How do NYC Fodera Basses compare to Warwicks?

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oh well, to those fortunate enough to test both basses ... what do you think?

and oh, this is a bit OT ... but i have personally come to associate the "sound of warwick" with ovangkol :) ... feel free to discuss why this isn't so - keep the flaming to the minimum though *lol*
 
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well, i'll put it this way. i have a friend, that absolutely hates warwicks, almost religiously, and he says foderas are worst than warwicks, so, you can use that.
 
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Pretty steep price on those Foderas, right? I`d rather check out Tobias` instead at that level.
 
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If you want a more traditional sound.................and you like the Vampyre a lot right ?? Well, how about the Vampyre NT then ?? I cannot comment as well on how a Fodera sounds.............. 8)
 
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IncX said:
... but i have personally come to associate the "sound of warwick" with ovangkol :)

Same here.

My current plan for a custom build is ovangkol body, ovangkol neck. Love the look, adore the sound
 

golem

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`

I'm unsure why you would compare them at all. Warwick is a Spector-
type bass and Fodera is a Fender-type. They are bassed on widely
differing ideas, and then taken to a higher plane of development.

Just to muddy the waters even further, I offer a thought: Fender-type
basses are more true to type when they are not "highly evolved". It is
their nature, and the source of their voices, to be simple factory-made
basses. Spector-type basses OTOH originated at a more evolved level,
being introduced 20 yrs later than Fenders, and intended to take the
electric bass to another level, which indeed they continue to do.

I have several of each, and they are as if from different planets.
The "Leo basses" are from all 3 companies, and the Spector-types are
from both companies. IOW the Fenders, GNLs, & EBMMs are all related
and are from the "Planet Leo", while the Spectors are related to the
Warwicks and are from the "Planet NS". One group is a carbon based
life form, the other is silicon based.

No comparison offered.

`
 

Mr Praline

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Hey, Golem, kan you elaborate on how you think Fodera is a Fender-type bass? It's an interesting viewpoint that I've never thought of myself.
 

golem

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Charmand G said:
Pretty steep price on those Foderas, right? I`d
rather check out Tobias` instead at that level.
`

MTDs [current Tobias] are absolutely top shelf, but if you're happy
with Warwick and simply want a luthery-built bass, chances are you'll
be more comfortable with an SSD [aka Spector]. I don't even bother
to differentiate between Spector and Warwick. I just happen to have
some "Spector/Warwick" basses. I don't care which are which.

`
 
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that was a good post golem.

i also know there warwicks that try to step on "planet leo" ... using your analagy:

a silicon based life form, trying to sound like a carbon based life form.

can you give examples of which warwick belong to this category? maybe the ones made from: maple, ash, zebrawood?

how about Pedulla?

the reason why i am asking this is because i really have no access to gear to be able to tell them apart... the only way i can test them is by buying them thru ebay... yes, it is a very expensive way of "testing" basses the more since it is impossible to resell them in my country.

currently i have nothing but warwicks and im beginning to wonder how they are different from their "same price category" peers.
 
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I had a friend who loved Foderas and Roscoes but eventually he bought a Warwick for the quality, price and specs it has. I never liked Foderas. I think they are nice to have custom built basses but I do not like their style.

sorry i can not be of more help. check them out, test them and also check your wallet and after all these things have been reviewed make the decision.
 

golem

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IncX said:
that was a good post golem.

i also know there warwicks that try to step on "planet leo" ... using your
analagy:

a silicon based life form, trying to sound like a carbon based life form.

can you give examples of which warwick belong to this category?
maybe the ones made from: maple, ash, zebrawood?

...........

Can't answer. You are asking about a sort of crossover bass and I have
none of those. As I mentioned, my Leo-types are from Fender, GnL and
EBMM while my NS-types are from Spector and Warwick.

I have an FNA JazzMan 5-string for sale. It is neither "Jazz" [Fender]
nor "Man" [MusicMan]. It is Warwick thru and thru. With a neck like that
[std W 5] it could never pass for a Spector :-(

If the FNA doesn't sell I'm gonna shave the neck and keep it, cuz the
neck is the only problem for me. I have an actual Spector "JazzMan"
[NSJH5CM] and it also is neither "Jazz" nor "Man", but the neck is great.
Before I met this ax, I could only play 19mm 5-strings, no narrow space
fivers for me, until the Spector [about 3 yrs ago] :)

`
 

golem

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The Swedish Owl said:
Hey, Golem, kan you elaborate on how you
think Fodera is a Fender-type bass? It's an interesting viewpoint that
I've never thought of myself.
`

Well, IncX's OP asked specifically about the Fodera NYC series, which
is definitely a very Fender-esque bass. You OTOH might be thinking
more broadly than just the NYC series. Check the "In-Stock" page at
his website:



Sure he makes some very exotic basses as well but mainly he offers a
very 'finessed' Fender-type bass. Similarly Warwick makes the Dolphin
and Vampire which are not NS-type basses. But mainly, Foderas are
known as Fender-esque and Warwicks as Spector-esque. Take a look
at EBMM's Bongo. Thaz no Fender-type, but it hasn't removed EBMM
from it's place in the Fender-type world.

