Fodera Imperial Elite Custom 6-string with Stunning One Piece Olive Top
2021 Fodera Custom Imperal Elite 6-string
Pre-owned but Mint condition
This beautiful and absolutely stunning bass, available here for the first time on a consignment sale, is extremely special in many ways...
The neck was hand-carved by Vinny Fodera.
It has a ONE PIECE Olive top, which Vinny said came from one of the nicest pieces of olive he has ever seen. The wood was so special, they also used it to make matching pickup covers, and did not drill it to expose the pole pieces in order to fully preserve the natural beauty of the grain. This top was a $2,500 upgrade, and is the only one like it in existence.
The instrument was built with a thin/fast neck and extra low action for comfortable solo playing (think Bach Preludes, etc.). It was gently and lightly played in the bedroom and home studio. The entire bass, including the frets, shows no signs of being played or even handled, it has been treated with the utmost of love and care, and can safely be classified as being in Mint condition.
It has two additional factory-installed strap buttons on the upper bout, which allow the player to exactly dial in the desired playing position, whether seated or standing, to optimize the neck angle for the specific musical content being played.
It has a 3-piece Red Oak neck, which those who are in the know can tell you has a delicious warm and woody, highly resonant tone that lends itself beautifully to solo playing and especially chording, as it carries the low mids gracefully and with great sustain and presence. This is the same neck recipe Fodera uses on the Monarch Standard Fretless model because of its magical tonal properties.
The chambered body consists of an alder tone block flanked by two gorgeous walnut wings.
Both Vinny and Joey have personally signed the inside of the electronics cavity cover.
Complete Specifications
Body: Walnut, Chambered, Semi-hollow, 2 extra strap buttons to adjust playing position
Top: Highly figured Olive, one piece
Tone Block: Alder
Finish: Satin Clearcoat
Neck: 3 piece Red Oak, Neck-through Body
Neck Profile: Thin/Fast, carved by Vinny Fodera
Fingerboard: Ebony, 24 frets (small)
Fingerboard Inlays: Abalone Dots
Peghead: Matching Topwood with Abalone Butterfly Inlay
Tuners: 3+3, Fodera/Gotoh
Scale length: 34"
Nut: Brass, low action
Nut width: 2 1/8"
Neck width @12th fret: 3"
Bridge: Hipshot
String Spacing @ Bridge: 16.5 mm, adjustable 16.1 mm to 16.9 mm
Strings: Fodera SS 20-40-60-80-100-120
Pickups: Fodera/Duncan Dual Coils with Wood Covers
Pickup Placement/Spacing: 70's
Electronics: Emperor/Imperial 3-band with passive tone and switchable midrange center frequency
Knobs: Custom made matching wood knobs
Toggles: Active/Passive, Dual/Single Coil, High/Low Midrange Center Freq.
Case: Custom XL, textured look (also mint condition)
Weight: 11.1 lbs.
Also included: Signed COA, Build Sheet, Truss rod tool, case key, original black knobs
See this bass in the Fodera newborn gallery:
https://fodera.smugmug.com/Newborn-Gallery-Vol-VI/Newborn-2018/i-CDFWKFh
At the time it was ordered in 2020, the price of this bass was $15,125.
It is being offered today at a very substantial savings, and with zero wait time.
Receiving the bass, you will have the experience of purchasing a new custom Fodera in every aspect aside from the price and the wait time.
A similar bass with another very beautiful but 2-piece olive top is currently available on Reverb for nearly $18,000.
If this very special, one-of-a-kind bass is the instrument for you, I recommend acting without hesitation.
Price includes free shipping to the Continental USA.
We ship worldwide - international buyers please reach out to make shipping arrangements before purchasing.