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Club Alleva Coppolo (part 2)

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#666
basses55 said:
Another strange thing I've noticed is that the same 19 mm bridge on my FBass feels different than on the AC. I wouldent have expected this without having the two to compare..but I can only guess that nut widths and neck profiles contribute something to the difference in the way they seem to "feel" too.
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I think that's absolutely the case. The F Bass neck tapers a lot more than the Alleva. One of the reasons I sold my Studio 5 was because it was so tight at the nut. I often find that the spacing at the nut and the neck profile is just as, if not more, important to me than the bridge spacing. I like 19mm but if anything's too tight at the nut end, I'm not entirely comfy.
 
#667
I have had my Alleva for a while now. It became my
main bass really quick. I LOVE the old school feel and
tone. I'm thinking about ordering a RA-5 next year.

I acually told my wife about my plans to order the
RA-5 a few minutes ago and she thought it was a
GREAT idea. :rolleyes::)

The LG-5 is such great bass I'm not sure why I "need"
another bass. GAS IS a BAD thing.

Specs for my "new" RA-5 (for now) is the same as the
as the Ice Blue RA-5 on the Alleva web site.
But... I gotta have a polly finish. I think that one
is owned by a TB'er.

I gotta tell ya bro's I am LOVIN my A-C!!!! :hyper:
Dan
 
#668
This is a gentle reminder that even the "Hottest" basses may not be for everone. A couple of weeks ago I got a chance to play an early LG5 that had been at that year's NAMM show and it was not quite my cup of tea. I guy brought one over to my house and I got to hear/play on it for a while. It is a well built bass believe me, however; it didn't sound very punchy at all. He said that it sounded good in a band situation. Probably with an Aguilar pre, it would help. It played fairly well, but not great, maybe it needed to be set up again. What did suprise me is that the fretboard (Indian Rosewood) was sort of plain and not figured as I would have expected from such a costly bass. If you do order one, I would recommend at least upgrading the board material. I do think that Alleve-Coppolo is a good bass, but again you do take a chance if you have not played one before ordering.
 
#669
Mad Tango said:
This is a gentle reminder that even the "Hottest" basses may not be for everone. A couple of weeks ago I got a chance to play an early LG5 that had been at that year's NAMM show and it was not quite my cup of tea. I guy brought one over to my house and I got to hear/play on it for a while. It is a well built bass believe me, however; it didn't sound very punchy at all. He said that it sounded good in a band situation. Probably with an Aguilar pre, it would help. It played fairly well, but not great, maybe it needed to be set up again. What did suprise me is that the fretboard (Indian Rosewood) was sort of plain and not figured as I would have expected from such a costly bass. If you do order one, I would recommend at least upgrading the board material. I do think that Alleve-Coppolo is a good bass, but again you do take a chance if you have not played one before ordering.
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Without your profile filled in, I have no idea of what sort of bass tone your prefer. But, in response to your post, it's people feeling that a piece of gear is 'hot' or 'the flavor of the day' that can get buyers into trouble (i.e., a lot of people like it, therefore I will like it).

If you want a true vintage Fender tone in a new handmade instrument, I have not seen any better bass than the Alleva-Coppolo. Also, for those of us who really dig J basses, 'figuring' of a rosewood board is the last thing on our mind, and much old cut rosewood is very dark, even and chocolate colored.

If you are one who loves J Basses and was looking for a vintage tone in a modern instrument, and you then posted that you didn't like the Alleva, I would be surprised. If, on the other hand, your profile was filled with active, soapbar type basses, or basses with fancy wood tops and wooden knobs, I can totally see the stock Alleva models not really floating your boat.

All of these reviews need to be put in the context of tone goals and the players preference. That's why it's both important to take a look at a posters profile, and to also fill yours out.

I personally am more impressed each gig with my LM-5, and it's going on almost a year now:)... but I love J basses, and I hate wooden knobs and soapbar pickups:D
 
#670
much old cut rosewood is very dark, even and chocolate colored
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I'm not positive but I don't believe this to be true. I 've seen many old fenders with figuring in the rosewood boards.I think the Brazilian that we've seen Jimmy use so far is selected for this quality I know I asked for it. I think I remember the guy(sorry i forgot your name) in Canada who got the sunburst LG5 selected his wood at the shop and chose looking for those seem qualities.Perhaps He'll chime in and describe what else he saw.I think as his stock diminishes you'll see less even dark chocolate.Not saying that it will be ugly/undesirable,It's going to sound right.It will look great just different. I would probably order another bass with it,maybe I already have.


