why are Foderas so expensive?

[Brad Johnson]

I ask this because IME a high % of Foderas are either somewhat different or VERY different . This company goes from ash to mahogany to alder to walnut with maple and ash necks and numerous fingerboards, to 3 different kinds of neck joints and 3 different scale lengths too. Two different brands of pups with 2 different styles of pups. Only the pre is consistant to all amongst new builds.

...but you can take all the different Players like Richard Bona , Matt Garrison, Anthony Jackson, DiPiazza , Lincoln Goines, etc..... with their different Foderas - but they all (!!!!) have the same Character in their Sound.... the Character of Tone Fodera is well known for.....

Just like Smith Basses have the "Smith Sound" that we know from so many Records.... or what ever ... the List of examples is long....

Anyone who thinks Anthony Jackson's tone has the same character as Bona's...

oh well.

 

[Brad Johnson]

and it was just a joke ......

I drive an old 3er BMW..... so , this ain't a big car either

I guess that the joke about groupies went over your head

 

[Jules Forcella]

Anthony Jackson's

UPS...my mistake .......fergot to write sth.

But OF COURSE I wasn't talking about his Contrabass Guitar..... guess you've thought that..... I was talking about his older Models , like you have one.... the ones that I've heard and played had (!!!!) the same Character than other Foderas....

 

[pnchad]

I have had three Foderas and still have 2.

But, although I only put my Monarch Standard up for sale here over 18 months ago, suddenly I have an offer for more than it cost new. So, I check it out and these things are growing in value very quickly.

What would a Monarch Standard 4 string 24 fret J/J maple/ash with a highly figured top and BEM board sell for today?

What would you pay for one right now, like new, mint?

 

[Brad Johnson]

Anthony Jackson's

UPS...my mistake .......fergot to write sth.

But OF COURSE I wasn't talking about his Contrabass Guitar..... guess you've thought that..... I was talking about his older Models , like you have one.... the ones that I've heard and played had (!!!!) the same Character than other Foderas....

Can't say I agree with that either

 

[quadrogong]

the reason I started this wacky thread wasn't to bash Fodera.
I'm not being at all cynical when I ask what makes them expensive.
It's like this..
you start with a $99 fender copy,
and then u upgrade,and upgrade,and upgrade..
my progression was something like this..

1 $99 j copy
2 mexi Pbass
3 ibanez musician neck thru(beat up though)
4 frankenjazz w upgrades
5 Warwick Corvette FNA
6 Stingray
7 FBB Custom
8 Lakland 44-01
9 Sadowsky metro

ok,pretty typical, I traded up, and up..and finally, I'm playing instruments that have no problems,I can finally concentrate on technique,where before I struggled to just get sustain,and a rich tone.

I traded up,basically..and now,after spending my hard earned dough, I feel satisfied with my instrument,finally.
But then, you wonder..
if there's this whole other batch of basses that are 3 or 4 times the price,harder to get and in demand like crazy..

Do I really need any more "quality"?
& are there any corners that were cut to keep my basses in the below 2 grand level?
and if my Sadowsky feels THIS much better than my mexi jazz, does a high end Fodera perform THAT MUCH better yet?

I used to believe that a jazz bass,squire or MIA was all one needed,new strings,decent amp and your fingers, it's really 80-90% in the fingers,isn't it?

but now..after my Sadowsky,I can see obvious quality differences.even-ness amongst the strings,smooth fretwork,and a preamp that is incapable of bad tones.. to name a few..

 

[Jules Forcella]

Can't say I agree with that either

Your Problem

 

[Wilbyman]

I think Pope had the best take on this.

