Smith or Fodera or Alembic?

[EdwardofHuncote]

I love a very high quality, handmade instrument, be it a bass or otherwise.

My personal preference of the three would be Alembic, but to be fair, I have not played a Fodera. OTOH, every Alembic I have played has blown me away with it's tonal complexity and versatility. (including my own "lowly" late 1980's Persuader) The Ken Smiths I have played would finish a very close third behind my Turner Electroline 535.

All three are outstanding quality basses. You just can't get the kind of reputations they have with sketchy, varying degrees of workmanship.

 

[Munjibunga]

Fodera, 1,000 percent.

 

[Bassconbeatz]

For me, it's a toss up between the Alembic and Smith.

 

[OldDirtyBassist]

The pickups etc. were installed by Alembic, through Ron, when the bass was brand new.
The bass was built in the Brooklyn shop and then sent to California. To my memory this was 1982/83.
It is a very cool instrument.

Was it built in the Spector shop with Spector wood? It's still an extra special bass either way..

 

[lbbc]

I would say the Alembic....I have one and love it. I have played a Smith and wanted one (sounds and plays great....but my last name is Smith so thought that would be cool). I have also played a Fodera...a great instrument but if I only had to choose one...Alembic all the way!

 

[OldDirtyBassist]

After seeing the way a Rickenbacker 4003's thru-neck reacts to pressure(somebody posted company adjustment directions a while back), I have to wonder if all neck thru's are the same way. I don't see how you could ever get correct intonation.

This would be a big reason for a Les Paul style tilted neck.

 

[interp]

I've never owned any of these basses but I once sat in on three tunes with a band and used the bass player's Fodera 5-string. It felt like I'd been playing it for twenty years.

 

[Amplified]

Of the three brands cited, I currently own one Alembic, one Ken Smith and two Foderas. The Alembic sounds very much like hifi with the loudness button on. Ken Smith is unique, just different, but pleasing In a different sort of way. The Foderas are much more versatile. It is hard to choose, but if I had to, Alembic for 4 string and the Fodera for 5 string. What is common is that all my four basses are fitted with brass nuts as stock.

 

[pbass62]

Love my Alembic, quality of all 3 are second to none but just something special about the Alembic

 

[000_Unknown]

Its like having to choose between blondes, brunettes or redheads. I think I could love each one equally. But I wouldn't want to get stuck with just that same one for the rest of my life. I like to have my cake and eat it too. At least the guitars will allow you to get away with that..

 

[Nenor]

Take the Fodera and the Alembic.

Leave the Smith for me.

 

[Bassist30]

All make great basses. They have all changed throughout the years also. Vinny Fodera use to work for Ken Smith till he went on his own. Every maker made their best shot at making a bass and they have all done a great job. Its all up to you of the sound and feel you like. I wouldn't want any of them to stop making basses.

 

[Bassist30]

Take the Fodera and the Alembic.

Leave the Smith for me.

I had to smile on that one.

 

[OldDirtyBassist]

Another thing to consider with these high end guys is iconic status. Neither Fedora or Smith have come up with their "P Bass". It wouldn't matter normally, but could be a consideration with a big investment.

 

[Joebone]

At this level, no right or wrong answer. Just depends on what you bond with and what your needs/wants are. This one continues to slay all other basses that come into the house (and eventually go)

The craftsmanship in that neck joint is amazing. Neck joint envy!

And a beautiful ebony fingerboard. Instrument as visual art.

Have briefly owned examples of all 3. The right Alembic could be a keeper, but some of them are ergonomically weird for me, and the basic Q filter is an incredible tool, but very sensitive - setting repeatability can be an issue. Have not played the top-line Series I or II, but note that some of my favorite bass sounds are from Alembic players with strong upright bass backgrounds/chops who use those axes (Stanley Clarke, Jimmy Johnson).

On Smiths, both that I tried had a construction/design issue such that the upper frets were difficult to use with a medium or medium-low action because any relief in the neck did not affect that area. Probably would have been fine if I could have worked with low action at the time. I also like the "baked in" Smith sound - my main players over the last 5 years have been Sadowsky 5-24 Moderns (first a Metro, now an NYC), which have some of that same character. Wish I could also get some warm purr (IIRC, the Smiths had series switches that could get you there) from the Sadowskys, but I find their ergonomics work really well for me.

Brief flirtation with a Fodera was a disaster, but I'll be back. Bought a used Emperor 5 Standard, and the fretboard had been heavily treated with boiled linseed oil…to which it turns out I'm allergic. Even after getting the oil mostly out of the board, my body would have a negative reaction even just looking at that bass…so out the door. Some reservations about body shape on that model, and thought the passive tone control was kind of…passive!, but otherwise blown away by the playability and tonal range - pretty much everything I want. I'll be back to one of those at some point.

Net net - all great basses! It comes down to the sound you want and the ergonomic/playability fit.

 

[jim777]

Not sure how I missed this thread when it was still a 'front pager', but I would go with Alembic if I could have only one and money was no object. A Balance K Series II specifically