ZilchWoolham Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 (edited) I can't imagine spending that much for any bass, really, but I'd certainly expect something a bit less standardised for that price. And I have to say, the body shape reminds me of something you'd get from a mildly inventive budget brand. Nice to hear they treat their workers well, though. That's certainly a factor I would weigh in when determining whether or not to pay a bit extra for a certain piece of kit. Edited January 12, 2017 by ZilchWoolham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 In any case, I think their target market are Fodera players (of which there a great many who happily spend the money), who want a P bass by Fodera. Not necessarily a player who isn't already 'in the fold' who's after a P bass. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulhauser Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 [quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1484180260' post='3213423'] In any case, I think their target market are Fodera players (of which there a great many who happily spend the money), who want a P bass by Fodera. Not necessarily a player who isn't already 'in the fold' who's after a P bass. [/quote] ^^This Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 I'm not saying this would be THE bass for me, but if they do: 5 string version of this, 19mm spacing, 45mm nut sings with the clarity of a Warwick, Weight of 4-4.5Kg Empty pre-amp cavity Right looks (and the blue version looks good to me. I'll place my order today. I could sell most of my collection. It would save space, I'd free up some money and I'd enjoy looking into pre-amps to go in there rather paying for and then putting up with what the manufacturers give you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 [quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1484141775' post='3212965'] About £2.5k, then? (Plus another few hundred to get it sent to the UK?) I think the Monarch P looks gorgeous and, if I had the money, would gladly buy one. I would definitely rather spend the cash on this, a new instrument of the highest quality, than a 40-50 year old piece of crap that should really be put in the bin. I wouldn't buy anything with failing frets, failing electronics, failing and rusting hardware, flaking paintwork, and very ordinary construction. [/quote] You missed out saying that the ones in good condition have possibly spent years in a cupboard because the owner couldn't get on with it and didn't like it, but simply didn't need to move it on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 [quote name='Grahambythesea' timestamp='1484091075' post='3212699'] I think the design is hideous, looks like a really cheap model that's avoiding getting sued by fender. [/quote] There are 101 other look-a-like makers to go for before Fender go after Fodera. On the subject of the empty electronic cavity: Back in the 60s and 70s BMW and Mercedes cars had radios fitted as an optional extra. The thinking being that you don't pay that kind of money for the car, only to be forced into having a cheap radio screwed in the dash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 Nice to see them constantly moving on, and it seems they are getting talked about a lot more now, which is marketing in itself. The P sounds great, but I'd still rather get a Sadowsky who, IMO, are still at the pinnacle of very high quality and stunning P and J basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulhauser Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 I just wonder how much these new models and the last couple of years' standard models dilute the brand image of Fodera. They have been always known of makers of individual, customizable instruments of the highest quality. What they do with the Standards and these newer models makes complete sense from a business point of view but takes away the magic for some, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 I don't think so. Lakland, Sadowsky, MTD, Overwater, Fender, Musicman and many other quality manufacturers have "cheaper" lines that are highly rated in their own rite and these haven't impacted the reputation of the main brand. I don't see why Fodera will be adversely affected. These new basses will cost less than the custom models but with the focus on quality they will still be amazing instruments. That they are double the price of some other bass is pretty irrelevant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 It's all largely irrelevant to me, as I think they're two of the worst bastardisations of the Fender design I've ever seen. If you gave me one I'd sell it immediately. Fodera owners may well love them, and will probably be able to afford them. Good luck to em, it's their money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 (edited) Not very pretty to my untrained eye. Edited January 12, 2017 by ead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 Why the gripes about it being passive? If you buy a nice James Tyler Mongoose guitar that'll set you back the same kind of money and it's essentially a Les Paul'd Tele. But it is the best guitar I've ever played in my life. These basses are going to be out of reach for lots of people and some people can afford it and won't pay either. But I'd like to try one out before I'd slate it for being Fender