My original question wasn't about factory setup.
The "factory setup" reply clearly had more to it than simply suggesting this was about the factory setup itself.
On my Fodera I've taken the truss rod out and messed with it, changed saddles height, etc. And yet it's VERY easy to make it play good in virtually no time. I've also tuned all strings to pitch with an empty truss rod chamber and the bass still played good and the neck was fairly straight, as if the rod isn't there to hold the neck against the string tension, but it's there for minor tweaks and adjustments. Somehow it feels like there's a lot less string tension on those instruments.
I don't think Fodera found a way around physics. And truss rods are not actually "essential" -- my teacher builds lots of instruments without them.
Fodera necks have nothing different about them regarding materials, no carbon rods, no strong wood laminates. It's just 3 pieces of maple, a fretboard and a removable truss rod.
There you're wrong, and it should be obvious. If not, you can at least take Fodera's word for it. Obvious for reason that a manufacturer of millions of big-name mid-to-high level basses is going to choose different materials, wood suppliers, construction techniques, etc. than a boutique builder -- that's simple economics. But if that's not obvious, here's a quote from Fodera's literature: "We make every Fodera out of some of the longest-aged, quality instrument tonewood on
the planet. Our wood is as stable as any that you will find" Do you think the same would be true of, say, MIA Fenders? Not very likely.
The rod is made of steel and very robust and I used to think that was the reason the neck felt so solid, but then I took it out and it's still VERY solid. It's something to do with construction and concept, not necessarily a special rod or a special piece of wood...
The rod is probably the LEAST unique thing about a Fodera -- the workmanship and wood choice of the neck are much more likely the root.
Also, I don't mean the ability to achieve an extremely low action on a particular bass. I'm talking about how the neck behaves against the tension of the strings. Don't think any other bass could have 5 strings in tune without a truss rod and still have a straight neck. A Fodera can...
The ability to get low action is pretty commonly referenced as an indication of neck quality. And low action IS a function of how the neck behaves against the tension of the strings (along with the fretwork). But you last comment makes it sound like you were never interested getting an answer, but rather wanted to get on a "Fodera rocks" binge. Your question was "Why's the Fodera a lot easier to setup?" You got some answers for that, including the one about the role the factory setup could play. "I am looking for answers more specific than "because Fodera basses are boutique" or "because Fodera uses better woods". It has something to do with the design but I can't get a grasp of what it is" Well, we, and Fodera, agree that "better woods" ARE part of the equation, but you don't like that answer, so you might be stuck there. And saying something is "boutique" is usually shorthand for "gets a lot more individual construction attention and craftsmanship than a mass-produced bass" which is also surely part of the case here. So, again, you might be stuck on that one. You should have started with "I'm convinced Foderas are better than every other instrument around because of some secret design -- what is it" and then we could all tell you that that's not likely, and even if it was, there's no way Fodera would allow that kind of trade secret to get out to its competitors.
I think you're overthinking this
Quick question: how do your M.Laghus basses compare to Foderas?
