Club Alleva-Coppolo (Part 21)

[TimothyGroovy]

I've never run into a boutique 5 string J that felt so much like a really old instrument. Jimmy's unique low radius 5 string fretboard, use of OLD wood in his build, and his more traditional 'hand made' sort of vibe makes his basses feel totally different from the wonderful, exacting CNC's sort of perfection of, for example, the Sadowsky basses (which I also love for what they are).

+1, I currently own or owned so many boutique J basses, Sadowsky, Fodera, Lakland, Lull and AC, etc, Jimmy basses still regards the best old sounding and feeling J to me, if you are after the best old j bass in 5 string with active preamp package, you just can't go wrong with Jimmy's offering, of course, KBP is the a good P as well, I still regrets I sold mine few years ago.

For those who feel doubt with what AC basses charge and "rather spend 5k for a Fender CS". I can simply tell you I will do so and purchase one in heartbeat if Fender really offers what Jimmy did but only they don't.

My 2 cents...

 

[narud]

old feeling and sounding...........wth does that even mean?

they sound active and they feel like like new basses. wide, thinish necks with a 10" radius doesnt really feel like a vintage fender anymore than anyone else's basses imo.

 

[Rockin Mike]

What are the necks like? I go for a thin & narrow C neck with tight string spacing myself.

 

[KJung]

old feeling and sounding...........wth does that even mean?

they sound active and they feel like like new basses. wide, thinish necks with a 10" radius doesnt really feel like a vintage fender anymore than anyone else's basses imo.

Yes, you have a different view of this, always have. Play what you want. No problem. For the life of me, I never can figure out why you bother with the A-C threads, since these basses obviously don't do it for you.

+1 that if you spend a lot of time like you do to 'exactly copy' a specific year of Fender pickup wind, etc., you are better off with the real thing. If you are not quite that literal, and enjoy a bass that, for me, totally suggests an older, all hand made instrument, with a VERY good legitimate J sound and feel (especially in a 5 string configuration) that is the 'least active' sounding (i.e., buffered and not much else) as you can get in a new active instrument, and a 5 string neck profile that has that very 'round curve' on the fretboard that brings to mind a very different feel and playing experience than 'modern' high radius or compound radius neck, these basses feel VERY different to me (and many others in many GTG's) than the typical 'new J bass'.

 

[KJung]

What are the necks like? I go for a thin & narrow C neck with tight string spacing myself.

Thin (front to back) and wide (nice amount of 'wood' beyond the B and G string, with wide string spacing.... 19mm on the 5 string). So, what feels like a very shallow but wide C. Amazing feeling necks for me, but again, I can only speak to the 5 string models.

For 4 string pure passive, the Wilkins and Suhr basses look very nice also, and get much love around here.

 

[peterpalmieri]

For the record Jimmy did a custom radius on my LM5. I'm not sure of the dimensions but its more like a P bass neck. It hasn't been played by many TBers I think Joel and Mitch as well as a few guys at the NY GTG a few years back.

The extra meat on the outside of the B and G strings (all ACs) to me makes it feel like a more tradition 4 string.

The difference between active and passive model is as close to unnoticeable as any preamp assuming you don't boost treble and bass.

 

[bassdrop]

I, for one, have never played an Alleva-Coppolo and have only heard YouTube clips like the one that used to be up with Jamiroquai's Paul Turner. What I heard sounded like an early 60's stack knob J, and I've never heard even the Fender CS instruments get that close to that old tone. If the feel matches the tone, and many here suggest they do, I can only imagine that these are, for the most part, very special instruments. What I posted in the original thread, and I stand behind it, is Addison should have called Jimmy and spoken to him. It seems like Jimmy may have responded better to this type of communication and I still believe that an honest phone conversation may have avoided this whole public scene and facilitated a suitable resolution. Personally, I would have at least given Jimmy the chance to take the instrument back and try to repair the issues, but then again, if it were me, I also would have ordered an instrument to my specs and waited at that price point. In the end I wish the best for both of them since I'd rather see Jimmy continue to make great basses and obviously Addison deserves to get a bad ass custom bass from somewhere that can fit the bill for him.

