why are Foderas so expensive?

[Kirk Bryant]

Different hats for different cats!..................is that what we're talking about?

 

[andruca]

Because people are willing to pay that much!

Sums it up pretty well. HYPE. I only played one Fodera and not only consider it played average, it sounded really "modern generic", which I definitely despise (all needs to be said, I do mostly rock, not into middy or crystal sounding gear). Same thing happened to me with several Jerzys and Marleauxes I've tried too, terribly generic sound.

 

[Just Thumpin']

Sums it up pretty well. HYPE. I only played one Fodera and not only consider it played average, it sounded really "modern generic", which I definitely despise (all needs to be said, I do mostly rock, not into middy or crystal sounding gear). Same thing happened to me with several Jerzys and Marleauxes I've tried too, terribly generic sound.

Was it a Custom or a Standard? What pickups did it have? How was the set-up? Were the strings new? Were they good strings? What rig were you playing through? All of these things play a huge part in making one of our instruments (or any stringed instrument) perform optimally. By way of example, the vast majority of the basses the way have built that are out in the world were commissioned as custom instruments. The person for whom it was built may have had a completely different concept of what great tone is. Your "modern generic," might well be his (or her), "refined audiophile." We see that all of the time.

I am sorry that your first experience with our work was not an exciting one. If you ever get to the NY Metro area, please look us up. I'd love to personally show you through the shop and demo some instruments for you. That will at least provide a broader spectrum from which to judge.

Kindest regards,

Jason
[email protected]

 

[Bass Viking]

Was it a Custom or a Standard? What pickups did it have? How was the set-up? Were the strings new? Were they good strings? What rig were you playing through? All of these things play a huge part in making one of our instruments (or any stringed instrument) perform optimally. By way of example, the vast majority of the basses the way have built that are out in the world were commissioned as custom instruments. The person for whom it was built may have had a completely different concept of what great tone is. Your "modern generic," might well be his (or her), "refined audiophile." We see that all of the time.

I am sorry that your first experience with our work was not an exciting one. If you ever get to the NY Metro area, please look us up. I'd love to personally show you through the shop and demo some instruments for you. That will at least provide a broader spectrum from which to judge.

Kindest regards,

Jason
[email protected]

I have a Monarch Standard. I'm tempted to describe the sound as "generic", meaning it doesn't have a distinctive character. Is this the nature of the Standard? It does sound good though and is versatile.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Here's an analogy:
Fodera=Maserati
Vintage Fender='55 Chevy Bel Aire

Both are expensive.
But for different reasons.

 

[Just Thumpin']

I have a Monarch Standard. I'm tempted to describe the sound as "generic", meaning it doesn't have a distinctive character. Is this the nature of the Standard? It does sound good though and is versatile.

The Monarch 4 Standard and Emperor 5 Standard were designed to be flexible tonally. To me, the word "generic" has always carried a somewhat negative connotation. We definitely did go out of our way to select woods, pickups and electronics that allow for a very broad tonal palate...

 

[TMARK]

80/20 rule. Fodera goes the extra distance to get that final 20%, and it's not cheap. This applies to any engineered product.