Club Alleva-Coppolo (Part 20)

[guy n. cognito]

I love my LG, but, I'd have been right on the phone asking for a call tag to ship it back and make it right.
For $4k, you shouldn't be cleaning up the paint job.

I thought about it, and I honestly thought about returning it to the retailer. I still might, but it honestly looks pretty good now.

 

[Chef]

I'm sure it does, you did "what needed to be done."
You just totally shouldn't have to at that price point.
Heck, even $500 Fenders don't ship that way.

 

[guy n. cognito]

I'm sure it does, you did "what needed to be done."
You just totally shouldn't have to at that price point.
Heck, even $500 Fenders don't ship that way.

Well, I took it back, and the store worked with me on a 2-1 exchange. Remarkably, the store had another bass from Jimmy still hanging there, and it had the exact same issues.

So, I'm out of the club for now.......

 

[Jared Lash]

A few hours later, a little ScratchX, a lot of elbow grease, and two coats of Zymol and the bass finally looks the way it should have looked when it left Jimmy's hands. You can still see some of the scratches in just the right light, but so goes the way of the black bass.

It sounds great, and feels great. It's disappointing when the event of buying a $4000 bass is marred by shoddy workmanship and lack of detail.

I had the unfortunate luck to get the first neck Jimmy ever painted. The paint on the headstock was badly pitted and did not match the body. He also buffed the satin finish on the neck till it was too thin. It was not a positive experience to send the bass back to him after a 2 year wait. However, he did make it right in the end.

Amazing to me that this can happen when you are a small shop making a small number of instruments per year. How can these basses be sent out in this condition. I don't get it.

I've only checked out two ACs (one at a store and the other belonging to a friend) but both had beautiful and expertly applied finishes. From what I understand Jimmy recently started doing his own finishes in house correct?

There's a learning curve for everything but if the result of him no longer outsourcing the finishes is that customers take the hit of his growing pains that doesn't strike me as fair or a good idea. Hopefully this was a one time issue and everything gets set right.

As I side note, I've talked with a few builders who outsource their finishing and most are quite content to keep that arrangement. Chris Stambaugh said that he flat out didn't have the space for it and that even if he did, finishing is an artform/skill in and of itself and he was happy to let others do it when his customers asked for a non-oil finish.

 

[KJung]

I've only checked out two ACs (one at a store and the other belonging to a friend) but both had beautiful and expertly applied finishes. From what I understand Jimmy recently started doing his own finishes in house correct?

There's a learning curve for everything but if the result of him no longer outsourcing the finishes is that customers take the hit of his growing pains that doesn't strike me as fair or a good idea. Hopefully this was a one time issue and everything gets set right.

As I side note, I've talked with a few builders who outsource their finishing and most are quite content to keep that arrangement. Chris Stambaugh said that he flat out didn't have the space for it and that even if he did, finishing is an artform/skill in and of itself and he was happy to let others do it when his customers asked for a non-oil finish.

That is my understanding also. Until a couple of years ago, all the finishes I saw were beautiful. Seems like this would be the wrong area to save money, since finishing is such a unique and complicated undertaking.

I love my A-C (and virtually every one I've played). Difficult to recommend them at this point.

 

[svtb15]

I wonder why he took it home from the store if he didn't like the way it looked? That would be a red flag.
Why not have Corner Music contact the shop on the spot? Why take ownership if you were immedialy unhappy?
Why was it no issue for the store when they opened the box? They should have said something if they saw an issue, wouldn't you think?
Personally for me, if it were that bad as claimed , i would have not taken it home with me.
I certainly would contact the store or the manufacturer directly before starting a very slanted thread on a forum without posting photos..
I read earlier that he bought a bass but didn't like it because of the "color" that he ordered , so he sold it.. Did the bass sound and play well?
So that makes me think that he may be more into the way something looks than the way it plays... and may be looking for issues or exaggerating them to fill his needs of the way it looks.TO me venting on a forum on highly subjective content should only be done if you dont get satisfaction from the vendors.. Been there done that.. I try to go to the source before i make a big deal out of something.

I would need to see some photos of what he is upset about to see if it is actually an issue or if it is just someone complaining for some reason... Just my 2 cents

 

[guy n. cognito]

That is my understanding also. Until a couple of years ago, all the finishes I saw were beautiful. Seems like this would be the wrong area to save money, since finishing is such a unique and complicated undertaking.

I love my A-C (and virtually every one I've played). Difficult to recommend them at this point.

The Sonic Blue in my profile (that I sold to finance the one I returned) had a pretty nice finish on it, FWIW.

 

[svtb15]

Jimmy started his own finishes about a year ago or more.. That was my last visit to the shop

I've only checked out two ACs (one at a store and the other belonging to a friend) but both had beautiful and expertly applied finishes. From what I understand Jimmy recently started doing his own finishes in house correct?

