Club Alleva-Coppolo (Part 20)

[tomshepp]

Originally Posted by KJung

Nice! I see you also have one of Jimmy's new 'DB' models also

Yeah, it's his rare LaScala model...... carved!

[Gilsonite]

Crickets

[rictrose]

Been following the AC club for a few months now. I've been starring at some of the beautiful basses here. Weird thing is I ended up pullin the trigger on a nordy vj5. Nordy's don't seem to hold their resale value as much as AC's. Can anyone weigh in on why that is? Perhaps because jimmy makes less basses each year than Carey? I notice nordys employ a compound radius, am I right in thinking ACs don't use a compound radius.? How is the upper register feel on an AC? And what about access? My nordy has a custom 21 frets, usually only 20 on the vintage, but realistically I can only reach the hight E flat (20). I'm obviously still very keen on an AC even though I just bought a nordy. But probably a kbp5 or LG4.
Q: if starring at alleva's all day make me buy a nordy, what basses do I have to look at all day to buy an AC?

[rictrose]

What is jimmys "supreme" rosewood now that DN are no longer available?

[metalstorm]

I have been playing my hippy P 4 strings with TI flats almost exclusively for the past few weeks. I just love this bass! I might have to look into getting another AC

[ricksy]

Originally Posted by rictrose

What is jimmys "supreme" rosewood now that DN are no longer available?

Who said its not? It's just real expensive.

[diglo]

Originally Posted by metalstorm

I have been playing my hippy P 4 strings with TI flats almost exclusively for the past few weeks. I just love this bass! I might have to look into getting another AC

Me too! I just went back playing my LG5 this week.

[Joelc73]

Originally Posted by rictrose

Been following the AC club for a few months now. I've been starring at some of the beautiful basses here. Weird thing is I ended up pullin the trigger on a nordy vj5. Nordy's don't seem to hold their resale value as much as AC's. Can anyone weigh in on why that is? Perhaps because jimmy makes less basses each year than Carey? I notice nordys employ a compound radius, am I right in thinking ACs don't use a compound radius.? How is the upper register feel on an AC? And what about access? My nordy has a custom 21 frets, usually only 20 on the vintage, but realistically I can only reach the hight E flat (20). I'm obviously still very keen on an AC even though I just bought a nordy. But probably a kbp5 or LG4.
Q: if starring at alleva's all day make me buy a nordy, what basses do I have to look at all day to buy an AC?

They are both great brands. It's hard to ever know what drives resale -- I do suspect some of it is certainly supply/demand. That could change though as I know Carey has changed his model a bit and will, as a result, be putting fewer instruments out each year.

I have both and like both quite a bit. To me, and others may disagree, I still think AC's are as close you can get to a vintage, period correct Fender in a modern package. Nordy's, even the Classic models (which are wonderful) are still a little more modern in tone/feel.

I have a bunch of AC's and I love them for the vintage vibe. They really remind me of five string version of the basses I grew up with -- Only better.

I had a VJC Nordy that was absolutely amazing -- It reminded me of a slightly more classic take on my Sadowsy's. I also have a Nordy P5 that I am smitten with. The playability on the Nordy's is almost unbelievable.

Not sure if that helps or hurts...

[rictrose]

Originally Posted by ricksy

Who said its not? It's just real expensive.

oh cool.... I just gathered that it is all gone now, I must have been reading into peoples comments too much.

I guess im just interested what will happen when it all disappears.

[morebassbaby]

Never gotten to play any of Carey's basses. I definitely would if I got the chance. My LG really is perfect for me right now though. We just finished up in the studio. We've got a couple tracks on our primitive website http://www.lastyearswinners.com/
We've got 2 tracks up, both of which I played my surf green LG5. The first track is both pickups, tone all the way up, bass 25% and treble 80%. The second track was 80% bridge pickup, tone 40% up, bass and treble 75%. Signal straight to my REDDI and then to the board. Enjoy!
Luke

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Joelc73

They are both great brands. It's hard to ever know what drives resale -- I do suspect some of it is certainly supply/demand. That could change though as I know Carey has changed his model a bit and will, as a result, be putting fewer instruments out each year.

