Club Alleva-Coppolo (Part 14)

[svtb15]

No sir.. Same old same old...

Understood. I was just wondering from you mainly if process had changed on those.

 

[svtb15]

+1

The problem with having your neck pickup the same height as your bridge pickup is that as you get into the higher positions (>~10th fret) the neck pickup gets really close to the strings and that blend gets skewed a bit too much (for my taste at least.)

It definitely is a matter of personal preference though - so if you like that sort of thing, that's what matters.

JC

 

[Vic]

The thing is he also had a 3 tone burst in poly to do an AB and I must say regardless of the debate on which sounds better or whatever the debate on which looks better for me is a done deal.... nitro wins!

Man, I wish I could've seen that. I think it'd be great to really A/B the poly/nitro thing and see the diffs up close in person. Way cool.

 

[Vic]

The problem with having your neck pickup the same height as your bridge pickup is that as you get into the higher positions (>~10th fret) the neck pickup gets really close to the strings and that blend gets skewed a bit too much (for my taste at least.)

It definitely is a matter of personal preference though - so if you like that sort of thing, that's what matters.

JC

This has always been my problem as well, but still, I am going to experiment with it and see how it works. Besides, "there's no money up there", right?

 

[KJung]

Man, I wish I could've seen that. I think it'd be great to really A/B the poly/nitro thing and see the diffs up close in person. Way cool.

It is an amazing look, that is for sure. My surf green nitro LG really has that 'organic glow' to it, which is very cool. Definitely an aesthetic difference between Nitro and Poly.

However, the big question that one considering the nitro has to ask him/herself (as you know) is if they are OK with it dinging and checking and chipping and wearing... because it will.

 

[Vic]

However, the big question that one considering the nitro has to ask him/herself (as you know) is if they are OK with it dinging and checking and chipping and wearing... because it will.

Exactly, and to be blunt, with me, the answer would always be no. I'm a poly guy... I'm willing to sacrifice whatever I might like better about the nitro look for the durability of poly.

 

[Baccomang]

Picked this from the net:

If the pickups are too close to the strings you can end up with some rather ugly overtones, particularly on the low E and A strings - listen for it and adjust accordingly.

If the bass pickup is too close, the magnetic pull from the pickup can actually yank the string down towards the body making proper intonation nearly impossible!

To combat this problem, try angling the pickup slightly down at the 4/5th string and or if the pickup has individually adjustable pole pieces just screw the 4/5th string one down a bit.

The final test is to plug the bassguitar into an amp and flick the pickup switch back and forth to be sure all pickups have a balanced output to each other. Often times a bassguitarist will want the treble or bridge pickup to be just a bit louder than the other two, but not to the point where it’s over powering.

Just FYI especially on the part that if your strings are too close ...you cant get proper intonation.

 

[Vic]

Picked this from the net:

If the pickups are too close to the strings you can end up with some rather ugly overtones, particularly on the low E and A strings - listen for it and adjust accordingly.

If the bass pickup is too close, the magnetic pull from the pickup can actually yank the string down towards the body making proper intonation nearly impossible!

To combat this problem, try angling the pickup slightly down at the 4/5th string and or if the pickup has individually adjustable pole pieces just screw the 4/5th string one down a bit.

The final test is to plug the bassguitar into an amp and flick the pickup switch back and forth to be sure all pickups have a balanced output to each other. Often times a bassguitarist will want the treble or bridge pickup to be just a bit louder than the other two, but not to the point where it’s over powering.

Just FYI especially on the part that if your strings are too close ...you cant get proper intonation.

Yeah, I commented on the magnetic pull and overtones thing earlier, which is one of the reasons I was surprised to read a couple folks here put their pickups closer than I do. Still, gonna' try it and see.

On the intonation thing, I actually have a little trouble really buying that on the bass. I can TOTALLY easily see that on a guitar tho.