 

[Dbassmon]

If the authentic old sound is what you are after.....

With no disrespect intended to anyone, I would like to make a point about boutique Fender bass copies that really get the old sound (meaning fender passive circa 1960s & 70s).

Avella Coppollo basses go for around $5k, Sadowsky USA, similar price.

If we are talking about nailing "that sound", wouldn't it make sense to find a seventies bass cost $1000-1500ish, Get a player not a museum piece. Get a to a top luthier, have him plain the finger board and re-fret the bass to perfection, maybe even compound radius the board. Cost maybe $500 give or take. Add a preamp of your choice, if you want a more modern option, replace the bridge and tuners with modern high-quality hardware, send to Pat Wilkins and have it refinished (or not) get a new case or bag and for probably less than $3000. You would have an unquestionably awesome bass that these guys are basically trying to copy with the upgrades listed above, and sell you for $5000. (rhetorical question of course)

This is how Sadowky got started, upgrading old Fenders.

To me, the hand built thing is silly, CNC machines give a far superior result for accuracy, time to produce and even fenders are "hand assembled" when it comes to screwing on necks and soldering pickups.

If you love a brand and find value in the offering, I have no issue, play what you like. I just find that there is a fair amount of salesmanship and promotional language used by the builders of boutique Fender designed basses that people don't scrutinize all that closely and buy into. Not to say these aren't the highest quality copies, they are. Some of it may be, you like the neck profile better..but a lot of it doesn't really hold water for me, at least not to the tune of an extra $2K.. IMO of course.

 

[KJung]

If the authentic old sound is what you are after.....

With no disrespect intended to anyone, I would like to make a point about boutique Fender bass copies that really get the old sound (meaning fender passive circa 1960s & 70s).

Avella Coppollo basses go for around $5k, Sadowsky USA, similar price.

If we are talking about nailing "that sound", wouldn't it make sense to find a seventies bass cost $1000-1500ish, Get a player not a museum piece. Get a to a top luthier, have him plain the finger board and re-fret the bass to perfection, maybe even compound radius the board. Cost maybe $500 give or take. Add a preamp of your choice, if you want a more modern option, replace the bridge and tuners with modern high-quality hardware, send to Pat Wilkins and have it refinished (or not) get a new case or bag and for probably less than $3000. You would have an unquestionably awesome bass that these guys are basically trying to copy with the upgrades listed above, and sell you for $5000. (rhetorical question of course)

This is how Sadowky got started, upgrading old Fenders.

To me, the hand built thing is silly, CNC machines give a far superior result for accuracy, time to produce and even fenders are "hand assembled" when it comes to screwing on necks and soldering pickups.

If you love a brand and find value in the offering, I have no issue, play what you like. I just find that there is a fair amount of salesmanship and promotional language used by the builders of boutique Fender designed basses that people don't scrutinize all that closely and buy into. Not to say these aren't the highest quality copies, they are. Some of it may be, you like the neck profile better..but a lot of it doesn't really hold water for me, at least not to the tune of an extra $2K.. IMO of course.

If you are looking for a 4 string, lots of options. +1

Again, remember, the now famous $5,000 price is not representative of the basic A-C spec, which is much less than that. Just FYI.

And again, the discussion of 'what something is worth', especially with luxury goods like fancy cars and boutique basses and jewelry gets quickly circular. I think anyone who would spend $10,000 on a Fodera is literally out of their mind, just like there are many who feel that me spending $3,500 on an A-C 5 string is 'stupid' Price/value is a personal thing that really can't be generalized IMO.

 

[jonno1707]

If the authentic old sound is what you are after.....

With no disrespect intended to anyone, I would like to make a point about boutique Fender bass copies that really get the old sound (meaning fender passive circa 1960s & 70s).

Avella Coppollo basses go for around $5k, Sadowsky USA, similar price.