inspired. You don't need a preamp for a bass to sound amazing and they cost next to nothing to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 [quote name='nash' timestamp='1484307544' post='3214516'] You don't need a preamp for a bass to sound amazing and they cost next to nothing to make. [/quote] IMO if you need a pre-amp in a bass to make it sound good (other than basses like Wals where the pre-amp works in a very different way to normal tone controls) then there is something wrong with the rest of your rig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 I have no doubt that it's an excelent bass and will play and sound wonderfully but i can't see there enough material/hardware/hand labour that would be worth the price tag. It's another case of Fenderitis... as long as people are willing to pay the price they'll keep selling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 [quote name='nash' timestamp='1484307544' post='3214516'] Why the gripes about it being passive? [/quote] I think at that price point people expect all the whistles and bells. Also there's a preamp cavity fitted to the bass, just no actual preamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nash Posted January 13, 2017 Share Posted January 13, 2017 [quote name='Cato' timestamp='1484322310' post='3214705'] I think at that price point people expect all the whistles and bells. Also there's a preamp cavity fitted to the bass, just no actual preamp. [/quote] It's just rear routing for the controls. Of course it could be tighter but then everyone would moan that you'd have to make permanent mods to it to put a preamp in. Much like a Fender USA Deluxe Tele. They're SS pickups and routed SSH. It's cheaper without it being detrimental to the instrument and helps with not perminetly changing the instrument. Fodera are expensive but that enables wood to be picked with more care, fretwork to be perfect etc. IMO who needs an onboard pre when most of them can be found in pedal form, Aguilar, Sadowsky etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misdee Posted January 14, 2017 Share Posted January 14, 2017 I have to be honest and say that, regardless of price, this design doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. Not my taste. However, in the wider context, the problem I have with most of these "super-Fender" basses is that they sound too refined, missing the essential grit and grunt which is the heart of the Fender tone. Adding a preamp usually only makes matters worse. Marcus Miller has a great sound, but I'm not sure about the thousands of bad imitators he has inspired. In the right hands a good Fender bass sounds as satisfying as any other bass on the market, whatever it costs. A Fodera at whatever price, will sound different and some may prefer that tone. But in terms of the sound coming out of your speakers, can you say that it is demonstrably better than a Fender? I almost always prefer the rawer tone of a Fender, but that might be my eccentricity in old age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuddBass Posted January 20, 2017 Author Share Posted January 20, 2017 Great hearing everyone's view on this. Perhaps Fodera will come along to the Bass Show... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzjames Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 People will buy these. They've made a good business decision to try and get in on the vintage thing. Me personally, I'd rather spend my 4k on a mid 60s refinished P bass which has been well looked after and maintained. But that's just me. You've got to be pretty crackers to order one of these and not play it before you pay for it. You can guarantee that at this price level the workmanship is going to be incredible. But you can't guarantee that it will sound amazing. Some basses are just really average. Foderas too. Best wait a few months for some to crop up second hand and go and try one and see if it's worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Devils advocate... A new Fender Elite Precision in 3TSB is just shy of £2000. That's not far off the price of a custom spec build from a number of U.K. based luthiers! Fodera are far more established than some of the smaller UK builders and as mentioned earlier, costs are much higher and profit margins are slim (unlike Fender, who give slim margins to resellers rather than taking the hit themselves) but for an extra £1200, the extra time, effort, love and upgrades on tonewoods, hardware and electronics over an 'off-the-shelf' Fender is definitely worth it IMO (even more so if you choose a U.K. builder whose price is almost comparable to the Fender Elite range!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Hideous, both of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazBeen Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 I think this is all getting out of hand..... 2k for a US Fender, 4k for a Foderander. We're all guilty by association as we should simply stop buying over-priced brands and prices will drop pretty quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Over-priced is subjective Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost_Bass Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 If people keep buying them they are certainly not overpriced... one does what he pleases with his own money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.