are used on the hand-operated machine.

Foreign manufacturers are another story. People want cheap goods, and they don't care where they came from. That's reality in the marketplace.
Click to expand...

I like CNC bodies, too. However, many people make basses for the love of it. Sure, they're in it to make a living, but if they weren't passionate about their craft, you wouldn't see so many fine examples of incredible craftsmanship. All you need to do is hang out around Vinny, Joey, Jason, and the rest of the Fodera crew, and you'd see the error of your poorly-founded theory. The same is true of Roger, Kevin and the gang over at Sadowsky. Maybe have a chat with George Furlanetto, Mike Tobias, Jens Ritter, Bud LeCompte, Jerzy Drozd and others, all who make fantastic instruments and love what they do. Even the ones who use CNC routers.

It's like being a chef. The food tastes better when made with love and/or soul. And it doesn't have to be different in other businesses (although it often is, unfortunately).
 
#114
gustobassman said:
No, that's not what i was getting at. It was more about a "flame maple/alder body". I can get one at Warmoth for $350. I should've made that a little clearer. Fodera makes awesome stuff. After seeing their phenomenal products, I just "expected", a little more for the price.
Click to expand...

Maybe you need to hold a standard in your hands and play it.
 
#115
Munjibunga said:
I like CNC bodies, too. However, many people make basses for the love of it. Sure, they're in it to make a living, but if they weren't passionate about their craft, you wouldn't see so many fine examples of incredible craftsmanship. All you need to do is hang out around Vinny, Joey, Jason, and the rest of the Fodera crew, and you'd see the error of your poorly-founded theory. The same is true of Roger, Kevin and the gang over at Sadowsky. Maybe have a chat with George Furlanetto, Mike Tobias, Jens Ritter, Bud LeCompte, Jerzy Drozd and others, all who make fantastic instruments and love what they do. Even the ones who use CNC routers.

It's like being a chef. The food tastes better when made with love and/or soul. And it doesn't have to be different in other businesses (although it often is, unfortunately).
Click to expand...

+10000
 
#116
Munjibunga said:
Maybe you need to hold a standard in your hands, and play it.
Click to expand...

Lighten up man.. pics on the web mean nothing. I have played Fodera basses. BASED ON THE PICS AND DESCRIPTION I GAVE MY OPINION. That's all. It may be "THE BASS", but not having played it, it's still "flame maple and alder body". THAT was my point.
 
#117
Im sorry...I dont care how many ways you want to spin this..$8500 is entirely too much for an instrument...PERIOD.

Im sure Fodera are great guys and seeing them work will be inspirational...but give me a break.

When I see numbers like $8500 a few things come to mind.

Vic Wooten and Manhatten rental costs...other than that..wood is wood..
 
#118
Munjibunga said:
I like CNC bodies, too. However, many people make basses for the love of it. Sure, they're in it to make a living, but if they weren't passionate about their craft, you wouldn't see so many fine examples of incredible craftsmanship. All you need to do is hang out around Vinny, Joey, Jason, and the rest of the Fodera crew, and you'd see the error of your poorly-founded theory. The same is true of Roger, Kevin and the gang over at Sadowsky. Maybe have a chat with George Furlanetto, Mike Tobias, Jens Ritter, Bud LeCompte, Jerzy Drozd and others, all who make fantastic instruments and love what they do. Even the ones who use CNC routers.

It's like being a chef. The food tastes better when made with love and/or soul. And it doesn't have to be different in other businesses (although it often is, unfortunately).
Click to expand...

Funny arent these outsourced parts basses?
 
#119
Munjibunga said:
I like CNC bodies, too. However, many people make basses for the love of it. Sure, they're in it to make a living, but if they weren't passionate about their craft, you wouldn't see so many fine examples of incredible craftsmanship. All you need to do is hang out around Vinny, Joey, Jason, and the rest of the Fodera crew, and you'd see the error of your poorly-founded theory. The same is true of Roger, Kevin and the gang over at Sadowsky. Maybe have a chat with George Furlanetto, Mike Tobias, Jens Ritter, Bud LeCompte, Jerzy Drozd and others, all who make fantastic instruments and love what they do. Even the ones who use CNC routers.

It's like being a chef. The food tastes better when made with love and/or soul. And it doesn't have to be different in other businesses (although it often is, unfortunately).
Click to expand...

Agree!

Add Stuart Spector to list. I recently had the opportunity to visit the Spector shop in Woodstock. Stuart showed me around, explained stuff to me. Yet another guy that takes pride in his work.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back