ABOUT OUR BASSES

The most discerning bassists will tell you - there’s something about a Fodera that just sounds and plays better.

Our basses are built in a completely “Old World” manner – one by one, by hand and to the exact specifications of our customers.

There is no one secret ingredient that goes into making a Fodera so special. We’ve fine-tuned our process with hundreds of small touches and techniques that collectively add up to make our instruments what they are. These timeless designs have consistently proven themselves, being played by some of the finest pros on the planet since 1983.

When you choose Fodera, you can be sure we will take painstaking care to handcraft your custom made bass according to your individual technique, tone preference and sense of style. Our extensive collection of rare and beautiful tone wood is aged to perfection before becoming a part of your instrument. The result is a stunning custom made bass with a rich, distinctive tone and the legendary playability that makes an instrument worthy of wearing the Fodera inlaid butterfly logo.

All our electronics and pickups are proprietary designs jointly developed with the finest professionals in their fields exclusively for Fodera. Whether you are a dealer or a musician, we invite you to browse our wide selection of completely custom handmade basses and solid body electric guitars to see why people travel from all over the world for the meticulous handiwork of Fodera Guitars.

Monarch 4 Standard
The Monarch 4 Standard (M4S) was designed from the ground up to provide every ounce of playability and sonic performance we are capable of delivering based on our 29 years of handcrafting some of the finest electric bass guitars in the World.
Matt Garrison Standard
The instrument of choice for one of our instrument's most innovative players, Matt Garrison. 33" scale, 26 frets, 17.5mm bridge spacing and Matt Garrison's Signature 28-100 Nickel String set (tuned E-C) make for a truly unique and compelling instrument.
Yin Yang Standard
Based on our Victor Wooten Yin Yang Deluxe and developed in close consultation with Victor himself, the Yin Yang Standard provides the same legendary Fodera playability and tone that has made the Fodera Yin Yang Deluxe Victor's instrument of choice since 1995.
Emperor 5 Standard
The Emperor 5 Standard (E5S) was designed from the ground up to provide every ounce of playability and sonic performance we are capable of delivering based on our 29 years of handcrafting some of the finest electric bass guitars in the World.
Monarch Series
The preferred bass of Victor Wooten and used regularly by Marcus Miller, Oteil Burbridge and Tim Bogert, the Monarch is carefully engineered for perfect balance and maximum comfort. This was our first and remains our most popular model. Ideal for players who prefer a more compact instrument.
Emperor Series
Our best-selling double cutaway custom made bass, the Emperor 4, 5 and 6 string basses are known for their ergonomic contouring and asymmetrical body design. Played by Marcus Miller, James Genus, Anthony Wellington, Joey Lauricella, Mike Pope, Kenny Davis, Tommy Shannon and other notable bassists, this is one of our most versatile models.
Emperor II Series
Played by Tom Kennedy and available in 4, 5 and 6 string configurations, the Emperor II offers a variety of different options for scale length, frets, pickups, pickup covers, custom inlays and more. Create a single cutaway instrument that is uniquely yours!
Imperial Series
One of our most versatile and popular styles, the Imperial Series can be made in all scale lengths and wood/pickup combinations. The very first Imperial was born as a result of collaboration with notable N.Y.C. session ace, Lincoln Schlieffer. Today, the Imperial Series is played by Lincoln Goines, Richard Bona, Anthony Wellington and other renowned bassists.
Imperial II Series
The most recent addition to our line of single cutaway instruments, the Imperial II, is defined by its sleek sweeping curves and compact proportions. With options for a 2” thick body and single pickup with coil blending control, this model is available in 4, 5, and 6 string versions with your choice of Fodera or Seymour Duncan Dual Coil Humbuckers.
Signature Series - Richard Bona Imperial
The instrument of choice for Musician Extraordinaire, Richard Bona. 34" scale, 24 frets, Ash body with a non-solid Olive top and EMG pickups. Although Richard runs his passively, our standard model includes our onboard Fodera / Pope Preamp.
