Fodera Unveils Imperial Mini-MG Bass

Fodera and Matthew Garrison have teamed up once again to introduce the Imperial Mini-MG. The headless and compact design was created with portability and playability in mind.

“With the recent change in instrument travel regulations, there has been an increasing need for a bass guitar that combines portability without sacrificing tone or playability,” Fodera shares. “With these needs in mind, Fodera and Matt collaboratively set out to design an instrument that could fit in any typical airplane overhead storage bin. With its 30.75” scale length and 16.5mm string spacing, the Mini-MG is our most compact bass guitar and is, in fact, small enough to fit in a regular electric guitar gigbag!”

The Imperial Mini-MG is built with a medium weight walnut body and an alder tone block along with a select-grade three-piece hard rock maple neck. The combination increases the bass’s tonal response, which they say is often a problem in other headless instruments. It comes tuned E-C, but it has a special drop tuner incorporated to allow for drop-tuning to a low B. Fodera explains, “In order to accommodate this, our team designed a counter-sunk, modified D-tuner, with a reduced string post, in order to provide a sufficient break angle for the E-string. This provides a tight and responsive sound and feel to the string despite the 30.75” scale-length. By utilizing this design, we were also able to add back precious mass to the “head-side” of the instrument – further increasing its tonal response.”

Electronics include a pair of Fodera/Seymour Duncan Dual Coil Pickups matched to a 4-band version of the Fodera/Pope Standard preamp. The pickups are placed in Garrison’s pickup spacing, which is described as the sweet spot between ‘60s and ‘70s spacings, and are separated by an ebony ramp. The preamp can be bypassed for passive operation.

Fodera is offering a limited run of 10 Imperial Mini-MGs in either Black, Fiesta Red, or Olympic White. They’re available for preorder now at $11,650 with a delivery date of January 2017.

Fodera Imperial Mini-MG Bass Specs:

For more information:
Fodera