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Hellzero

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Everything posted by Hellzero

  1. I have a fretless (defretted) version of the very first run. These are among the best 6 strings basses ever with an usable piezo system that is not stupidly harsh.
  2. I still have my subscription to HiFiCritic magazine : no ads at all and living thanks to the subscriptions only. Reviews are better with clearer opinions, but they can't review whatever they want because of their Elliott Ness approach of the subject... Hard times for honest people. 🤐
  3. You forgot the strings and accessories revenue and their sub companies (sold or not) plus other incomes like using their name (which isn't free, just like for any well established company), master classes, ... , plus the fact that they are making more instruments than what they say, in fact close to 1000 a year (a luthier working alone is crafting around 60 instruments a year and if I take Leduc experience when he had 10 employees, he was making around 1000 instruments a year, so double the team and you can get up to 3000 instruments) and, suddenly, everything is fitting the tables. Also, just take a look at their hourly rate for servicing which is $150 USD, so at least twice the rate of any other luthier...
  4. So Richard Bona won't be playing on his awful sounding Fodera anymore. Let's see if this one sounds better. 😁
  5. I won't argue as I only have an European diploma in business management (I must be some kind of moron has I only got the highest distinction with 91%) among others, but if you can read, which is something I doubt, as I explained my analysis a few times in this thread, here is something interesting : https://bklyner.com/industry-city-maker-spotlight-fodera-guitars/ So they have 20 employees, making around 300 instruments a year with an annual estimated revenue of $10.700.000 USD. I'll let you do the maths as I'm too stupid to do it, but in a communist approach (as they seem to be philanthropic people) each of the employee would earn around $12.000 USD per month all taxes, running costs, expenses and investments deducted.
  6. Go to a real (I insist on the term real, because there are so many clowns around) luthier and ask him how much he would really charge you to hand craft the exact same bass. No need for electroshock, you'll get it for free. You know, the least expensive part in an instrument is the wood... If you want a list of retail prices for a similar bass or any high end boutique bass, here it is : Mike Pope preamp with the 3 switches : $374 USD Hipshot bridge : $155 USD Knobs : $60 USD Dunlop flush mount Straplok set : $22 USD Aero pickups set : $500 USD Gotoh tuners set : $100 USD Custom Fodera tool kit : $30 USD Teardrop hardshell case : $220 USD 2 way truss rod : £13 USD Slotted bone nut (in case they can't make it themselves) : $17 USD Stainless steel frets : $14 USD Aliphatic wood glue (hoping they are not using anything else) : $6 USD AAAA body woods : $300 USD AAAA neck woods including fingerboard : £250 USD Inlays : $20 USD Fodera strings (Anthony Jackson Signature, which are really good and the most expensive) : $71 USD Lacquer, masking tape, sanding paper and finishing supplies : $45 USD Screws : $3 USD Grand total for supplies at retail price : $2200 USD Cut this in two for their buying price as I've taken real high retail prices : $1100 USD Don't you think, they are making huge profits !?!
  7. You're welcome Tony. 👍
  8. These are what I call : proof by absurdity ! If, after that, you still think that Fodera's are worth the price asked, then you are a suitable case for treatment. So sorry for you. And Johnny Lee is such fun to watch and listen to. 😉
  9. I also had the same problem with the old Vigier or other basses I owned. It's an easy fix : pickup cavity is ungrounded and most of the time unshielded, and even if it's shielded with paint, aluminium or even coper, these cavities must be grounded (that said copper is the best shielding material as most of the shielding paint is not conductive and aluminium is a pain in the *ss to solder). I've done this to all my problematic instruments and now they are dead quiet, except for the single coil pickup typical humming, but there is always a quiet position when you play, don't worry. All cavities and bridge must be star grounded. I even shield and ground the pickup cover or simply the pickup itself, but it's something a bit tricky to do, because you can short the pickup... If you don't want to shield all your problematic instruments, just buy this cable : http://d-buz.com
  10. Maybe one day, some people will understand that some maker are just profit maker. As I also wrote, Paris (France) is the real expensiver place to live in the whole world (according to the renowned and awaited UBS annual report), but the most expensive Vigier bass with all (stupid) options possible will cost you €10.055,10 EUR (£9.081,59 GBP at today's exchange rate)... Think about it. And Vigier instruments are close to perfection on all aspects. Still think these American boutique basses (where the most expensive maker doesn't have even a regulated temperature and humidity controlled wood stocking room !?!) have justified priced ? Wake up and go to your local real luthier to get your (craziest) dream bass for a maximum of £5.000 GBP... Still don't believe me : a Wyn bass with all the possible options will cost you $8655 USD (£6780,07 GBP at today's exchange rate) and Randall FULMER is working totally alone in one of the most modern facility, with extraordinary woods, in Los Angeles (certainly not the cheapest place to live). Check this : http://wynguitars.com
  11. Armando is a very nice chap. And a pleasure to deal with. Buy this one, so I can put my 1991 Streamer II, with original Bartolini's, in mint condition for sale. 😂
  12. Interesting indeed, but sometimes paradoxal when you read between the lines. I agree with everything he's saying and already wrote it earlier, even the price tag of a handmade bass as I've been playing luthiers basses for more than two decades. And as he's explaining it really good, the extra money you pay is for the extra work and/or extra rare supplies, not the quality of the instrument. That's were the paradox lies for Fodera as there is nothing extra for their instruments. You are only paying for having the privelege to own their basses, that's all. So they are not worth the money as there is no added value, but a (self-made) reputation. What you should also keep in mind is to buy locally by someone you can talk to to explain what you really want : he is the only person able to tell you if it can stick to your budget or if you are a dreamer. Bbut there must be some mutual trust and respect or it won't work.