There is a sort of intangible component to them, though. It's not that Vinnie is "better" than anyone else. It's that the instruments have Vinnie in them. The same way that a Jaco record has Jaco in it. You can buy a Jeff Berlin record for less money, maybe...but it's not Jaco. Maybe better in many ways. He certainly has lots more chops and a more refined sound. But if it's Jaco you want, it's Jaco you must have. If it's Fodera you want, it's Fodera you must have. Once you understand this in the ways that are truly important, you won't argue any more. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but if you love Fodera, there's no alternative. There are only close seconds. The same is true if you love any other luthier's work. Nothing else is the same. It's not really a point of discussion. For each of us it's inarguable fact. No one in the world who loves Jersey Drodz's work (sp?) and thinks he has the magic touch would consider buying a Fodera. Compaining about price is just a waste of energy. If you were a violin player, I'd tell you to go price a Stradivarius and tell me how that payment plan is working for you. When you're dealing at this level, you pay...and gladly...for whatever it is that your musical vision asks for. If the answer is Fodera, you don't have an alternative. Fodera's are worth every penny and more. As bass players we're fortunate to have Vinnie and a few other of the true greats around to make us instruments. Some day we may well beg to pay less than $10,000 for any high end Fodera. In the end, if you don't like Fodera, don't suggest that people not buy into all this "Fodera-elitist junk going around these days". Just encourage people to seek what it is that they need to make the music they have in them and suggest that they not have any preconceptions in doing so. Don't dis one of the best luthiers to come along in a century. I don't know anyone who has earned that right. Do you? Have you?

 

[Brad Johnson]

Can't say I agree with that either

Your Problem

Having a Contrabass that doesn't sound like every other Fodera is a problem I'll gladly live with.

 

[Tumbao]

I am a working musician.
Thankfully I'm not rich so I guess that doesn't automatically make me a fool.

"As always, I could be wrong"

 

[basses55]

I think Pope had the best take on this.

Yes that was good..and about the same as what other people have been trying to say in different ways for pages now.

 

[KenToby]

Yes that was good..and about the same as what other people have been trying to say in different ways for pages now.

Boiled down Pope simply said "Somtimes there's no explaining it, if you like it, get it". "Because Vinnie's in it" hardly makes me reach for my wallet; it rings kind of hollow to me...
To me he threw a lot of words at making absolutly no tangible points.


I do know this, $6k+ is a lot of dues to be in a club in my opinion...

The question still remains open as far as I'm conserned.

 

[pnchad]

I played pro (jazz, R&B, funk) for almost 25 years. Most of it on a '76 P fretless that I still have. That dude is rough on ya but it worked and I never even knew better. At 35 I got a cheaper Smith Burner (I still have it too) and it plays way better than the P.

Only now, not playing pro anymore and with a few $$, I have Foderas & Sads, etc. etc. and they nearly play themselves.

But I gotta think that unless you solo a lot and you do what we 'bass' players are supposed to do most of the time (groove), any bass with decent tone will work.

 

[Brad Johnson]

"As always, I could be wrong"

Emphasis on "could".

 

[Brad Johnson]

I played pro (jazz, R&B, funk) for almost 25 years. Most of it on a '76 P fretless that I still have. That dude is rough on ya but it worked and I never even knew better. At 35 I got a cheaper Smith Burner (I still have it too) and it plays way better than the P.

Only now, not playing pro anymore and with a few $$, I have Foderas & Sads, etc. etc. and they nearly play themselves.

But I gotta think that unless you solo a lot and you do what we 'bass' players are supposed to do most of the time (groove), any bass with decent tone will work.

Agreed... I know I could gig on a stck Squier... but a bass that nearly plays itself is a beautiful thing. So if that's an option...

 

[Lo end PUNCH]

Boiled down Pope simply said "Somtimes there's no explaining it, if you like it, get it". "Because Vinnie's in it" hardly makes me reach for my wallet; it rings kind of hollow to me...
To me he threw a lot of words at making absolutly no tangible points.


I do know this, $6k+ is a lot of dues to be in a club in my opinion...

The question still remains open as far as I'm conserned.

+1

 

[T-MOST]

Because they are the aaaaaaaaaabsolute best bass in the world!!!!

 

[lamarjones]

The question still remains open as far as I'm conserned.

That's cool, just as long as you understand the question has been answered as well.

 

[fullrangebass]

Because they are the aaaaaaaaaabsolute best bass in the world!!!!

I am happy that you found you perfect bass. Just like I have found mine. Ooops, we are in different playgrounds.

Highly subjective IMHO

 

[KenToby]

That's cool, just as long as you understand the question has been answered as well.

I'm glad you chimmed in Lamar. Matter of fact I own the set neck, single cut, maple topped Rbass you used to own. You know the one with the deluxe J-retro pre and Bartolini pickups.

Taking this bass to Bassnorthwest and playing it side by side to an Fodera Empreror told me there was no need to spend the extra $4000 to get the Fodera since I have a bass in the very same league.

Lamar, since you know this bass, help me understand the $4K difference. I think you'll agree that the differences are a matter of taste since the quality of each instrument is a toss up.