Club Alleva-Coppolo (Part 20)

[Vic]

Originally Posted by KJung

+1 To me, the key is a builder who makes all the parts work together the get his signature tone and feel... Ken Smith, Fodera, Alleva-Coppolo, F Bass, Sadowsky, Norsdtrand, etc. All great stuff.

At least one example of a "hybrid" version of this would be Jerzy Drozd. He has proprietary (JeDXS) pickups that were designed originally very specifically to work optimally with the OBP3. More recently he has I think a new version and makes the claim for both the Aggie and the Pope Flexcore as well, so maybe that's a grey area now, but I think originally he really did work pretty specifically with the JeDXS/OBP3 combo. FWIW anyway.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Vic

At least one example of a "hybrid" version of this would be Jerzy Drozd. He has proprietary (JeDXS) pickups that were designed originally very specifically to work optimally with the OBP3. More recently he has I think a new version and makes the claim for both the Aggie and the Pope Flexcore as well, so maybe that's a grey area now, but I think originally he really did work pretty specifically with the JeDXS/OBP3 combo. FWIW anyway.

He makes beautiful basses. I am not a fan of the OBP3 though (even though I'm in a current TH500 lovefest, which is supposedly based on the OBP3... I sure don't hear that at all), and when I had my Jerzy, I actually thought that was a strange mismatch to the voicing of those pickups. Pure IMO there. The rest of Jerzy's design is so unique, I always scratched my head that he would just plunk an OBP3 in there. Pure IMO there.

[Vic]

Originally Posted by KJung

He makes beautiful basses. I am not a fan of the OBP3 though (even though I'm in a current TH500 lovefest, which is supposedly based on the OBP3... I sure don't hear that at all), and when I had my Jerzy, I actually thought that was a strange mismatch to the voicing of those pickups. Pure IMO there. The rest of Jerzy's design is so unique, I always scratched my head that he would just plunk an OBP3 in there. Pure IMO there.

Not to get too OT here, but I did/do like the JD tone, though I do also have some issues with the OBP preamp... mainly functional, but also some tonal.

Back to AC now.

[Joelc73]

Originally Posted by Vic

Nah, I think you are right... at least about some of this. I know there are some mass produced Nordstrand pickups made overseas, as well.

I guess I'd like to know if Jimmy actually makes his preamps, or like Carey, designed it and maybe prototyped it, but still has them made elsewhere for stock. If you wanna' get real detailed, I'd ask if his preamp is PCB based, and if he actually has PCB etching equipment.

Not a big deal at all, but it is kinda' interesting, because at least for the lion's share of Jimmy's instruments, I doubt there are many others in the world doing as much directly as he does (getting back to the OP on this), so the point stands.

I highly doubt he's etching his own boards.

In any of these cases, I've always been a believer in sourcing the things that someone else could do better than you can. In other words, if you can have someone else wind your pickups or do your finish work at a higher level of quality than you could do it in house, that's the way to go. Particularly if they're executing against your spec.

Totally agreed that it should all be designed to work holistically together -- but I don't care all that much if, after that point, some of the manufacturing is farmed out.

[Vic]

Originally Posted by Joelc73

I highly doubt he's etching his own boards.

In any of these cases, I've always been a believer in sourcing the things that someone else could do better than you can. In other words, if you can have someone else wind your pickups or do your finish work at a higher level of quality than you could do it in house, that's the way to go. Particularly if they're executing against your spec.

Totally agreed that it should all be designed to work holistically together -- but I don't care all that much if, after that point, some of the manufacturing is farmed out.

+1

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Vic

+1

and another +1

Hey Vic. Have fun at NAMM this year! I look forward to the photos and posts.

[Green1]

Originally Posted by KJung

The only builder that comes to mind is Fodera, if you count the Mike Pope proprietary preamp as 'in house'.

To me, the important issue is a luthier that designs each piece of the instrument to work together, with their own versions of pickups, preamps, etc. that are designed to work together. So, Nordstrand and Sadowsky reach that important IMO criteria, as do quite a few others.

I actually think external CNC of the rough body and neck, and finish is probably a smart thing to do to decrease delivery/build times and allow the luthier to work on the important stuff. IMO there.

Doesn't Nordstrand do everything but paint inhouse?

[jonno1707]

Come to think of it I think alembic is the only company mentioned that does everything including bridges in house...Now how does tuners...;-)

[rastap]

Originally Posted by jonno1707

Come to think of it I think alembic is the only company mentioned that does everything including bridges in house...Now how does tuners...;-)

That could be the reason they're so expensive.

[Vic]

Originally Posted by KJung

Hey Vic. Have fun at NAMM this year! I look forward to the photos and posts.

Thanks, will do!

[svtb15]

It's here! 2013 St Valentines Day Bassarce Who's going?

[Vic]

Originally Posted by svtb15

It's here! 2013 St Valentines Day Bassarce Who's going?

MOVE IT CLOSER TO NAMM! I can't afford that many trips to CA!

[ACB0015]

Damn I miss the BootyQ! I could get there easily from New England. California, not so much. Anyway, I'll be in a theater pit that weekend with my KBP5. Sure do like that Korina J bass -- have fun, all who can attend.

[esoxhntr]

What the heck is Korina wood???

[basses55]

Originally Posted by esoxhntr

What the heck is Korina wood???

Nice tonewood ...sometimes called Limba too ( various species). I have a fretless with it - you know the bass George.

I've generally liked the wood so it will be interesting to hear how it sounds in a Coppolo package.

[bassdoubler]

diggin that pickguard! is that a new thing Jimmy's doing?

[ricksy]

Originally Posted by bassdoubler

diggin that pickguard! is that a new thing Jimmy's doing?

It's a special bass, special pickguard, so Jimmy decided to do a special shape for the pg too!

[bassdoubler]

cool!

[Chef]

Pickguard: don't care for it, myself.
ymmv, of course.

[bassdoubler]

well, it's different, and it's nice to see some kind of creativity in a world of Fender copies....kind of gives it a bit of a tele vibe....but, to each his own, right!?