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Warwick vs. Fodera
- Thread starter Thomas Kievit
- Start date
I'm sorry for saying this and please feel free to tell me I don't have a clue if that's the case, but I really can't see how a titanium truss rod and bridge can add 4.000 bucks to the price of a bass that already costs 20.000 dollars.
Wow, I really couldn't see myself running a non-profitable business for 29 years and not trying a different approach.
I'd try, I don't know... Maybe have some models made overseas and wait a decade to tell my customers they were made by someone else... Oh wait...
I'm not accusing anyone of thinking this, but if anyone believes that there is a a 'winner' out of Warwick and Fodera, you need to get off TB and go practice or something. These comparisons make no sense. It's up to the individual to decide which bass they like better by actually playing them and comparing them in real life.
The manufacturing processes of different companies will not help you decide which bass feels and sounds good in your hands - if you liked a Warwick when you played it, it wouldn't make any sense to decide it no longer feels or sounds good after someone informs you it is not 100% handmade.
Doesn't matter what brand it is: if you like it you like it, end of story.
The manufacturing processes of different companies will not help you decide which bass feels and sounds good in your hands - if you liked a Warwick when you played it, it wouldn't make any sense to decide it no longer feels or sounds good after someone informs you it is not 100% handmade.
Doesn't matter what brand it is: if you like it you like it, end of story.
My Infinity Ltd 5 string fretless was an absolutely amazing instrument in every way. If it wasn't an unlined fretless I would still be playing it. I wasn't up to it, not the other way around. As many people have said already, you can definitely get spectacular instruments from Warwick, but that doesn't make either Warwick or Fodera right for you.
From that should I take that you know the cost of a titanium truss rod and a titanium bridge? I do...
That's actually the Matt Garrison Standard. I got it hoping I'd like playing E-C and have totally latched onto that tuning. Though every once in a while I long for a B-string. Yesterday we were working up Victor's arrangement of I Can't Make You Love Me (from his new album) and there are some spots where the low notes would come in handy. But I can't yet convince myself of going 6 yet, and use the C string a lot.
Do you use them to build instruments in your own shop, and do you have decades of experience doing it?
Would titanium even be a good truss rod material? I know it's light, but in the bike world it's kinda flexy. It was originally used for light weight, but carbon was lighter AND had higher stiffness/response. The flexy nature of Ti has made it more popular on high end "comfort" bikes.
Ti parts can be made stiff depending on the size/shape and alloy. eg CP is pretty soft/flexible but 6/4 isn't.
WarwickOfficial
Guest
Currently we are producing about 1200 - 1500 instruments a year in Germany, up to about 2000 in a busy year. This includes Framus guitars. In the last 4-5 years we have cut production in favor of focusing on the highest quality we are capable of. Both brands are quite different, and both are spectacular.
WarwickOfficial
Guest
This is not totally accurate. There is hand-work done throughout every step, although we do have custom-made precision CNC machines for many steps. There is hands-on work done before and after nearly every step of production. The factory tour videos currently focus on the machines...but if you were to take a factory tour you would see just how much hand-work goes into every instrument. Our high-tech machines are there for consistency...but there are things no machine can do...which is why we have a great crew of highly-skilled craftsman every step of the way. Really, its apples and oranges...
It doesn't matter...
Stealing a design from Ken Smith and having a machining shop make it in titanium and paying 50 bucks extra per piece over the price you normally pay for your everyday steel rods doesn't exactly justify an increase in 4.000 dollars...
I mean, come on now... Tell me you charge 4K for a truss rod because it's your bass and you charge whatever you want for it, or simply tell me you wanna keep driving a Porsche, or whatever... But don't BS me saying you don't command a premium when you charge me 4K for something that costs you 200 bucks...
WarwickOfficial
Guest
We let all of our wood air-dry for a minimum of 3-5 years, but if you look in our wood storage area, you'll see most of our wood has been drying for much longer...last month I saw stacks of pallets that have been there for 12 years, and some that has been drying for over 25 years! Thanks!
WarwickOfficial said:
I guess I need to take a tour of the factory in the future
I didn't realize much of any hand work happened besides putting wood in machines and finish sanding
Vinnie cares about producing fine instruments before making money. Hans-Peter cares about making money before producing fine instruments. I'd go with Fodera.
WarwickOfficial
Guest
This is exactly why production numbers have been lowered, with a renewed focus on quality and QC...there were a few years where we over-produced, and some things slipped. There are older instruments out there that would never leave the factory today.
From what I understand production numbers have been lowered because Warwick has not been selling the way they were. Simple as that. Suddenly Warwick is focusing on custom builds and recruiting all kinds of players who never before played a Warwick (Bootsy, Larry Graham, Verdine White). The sound of wood or the sound of desperation? Oh, and yeah, I got one of those basses that "would never leave the factory today" and yeah, I'm still bitter about it.
Just Thumpin'
Commercial User
- Mar 7, 2008
- 4,534
- 1,664
- Disclosures
- Manager and Partner, Fodera Guitars (10/14/09 - 12/16/19)
Joey and Vinny made a lot of business decisions that made very little sense. They were busy trying to build the best instruments that they knew how to build. I became involved three years ago and became their partner so that the business could truly try a different approach. The changes that we have made are the reason that two of the past three years will be profitable.
In terms of the comment that you made about building something overseas for 10 years...I can only assume that you were referring to our discontinued NYC line. Yes, that was one of the less well thought out ways that Joey and Vinny were trying to do something different to improve the business' situation. Although the instruments were very well made, as a business decision, it was poorly communicated and poorly executed.
As for Titanium parts as an option on the Presentation...that increase in cost represents a 100% (fairly standard in the industry) markup on our costs to have the parts made and have them available in inventory. Sadly there are zero economies of scale in producing parts like this...
Jason
In terms of the comment that you made about building something overseas for 10 years...I can only assume that you were referring to our discontinued NYC line. Yes, that was one of the less well thought out ways that Joey and Vinny were trying to do something different to improve the business' situation. Although the instruments were very well made, as a business decision, it was poorly communicated and poorly executed.
As for Titanium parts as an option on the Presentation...that increase in cost represents a 100% (fairly standard in the industry) markup on our costs to have the parts made and have them available in inventory. Sadly there are zero economies of scale in producing parts like this...
Jason
I do understand there's an increase in cost to have these parts made. I would understand if you guys charged 1000 bucks (pretty steep already) for this particular feature.
4K for the TI parts is simply outrageous.
I mean, there's no difference in the construction, the rod channel is the same, bridge placement is same and we all know how much these pieces cost...
