If you had a choice. Which bass you would like to have or have. I haven't played many Fodera's, but Ken Smiths and Alembic have their own sound. A lot of people say Smiths are one trick pony. But, as a owner of a Smith, you can get a hi fi P Bass sound with the neck pickup and a Jeff Berlin sound with the bridge pickup. Or close.
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Smith or Fodera or Alembic?
- Thread starter Jeff Lee
- Start date
if you're giving them away i'll take the Fodera (so i can sell it later).
Alembic. The others are so fine, too, and worthy of close consideration. But I've had Alembic Series 1s and I want another one really bad, just a 5-string version this time around.
One of our guitarists at church has a Ken Smith which is positively awesome and fine to play, no doubt. When I have time, he's going to loan it to me to set up and use for a while. I would buy it, but it was a graduation present from his parents, so him selling it isn't likely. No matter, I'll show it some daylight...
One of our guitarists at church has a Ken Smith which is positively awesome and fine to play, no doubt. When I have time, he's going to loan it to me to set up and use for a while. I would buy it, but it was a graduation present from his parents, so him selling it isn't likely. No matter, I'll show it some daylight...
I've own 2 Alembics. A Spoiler 4 and a Rogue 6. If I had the bread, I'd get a Series ll short scale, Stanley Clarke model.
I'm not sure what this question is all about, but since you are asking me what I have, I can say I've never played nor owned a Fodera. But I do own both a Smith and an Alembic. Say what you will, they each have their own special sound and both are absolutely fantastic basses. I love them both, each for what it can do.
As for Fodera, correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understand it Fodera works with the buyer to create the EXACT bass that he/she has in their dreams. So it's not a "Fodera" sound like the others, but a construction for you of what you want in a dream bass.
The question is: out of the 3 basses, which one would you'd like to own. Or, if you own any of them already, like to hear your opinion.
I've owned all three. Each has it's use and sound for the type of music performed. I'll take Alembic over all three of those, but I mainly play Country and Rock live. Ken Smith would be next (it's easier to shape the sound of the KS), but the Alembic is just right out of the case. Fedora are amazing instruments that have few rivals in terms of build quality and naked tone, bit in MY opinion they didn't work tone wise for me, nor did I feel like they were worth the price in my arsenal. I believe Ken Smith's offerings to be an extremely good value in this realm of basses, and quite versatile, however one must admit there is quite a bit if disparity, price wise, among these three brands.
The comment above regarding how Foderas are very much a reflection of the player that specs them is very accurate (less baked in tone than Alembic or Smith). That said, Fodera all day, though I'd be very happy with Alembic. Smith, not so much if it had to be my main bass.
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Sent from my iPhone using TalkBass
I guess you can say boutique basses with "their own sound". I have a Smith and mainly use the back pickup with a touch of the neck pickup blended since the bridge pickup is really close to the bridge. I have a Roscoe Century Plus that I swapped out the Barts and put in Aguilar soapbars.
