Fodera - what are they thinking?

[dyerseve]

Looking at the Fodera AJ6 Presentation in the FS section i cant help but wonder why Fodera go to all the trouble and expense oh using extremely figured woods for the top of this bass, have it completely uncluttered with any controls but dont mount the jack on the side of the body! Just seems crazy to me.

Also, it ain't exactly cheap but they can't go to the trouble of a matched wood cavity cover? 

I'm not trying to stinky poo on the bass or the seller as I'm sure it's a killer bass but when I see stuff like this from one of the most respected bass companies in the world I am left scratching my head a bit...

Edited June 1, 2018 by dyerseve

[Happy Jack]

Not sure which bass you're talking about there ... can't see an AJ6 listed just now.

[Paulhauser]

There is one for sale. 

As for the OP " but dont mount the back on the side of the body!"

Do you mean the jack placement?

I'm sure that is like this because it's how Anthony Jackson wanted it to be.  

[skidder652003]

here 

 

 

[skidder652003]

If Im honest 8k for some rather nice woods and strings? well call me cynical but this will probably be around for some time...

[Sibob]

5 minutes ago, skidder652003 said:

If Im honest 8k for some rather nice woods and strings? well call me cynical but this will probably be around for some time...

Depends if you really want one or not doesn’t it.....it’s significantly cheaper than a new one!

Si

[skidder652003]

15 minutes ago, Sibob said:

Depends if you really want one or not doesn’t it.....it’s significantly cheaper than a new one!

Si

wow, depreciation city!

Edited May 31, 2018 by skidder652003

[fiatcoupe432]

i really like it and if i had spare money then i would love to own one

[chris_b]

I made the same comment about the jack socket interfering with the clean lines on Talkbass when the model came out several years ago and Fodera replied that a side mount would have interfered with the way Anthony Jackson holds the bass as he plays sitting. So basically it's his choice.

About the price. It is what it is. This is an instrument made to a level of detail and quality that is unique even in the boutique bass industry. It is plainly more than wood and strings. As with any product at any level the price reflects the intended market. On the other hand they are dead cheap in comparison to the prices of classical instruments .

I have played a couple of Fodera basses and it was a special playing experience. They are stunning.

[drTStingray]

33 minutes ago, skidder652003 said:

If Im honest 8k for some rather nice woods and strings? well call me cynical but this will probably be around for some time...

I'm presuming you value the craftsmanship, design skill and fabulous tone of a bass at this level, produced by one of the top makers of basses as worthless then? Not to mention the input to the instrument of one of the most revered of electric bass players ever. 

I too don't care for the bass personally but to describe it as rather nice wood and strings rather misses the point by a country mile if not an entire world 🤔 😐 unless you were joking of course. 

Edited May 31, 2018 by drTStingray

[bipbip62]

I'm the seller of the AJ6...

If you want to try it... it's possible in the North of France...

It's an expensive bass but it's a exceptional bass....

Trade with a bass + cash is possible...

And I'm a very good seller...

[dyerseve]

7 hours ago, Paulhauser said:

There is one for sale. 

As for the OP " but dont mount the back on the side of the body!"

Do you mean the jack placement?

I'm sure that is like this because it's how Anthony Jackson wanted it to be.  

Yeah the jack- bloody auto correct lol.

So if they are building a bass for AJ himself I get it(though i dont understand his preference) but when selling to the public surely this is something they could revise to improve the aesthetics.

[Hellzero]

Being a Signature model, it's made the way the player intended it, so you have to accept it, just like for each and every Signature model.

Real Signature models are supposed to have been thought down to every single detail. 

If you play sitted, the side jack mounted is a pity, so a front mounting one makes big sense.

I had an exact clone of #9 AJ6 made by Polish luthier Langowski and it was a killer bass, can't imagine the sound of the original... Or yes, I can by simply listening to Anthony Jackson (try anything with Hiromi and you'll understand what mastering an instrument and music means).

My recently ordered Leduc U-Basse 6 strings fretless will be passive with only a balance for the original Q-Tuner first version pickups and nothing else. It will have the Leduc rear mounted output jack, which is the best place to put it, playing sitted or jumping everywhere.

And Hugues is a great seller too ! 

 

[dyerseve]

1 hour ago, Hellzero said:

Being a Signature model, it's made the way the player intended it, so you have to accept it, just like for each and every Signature model.

Real Signature models are supposed to have been thought down to every single detail. 

If you play sitted, the side jack mounted is a pity, so a front mounting one makes big sense.

I had an exact clone of #9 AJ6 made by Polish luthier Langowski and it was a killer bass, can't imagine the sound of the original... Or yes, I can by simply listening to Anthony Jackson (try anything with Hiromi and you'll understand what mastering an instrument and music means).

My recently ordered Leduc U-Basse 6 strings fretless will be passive with only a balance for the original Q-Tuner first version pickups and nothing else. It will have the Leduc rear mounted output jack, which is the best place to put it, playing sitted or jumping everywhere.

And Hugues is a great seller too ! 

 

Really? If I was paying 5 figures for a bass I would expect them to ask me if I would like them to tweak it a bit so it was more to my liking.