Aj
 
#671
Andrew Jones said:
I'm not positive but I don't believe this to be true. I 've seen many old fenders with figuring in the rosewood boards.I think the Brazilian that we've seen Jimmy use so far is selected for this quality I know I asked for it. I think I remember the dude in Ontario who got the sunburst LG5 selected his wood at the shop and chose looking for those seem qualities.Perhaps He'll chime in and describe what else he saw.I think as his stock diminishes you'll see less even dark chocolate.Not saying that it will be ugly/undesirable I would probably order another bass with it,maybe I already have.


Aj
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I'm sure there are... I've seen RW boards dark and even and red and swirly. To me, the nicest RW to my eye is very dark and even, but that's pure IMO there. The nicest RW board I ever saw was from stump cut Brazilian RW on a new Nordy... dark and totally even... just beautiful!

I guess my point is, IMO many of us who are really in love with the Alleva's are players more than 'collectors' or 'hobby-ists' (i.e., the 'wooden knob set' as I call them... not that there aren't serious players who like that stuff... but you get my point in general) Nothing wrong with that at all, but IMO the Alleva would be less interesting to those who like all the fancy coffee table stuff or like a more active, modern sound (the thought of putting an Aguilar preamp in an Alleva almost makes me want to cry). For those types of buyers, the Alleva's are probably not as 'impressive' as they are to many of us who post on this thread. No problem there.. that's why there are luthiers who focus on all the super fancy looking stuff.:bassist:
 
#674
needmoney said:
Don't you have a Skjold on order? :hmm:
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I do! It's quite a plain one :cool:, and I always enjoy trying stuff, and also having some variety in my tone arsenal. That being said, since I ordered this bass over a year ago when I was still in the final pangs of my earlier 'Fodera/MTD' type thing, I would not have ordered it today given my almost complete move toward a more traditional J tone. My bass G.A.S is totally, completely gone. However, I'm looking very forward to getting it anyway, and was really impressed with Pete's basses from his last batch.... modern, but very growly and punchy! Quite unique and I dug the newer ones I played quite a bit.

That being said, except when I fly to a gig, I have not used any other bass than the Alleva on a gig since I've gotten it! I don't anticipate that changing much.
 
#675
I own a Fodera Lincoln Goines model, It's got a wooden knob.

DSCN2130.jpg




Aj
 
#676
Andrew Jones said:
I own a Fodera Lincoln Goines model, It's got a wooden knob.



Aj
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:D Now that's a wooden knob bass I can appreciate:cool:

Edit: Again, just to put my comments in context again, I was responding to the post where the guy wasn't 'impressed' with the Alleva, and one of his primary reasons was that the RW board wasn't figured. My point was that if this sort of thing is one of your main drivers in choosing a bass, there are probably better options out there than the very vintage and 'workmanlike' vibe of the Alleva's. They aren't for everyone, as with every other bass model or luthier.

Just IMO... I was actually agreeing with the guy!
 
#678
My 1959 refin with slab rosewood board:

59P2.jpg


To me, that board, is gorgeous. I can appreciate a fingerboard with alot of grain and visual hoo-ha, but for that classic pre-CBS tone, you can't beat a simple, yet elegant, Brazilian rosewood board. I have basses with boards that I picked out for the visual appeal, but always kept tone in mind.
 
#679
NickyBass said:
My 1959 refin with slab rosewood board:

59P2.jpg


To me, that board, is gorgeous. I can appreciate a fingerboard with alot of grain and visual hoo-ha, but for that classic pre-CBS tone, you can't beat a simple, yet elegant, Brazilian rosewood board. I have basses with boards that I picked out for the visual appeal, but always kept tone in mind.
Click to expand...

That's what I'm talkin' about right there!!!!! That is beautiful to my eye:bassist::hyper:
 
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