So Foderas are generally considered to be a sorta ulimate Fender-type,
which is not an *alternative* to Fender-types, but the topmost tier
*within* the Fender-type realm. You want an alterntive ? He makes
those too [but please see comment above, re: EBMM Bongo]. Everyone
does some stuff outside their 'identity'. Fender even tried to go after
the Gibson players. There's no rules, but sweeping generalizations are
not false, they are just 'sweeping', meant only for the broadest view.

`
 

Mr Praline

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golem said:
The Swedish Owl said:
Hey, Golem, kan you elaborate on how you
think Fodera is a Fender-type bass? It's an interesting viewpoint that
I've never thought of myself.
`

Well, IncX's OP asked specifically about the Fodera NYC series, which
is definitely a very Fender-esque bass. You OTOH might be thinking
more broadly than just the NYC series. Check the "In-Stock" page at
his website:



Sure, he makes some very exotic basses as well but mainly he offers a
very 'finessed' Fender-type bass. Similarly Warwick makes the Dolphin
and Vampire which are not NS-type bass. But mainly. Foderas are
known as Fender-esque and Warwicks as Spector-esque. Look at
EBMM's Bongo. Thaz no Fender-type, but it hasn't removed EBMM from
it's place in the Fender-type world.

So Foderas are generally considered to be a sorta ulimate Fender-type,
which is not an *alternative* to Fender-types, but the topmost tier
*within* the Fender-type realm. You want an alterntive ? He makes
those too [but please see comment above, re: EBMM Bongo]. Everyone
does some stuff outside their 'identity'. Fender even tried to go after the
Gibson players. There's no rules, but sweeping generalizations are not
false, they are just 'sweeping', meant only for the broadest view.

`

Aaaaah...NOW I see. I totally forgot that NYC means their jazz-inspired series when talking about Fodera.

And also, when talking about Sadowsky, you tend to mention them as NYC or Metro, that's how my mind worked when I wrote the previous post...
 

golem

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`

An afterthought about what is, or is not, "Fenderly":

If we allow that all three Leo Fender companies, Fender, GnL,
and MusicMan should be considered when defining what is a
Fender-type, then the GnL L2000 as well as the MM Sterling/
StingRay in their "JazzMan" and "$$" types must be included,
as these basses are easily the most powerful expressions of
"Fenderliness" to have, so far, assaulted our ears. Once you
consider the broader definition of what constitutes a Fender-
esque bass, many more of the custom basses are found to
be Fender-type as well, such as the Fodera YinYang basses
and New Standard basses.

`
 
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does it mean that ppl who use and turn the 'blend' on full with their sansamps are turning their Fender type basses into NS type basses?

im saying this because back when i was starting, i always used sansamp on my 'fender' type basses... when i got a wick, i sold it.

maybe i preferred the NS types all along
 
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I used to use a multi effect pedal and an amp simulator on all my basses in the past, then all the Warwicks came and now it is straight to the combo ampo I use as monitor at church (SWR with a little of the "wet" efect) and then from there to the Direct Box and into the mixer to send back into the subs.

it is amazing how well these basses sound and they do not need the added help from pedals most of the time and in my playing situation.
 
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well do you talk about only the Jazz basses (NYC model of fodera) or all the models (monarch, emperor, etc...)?

If you talk about all the fodera models, well it's apples and oranges. I think, contrarily to Golem, that Fodera is in a class of its own. Why? because people compare other luthiers with Fodera. Just like we can put MTD and Ken Smith in the same batch. Fodera's are known for being very warm and articulate. That's why they are so frequently used in jazz. They don't growl much to much. They are more ''burping''. You all know how is a Warwick so I won't start detailing how they are...
 
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Of course I see the link between the Streamers from Warwick and Spector's NS design, but I don't think of any other Warwick basses as Spectorish or from Planet NS.

That is unless I'm missing something and thumbs, corvettes, dolphins etc were designed by NS also?
 
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Which Foderas are built in Asia?Is it the NYC series?
 
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