There's a learning curve for everything but if the result of him no longer outsourcing the finishes is that customers take the hit of his growing pains that doesn't strike me as fair or a good idea. Hopefully this was a one time issue and everything gets set right.

As I side note, I've talked with a few builders who outsource their finishing and most are quite content to keep that arrangement. Chris Stambaugh said that he flat out didn't have the space for it and that even if he did, finishing is an artform/skill in and of itself and he was happy to let others do it when his customers asked for a non-oil finish.

 

[svtb15]

I saw that you sold your Blue one because you didn't like the colour.. To me that is a silly reason to sell a bass that sounds and plays great. But to each his own.. We all have our priorities.

But just to ad credibility to your claim i would like to see the photos of the bad finish on the black one.
That would really help us all see what you mean.
As a AC user I just want to see what going on.. so I can comment
We are all jumping to conclusions without any PHOTOS.. Like everyone other thread, when there is an issue people post photos. That would really help a lot..

Rick used that bass for the LG5 standard web site bass. I know the photo is small but (at least) the top of the bass was so shiny that I was considering changing it with some other bass because there is glare. You can see the board in the photo is not dry.

I thought about it, and I honestly thought about returning it to the retailer. I still might, but it honestly looks pretty good now.

 

[guy n. cognito]

I wonder why he took it home from the store if he didn't like the way it looked? That would be a red flag.
Why not have Corner Music contact the shop on the spot? Why take ownership if you were immedialy unhappy?
Why was it no issue for the store when they opened the box? They should have said something if they saw an issue, wouldn't you think?
Personally for me, if it were that bad as claimed , i would have not taken it home with me.
I certainly would contact the store or the manufacturer directly before starting a very slanted thread on a forum without posting photos..
I read earlier that he bought a bass but didn't like it because of the "color" that he ordered , so he sold it.. Did the bass sound and play well?
So that makes me think that he may be more into the way something looks than the way it plays... and may be looking for issues or exaggerating them to fill his needs of the way it looks.TO me venting on a forum on highly subjective content should only be done if you dont get satisfaction from the vendors.. Been there done that.. I try to go to the source before i make a big deal out of something.

I would need to see some photos of what he is upset about to see if it is actually an issue or if it is just someone complaining for some reason... Just my 2 cents

Dial it back there, chief.

As I explained above, I was in a rush when I picked up the bass, and I didn't inspect it as well as I should have. The bass was "smudgy" and I didn't realize the issues were actually in the paint. It just looked dirty... But unfortunately it wasn't.

At $4000, I'm into the way a bass looks AND plays. At that price point, the finish should be near perfect. And.....I went to the source: my retailer. He agreed with me and made it right. Based on the PMs I'm getting, I'm not he only one who had these types of issues.

Don't believe me? Call corner for yourself.

 

[guy n. cognito]

I saw that you sold your Blue one because you didn't like the colour.. To me that is a silly reason to sell a bass that sounds and plays great. But to each his own.. We all have our priorities.

But just to ad credibility to your claim i would like to see the photos of the bad finish on the black one.
That would really help us all see what you mean.
As a AC user I just want to see what going on.. so I can comment
We are all jumping to conclusions without any PHOTOS.. Like everyone other thread, when there is an issue people post photos. That would really help a lot..

Rick used that bass for the LG5 standard web site bass. I know the photo is small but (at least) the top of the bass was so shiny that I was considering changing it with some other bass because there is glare. You can see the board in the photo is not dry.

Ever photograph a black bass? Even one with significant issues can look great. I don't have pictures. Call JD at Corner and ask him about it.

 

[svtb15]

Im just saying..
That bass was on the AC site.. It was totally shinny there.. Look at the photo on the site.
If it were smudgy maybe Corner did it.
Even if you were in a hurry, did you not at least inspect it quickly? I know i certainly have when buy a bass.. Numerous times!
If you posted photos of BEFORE n AFTER we could have a grip on what you are saying... But we have to take your word for it.. We all have different perspectives....
Like the bass that i sold Chef. He thought it was trashed.. A very famous bass player saw that bass a day before i sold it to him and he thought it was beautiful and almost flawless.. If Jaco were alive Im sure he would have thought it wasn't even broken in.. It was far from trashed.. But it is all perspective. yes it had Gig dings and a few scratched. Thats because i lay everyday and crew guys ding them up at times. Mine was a used bass at a great price for him. I sold it to him at about half price it would have sold anywhere else and i think he is happy with it....

Now you spend 4k.. i can see your point.. but we have NO REFERENCE .. If we had photos of the buffing compound all over it and swirls everywhere it would a very easy to see what you mean.

Photos were taken and post right before he boxed it up to ship to corner.. It was Glistening and shinny, The neck was freshly oiled as you can see... So i as a forum reader, would love to see what you mean... Thats all...
You did proclaim that you sold a bass because the color did not fit you.. I dont really get that especially if you ordered it that colour...

