Bass of the Week: Fodera Guitars Masterbuilt Kestrel

Fodera Masterbuilt Kestrel Bass Horizontal

Fodera introduced the Masterbuilt series earlier this year, and this week we’re checking out the second ever bass in the series: The Kestrel. The avian-themed instrument features some of the company’s finest materials to create an astounding visual and sonic experience.

“Over the years we have produced a number of special instruments that feature inlays of various birds,” Fodera writes. “In order to create the illusion of a Kestrel in flight, a very rare, old-growth, one-piece Brazilian Rosewood top was selected as the backdrop for the hand-cut Mother of Pearl inlay, designed in collaboration with one of our team members, Emily Krohn. Jason and Vinny selected a two-tone Brazilian top that includes both sapwood and heartwood to create the effect of sky and horizon. As an interesting aside, this piece of Brazilian has been something that both Jason and Vinny have wanted to build something wonderful with ever since the early days of their friendship almost ten years ago.”

The Kestrel’s body is chambered walnut accented with a flamed alder tone-block, while the five-piece neck is created with red oak, wenge and maple. Its ebony fingerboard is inlaid with abalone lines stretching all the way up to the 24th fret. “This tonal recipe yields deep, rich, articulate lows with a wonderful presence and piano-like clarity in the upper register,” they explain. Fodera opted to capture that tonal quality with a single Fodera/Seymour Duncan Dual Coil pickup matched to the Fodera/Pope 3-band premp for flexibility.

Fodera Guitars Masterbuilt “Kestrel” Bass Specs:

Scale:34″
Construction:Neck-Through
Strings:5
Body:Chambered Walnut
Tone Block:Flamed Alder
Top:Brazilian Rosewood
Neck:5-piece Red Oak/Wenge/Maple
Fingerboard:Ebony
Frets:24 Large
String Spacing:19mm
Inlays:Mother of Pearl “Kestrel” and Abalone Line Inlay
Pickup:Fodera/Seymour Duncan Dual Coil
Electronics:Fodera/Pope 3-Band Custom Preamp

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Share your thoughts

  1. Barry

    they should look very nice in a bass museum.

  2. Terry

    Lose the bird ,,,