As for the whole signature bass thing, they are great for getting publicity for the manufacturers but the person who sounds like the player is the player and their signature sound is in their fingers. Ive never heard of Anthony Jackson or heard any of his music so cant say what he sounds like but I have seen Marcus Miller sound the same on a Squier a Sire and his own Signature Fender.

[dyerseve]

9 hours ago, chris_b said:

I made the same comment about the jack socket interfering with the clean lines on Talkbass when the model came out several years ago and Fodera replied that a side mount would have interfered with the way Anthony Jackson holds the bass as he plays sitting. So basically it's his choice.

About the price. It is what it is. This is an instrument made to a level of detail and quality that is unique even in the boutique bass industry. It is plainly more than wood and strings. As with any product at any level the price reflects the intended market. On the other hand they are dead cheap in comparison to the prices of classical instruments .

I have played a couple of Fodera basses and it was a special playing experience. They are stunning.

I just dont understand how a Fodera can be that amazing compared to all the other high end basses out there. I mean really, how much better is it than a Wal, a masterbuilt Warwick, a Ritter, Alembic etc.

[BigRedX]

2 minutes ago, dyerseve said:

I just dont understand how a Fodera can be that amazing compared to all the other high end basses out there. I mean really, how much better is it than a Wal, a masterbuilt Warwick, a Ritter, Alembic etc.

Because like all high end basses they are different instruments made for people who want something specific that only a Fodera can give them. If you want a Wal or a Ritter or an Alembic you buy one of those and not a Fodera.

If you can't get that then you are obviously not the sort of person that these basses are aimed at. If all you want is something with strings capable of playing low notes you'll probably be fine with a Squier.

[fretmeister]

I imagine the sock placement is partly to do with easy of sitting position. A side mounted jack can get in the way.

[fretmeister]

11 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

Because like all high end basses they are different instruments made for people who want something specific that only a Fodera can give them. If you want a Wal or a Ritter or an Alembic you buy one of those and not a Fodera.

If you can't get that then you are obviously not the sort of person that these basses are aimed at. If all you want is something with strings capable of playing low notes you'll probably be fine with a Squier.

Yup.

 

But there's also no doubt they could reduce prices by 50% if they were building them in Iowa rather than paying New York rent levels. Vinny said as much in an interview in Bass Player several years ago.

[Happy Jack]

And, of course, there's absolutely nothing wrong with being "fine with a Squier".

If I played instruments pitched at the level of my playing ability then I'd probably have an Encore and, for me, the Squier would be an aspirational instrument. There is no bassline that I have ever played that couldn't have been played on a £200 bass.

The reason I play a Mike Lull T5 (current retail price c.£4500 though that is WAY more than I paid for mine) is simply because I like it, well, love it to bits would be more accurate, and I CAN. 

"I imagine the sock placement is partly to do with easy of sitting position."

And how do you know where Anthony Jackson places his socks?

 

[dyerseve]

32 minutes ago, Happy Jack said:

And, of course, there's absolutely nothing wrong with being "fine with a Squier".

If I played instruments pitched at the level of my playing ability then I'd probably have an Encore and, for me, the Squier would be an aspirational instrument. There is no bassline that I have ever played that couldn't have been played on a £200 bass.

The reason I play a Mike Lull T5 (current retail price c.£4500 though that is WAY more than I paid for mine) is simply because I like it, well, love it to bits would be more accurate, and I CAN. 

"I imagine the sock placement is partly to do with easy of sitting position."

And how do you know where Anthony Jackson places his socks?

 

Mate I'm definitely in the same position as you in terms of playing ability and the instruments I deserve versus the instruments I have. I own a '90 Streamer Stage 1 5 string, an '08 Thumb NT5 and the retail of these combined would be circa 10K but really I could get by with a £350 Yamaha TRBX305 or similar. But like you I love my basses, not only to play and for their tones but also just to look at and admire the craftsmanship and beauty.

[chris_b]

51 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

. . . . there's also no doubt they could reduce prices by 50% if they were building them in Iowa rather than paying New York rent levels.

. . . . and another 30% if they moved production to China, but why would they want to do that? Their business model works. The company appears to be very successful in making high quality hand made custom bass guitars. They probably have a waiting list of several years so why change anything?

The original question is naive. Why do Montblanc pens cost more than a Bic, why do Bentleys cost more than Dacias and why did Abramovich pay £340,000,000 for his boat when he could have been messing about on the water in a Bestway Lite-Rapide X2 for £140?

I understand that people can love McDonalds rather than steak but why would McDonalds lovers think they have a point in questioning the existence of steak and the people who want to eat it?

[Hellzero]

1 hour ago, dyerseve said:

Really? If I was paying 5 figures for a bass I would expect them to ask me if I would like them to tweak it a bit so it was more to my liking.

As for the whole signature bass thing, they are great for getting publicity for the manufacturers but the person who sounds like the player is the player and their signature sound is in their fingers. Ive never heard of Anthony Jackson or heard any of his music so cant say what he sounds like but I have seen Marcus Miller sound the same on a Squier a Sire and his own Signature Fender.

