Club Alleva-Coppolo (Part 21)

[basses55]

With regards to bridges what Ive been doing pretty much since I started with Jimmy's basses is pick a bridge based on comparisons going back and forth on any individual bass I own/owned. I made sure I owned an example of whichever bridge jimmy was offering or had offered. I used my ears, sometimes it corresponded to what Jimmy thought, sometimes it didn't. Although basses of the same model spec sound generally or mostly the same in some fundamental categories there are still some differences between them to my ears. Weight, finish, era of pups, and just how different pieces of the same wood species come together all contribute to each bass having its own slight or not so slight tonal personality differences imo. Although I've found I generally like brass bridges on RAs, but not on all LMs, L shaped threaded steel on LGs more than bent plate single thread saddles....etc...my advice to anyone getting into the brand or even people who have one is to experiment and use your own ears for your own taste. Jimmy had to standardize his bridges which makes sense, and going for the vintage steel Ls was the way to go generally, so thats always my basis for comparison.

 

[YCBass]

I'm getting Jimmy's bent plate on my incoming LM5-Rosewood, but I already have a BadAss V on deck that I've been holding onto for years; although I need to get new saddles as the ones on there weren't grooved so perfectly even.

 

[KUETSUM]

Alleva Coppolo Resurrection 5 | Eastside Music Supply

Had my eyes on this lg5
because the beatiful emralde and DN board

And finally got confirmed from Jimmy by email that's a Bocote instead DN.

Informed the seller but no update yet...

 

[jonno1707]

In

 

[George Himmel]

In

*This post needs pics

 

[Edgar]

In

...is that blood?

I wouldn't be surprised, seems like a killer axe!

 

[sorgas]

Well folks, the other day i visited as i do every 2 or 3 weeks the local guitars store here in Roma, Your Music. They always have the best selection in town, although a fairly high traffic of basses on consignement. The moment i stepped in the bass room i saw this 3Ts 65 jazz bass with oval tuners, a beautiful faded nitro finish with some scratches, adding coolness and beauty to this guy. My friend Claudio asked me if i wanted to give it a try, and i was excited to plug in it and play it. Apart from some real buzzing around the 13th and 14th frets, the bass was a real example of what 50's years old jazz bass should be, rich, fat, dirty a real player, with is lovely balanced tone, if this make sense, not to harsh with the tone fully opened, very clear even when fully rolled off, amazingly rich with both pick ups with a pure "Jaco" tone only with the bridge pick up.
The more i was playing the more i was learning what does it means that AC basses are very close in sounds and feel to those real vintage ones. My LG5 and my RA4 (rosewood) they do have that mojo, and im not talking only about the tone, even just touching the neck, putting your fingers over the board, the crazy nitro finish, it pretty feels like that super cool 65 jazz bass that i played last week. Lesson learned.

Cheers guys

 

[jonno1707]

...is that blood?

I wouldn't be surprised, seems like a killer axe!

Good eyes, yes that is blood those early bad ass bridges can have some sharp edges I cut my finger on one of the sharp saddle screws About halfway through the set. You should've seen the base before I wiped it down And changed the strings LOL

 

[SamuelSandoval]

Would anyone care to comment on comparisons between the AC and Sadowsky preamps? I'm asking because I'm somewhat familiar with Sadowsky and I'd like to get some sort of reference point.

True, true and true!

Also, seems like I'm getting a more 3D sound and no "electronic veil" with the Allevas but... it's been awhile since I had a single-coils Sadowsky on hand for some A/B'ing.

I'll chime in. Sadowsky is a great sounding preamp. But the two are very, very different. The tonal properties are apples and oranges. The Sad preamp will give you the Sad mojo. A lot of people say it's like a Fender on steroids. I think I hear what they mean. The treble is really up there, almost too piercing. With the bass, as you boost it can get really heavy about halfway and maybe even overwhelming.
On the contrary, to my liking, AC preamps don't top out. The treble let's you cut but it doesn't pierce too much and the bass boost really allows the low end to spread more. Like Kirk said earlier, some musical situations might demand a heavy bass and treble boost.
I personally always use my preamp. I really like the passive tone of my current and ost ACs but I absolutely love the additional booty and clarity that Jimmy's preamp gives my sound.

And lastly I'll say that you never lose the instrument's natural tone with Jimmy's preamp. Even if you have his pre on another bass not AC, it'll sound like your bass. The Sadowsky pre adds a bit too much sizzle for my taste.

 

[red_rhino]

A lot of people say it's like a Fender on steroids. I think I hear what they mean. The treble is really up there, almost too piercing. With the bass, as you boost it can get really heavy about halfway and maybe even overwhelming.

You're the second person to mention that, and I concur. I like how Sadowsky's generally feel and play, but I've always struggled a bit with the EQ. In fact, generally speaking, one of the things that bothers me about a lot of active EQ circuits lately is that you can get as many unusable tones as you can usable ones. But that could just be a sign of my changing tonal priorities. I used to like bright zingy round wounds with an active EQ capable of being tuned far into the X-ray frequency band. Now I can't wait for strings to deaden about halfway in order to get the sound I want.

 

[Edgar]

Roger, who's "leaving" Sadowsky at the end of the week btw, always claimed that his preamp (design with Alex Aguilar), was never intended to be used fully clockwise.

He's absolutely right.

Personally, it bothers me a little to have all that unusable EQ (I pretty much stick to less than 30%... and I'm prone to boost only the BASS so, no biggie).

