The Standard Series was born from Vinnie's desire to make Fodera—a brand that started with custom orders—more accessible to players.

It features a bolt-on, three-piece maple neck with a straight headstock (no headstock angle).

This series achieves its price point by minimizing customizable options—such as body shape, pickups, preamps, and top woods—as much as possible.

The fact that bassists around the world use the Standard model as their primary instrument speaks volumes about its quality.

That said...

As an authorized dealer, we decided to make a special request.

We thought, "We really need a 5-string fretless version, too," so we asked them to build this one.

While 4-string fretless models (like the Monarch we previously stocked) do exist in the Standard line...

...there wasn't a 5-string version, so we had them make one!

The specifications are identical to the standard model, aside from the number of strings.

It is slightly heavier due to the extra string, but it still weighs in at just over 4 kilograms.

It seems that semi-hollow construction is often recommended for fretless models.

This Monarch features a semi-hollow design with strategically placed, larger sound holes rather than a multitude of tiny ones.

The body is walnut, but the back and top are different types of wood; this creates a distinctive character while maintaining an overall dark, understated vibe.

It features a black ebony fingerboard, and the maple headstock is so dark it almost looks stained.

It appears that, starting with this batch, fretless necks are now made of roasted maple.

Fodera has historically used neck woods other than standard maple—such as ash and oak—for their fretless models, showing a continued commitment to evolving their specifications.

An interesting detail is the use of DR strings with yellow silk windings—specifically, flatwounds.

It seems flatwounds might be trending over roundwounds lately, even on basses from other manufacturers.

When I played it, the sound was unmistakably that of a solid, high-quality electric fretless bass. While you can sense a bit of that "boxy" resonance when playing unplugged, shifting toward the bridge pickup and playing with a firm, crisp attack yields a classic electric bass tone; conversely, playing further up the fingerboard produces a sound reminiscent of an acoustic instrument.

(The low B string—being a flatwound—has a somewhat unique feel.)

Roundwound strings tend to produce a sound with a bit more edge or "bite," which is likely why this instrument was fitted with flatwounds.

It looks exactly as you’d expect.

It embodies the classic walnut aesthetic.

For those seeking a practical 5-string fretless bass that offers a slightly dark yet warm tone.

【Main Specifications】

・Color: Clear Satin

・Body: Figured Walnut/Walnut (Semi-Hollow)

・Neck: 3-pc. Roasted Maple, 24 Frets, 34" Scale, Bolt-on

・Fingerboard: Ebony (Lined Fretless)

・Pickups: Fodera/Duncan Dual Coil Pickups (70s position)

・Preamp: Fodera x Trickfish Standard 3-band Preamp

・Controls: Vol/Tone, Bal, Treble, Middle, Bass, Active/Passive SW, Coil Tap SW

・Tuners: Gotoh

・Bridge: Black Fodera 19.0mm Bridge

・Weight: 4.32 kg

・Case: Gator/Fodera Hard Case included

・Warranty: 1-year manufacturer's warranty

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