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why are Foderas so expensive?

#182
wow, I can't believe I asked a question and got almost 200 responses so far,:cool:
The reason why I asked is.....

A few weeks ago I found myself in the rare position, a few thousand in the bank to just spend on myself.
of course, I went nuts,looking for "the best" bass I could find.
long story short,
I wound up with a Sadowsky and love it.

The point being..
I tried alot,
mostly basses in the $1000-$3000 range..
Lakland,Sadowsky,vintage Fender,Pedulla,Sukop,Rick Turner,Warwick..I checked out Copolla,who's in my area, but decided didn't want to wait months and months for a custom job.

i considered a custom CB with sadowsky
innards,and came damned close to spending a bundle on a 32"
custom job before arriving at the sadowsky factory,where I made my choice,(to buy a used Sad.)
I was satisfied that this was the best bass I was gonna find in that price range,to fit my needs.and if I could do any better,it wouldn't be by much.

After setup and some upgrades, I spent less than 2k. on a used metro..it exceeded my expectations..
I found a dead mint one used for $1500
I could tell Sadowski really tries to keep the prices down(Japan,etc) the service and setup alone made it worth it.

Then I thought..if this is how a $2000-$3000 bass performs, then what propells the next level of basses
into the 5k-10k range?
why such a broad gap?

I guess If VF makes them all by hand,then that's my answer.It's sort of art,right?..like a painting,anything else,one of a kind..I get it.
I just wonder..
where is the line?..
if you want..
best design
best wood,
best pu's/elctrnx best tone,
best playability/feel..
how much do you need to spend?I know "best" is subjective,but..
 
#183
quadrogong said:
wow, I can't believe I asked a question and got almost 200 responses so far,
The reason why I ask is this...
A few weeks ago I found myself in the rare position, a few thousand in the bank to just spend on myself.
of course, I went nuts,looking for "the best" bass I could find.
I wound up with a Sadowsky and love it.

The point being..
I tried alot, mostly basses in the $1000-$3000 range..Lakland,Sadowsky,vintage Fender,Pedulla,Sukop,Rick Turner,Warwick..I checked out Copolla,who's in my area, but decided didn't want to wait months and months for a custom job.
i considered a custom CB with sadowski innards,and came damned close to spending a bundle on a 32"custom job before arriving at the sadowsky factory,where I made my choice.
I was satisfied that this was the best bass I was gonna find in that price range,to fit my needs.and if I could do any better,it wouldn't be by much.

After setup and some upgrades, I spent less than 2k. on a used metro..and I could tell Sadowski really tries to keep the prices down(Japan,etc)

Then I thought..if this is how a $2000-$3000 bass performs, then what propells the next level of basses
into the 5k-10k range?
why such a broad gap?

I guess If VF makes them all by hand,then that's my answer.It's sort of art,right?..like a painting,anything else,one of a kind..I get it.
I just wonder..
where is the line?..
if you want..
best design
best wood,
best pu's/elctrnx best tone,
best playability/feel..
how much do you need to spend?I know "best" is subjective,but..
Click to expand...

I think you need to spend only that exact amount it takes to make you the happiest with a bass in the context in which you need/want it. Thats about it. As you've seen here in the thread...there is no answer to indentifying the "best" because its about your art..your touch, your perceptions in every category. I know its not the answer you are looking for.
For me, again, Fodera was worth the money, and built me something very special as a custom ordered instrument that I probebly would not have been able to achieve elswhere without alot more angst ( I also think a made for stock Fodera could have *by chance* been just fine for me too). So I was personally involved with the specs from top to bottom. IMO that is where you can get the most value out of a company like Fodera...admittingly a rather dangerous endeavor IF you really dont know what you like/want or how to get there.


As far as art..yes I think there is an element to that in the price of any exotic- type high end bass. So to a degree if someone likes the artistry or asthetics of one company's designs over another then I can see it could be worth more $ to that person too. As far as the other categories you listed, you did exactly the best thing you could have. You bought the best bass for you within the reality of the budget you had to deal with.

I agree with anyone on this thread that tried to make the point that any bass between 5-10k may not ever have been better than the Metro you bought..for you.
 
#184
A bass takes time to make by skilled craftsman. Say 40 hours minimum. Ask yourself what you'd work for per hour. Thank God luthiers don't ask for what a dentist or a doctor would want! Add some specially chosen woods and materials and you can see why they cost what they do. Ask some pro cellists or violinists what they pay for an instrument and then consider whether we should even be having a conversation about any custom built bass that costs less than $20,000.
 
#186
Ye but a Rolex tells people you've soooo much money you can spend it on something that a $1 watch from Asia would have told you. Basses aren't quite like that yet. Rolex is an intersting branding discussion - to what extent are gibson and Fender like Rolex? Isn't playing a Fender a bit like drinking Coke - it's brand is so strong it's difficult to get the same experience with the other options.
 
