Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
- Status
vision
It's all about the groove!
- Feb 25, 2005
- 3,988
- 618
- 47
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: MTD Basses, La Bella Strings, and 64 Audio IEMs
+1 to all the above. And remember, the TBer with the original question did not ask 'are these options worth it?', but rather asked 'if I can't afford the exta $3,000 or these upgrades, will my bass suck or not quite 'hit the mark'?. That was the question I was answering. Nitro versus the super thin poly.... PURE aesthetics IMO.... fretboard, as you state, not better or worse, but different, and I hear my Indian board as you describe it and hear the difference between other basses I've played with Brazilian versus Indian boards as you do, in general. Pretty subtle IMO.
So, again, to the OP, even the guys who dig the Nitro don't claim a tonal impact, so that IMO is a no brainer if you are focusing on sound and playability and not 'vintage mojo' (whatever that might be), and are on a budget. And, regarding the board, again, for later 60's Fenders, I believe the Indian IS 'period appropriate'.
If anyone is looking for an awesome, new, 60's style 4 or 5 string J Bass, the cost of a basic Alleva-Coppolo (or one with a few minor upgrades like tint and a custom color) is quite reasonable (again, hundreds less than the similar Sadowsky NYC), and it will totally kill.
That does NOT mean the thousands of dollars in upgrades aren't 'worth it' to some... that's a different question
. I paid hundreds of dollars extra for my Nitro LG used, and it is very cool, and I agree has a certain 'organic vibe' to its feel that does not come through with the Poly finishes. All really good stuff, no matter how configured.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,518
- 19,954
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
off topic...
so I run out today to go get my print issue of BGM and nothing.
Sam Ash had nothing. They're the only store around here who carries it!
Okay - just needed to rant for a second.
There was a brief disconnect between our printer and Sam Ash regarding ground versus express shipping, but I was able to dig to the bottom of the confusion and sort it out, so hopefully, issue #4 is either in stock at Sam Ash now, or will be very shortly.
There was a brief disconnect between our printer and Sam Ash regarding ground versus express shipping, but I was able to dig to the bottom of the confusion and sort it out, so hopefully, issue #4 is either in stock at Sam Ash now, or will be very shortly.
I will subscribe regardless. Thank you!!
svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
- 4,741
- Disclosures
- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
Personally. i wouldn't worry about period correct.. i like vintage but thats me... what is more important is what fits your wallet and your instrument feel requirements etc....
I think an LG4 in Poly would be fine.. but that is my opinion...
I not sure if the finish makes all that much of a difference.. maybe 1-2 %.. maybe but not enough to tell... but i do feel that over time it will breathe more and let the wood do its thing..... but Nitro also chips real easy..
It does feel different to the touch though and to the eye.. for me its very easy to see the difference from a poly finish and Nitro at a glance.. Is one better than the other.. no. not really its pretty much personal taste.. So dont sweat it.. Any of my Allevas have been mutts and each one very special... In my opinion that is..
I think an LG4 in Poly would be fine.. but that is my opinion...
I not sure if the finish makes all that much of a difference.. maybe 1-2 %.. maybe but not enough to tell... but i do feel that over time it will breathe more and let the wood do its thing..... but Nitro also chips real easy..
It does feel different to the touch though and to the eye.. for me its very easy to see the difference from a poly finish and Nitro at a glance.. Is one better than the other.. no. not really its pretty much personal taste.. So dont sweat it.. Any of my Allevas have been mutts and each one very special... In my opinion that is..
Hey Mike,
The question is - is it worth the upgrades to you?
Here's the deal (you got a minute?)...
With Alleva Coppolo basses you have a small crew with a real passion for making instruments. Though there have been some minor issues with cosmetics, I think it is more than fair to say that both the tone and playability of these instruments is very consistent. Because of this, it is pretty easy to hear the differences that changes in the "formula" can make. The difference in the variable factors is subtle to be sure, but there.
There have been a number of discussions regarding the tonal differences between poly and nitro, bridges, different types of rosewoods, body weights, etc. If you spend enough time with enough basses, you will find that all of these variations do have differences, and the real trick is to know what combinations and compromises that you can live with.
My experience with the poly/nitro issue on Jimmy's basses is that there is a difference. Nitro tends to have a slightly more open midrange, while poly tends to scoop the mids a bit and give a bit more focused bottom and brighter top. IMO poly tends to play to tha strengths of the ash/maple 70's sound. Nitro finishes tend to complement the warmer character of an alder body.
As for fingerboards, I agree with Andrew - there is a very slight degree of warmth and sweetness in a Dalbergia board that other rosewoods don't quite have. The bigger difference for me though, is the "feel" of the board - Dalbergia does feel quite a bit different than other boards, and if you are attached to the feel of it on your LG5, you may find another rosewood board not as much to your liking - hard to say...
I had a poly LG4 an Indian rosewood board, which I sold so that I would force myself to focus on playing my RA5. This wound up being a bit of a mistake, since I had to later admit that I'm just not a 5 string guy. :scowl: The LG4 was a really nice instrument, and sounded great on gigs, but I always thought that a tiny bit more warmth in the mids would be more to my liking, and I am convinced that nitro would have been the answer. I'll know more in a week or so when my new LG4 shows up. It will have nitro and a Dalbergia "hybrid" board. I'll also be the first to let you know if I set this thing up and and find out that I'm full of $***. However, I have a feeling that this will not be the case.
Will anybody else notice the difference in how the different boards or finishes sound? Likely not, unless they are listening very carefully, or you are using it for recording - your drummer will be the first guy to pick up on it on a gig. Only you will really notice the difference, but having said that, only you can decide if the differences are good or bad.
svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
- 4,741
- Disclosures
- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
how did it sound? I missed it..
EDIT: Found a you tube clip that was on for a few minutes and now its was taken down because of you tubes policy. I like the new pickguard that jimmy cut for it,, it looks like Brain Wilsons old 60s P bass from that beach boy era..
EDIT: Found a you tube clip that was on for a few minutes and now its was taken down because of you tubes policy. I like the new pickguard that jimmy cut for it,, it looks like Brain Wilsons old 60s P bass from that beach boy era..
There's a bit of a story behind this fingerboard - but the short version is that it was looked over by "the rosewood guy" at NAMM who concluded that it is a type of dalbergia board. Now like many other species of plants (and animals) trees cross-pollinate, and this is a dalbergia/something mutt - a "dalbergiadoodle" if you will.
The dude to ask about it is really Jimmy, cuz he knows all the details. Suffice it to say that the board looks and feels like Dalbergia, but I can't enter it in any AKC shows.
- Oct 17, 2006
- 731
- 21
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Dunlop/MXR
Yeah. It's my first one so I'm still toying around to get a good a decent sound. I was using the camera and mic from my Macbook Pro. Thanks for your honesty, Ken. It means a lot.
It means a lot.
svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
- 4,741
- Disclosures
- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
my dalbergia FB has clarity and warmth. it is bright but not brittle....and has some increased focus... and i think that is what i liked about it.. I had a regular RW board on my kbp5 and then put a dalbergia on it.. the first thing i heard was more focus... without loosing warmth.. it seems to be harder wood... dont know for sure.. but f you were to take your fingernail and try to dent it.. it is harder to do on the dalbergia.. at least my board is that way..
but more than anything I like the way it feels...it feels like home to me.. and feel to me is almost or more important than the way it sounds.. because then i will play it more..
but more than anything I like the way it feels...it feels like home to me.. and feel to me is almost or more important than the way it sounds.. because then i will play it more..
- Status
