• 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.

Warwick vs. Fodera

#82
Mr_Music90 said:
And here is my question then about Warwick : What makes them so expensive? I mean, almost 12.000 bucks for the Robert Trujillo signature model.. I can understand the chrome finish makes it expensive, but 12.000? You can buy a Fodera from that money, which IS handmade...
Click to expand...

A lot of it is exchange rates since the Euro is worth more than the dollar. Also, German labor is not cheap. That is why Warwick going offshore like American companies.

For what it's worth working in New York and labor surely drive up Fodera prices too.
 
#83
Mr_Music90 said:
And here is my question then about Warwick : What makes them so expensive? I mean, almost 12.000 bucks for the Robert Trujillo signature model.. I can understand the chrome finish makes it expensive, but 12.000? You can buy a Fodera from that money, which IS handmade...
Click to expand...

I think 12,000 for a Trujillo model is the pure power of hype.

Warwick is Warwick, but I don't think they have kept up with what modern luthiers are capable of doing. Modest ergonomics and a fairly limited electronics package.
 
#84
Papersen said:
Doesn`t seem a fair comparison.

I still own a Warwick Streamer and owned several in the past.
I gotta say that although they are quality instruments, I`ve found different flaws in many of them (say 10%-15%).

- Weak truss rods in older models
- Inadequate gluing in some necks and bodies (Ovangkol Thumb BO and Warwick Thumb NT)
- Unreliable Just a nut II (fell apart)

I truly like some of them but IMO Fodera plays in a higher league.
Click to expand...

This may well be true, and perhaps there's not be a better bass builder than Fodera. But you've gotta admit that a good portion of the Fodera price is because it confers status. I'm not knocking it at all...just saying that they command a premium a bit beyond their top notch build quality.
 
#85
MeLikeDaLowNote said:
This may well be true, and perhaps there's not be a better bass builder than Fodera. But you've gotta admit that a good portion of the Fodera price is because it confers status. I'm not knocking it at all...just saying that they command a premium a bit beyond their top notch build quality.
Click to expand...

Not so sure there. Jason mentioned earlier that Fodera made less then 3800 basses the last 29 years. So that means building a bass isn't done 1 2 3.. Look at Victor Wooten's signature bass : It takes 2 months to build one. No wonder the price is high. Even the YingYang body finish is made from wood. Now I don't see Warwick build that!
 
#86
Absolutely ZERO of our prices are because we "command a premium a bit beyond [our] top notch build quality."

Sadly, this is a common misconception. In 29 years in the business, 2011 was our first profitable year. Yes, we will be profitable this year too, but by no means is the Company raking in money.

Buy the best wood, use proprietary American-made, top quality parts, add highly skilled labor by employees that are fairly compensated, have health insurance (completely paid for by the Company), and a retirement plan, reinvest in the business and build everything right here in Brooklyn, NY and you do NOT have a recipe for making loads of money.

As I have said in many other posts on the subject, there are far, far easier ways to make a living. We do this because we love doing it and are driven to craft the finest instruments we are capable of making.

This year, our most financially successful ever, our profits are running at roughly 12% of sales. NOT the stuff financial empires are made of...and also not much of a "premium."

Jason

MeLikeDaLowNote said:
This may well be true, and perhaps there's not be a better bass builder than Fodera. But you've gotta admit that a good portion of the Fodera price is because it confers status. I'm not knocking it at all...just saying that they command a premium a bit beyond their top notch build quality.
Click to expand...
 
#89
Just Thumpin' said:
Absolutely ZERO of our prices are because we "command a premium a bit beyond [our] top notch build quality."

Sadly, this is a common misconception. In 29 years in the business, 2011 was our first profitable year. Yes, we will be profitable this year too, but by no means is the Company raking in money.

Buy the best wood, use proprietary American-made, top quality parts, add highly skilled labor by employees that are fairly compensated, have health insurance (completely paid for by the Company), and a retirement plan, reinvest in the business and build everything right here in Brooklyn, NY and you do NOT have a recipe for making loads of money.

As I have said in many other posts on the subject, there are far, far easier ways to make a living. We do this because we love doing it and are driven to craft the finest instruments we are capable of making.

This year, our most financially successful ever, our profits are running at roughly 12% of sales. NOT the stuff financial empires are made of...and also not much of a "premium."