 

[guy n. cognito]

Im just saying..
That bass was on the AC site.. It was totally shinny there.. Look at the photo on the site.
If it were smudgy maybe Corner did it.
Even if you were in a hurry, did you not at least inspect it quickly? I know i certainly have when buy a bass.. Numerous times!
If you posted photos of BEFORE n AFTER we could have a grip on what you are saying... But we have to take your word for it.. We all have different perspectives....
Like the bass that i sold Chef. He thought it was trashed.. A very famous bass player saw that bass a day before i sold it to him and he thought it was beautiful and almost flawless.. If Jaco were alive Im sure he would have thought it wasn't even broken in.. It was far from trashed.. But it is all perspective. yes it had Gig dings and a few scratched. Thats because i lay everyday and crew guys ding them up at times. Mine was a used bass at a great price for him. I sold it to him at about half price it would have sold anywhere else and i think he is happy with it....

Now you spend 4k.. i can see your point.. but we have NO REFERENCE .. If we had photos of the buffing compound all over it and swirls everywhere it would a very easy to see what you mean.

Photos were taken and post right before he boxed it up to ship to corner.. It was Glistening and shinny, The neck was freshly oiled as you can see... So i as a forum reader, would love to see what you mean... Thats all...
You did proclaim that you sold a bass because the color did not fit you.. I dont really get that especially if you ordered it that colour...

Didn't order it. Bought it off the shelf......

 

[svtb15]

Actually yes... I was a product shot photographer in the 80s before doing music full time. And i have photos of my black basses.. I have posted them many times on here. I think they came out well..
I dont need to call Corner.. I have your story.
But i ask you why did you take delivery of a bass that you were not happy with. In a hurry or not..
If it were as you said, why did Corner not call Jimmy? Why would they risk a problem with a possible customer ( you) and future business if there were such serious issues?
If they didnt call jimmy and there really was a horrible finish issue, i would wonder about their credibility. And i Know JD and he is a very standup person and knows his stuff better than most.
Im just asking questions that anyone would ask right off the bat.. .

Ever photograph a black bass? Even one with significant issues can look great. I don't have pictures. Call JD at Corner and ask him about it.

 

[svtb15]

Ok. so it appealed to you then... color and all?

Didn't order it. Bought it off the shelf......

 

[guy n. cognito]

Actually yes... I was a product shot photographer in the 80s before doing music full time. And i have photos of my black basses.. I have posted them many times on here. I think they came out well..
I dont need to call Corner.. I have your story.
But i ask you why did you take delivery of a bass that you were not happy with. In a hurry or not..
If it were as you said, why did Corner not call Jimmy? Why would they risk a problem with a possible customer ( you) and future business if there were such serious issues?
If they didnt call jimmy and there really was a horrible finish issue, i would wonder about their credibility. And i Know JD and he is a very standup person and knows his stuff better than most.
Im just asking questions that anyone would ask right off the bat.. .

Whether I made a mistake in accepting that bass or not does not change the fact that it left the shop the way it did. In the end, i made an assumption i should not have made. I'm pretty sure Jimmy will be hearing from Corner soon, as both basses delivered to them had similar issues.

I have no agenda here, just relaying my experience. My issues have been resolved, so please forgive me if I don't continue this discussion. You clearly have a relationship with Jimmy, so you should be able to get any additional info from him.

 

[svtb15]

Here are some shots of my black basses with a cheap old $100 canon. You can see the years of wear marks in these.. First one was when it was Brand New

And my 60s P bass body with Alleva Neck.. You can see the swirl in this,, But it is a 50 year old bass that has been around

 

[Chef]

OMG!
There's my LG before you relic'd it!

 

[svtb15]

I do have a relationship with jimmy. And that is why i ask questions so i can relay to him an issue..I like to get to the bottom of this so it doesnt happen again.. You forget that i am a bass player first off..
But i also see that you would sell a bass just because the color is not right after you originally liked it.
I understand that you have major concerns about the finish... And i only ask that you post photos so we can see what you are saying..
Just like others that have a problems with other amps or products and and go to a vent it on a forum in the past. They always post photos..Photos would clear it up pretty darn quik...

I dont want to go around and around with this i have something that i have to go to in a while...

But if it were so horrendous :
#1 why take delivery?
#2 why not take photos to show to Jimmy.. and or post here?
#3 why did Corner pass on a unit they were would have thought was defective with to a paying customer? Thats the part does not make any sense to me at all..

Whether I made a mistake in accepting that bass or not does not change the fact that it left the shop the way it did. In the end, i made an assumption i should not have made. I'm pretty sure Jimmy will be hearing from Corner soon, as both basses delivered to them had similar issues.

I have no agenda here, just relaying my experience. My issues have been resolved, so please forgive me if I don't continue this discussion. You clearly have a relationship with Jimmy, so you should be able to get any additional info from him.

 

[svtb15]

Yes sir.... I wish i still had that one.. it was a good one....

OMG!
There's my LG before you relic'd it!