Sorry, but Marcus Miller doesn't sound the same with a Squier, a Sire or his Signature Fender, which, by the way, is more a Sadowsky than a Fender. If you've heard and seen him live, he is fighting with his Sire to get a decent sound and doesn't feel at home until he picks up his "Fender" bass. 

That said, you can ask Fodera to put the output jack in the headstock, they will do it as long as you pay for it.

What you don't seem to understand is the "philosophy" behind Signatures : people buying them want the exact same instrument, which is an heresy, for sure. 

I've been playing luthiers basses for years and, again, sorry, but I really can't play mass production instruments anymore.

But again, the best bass is the one you like, be it a Squier or a Fodera.

That said, except the AJ6, I don't like Fodera's at all : way far too expensive for what they really are.

My main basses are Leduc's because they are just what I'm looking for.

And take the time to listen to Anthony Jackson. 

[Frank Blank]

I have (or at least had) a £1k limit on the amount spent on a single instrument, simply because they are tools of work and as such, in the course of playing and transport, liable to get knocked about and past a grand I think I'd be worrying about damaging it...

1 hour ago, Happy Jack said:

And, of course, there's absolutely nothing wrong with being "fine with a Squier".

If I played instruments pitched at the level of my playing ability then I'd probably have an Encore and, for me, the Squier would be an aspirational instrument. There is no bassline that I have ever played that couldn't have been played on a £200 bass.

I totally agree with this only I have never desired a high end bass, not really high end anyway, my recent found love of Rob Allen basses means I'll be purchasing one from him direct quite soon but I've never lusted after a more expensive bass... apart from a Wal maybe but I'm sensible enough to know that my Wal desire stems from a love of Mick Karn and his playing and I'm not him nor do I want to sound like him when I play. Wal basses reminds me of seeing Japan and digging those albums.

I found a classical guitar under the stairs in my house, turns out it had been there for the best part of eighteen years and cost about £50 back then. I took it up to the fellow who sets up my guitars expecting him to write it off but he said that under the dirt there was a nice guitar, so he set it up for me and it's lovely. I returned to him with a bass for set up and he showed me a £6k flamenco guitar that was hand built in Spain, he showed me all the bad things about it, why it was actually a dog, "I'd much rather have your guitar from under the stairs".

Likewise I have a Fender Modern Player that I had fitted with q fretless MIM neck and it sounds just as good as any of the high end fretless basses I've ever played. Personally I don't understand the desire for really expensive instruments, but then I have always felt like an arriviste in any specialist field!

[dyerseve]

21 minutes ago, chris_b said:

. . . . and another 30% if they moved production to China, but why would they want to do that? Their business model works. The company appears to be very successful in making high quality hand made custom bass guitars. They probably have a waiting list of several years so why change anything?

The original question is naive. Why do Montblanc pens cost more than a Bic, why do Bentleys cost more than Dacias and why did Abramovich pay £340,000,000 for his boat when he could have been messing about on the water in a Bestway Lite-Rapide X2 for £140?

I understand that people can love McDonalds rather than steak but why would McDonalds lovers think they have a point in questioning the existence of steak and the people who want to eat it?

Just FYI, I never questioned why Fodera's cost as much as they do. I really like the look of some Fodera's and appreciate any high quality, handcrafted buotique manufacturer of basses.

I simply questioned a couple of the aesthetic choices for such an expensive instrument. If you look at a Ritter for example or even the new masterbuilt Warwicks, it seems no detail has been overlooked in creating basses  that look as stunning as they sound

[dyerseve]

Just now, Hellzero said:

Sorry, but Marcus Miller doesn't sound the same with a Squier, a Sire or his Signature Fender, which, by the way, is more a Sadowsky than a Fender. If you've heard and seen him live, he is fighting with his Sire to get a decent sound and doesn't feel at home until he picks up his "Fender" bass. 

That said, you can ask Fodera to put the output jack in the headstock, they will do it as long as you pay for it.

What you don't seem to understand is the "philosophy" behind Signatures : people buying them want the exact same instrument, which is an heresy, for sure. 

I've been playing luthiers basses for years and, again, sorry, but I really can't play mass production instruments anymore.

But again, the best bass is the one you like, be it a Squier or a Fodera.

That said, except the AJ6, I don't like Fodera's at all : way far too expensive for what they really are.

My main basses are Leduc's because they are just what I'm looking for.

And take the time to listen to Anthony Jackson. 

I have seen him live a couple of times and heard/seen clips of him playing different basses and he always sounds like Marcus. Ok there might be very subtle differences but given the amount of things that can be attributed to - amp, amp EQ, mic, bass EQ/pickup blend, amp/room interaction I would say attributing the subtle differences you may hear to the bass would be very difficult to justify.

No doubt his sig is easier to play than a squier and a Sire.

As for the philiosophy of the signature basses, arent most (almost definitely NOT in the case of the AJ6) just very close approximations of the bass the players actually use?

Do you have a youtube link you can send me for a tune of AJ that best represents what he is all about please?