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Fodera Emperor 6 Standard Bass Guitar - Natural

6-string Electric Bass with Alder Body, Walnut Top, Maple Neck, Pau Ferro Fingerboard, 2 Dual-coil Pickups, and Active 3-band EQ - Natural
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Fodera Emperor 6 Standard Bass Guitar - Natural
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Classic Style and Amazing Fodera Performance

When you need a classic bass vibe and unrivaled playability, you just can't beat Fodera's Emperor 6 Standard 6-string bass. This retro-style instrument delivers the exceptional performance that's made owning a Fodera the goal of bass players around the globe (including a bunch of us here at Sweetwater), but at a fraction of the cost of a custom model. At the same time, the satin-finished alder body with striking figured walnut top, hard rock maple neck, and compound-radius pau ferro fingerboard are the same components you'd find on a custom model; plus, this bass was built by the same luthiers who produce Fodera's vaunted custom models. Top it off with custom dual-coil pickups, an active 3-band preamp, a brass nut, and Gotoh tuners, and you couldn't ask for a finer bass than the Emperor 6 Standard.

Exceptional tonewoods, appointments, and playability

Classic tonewoods meet professional performance in Fodera's Emperor 6 Standard electric bass. A satin-finished alder body with a rock maple neck delivers a classic combination of resonance and sustain, while a compound-radius pau ferro fingerboard feels amazing from low root-based grooves to high-fret solos. Add to that the powerful sustain you get from a brass nut, and the Emperor 6 Standard delivers the look and feel you'll only get from a premium luthier-built instrument.

Seymour Duncan pickups meet active electronics

Forget about outboard EQs or studio magic — when you're rocking an Emperor 6 Standard, the magic happens with the bass. That's because the Emperor 6 Standard features a set of Seymour Duncan dual-coil pickups and an active preamp with 3-band EQ. Together, these elements enable you to craft an absolutely massive range of bass tone, from deep and round R&B tones to bright and popping slap bass punch. What's particularly cool about this combination is how clean and clear the tone is — no matter how dramatically you tweak it, you don't have to worry about noise.

Built in Brooklyn, New York, by Fodera's top-notch luthiers

When you're a small instrument company like Fodera, you don't have a custom shop for high-end orders and a main production shop for standard models. You simply have a shop, and the same individuals crafting the made-to-order instruments make the production models, such as the Emperor 6 Standard. In fact, each Emperor 6 Standard is handcrafted with the same materials used for custom orders by the same people who make them, and if you wanted to order a custom model with these exact specifications, you'd get the exact same bass. That's well over three decades of master craftsmanship behind literally every instrument that leaves the shop, and you'll feel it in every note you play.

Fodera Emperor 6 Standard Features:

  • A handcrafted 6-string bass guitar with active electronics and retro vibe
  • Built by top luthiers using the same materials found in Fodera's custom models
  • Satin-finished alder body and hard rock maple neck look and feel amazing
  • Compound-radius pau ferro fingerboard feels great whether you're grooving or soloing
  • 2 Seymour Duncan dual-coil pickups and active 3-band preamp supply endless tone
  • Brass nut delivers powerful, near-endless sustain
  • Gotoh tuners ensure rock-solid tuning stability

Why Buy Your Guitar from Sweetwater?

See how Sweetwater goes to great lengths to give you the very best online guitar buying experience. From our online Guitar Gallery that allows you to see and select the exact instrument you want to our 55-point Inspection process and our in-house guitar techs, we take the guesswork out of buying your next guitar online.

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Tech Specs

  • Number of Strings: 6
  • Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
  • Body Shape: Emperor Standard
  • Color: Natural
  • Body Material: Alder
  • Body Finish: Satin
  • Neck Material: 3-piece Hard Rock Maple
  • Neck Shape: Fodera Standard
  • Neck Joint: Bolt-on
  • Fingerboard Material: Pau Ferro
  • Fingerboard Inlay: Clay Dots
  • Number of Frets: 24, Large, Nickel Silver
  • Scale Length: 34"
  • Nut Material: Brass
  • Bridge/Tailpiece: Fodera Standard 17.5mm
  • Tuners: Fodera/Gotoh
  • Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Dual Coil Humbucker
  • Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan Dual Coil Humbucker
  • Controls: 1 x volume/tone (stacked), 1 x bass/treble (stacked), 1 x pan, 1 x midrange, active/passive switch, coil-tap switch
  • Strings: Fodera Stainless Steel, .045-.125
  • Case/Gig Bag: Hardshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: E6S2021

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Best playing/sounding 6 string

I've played a number of great six-string basses during my time as a bass player, and I can honestly say that this one is at the top of the list. I of course expected the best from Fodera, but was not expecting an immediate connection with this one. Sometimes you have to spend time with a new bass to get used to it, but this one right away just felt like home.

First, the sound: it is Fodera, through-and-through. Very clean, very clear, and with a range of options that will get you just about any sound you can ask for. P bass? Yes. J bass? Yes. Stingray? Yes. This is also the first bass I've played that splitting the coils does seem to make a difference in the tone. On one setting you get a nice, tight, midrangy forward sound that reminds me of my Lakland 55-02 with both pups running full; and on the other setting you get a nice scooped-sounding J bass. The neck pick up soloed sounds like a P bass, and is actually not muddy, which can be the case in pup arrangements like these. The bridge pick up is burpy sounding, but full and can actually be used on its own, without blending in the neck pup. The preamp and tone controls all have very useful applications, and are great for tone-shaping. I'm usually just content with the flat setting on the bass, simply using the tone control and my plucking hand position to alter my sound.

Secondly, the fit/finish: top-notch. Top. Notch. This bass just oozes quality and makes you feel like you are playing the best. Fretwork is absolutely amazing--nothing poking out from the fretboard, no deadspots, and an incredibly easy to play, flat fretboard with low action. The bass came set up exactly how I prefer to play, and after swapping out the stock strings with some DR Pure Blues, the bass came to life. I'm not a huge fan of the walnut top, but after playing it, I'm definitely coming around. Also, the neck on this bass. OMG! The easiest, smoothest playing bass neck I've ever had. The oil finish or whatever they use on this is just the perfect balance between a gloss and satin finish--not too fast, and not too "grippy," or tacky.

If you have the financial means to get a Fodera, you absolutely must. They are game-changers, and will do what every quality, handmade instrument should do: inspire you to play. These Standard models are a much easier way to get one in your hands, so go out and get one!

Shout out to Joe Schafer at Sweetwater for getting this to me, and so quickly! I ordered this on a Sunday evening, and had it by Tuesday morning! Astonishing.
Music background: Professional bassist for 20+ years

For many of the die-hard players at Sweetwater, Fodera's basses are the very pinnacle of custom-quality craftsmanship. They're the instruments we've dreamed of owning, and we're delighted to offer them to bass players as passionate as we are. Developing a close relationship with Fodera has been entirely rewarding. Every time we get our hands on a custom bass made just for Sweetwater, it's a new and exciting experience. Even their production models and electric guitars are amazing, and we've rarely seen their equal arrive from other world-class luthiers. Take a look at the Fodera instrument collection in Sweetwater's Guitar Gallery, and you'll see exactly what we mean. We can't wait to put one of these breathtaking instruments in your hands.

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