I buy into your statement about cache. Though I cant speak to that
myself having never owned a Fodera (or 150 basses for that
matter....!) I can relate to your experience on less tangible level. I
was first drawn to Fodera as I was walking past an ensemble room at
Berklee and I heard this amazing bass sound. I did a double take,
peering through the window from the hallway and actually waited until
the class was over to approach the player (Mitch Cohn) to check out
this instrument, of which I had not previously heard. It was even more
impressive since he was playing through a mediocre "ensemble room"
school combo amp...it was an SWR Workingman 15"...

Of course once I checked it out up close the workmanship and
"boutiqueness" of it was absolutely mind blowing...this coming from a
guy who plays an Alembic bass.....

Go figure.