Since it replaced the Bartolini in the early/mid 90's, I feel that the boost range should have been reduced (...like 10 years after its introduction) according to a "usable range" (and at the same time, being able to do more minute ajustements).

Also, I know Jack squat about starting a highly successful, worldwide famous bass brand so... yeah.

Regarding Jimmy's preamp and like Kirk said previously, you can go balls to the wall with the TREBLE/BASS boost (even the TONE) and, it doesn't sound "stupid", it's usable IMO.

 

[red_rhino]

Roger, who's "leaving" Sadowsky at the end of the week btw,

Ummmm, what?

 

[SamuelSandoval]

You're the second person to mention that, and I concur. I like how Sadowsky's generally feel and play, but I've always struggled a bit with the EQ. In fact, generally speaking, one of the things that bothers me about a lot of active EQ circuits lately is that you can get as many unusable tones as you can usable ones. But that could just be a sign of my changing tonal priorities. I used to like bright zingy round wounds with an active EQ capable of being tuned far into the X-ray frequency band. Now I can't wait for strings to deaden about halfway in order to get the sound I want.

Ha yeah i guess that perfect tone we hear in our head is apt to change as time goes by. But you know, maybe I shouldn't say this but everyone in this forum will probably be 100% bias towards Alleva Coppolo 100% of the time. After all it is the Alleva Coppolo Club. If you go to the Sadowsky Club they'll 100% say that the Sadowsky preamp, sound, bass, and build philosophy is the better one of the two.

 

[TimothyGroovy]

I will try to be fair on this Sadowsky and Alleva Coppolo subject since some cats here may already knew I play both and love both. For me, I just pick whatever works best for the jobs or situation I'm in. I normally play a Sadowsky in live because of the preamp sounding which work really well for most of the gigs I got while I always Love how Jimmy's preamp because it sounds absolutely organic almost like a vol boost to me if you don't do a huge difference between two bands. It works nicely in some music but not everything to my ears.. So this is why I love both brands and I'm glad we got different choices and just happened these two really spokes to me my 2cents.

 

[rodl2005]

My 2c.
I've probly only boosted the pre amp lows or hi's 30% max on my AC. and it always simply, works. I must try the 100% one day tho

 

[Edgar]

Ummmm, what?

Oups!!!

Not true, my bad.

I've just double check the email I got from Sadowsky and, it's Lex that is leaving.

(...funny cos I also seem to remember being told that Lisa was taking over Roger.)

 

[ACB0015]

Jimmy used to use Hipshot B-style bridges on his basses because they're excellent third party hardware, but started producing his own proprietary bridges in bent steel after experimenting and deciding they conveyed a more true old-school Fender tone (for the record, I agree). He will, however, use a Hipshot if it's requested (I'd ask the guys at BSD about the option—can't remember if it's a direct replacement). I personally prefer the steel bridges on most ACs, but there are a few that sound better with the high-mass Hipshot—namely some of the empresswood LMs. They gain a little longer decay and natural compression to the sound that is more present in a heavy piece of northern ash than in a very light piece of empresswood.

I recently replaced the Hipshot bridge on my KBP5 with the newest version of Jimmy's proprietary bridge with the threaded saddles (my bass is the green one that represents the KBP5 Standard on the A-C website). It's much lighter than the Hipshot and has subtly improved the tone of that bass as there is more "air" around the notes, the bass seems to "breathe" easier. My KBP4 has always had a simple threaded saddle vintage Fender-type bridge on it. I'm a big fan of lighter, threaded saddle bridges. I don't mind there being no side rails as my touch is not heavy enough to pull things out of place.

 

[jim nolte]

Well folks, the other day i visited as i do every 2 or 3 weeks the local guitars store here in Roma, Your Music. They always have the best selection in town, although a fairly high traffic of basses on consignement. The moment i stepped in the bass room i saw this 3Ts 65 jazz bass with oval tuners, a beautiful faded nitro finish with some scratches, adding coolness and beauty to this guy. My friend Claudio asked me if i wanted to give it a try, and i was excited to plug in it and play it. Apart from some real buzzing around the 13th and 14th frets, the bass was a real example of what 50's years old jazz bass should be, rich, fat, dirty a real player, with is lovely balanced tone, if this make sense, not to harsh with the tone fully opened, very clear even when fully rolled off, amazingly rich with both pick ups with a pure "Jaco" tone only with the bridge pick up.
The more i was playing the more i was learning what does it means that AC basses are very close in sounds and feel to those real vintage ones. My LG5 and my RA4 (rosewood) they do have that mojo, and im not talking only about the tone, even just touching the neck, putting your fingers over the board, the crazy nitro finish, it pretty feels like that super cool 65 jazz bass that i played last week. Lesson learned.

Cheers guys

I've owned a L series '65 Jazz since 1969 so I know what you mean,I've been wanting to play an AC for years but have never even seen one in person!

 

[Not yet]

I moved to Chicago from San Diego where they plentiful and havent seen or heard reference to one out here

Bass SD does a helluva job out there spreading the knowledge....LG5 is now #1 for the gig. Gets better every day

 

[gkbass13]

I moved to Chicago from San Diego where they plentiful and havent seen or heard reference to one out here

Bass SD does a helluva job out there spreading the knowledge....LG5 is now #1 for the gig. Gets better every day

As a fellow newish Chicago resident, I'd love to see more AC stuff here. I have a serious Jones for a 5 string 60's style j bass and would love to try an LG.