  13. I understand that it hurts a lot. 😉
  14. Historians, philosophers and economists don't know it. Marx and Hegel wrote that communism was the next step IF AND ONLY IF people had experimented the excess of capitalism, but some people imposed it in 1917 without the main condition and it became a disaster. So another type of society will take place, taking into account that capitalism and communism don't work, but which one is still a mystery. And don't even mention social nationalism, please.
  15. Funny to read, just because I'm pointing out capitalism, I must be a communist. 🙄
  16. This is one of the main reason why we are living the end of capitalism. 😉
  17. Do the maths, as written. Huge profit makers would be best than crooks, I must admit it and I'm correcting it right now.
  18. Here is the UBS (end of 2018) fare prices for renting a flat for 3 persons for 1 month, which is one of the best life level indicator : https://www.ubs.com/microsites/prices-earnings/en/explore/?indicator=Prices_Housing_(USD)&split=false And then the earning levels : https://www.ubs.com/microsites/prices-earnings/en/explore/?indicator=General_Wage Level (gross)_(New York %3D 100)&split=false&category=Earnings And now the purchasing power : https://www.ubs.com/microsites/prices-earnings/en/explore/?indicator=General_Domestic Purchasing Power_Net (New York %3D 100)&split=false&category=Domestic Purchasing Power Do the maths and you'll understand where are the huge profit makers. Again sad but true. I'll just tell you that Paris (France) is certainly the worst place to live, but the luthiers installed there are not mobing their customers with unjustified delirious selling prices. Take a look at Vigier price list, nothing wrong there and top notch quality level. Patrice Vigier also has some registered patents for his instruments.
  19. I used to build and repair guitar, basses and amps, just in case. But being honest, I didn't earn enough money to live. Maybe, I'll start again when money won't be an issue, say when I'll be retired.
  20. Mike TOBIAS is a terrific master luthier, crafting instruments in New York chity too and his basses are way much cheaper and way far better than any Fodera. He's got a small crew, just like Fodera. So if you read between the lines, profit is the only added value for Fodera. Christophe LEDUC is working totally alone, has some registered patents for his instruments, has made lots of research for the best ergonomics ever for an instrument, crafts some of the best basses around with carefully chosen woods (he's got a stock of very old woods) and components. His expensiver bass reaches the price of the cheapest Fodera, except for his L series which are really unique instruments only made once. This guy is a true genius, respected and even sometimes worshipped by his fellow luthiers for his extraordinary knowledge. He also taught lutherie in France. This is also the only luthier who is able to craft an instrument where you'll hear the fundamental of each and every note, even the low B, with more harmonics content than any other. And he's a good friend of ours who likes to enjoy life. It's always a pleasure to meet him and his wife and enjoy a meal or just a cup of coffee talking sci-fi, food, wine, philosophy, mathematics, life, art, culture, universe, mankind, ... As I always say, the best Fodera is a Ken Smith.
  21. You got it quite right @NJE, but the main reason for this price difference is called cupidity on the seller side and stupidity on the buyer side. And the Fodera team has not such extraordinary luthiers, that said. If these guys were so terrific they would do a differential fretboard dressing and certainly not that stupid unscientific string anchorage called "extended B"... Any real luthier knowing his job will build you a terrific bass, with terrific woods, extraordinary pickups and fantastic preamp for 3000 to 5000 quids, depending on the number of strings you want. And exactly as you want it. Think twice about the price tag of such high end basses, there is absolutely no reason for it. It's just like in the audiophile world, prices are totally unjustified. It's only the marketing department making his job. I had an original Fodera Richard Bona, simply the worst bass I ever played or owned, stupidly heavy, dull sound without the preamp loudly engaged : always thought it was a cheap Chinese copy ... but it wasn't. I know I won't make friends here, but truth always hurts.
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