I have both and like both quite a bit. To me, and others may disagree, I still think AC's are as close you can get to a vintage, period correct Fender in a modern package. Nordy's, even the Classic models (which are wonderful) are still a little more modern in tone/feel.

I have a bunch of AC's and I love them for the vintage vibe. They really remind me of five string version of the basses I grew up with -- Only better.

I had a VJC Nordy that was absolutely amazing -- It reminded me of a slightly more classic take on my Sadowsy's. I also have a Nordy P5 that I am smitten with. The playability on the Nordy's is almost unbelievable.

Not sure if that helps or hurts...

+1 I'm down to one A-C and one Nordy and love them both. I really do think the A-C basses hold their value so well due to the feel (similar to Fodera) of a sort of 'hand made' thing, touched by the guy who's name is on the headstock. Does this make for a better instrument? In the absolute sense, no. The Sadowsky and Nordstrand build process, which is a little more 'mechanized' actually results in a more consistent product with more 'perfect' fit and finish. Even Jimmy is now using a CNC machine (at least he owns one) for the more basic parts of the build process.

However, there is just someting about the A-C's (especially for those of us who got our instruments early from the old New York shop where Jimmy was literally making these things with those old school pin routers and stuff in the basement of the shop) that just make them feel like 'works of art' more than just 'expertly assembled highest quality parts basses'.

Pure IMO there. When I play my Nordy VP5, I just love it. It is a fabulous instrument, and literally perfet regarding finish, set-up, fretwork, etc., etc. But man, I always get a feeling of 'owning something quite special' when I take my older LM out of the case. It really feels like a 'one of a kind' sort of thing.

On a side note, I watched a simply amazing documentary on the making of Steinway Piano's on Netflix last night (called 'Note by Note', where they follow one individual concert grand from the milling of the logs through the final voicing/tuning). Same sort of thing (of course, at a much higher level). SKILLED craftsman making those things literally with hand tools and wooden mallets, etc. Simply amazing.

IMO!
_

[RS]

Originally Posted by KJung

However, there is just someting about the A-C's (especially for those of us who got our instruments early from the old New York shop where Jimmy was literally making these things with those old school pin routers and stuff in the basement of the shop) that just make them feel like 'works of art' more than just 'expertly assembled highest quality parts basses'.

I like my older A-Cs a little better than my more recent LM4. Maybe this has something to do with it.

[ricksy]

Originally Posted by RS

I like my older A-Cs a little better than my more recent LM4. Maybe this has something to do with it.

The 4 strings are pinrouted.

[rictrose]

Originally Posted by KJung

I always get a feeling of 'owning something quite special' when I take my older LM out of the case. It really feels like a 'one of a kind' sort of thing.

_

Yeah I think that sums it up pretty well.

anyone got any pics of glossy maple neck AC's.... especially with vintage tint and block and binding... something about that style has really got to me lately..

[Joelc73]

Originally Posted by rictrose

Yeah I think that sums it up pretty well.

anyone got any pics of glossy maple neck AC's.... especially with vintage tint and block and binding... something about that style has really got to me lately..

Tomshepp has a beautiful one a few pages back.

[tomshepp]

I should get better pics. It really is a great bass.

[RS]

Originally Posted by rictrose

Yeah I think that sums it up pretty well.

anyone got any pics of glossy maple neck AC's.... especially with vintage tint and block and binding... something about that style has really got to me lately..

[Bernie Connors]

Hey clubbers,

Is there currently a stoppage on custom orders or is Jimmy taking new basses on?

Thanks!

[Bassist30]

Originally Posted by RS

Very nice.

[RS]

Originally Posted by Bassist30

Very nice.

Thems my special little boys.