Jason
Click to expand...

That was a very thoughtful reply. And for what it's worth, I love your business philosophy and your basses.

With that said, the name "Fodera" carries goodwill that makes people willing to choose your basses over a ton of competitors. To say that "[a]bsolutely ZERO of [y]our prices" include a brand premium strikes as a slight exaggeration. Indeed, it appears that you've contradicted your first sentence with your last.
 
#90
I think that fodera's price is on point a lot of the time... It is higher than most, but when you look at the current list of it players and see many of them with foderas people will want to own them... I've played fodera basses and all were made flawlessly. In order to keep up their standard of craftsmanship the price has to go up. I've been playing an elrick bass (equally as good as any fodera I've played). For about 5 years, But not as many spotlight/ magazine cover players play one so you don't pay the extra price associated with high quality high demand. Warwick also makes great basses, but in a different way...Lately I've been play a bass from a new builder (prat basses) and have been equally as happy, but lucky for me, not many are familiar yet and that meant even better prices... Find the builder (or 2 or more)best suited for you. It's fun to explore and be a little different. If a fodera is what you want, get one! You won't be disappointed... But there are alot of other great builders out there too!
 
#91
Just Thumpin' said:
We have only had three versions of our Pope electronics in 15+ years. The first two versions came within a year or two of one another when we first started working with Mike and then the most recent revision was in January 2009. There have been no revisions since and we do not expect any for many years to come.

In terms of our prices, please search TB for "Fodera" and you'll find many threads where I discuss our pricing very candidly. The reality is that in the past 29 years, our first profitable year in business was 2011 -- so none of us are getting rich building these instruments.

Regards,

Jason
Click to expand...

My apologies for not checking out your website. I've only seen used Fodera basses for sale, and they almost always mention a recent preamp upgrade.

It's an honor just to be cyberchatting with a partner of the Fodera company.
 
#94
P. Aaron said:
While we're again playing Fodera vs insert bass maker________thread. Can someone post some more Fodera pics?

I love lookin' at 'em!
Click to expand...

yyd23.jpg


mgs-2.jpg


mgs-3.jpg


mgs-4.jpg


m4-6.jpg
 
#98
Just Thumpin' said:
Absolutely ZERO of our prices are because we "command a premium a bit beyond [our] top notch build quality."

Sadly, this is a common misconception. In 29 years in the business, 2011 was our first profitable year. Yes, we will be profitable this year too, but by no means is the Company raking in money.

Buy the best wood, use proprietary American-made, top quality parts, add highly skilled labor by employees that are fairly compensated, have health insurance (completely paid for by the Company), and a retirement plan, reinvest in the business and build everything right here in Brooklyn, NY and you do NOT have a recipe for making loads of money.

As I have said in many other posts on the subject, there are far, far easier ways to make a living. We do this because we love doing it and are driven to craft the finest instruments we are capable of making.

This year, our most financially successful ever, our profits are running at roughly 12% of sales. NOT the stuff financial empires are made of...and also not much of a "premium."

Jason
Click to expand...

This was an awesome response. The way this guy represents this company would make me want to support and patron them whole heartedly. More companies out there need guys like you, Jason!
 
#99
With all due respect, unless you are suggesting that we become a not-for-profit, a 12% return in our best year ever given the amount of financial risk there is running a business like this does not, IMHO, contradict my first sentence.

I actually think that the whole idea should be flipped around...

"We are fortunate enough to be able to charge what we do so that we can build at the level of quality we are shooting for, not have to cut any corners and take care of our people while so doing."

Kindest regards,

Jason

MeLikeDaLowNote said:
That was a very thoughtful reply. And for what it's worth, I love your business philosophy and your basses.

With that said, the name "Fodera" carries goodwill that makes people willing to choose your basses over a ton of competitors. To say that "[a]bsolutely ZERO of [y]our prices" include a brand premium strikes as a slight exaggeration. Indeed, it appears that you've contradicted your first sentence with your last.
Click to expand...
 
#100
Thanks so much for the kind words. Your post made me smile. Hopefully one day we will have the privilege of building you an instrument.

Kindest regards,

Jason

pineapplerobot said:
This was an awesome response. The way this guy represents this company would make me want to support and patron them whole heartedly. More companies out there need guys like you, Jason!
Click to expand...
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back