If we are talking about nailing "that sound", wouldn't it make sense to find a seventies bass cost $1000-1500ish, Get a player not a museum piece. Get a to a top luthier, have him plain the finger board and re-fret the bass to perfection, maybe even compound radius the board. Cost maybe $500 give or take. Add a preamp of your choice, if you want a more modern option, replace the bridge and tuners with modern high-quality hardware, send to Pat Wilkins and have it refinished (or not) get a new case or bag and for probably less than $3000. You would have an unquestionably awesome bass that these guys are basically trying to copy with the upgrades listed above, and sell you for $5000. (rhetorical question of course)

This is how Sadowky got started, upgrading old Fenders.

I agree 100% if were talking 4's but the majority (me included) is trying to get THAT CLASSIC TONE in a 5 string So this really isn't an option

 

[Chef]

You -do not- have to spend $5k to get a new AC.
Fender Custom shop could easily run to a similar price point.

For me, I have an LG5 cause it's got the best 1962 JJ tone and feel in a 5 string; for me.
And the preamp lets it "be more than that" too, if/when you want that. It's a wonderful counterpoint to the Sadowsky stuff.

 

[jonno1707]

You -do not- have to spend $5k to get a new AC.
Fender Custom shop could easily run to a similar price point.

For me, I have an LG5 cause it's got the best 1962 JJ tone and feel in a 5 string; for me.
And the preamp lets it "be more than that" too, if/when you want that. It's a wonderful counterpoint to the Sadowsky stuff.

Couldn't have said it any better...My main weapon is my RA and if you dig that early 70's alder/maple tone nothing comes close in a 5er.

 

[Chef]

that's nice!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

If you are looking for a 4 string, lots of options. +1

Again, remember, the now famous $5,000 price is not representative of the basic A-C spec, which is much less than that. Just FYI.

And again, the discussion of 'what something is worth', especially with luxury goods like fancy cars and boutique basses and jewelry gets quickly circular. I think anyone who would spend $10,000 on a Fodera is literally out of their mind, just like there are many who feel that me spending $3,500 on an A-C 5 string is 'stupid' Price/value is a personal thing that really can't be generalized IMO.

There are people who cannot fathom spending $650 on a Mexican Fender Jazz V when you can get an SX for $140!

 

[KJung]

There are people who cannot fathom spending $650 on a Mexican Fender Jazz V when you can get an SX for $140!

+1 It is all relative!

 

[mothra2]

I can't speak to Ken's 'OLD wood' , but I have noticed that I don't seem to dig compound radius necks as much as I used to after owning some AC's.

 

[esoxhntr]

Couldn't have said it any better...My main weapon is my RA and if you dig that early 70's alder/maple tone nothing comes close in a 5er.

Just my opinion - I think this is Jimmy's best bass, especially for gigging. Just covers so much ground tonally... and this one is a beauty!

 

[KJung]

I can't speak to Ken's 'OLD wood' , but I have noticed that I don't seem to dig compound radius necks as much as I used to after owning some AC's.

Tough crowd

 

[Vic]

I can't speak to Ken's 'OLD wood' ...

At least at one point, part of Jimmy's dedication to replicating a genre/period J experience included using woods old enough they compared to the age of woods that could've been used in actual basses of fairly comparable vintage-ness to the experience he was trying to replicate (hopefully this makes sense... kinda' hard to write). For example, when my bass was built, I believe my body blank was made from a piece of Alder he felt was around 30 years old, and the Indian Rosewood used for my board was even much older than that.

All I know is, I've played some 60's J's, and at least to me (FWIW), there's definitely the same "vibe" in my LG.

 

[joeyl]

Couldn't have said it any better...My main weapon is my RA and if you dig that early 70's alder/maple tone nothing comes close in a 5er.

that's pretty hot.

I also notice the old type Hipshot "claw" bridge, which I love, and that Hipshot stopped making....That's a Hipshot bridge right? Or does Jimmy do his own hardware also?