 

[narud]

Yeah, I commented on the magnetic pull and overtones thing earlier, which is one of the reasons I was surprised to read a couple folks here put their pickups closer than I do. Still, gonna' try it and see.

On the intonation thing, I actually have a little trouble really buying that on the bass. I can TOTALLY easily see that on a guitar tho.

the ratio i use of neck height to bridge height is usually about the same, but the overall height depends on the string pull issue.

 

[Vic]

the ratio i use of neck height to bridge height is usually about the same, but the overall height depends on the string pull issue.

Yeah, that part of my comment was WRT the other guy that has his strings just barely clear the poles.

 

[Bernie Connors]

However, the big question that one considering the nitro has to ask him/herself (as you know) is if they are OK with it dinging and checking and chipping and wearing... because it will.

Yes, yes, yes and yes.

 

[KJung]

Yeah, I commented on the magnetic pull and overtones thing earlier, which is one of the reasons I was surprised to read a couple folks here put their pickups closer than I do. Still, gonna' try it and see.

On the intonation thing, I actually have a little trouble really buying that on the bass. I can TOTALLY easily see that on a guitar tho.

If you have the pickups really close to the string, it will play hell on a tuner when setting intonation. I think that's what he's talking about... all kinds of strange harmonics, etc. that make setting intonation very difficult if not impossible.

 

[vision]

The thing is he also had a 3 tone burst in poly to do an AB and I must say regardless of the debate on which sounds better or whatever the debate on which looks better for me is a done deal.... nitro wins!

With 3TS in nitro vs. poly the difference is so big that it's basically a different color option. In the 60's Fenders with nitro you really see the red glow, and the yellow in the center is opaque. Here's an example (although this finish is tough to photograph accurately):

The poly finishes that are usually associated with 70's Fenders look much more translucent, showing the grain in the wood (this bass is also an alder body by the way):

 

[narud]

With 3TS in nitro vs. poly the difference is so big that it's basically a different color option. In the 60's Fenders with nitro you really see the red pop and the yellow in the center is opaque. Here's an example (although this finish is tough to photograph accurately):

The poly finishes that are usually associated with 70's Fenders look much more translucent, showing the grain in the wood (this bass is also an alder body by the way):

only 65's and 66's have that really bright opaque yellow. the target burst. the 3 tone bursts before that were a little more translucent and not quite that yellow. the burst jimmy has done look more like the pre 65 bursts.

 

[Chef]

I prefer to see some wood grain, versus that yellow filled center.

 

[Bernie Connors]

That's exactly what I'm shooting for in my new jazz, Jason. That '66 opaque yellow center is the bees knees.

IMO, nitro 3TB always look better than poly. Not to say poly isn't nice but if you're going for a vintage looking 3TB, nitro is the way to go.

Again, IMO.

 

[Vic]

I prefer to see some wood grain, versus that yellow filled center.

+1!!

I know that opaque yellow center is really some people's thing, but not mine. One of the things I love most about the trans center 3TS is the trans center.

To me, the opaque center is something I'm used to seeing on guitars where it's that way specifically to cover up the grain on cheap wood (like a plywood top on a cheap acoustic guitar). Ever since, I've not been able to shake that association and just view it as another finish option. Plus, again, I just love to see the grain anyway.

Only IMHO tho... I just think it's nice both are available so everyone can be happy.

 

[vision]

I prefer to see some wood grain, versus that yellow filled center.

+1...I'm with you and Vic on this. And like Vic said it's totally a matter of preference, if you like the opaque center and red glow then you're gonna like the nitro finish. I like seeing that grain in the center which makes it almost a burst to natural. Here's my LM5 body in progress with that grain (ash body of course):

 

[Chef]

these are all nitro:

 

[peterpalmieri]

I prefer the nitro...

In Jason's photo which is similar to the KBP5 I sold Bassdoubler, but with more grain showing in the KBP5. Photographing the nitro 3T finish many times seems to accetuate that "red stripe" in the middle, which in most cases is not what it looks like in person. Don't understand why.