Fodera Announces Janek Gwizdala Signature Imperial Model Bass

Fodera is now offering a Janek Gwizdala Signature Imperial model, based on Gwizdala’s own bass. Hand-built in Fodera’s New York shop, the 5-string bass sports a 33? scale and comes tuned E to C.

Fodera Janek Gwizdala Signature Imperial Bass

The instrument has a walnut body with an alder tone block and a stunning non-solid Buckeye Burl top. The 3-piece ash neck is paired with an ebony fingerboard holding 26 frets. To accommodate for Gwizdala’s complex techniques and chording, the action is set as low as possible with a string spacing of 16.5mm at the bridge.

A pair of Seymour Duncan Dual Coil pickups are covered with matching Buckeye Burl covers while a ramp in between is made of ebony, making a nice accent with the fingerboard. Electronics include the Fodera/Pope 3-band preamp with a Matt Garrison control layout.

Fodera Janek Gwizdala Signature Imperial Bass - back

As every bass is hand-built for its future owner, the Fodera Janek Gwizdala Signature Imperial model has a delivery time of 15-16 months. It’s list price is $11,999, though street price is expected to be around 10% less than that (approximately $10,800). For more info and options, check out the Fodera website.

Here’s a clip of Gwizdala debuting his personal bass:

Fodera Janek Gwizdala Signature Imperial Bass Specs:

    Fodera Janek Gwizdala Signature Imperial Bass - pickups & ramp

  • Construction: Neck-Through Body
  • Scale: 33?
  • Frets: 26
  • Fret size: Small
  • Inlays: Abalone Dots
  • Body: Walnut
  • Top: Non-Solid Buckeye Burl
  • Neck: 3-piece Ash
  • Fingerboard: Ebony
  • Finish: Acrylic Satin
  • Tuners: Gotoh with Drop-Tuner
  • Bridge: Hipshot Narrow
  • Bridge Spacing: 16.5mm
  • Hardware Color: Black
  • Electronics: Fodera/Pope Custom 3-Band Preamp with Matt Garrison Control Layout
  • Pickups: Seymour Duncan Dual Coils
  • Ramp: Ebony

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Share your thoughts

  1. Kevin, nice one! thanks for posting this. Will try and get a blog post out this week and link to your article. I’m actually trying to get away from the super low action on the bass now, and I think that might be the subject of one of this week’s blogs.

  2. Janek I am considering selling my girlfriend to get one of these :)

  3. Works for me. Fine looking bass. I’ve had my Fodera 6 string, 28 fret for 20 years now, and still is killer.

  4. e to c? strange a 1st for me, i thought it was b to g, and b to c for a 6!

    • It’s just a matter of how you string it. If you prefer a higher register but a bass with 5-strings than go c-e (high>low)…I know some bass player that string a 4-string from d-b (hi>low) to get the low register on a regular 4. Of coarse the will loose the high…
      OR why not makin’ the 4-string a tenor bass: c-a (high>low) (ex. Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten…) There are a lot of options…

  5. Here’s the thing, and this is my opinion only. Geddy Lee has never needed to use a 5 string so why should us mere Mortals? LOL!

    • cunt [kuhnt]
      Origin
      cunt [kuhnt] Show IPA
      noun Slang: Vulgar .
      1.
      the vulva or vagina.
      2.
      Disparaging and Offensive .
      a.
      a woman.
      b.
      a contemptible person.
      3.
      sexual intercourse with a DENNIS EASTON

    • What a fucking piece of shit. You are targeted now Dennis

    • Geddy Lee is great, but most Rock fans seem to think he is the end-all-be-all of musicians. If you expand your listening to other genres though, you may be surprised at how much better it can get.

  6. Come on, twelve grand? am I the only one who thinks this is absurd? You guys are trying to sell to some of the poorest people on the planet. A hunk of wood and some electronics, probably $300-$500 tops. $11,500 profit…this is just ridiculous…

  7. Seriously? Who has 12 grand to spend on a bass?

    Eliteism for rich-kid bedroom players, methinks.

  8. Silvio

    This is Matt Garrison Fodera… exclusively
    just because you took 16.5mm spacing doesn’t makes MG signature, Your “signature” bass…

    This was totally disrespectful to Matt because its like you took YingYang wooten bass and add 16.5mm strings spacing, and make that bass your signature bass.
    Nonsense…. and narcissistic act of ego driven behaviour…

    even this was 10ys ago…. Matt is more important to bass world than Janek…