Signature Series - Matthew Garrison Imperial
The Matt Garrison Signature model is distinguished by several important features including a 33" scale, ash neck, ebony fingerboard, 26 frets and a finger ramp between the pickups to better facilitate Matt's style of light-touch multi-finger style playing. The body, made of highly select walnut, is light and diminutive and provides this bass with an overall warm tone while retaining a pointed clarity to the notes. The shorter scale and quick response makes this bass incredibly effortless to play.
Signature Series - Janek Gwizdala Imperial
With its 33" scale and 16.5mm spacing, the Janek Gwizdala Signature Imperial is an ideal instrument for chording, soloing and complex right-hand finger-style techniques.
Signature Series - Anthony Jackson Presentation
The Anthony Jackson Presentation Contrabass Guitar represents the most advanced current expression of our long and fruitful collaboration with our dear friend and bassist extraordinaire, Mr. Anthony Jackson.
Signature Series - Lincoln Goines Imperial
The Lincoln Goines Signature Imperial features a 34" scale 3-pc. Ash Neck with Ebony Fingerboard married to a solid Flame Koa Body, Ebony Fingerboard. Electronics include a single Fodera / Seymour Duncan humbucking pickup and a proprietary Fodera / Pope pre-amp which contains bass, mid and treble cut and boost mini-pots that are accessed by removing the backplate. The only visible control is a volume/push-pull pot which acts as an active passive control.
Signature Series - Tom Kennedy Emperor II
The Body, made of swamp ash, is capped with hard flame maple, and is combined with a 35" scale, 24 fret Ebony Fingerboard to generate the warm yet punchy clarity that helps define Tom's unique sound. Tom's closely spaced Seymour Duncan dual coil pickups complete the model that proudly bears his name.
Signature Series - Michel Labaki Monarch
The Labex Signature Monarch is built around our Monarch 4 Deluxe model. Extremely old Korina for its body wood, an Ebony fingerboard and the unique (for Fodera) combination of an active EMG Neck PUP paired with a passive, lateral humbucking, Lindy Fralin Bridge PUP make for an incredibly rich, articulate tonal palate.
Signature Series - Mike Pope Viceroy Bolt-on
Designed in close consultation with our good friend and renowned bass player, Mike Pope, the Fodera Viceroy is intended to be the most tonally versatile Fodera electric bass guitar ever built. The Viceroy shape draws inspiration from our ever-popular Monarch and Emperor lines and when paired with our proprietary removable fingerboard extension and adjustable bridge pickup, ensures that whatever tone you desire can be easily attained.
Signature Series - Artie Reynolds Emperor Elite
Artie Reynolds has become one of the most well known faces in the bass world through his very high profile gig on American Idol. Artie's Signature instrument was designed to offer maximum tonal flexibility so that it could be used on the wide variety of styles he is called upon to play.
Signature Series - Victor Wooten '83 Monarch Classic
The Victor Wooten '83 Monarch Classic features our dovetail "heel-less" neck to body construction, 3-piece highly select and aged hard maple neck, old-growth East Indian Rosewood fingerboard, 34" scale, 24 frets, mother of pearl dot and tulip inlays, EMG P/J pickups and our proprietary Fodera / Pope internal preamp.
Signature Series - Victor Wooten Yin Yang Deluxe
The instrument of choice for our dear friend, Victor Wooten, who redefines the word musician. Regarded as one of the most influential bassists since Jaco Pastorius, Victor is known for his solo recordings and tours as a member of the Grammy-winning super-group, Béla Fleck & The Flecktones. He is an innovator on the bass guitar, as well as a talented composer, arranger, producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist.
Signature Series - Tony Grey Monarch
Our most compact instrument, the Tony Grey Signature Monarch is a 33" scale Monarch 4-string with 17.5mm ridge spacing.
Signature Series - Reggie Young Imperial Elite
Reggie Young's Signature Instrument was designed from the ground up with an incredible level of involvement and attention to detail on Reggie's part.
Signature Series - Oteil Burbridge Monarch 6 Elite
Oteil's Signature Fodera is a Monarch 6 like no other. With its unique combination of tonewoods, narrow string spacing and 35" scale length, Oteil's signature instrument is every bit as singular as he is!