Alleva-Coppolo vs. Sadowsky NYC

[GRoberts]

Hmm I see.

I guess that options out then of getting the Alleva pre/pups.

I don't think the AC PU's are a standard size, so they wouldn't fit in a Sadowsky without some routing. The AC PU's look wider than normal Jazz PU's. Can anyone confirm?

 

[Andrew Jones]

4 string pick ups I believe are the same size(normal jazz size)


The Fives are larger and unique.



Aj

 

[svtb15]

The 4 string PUs are the same size. .However the Alleva 5 String PUs are in a longer shell so they will not fit a Sadowksy without significant modifications.

I don't think the AC PU's are a standard size, so they wouldn't fit in a Sadowsky without some routing. The AC PU's look wider than normal Jazz PU's. Can anyone confirm?

 

[DaveAceofBass]

Sadowsky NYC is the BEST!

 

[svtb15]

"BEST" is very subjective.... And not a valid argument.. Unless you just wish to SPAM a thread..
I just completed a session with Grammy artist Redd Volkeart. They told me to put my NYC Sadowsky on the stand and play my Alleva..
I Love my old sadowskys but i sold them because every engineer that i worked with had me put it on the stand and use my LG or KbP.. True story.. Grammy winning engineers not local yokels..

Sadowsky NYC is the BEST!

 

[svtb15]

Besides .. That is more appropriate in a Sadowsky fanboi thread.. .Your are quite OT.. I think that is a TB violation..

Sadowsky NYC is the BEST!

 

[bucephylus]

"BEST" is very subjective.... And not a valid argument.. Unless you just wish to SPAM a thread..
I just completed a session with Grammy artist Redd Volkeart. They told me to put my NYC Sadowsky on the stand and play my Alleva..
I Love my old sadowskys but i sold them because every engineer that i worked with had me put it on the stand and use my LG or KbP.. True story.. Grammy winning engineers not local yokels..

Kirk, I can see that for recording. What is your experience with live mixes?

 

[jim nolte]

"BEST" is very subjective.... And not a valid argument.. Unless you just wish to SPAM a thread..
I just completed a session with Grammy artist Redd Volkeart. They told me to put my NYC Sadowsky on the stand and play my Alleva..
I Love my old sadowskys but i sold them because every engineer that i worked with had me put it on the stand and use my LG or KbP.. True story.. Grammy winning engineers not local yokels..

Do you think that's mostly due to the pre-amp in the Sadowskys, a little to "hot" for some styles. I love the pre in my Fbass, very natural sounding and I've heard Jimmys' pre is in the same ballpark, it just enhances the passive sound, doesn't color it as much as others. Jim

 

[Tom Howland]

I dig the tone of the AC. Great finger-style tone. Both a great basses, well made. I prefer the AC pickups, and layout.

 

[svtb15]

YOu know.. I rarely used the preamp in the sadowsky .. Even with the pre turned off the Sad has a mid scoop going on.. Myself and other guys with great ears in this forum have noticed the same thing.. One is my good friend from Canada!
Sadowskys have a huge following,, I've owned 6 or 7 NYCs. but sold them all this year..

The only time i used the SADs Preamp was on gigs that i had a long cable run. I would turn it on to buffer the line.. but all controls would be set to zero or off with no eq. They sound great.. But even passive they have a mid scoop to my ears and some others.
It could be the hum cancelling pickups too , or the heavy massive bridge?
I actually have an OLD early 80s Yamaha BB3000s passive bass that has a hotter output than my Sadowsky with the preamp on.. I don't usually use HOT signals.
Just enough to get a good S/N ratio i guess. But now since almost every is Digital recording and not TAPE, signal to noise is not as bad as it was when we used Tape and you had to get enough gain to get you over tape hiss ( which was always there)..
Now the noise we hear these days would be a preamps transformer noise or something in the signal chain since the digital platform basically has zero noise floor it seems


On the other hand the Alleva Preamp is much more usable throughout its range from no boost to full boost.. Its smoother, bigger , less boomy and less harsh in the treble region..
sort of Apples and Pears..

The F bass preamp is also real nice whatever he uses i dont know.. its very smooth, full bodied and clean..

Do you think that's mostly due to the pre-amp in the Sadowskys, a little to "hot" for some styles. I love the pre in my Fbass, very natural sounding and I've heard Jimmys' pre is in the same ballpark, it just enhances the passive sound, doesn't color it as much as others. Jim

 

[Dan Knowlton]

TWO kinds of wonderful there. My choice would be "yes!"

I loved my Sadowsky's - fit great in the mix, loved the exotic wood top, felt great, sounded great.
I loved my Alleva LG-5 (and KPB-5) - fit great in the mix, loved the vintage colors, felt great, sounded great.

You just cannot go wrong there.

Dan

 

[svtb15]

I used my sadowskys since 1989 in live gigs. They play great.. they sound great too..
The past 10 years i have been doing more Guitar oriented gigs. Less Keyboard oriented stuff. And my Allevas work better for me in the mix..

EVERYONE'S mileage will vary though. I dont think there is any one better than the other. Its subjective. I only feel my current situation works best for what i like. Its a good fit. I always tell folks if they can afford it, get a Sadowsky and an Alleva. Its best of both worlds.

I think the Alleva ( at least mine) are fatter sounding down deeper with a nice organic top end that slots in a mix like an old fender.
Mine are all Alder (lightweight) with DN or the new Jimmy wood fuingerboards... My one signature KBP4 (poudah)bass has a chocolatey /Tan African Rosewood that makes that bass so present its real nice.. I played with different pickups for a while in that bass but im back to the stock pups..
I just did a session with that KBP4 with grammy winner Redd Volkeart and it just killed!!

Kirk, I can see that for recording. What is your experience with live mixes?

 

[mpdd]

i can just drive to AC fourty minutes east of my place and try out stuff and make suggestions and then have a vegetarian lunch with jimmy.

if i wanted a jazz that sounded like a machine gun for a free form freak out funk band i'd get a sandowsky, if i wanted an old school thumpalicious
bass that i could pick whether i wanted it to sound like it was from the 50s, 60s, or 70s i'd get an AC

don't think either one is better, just different

 

[svtb15]

Its a lot of freaking money.. If you can afford it...Get one of each. Allevas do one thing and the Sadowsky does the other. They may look similar but they sound different enough to justify one of each if you have the CaChing$$$

 

[Kmrumedy]

You two do realize you are debating over a thread the rest of us put to bed 7 years ago?

 

[bucephylus]

You two do realize you are debating over a thread the rest of us put to bed 7 years ago?

Yes, I believe everyone saw that. The conversation was more oriented around further experience with the two makers in the meantime. Don't mind us.

 

[svtb15]

wow how about that?.. I had two tabs open.. . Oppps wrong thread. But who really cares? not me

 

[DaveAceofBass]

You two do realize you are debating over a thread the rest of us put to bed 7 years ago?

ROTFL

 

[barginkov]

I was thinking about saving up for one of these gems. I don't have the cash yet to make the trek to New York to actually test them out so i was wondering if anyone out there has their own clips of these they could share so i could hear the difference.

I've had many many different basses. I have sold them all and kept my sadowsky as my only bass.it is everything I ever wanted in a bass.the other ones never got used..plus the customer service is the best in the business. I go to the shop 4 ,5 times a year just to check out the basses and get strings. And roger couldn't be a nicer guy . FWIW

 

[otto B]

I like both basses but once important thing that made me love more the AC than the Sadowsky. In the AC, I can adjust the string spacing in the bridge Vs. in the Sadowsky you can't.