#187
basses55 said:
I think you need to spend only that exact amount it takes to make you the happiest with a bass in the context in which you need/want it. Thats about it. As you've seen here in the thread...there is no answer to indentifying the "best" because its about your art..your touch, your perceptions in every category. I know its not the answer you are looking for.
For me, again, Fodera was worth the money, and built me something very special as a custom ordered instrument that I probebly would not have been able to achieve elswhere without alot more angst ( I also think a made for stock Fodera could have *by chance* been just fine for me too). So I was personally involved with the specs from top to bottom. IMO that is where you can get the most value out of a company like Fodera...admittingly a rather dangerous endeavor IF you really dont know what you like/want or how to get there.


As far as art..yes I think there is an element to that in the price of any exotic- type high end bass. So to a degree if someone likes the artistry or asthetics of one company's designs over another than I can see it could be worth more $ to that person too. As far as the other categories you listed, you did exactly the best thing you could have. You bought the best bass for you within the reality of the budget you had to deal with.

I agree with anyone on this thread that tried to make the point that any bass between 5-10k may not ever have been better than the Metro you bought..for you.
Click to expand...

The problem as I see it, Mitch, are that some are hellbent on removing art from the equation.
 
#188
Tactician said:
A bass takes time to make by skilled craftsman. Say 40 hours minimum. Ask yourself what you'd work for per hour. Thank God luthiers don't ask for what a dentist or a doctor would want! Add some specially chosen woods and materials and you can see why they cost what they do. Ask some pro cellists or violinists what they pay for an instrument and then consider whether we should even be having a conversation about any custom built bass that costs less than $20,000.
Click to expand...

Make that "Some basses" instead of "A bass" and I thing many if not most will agree with you. Some basses take practically no time to build and cost very little.
 
#190
Tactician said:
Ye but a Rolex tells people you've soooo much money you can spend it on something that a $1 watch from Asia would have told you. Basses aren't quite like that yet. Rolex is an intersting branding discussion - to what extent are gibson and Fender like Rolex? Isn't playing a Fender a bit like drinking Coke - it's brand is so strong it's difficult to get the same experience with the other options.
Click to expand...

They're not like that yet?:D

To paraphrase...

but a _____ bass shows people you've soooo much money you can spend it on something where an SX bass from Asia would have sufficed.
 
#192
Eli_Upright12 said:
Hell ask a pro Double Bassist, I aint no pro, but in professional orchestras you wont be taken seriously if you bass isn't like 10 grand and up
Click to expand...

It's probably just the fact that there are far more electric bass players, most of them probably can't afford or wouldn't want to pay the cost of admission... and they like to complain about it anyway.

Good times.
:hyper:
 
#193
Brad Johnson said:
The problem as I see it, Mitch, are that some are hellbent on removing art from the equation.
Click to expand...


I think thats prob true the more that I read.

Save for an instrument thats just coming apart at the seems and/or self destructing just from gravity when you pick it up......

...the art is everywhere in this endeavour ( critically comparing bass instruments). Whether its information from your eyes, ears, touch, taste ( yes some people have admitted licking or wanting to lick certain basses ;)) the brain will do its magical individual thing ....IMO just like when you see a painting or hear music or feel fabric or taste curry ( I love Indian).

How can a debate on such variables really come to any consensus?

AND IT NEVER HAS ON TALKBASS EITHER ! lol

and even better...may there NEVER be a consensus.
 
#197
I haven't read the whole thread, but a few thoughts I haven't seen so far (apart from the fact that they are labor intensive).

1. Overhead- having the shop in NYC is going to add to the cost of doing business.

2. Place in history (sort of reputation). Along with Alembic, they are one of the first of the boutique builders. I would imagine this helps build the reputation for some players.

I'm personally not a huge fan of their shapes and probably wouldn't buy one even if I had the cash, but I wouldn't call them overpriced by a longshot.
 
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#198
Ace ace ace. I thought it was only me that got on pedantic high horses. I feel much happier not to be alone.

I can't be bothered reading through the many - and long - responses in this thread, but does any contributor actually OWN a Fodera?

So if you're out there: I'd like to know what drove your decision to buy a Fod; what made you choose it over other magnificent-appearing boutique basses? Let's have it from the (high) horse's mouth.
 
#199
I have never before played or own a Bass , that has the Magic of Fodera..... :smug: - I found the Sound I've always wanted..... I need nothing more than Foderas & Fenders for the Rest of my Life :D :bassist:

we often forget what classical Instruments do cost ...... even Alembic's big Series II is cheap compared to a Price of a good "Middle-Class" (!!!!) classical Instrument.....better not thinking about the Prices for a good one......


:hiding:

Jules
 
#200
Zerozeddy said:
Ace ace ace. I thought it was only me that got on pedantic high horses. I feel much happier not to be alone.

I can't be bothered reading through the many - and long - responses in this thread, but does any contributor actually OWN a Fodera?

So if you're out there: I'd like to know what drove your decision to buy a Fod; what made you choose it over other magnificent-appearing boutique basses? Let's have it from the (high) horse's mouth.
Click to expand...

To answer your pedantic question, I bought an Anthny Jackson Contrabass... used. Why? Because it was relatively inexpensive (worth way more than I paid for it).

IMO magnificent-appearing basses are useless... unless they play and sound commensurate with their appearance.

You're seriously wondering why people buy a particular bass? Here's an excellent, legitimate answer... they like it.
 

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