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That's a great acquisition, congrats! I too wanted to get it but couldn't bring the money to the table. I've got the brother to that bass. Same color, year, same everything but in KBP5!
Thank you! I was able to do a partial trade so for it so it was definitely more affordable than it would have been.
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Dear all, i have a beautiful Fodera Emperor Classic 5 in FT in the iternational calssified if someone is interested. Cheers to everyone.
Best
Best
Hey club, had always had not affection for glossy necks..so here my 2 and half year LG5 Classic with his new "unfinish" neck. Liuther did a great job smothen the transition between the unfineshed and finished portion of the necks as it works fine to my eyes and didn't wanted to have a relic kinda effect. Now the neck is super smooth and a real joy to feel under the fingers.
The bass is also started to agin' a little and it feels so cool
The bass is also started to agin' a little and it feels so cool
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Hi AC folks,
I am looking for a bass with a fat even Jazz Bass tone. The clips I have heard of AC basses (especially LG5) sound really good to me.
My question is do the standards and the more expensive variants sound the same? IE if I only cared about the AC tone, would I get it with a Standard or does the nitro finish, fingerboard etc make a significant contribution to the AC sound?
Thanks for any insights.
Neil
I am looking for a bass with a fat even Jazz Bass tone. The clips I have heard of AC basses (especially LG5) sound really good to me.
My question is do the standards and the more expensive variants sound the same? IE if I only cared about the AC tone, would I get it with a Standard or does the nitro finish, fingerboard etc make a significant contribution to the AC sound?
Thanks for any insights.
Neil
I've only owned the "cheaper" ones, meaning, poly finish and regular Rosewoods like Indian and Indonesian, although one old LG had Jimmywood which is now referred to as CNL... Anyway, they've always given me everything I could ask for in a J bass. My ears are nowhere near as discerning as some on this forum and I'll take the savings because of it, haha. Plus, I've never owned a vintage Fender so I can't really compare anyway, again, I'll take the savings.
I've played probably over 100 AC's and while all are great, some spoke to me more than others regardless of specs.
I think the fingerboard material in any bass makes the most difference in regards to tone. AC preamp & pickups really make these basses stand out. I love the look of aged nitro finishes but have gone down the rabbit hole of testing dozens of poly vs nitro finish instruments trying to come up with a correlation and simply can't. If you think about it, other things touching the guitar- like much you weigh or even what material shirt you are wearing could have a bigger impact on tone.
I like the Fodera setup videos where they explain that their definition of a masterpiece instrument is getting lots of little details just right. Most of the AC's I've got the chance to play have had terrible setups for whatever reason. But, sometimes after setting it up properly for whomever, the variables all come together and certain guitars just have an amazing sound to them. Some resonate incredibly well unplugged and then sound boring AF plugged in. Another, LG5 special edition with amazing wood combo that I loved visually just didn't do it for me. Also probably cost more than double of the poly topcoat one I have.
I do believe the voodoo that sanded down / extreme relic guitars do open up, resonate and sound better and would like to pick up a beater AC and DIY some day. Or maybe the hippy dippy trippy or whatever it was called.
Gotta just find the one that speaks to you. Fortunately resale value is extremely high and online trades make it easy.
I love that these are first hand, honest feedback/accounts that you have to find the one that speaks to you regardless of the finish.
I've not yet pulled the trigger on a AC but have a few botique jazz basses and I can tell you that a great jazz bass tone can be found many a place. That's not to minimize how nice the basses are but rememeber a great jazz bass tone is not unachievable multiple ways.
I definitely feel lucky about that. I've been good friends with Jimmy for the last 10 years; so between all the time I've spent at the shop, I even worked there part time a long time ago, and as part of his NAMM crew, I've enjoyed a lot of AC's.
After reading the post, I had to scroll up on my phone to see if that comment had been left by Bassballs27.
The only thing I would add is that the body wood can make a huge impact as well. I had a Spanish Cedar body at one point and it was so beefy, I miss it. Also, Okume bodies are absolutely notorious for low end.
i agree with @metalloid - find the one that speaks to you.
Thanks for the thoughtful and balanced replies to my vague question.
Clips of AC's on line all appear to have the deep and even voice (LMs and LGs alike). @Ryno1330 raises a good point about there are probably other (maybe less costly?) routes to this tone (assuming the other undeniably desirable attributes of an AC are a lower priority).
Any suggestions?
Clips of AC's on line all appear to have the deep and even voice (LMs and LGs alike). @Ryno1330 raises a good point about there are probably other (maybe less costly?) routes to this tone (assuming the other undeniably desirable attributes of an AC are a lower priority).
Any suggestions?
My 2 cents, although it may be worth less than that...
I think somewhat more than the brand is getting a really good clear and punchy jazz and then getting a great pre-amp in it (or with it). It seems that by building a spectular instrument and then putting a great preamp with it the Coppolo stuff sets you up with a great studio tone without doing anything whereas to get those tones from some other jazzes takes some major EQ'ing. Or maybe a pickup swap also.
I have a Suhr classic J (also pretty expensive but less than an AC) which does the super punchy, deep 60s tones awesomely, but is passive. Also I have a Roscoe Jazz that has a John East preamp. Passive it sounds incredible like a great classic jazz but when you kick on a great preamp like that and start shaping it can turn into a monster. So I guess long story short is a great jazz (doesn't matter if it's Fender or AC) and a great preamp.
So, am I voting against an AC bass on the fan club thread here? Heck no! I'm going to end up with one in the future. I was recently introduced to them and after listening to many clips I agree - it's the best packaged and botique built jazz that can do classic or modern tones. Someday when things settle down I'll take a long drive to play some or take a chance and order.
The reason I gravitated toward AC basses is because they are the most lively and responsive basses I have ever played. These basses feel like wild animals. Each bass has so much character and personality it's amazing. Other brands that I have played feel machine made. They don't have this odd magical feeling to them that I feel when playing AC basses. AC basses have larger bodies which, in my opinion, help support the low B string better than any other jazz bass brand I have played.
Also, Jimmy is the coolest guy to work with. Very passionate and really knows his stuff.
But it's totally subjective. I'm currently saving up for a 2nd AC!
Also, Jimmy is the coolest guy to work with. Very passionate and really knows his stuff.
But it's totally subjective. I'm currently saving up for a 2nd AC!
So as I get myself back on topic, for those of you that have played both (@YCBass and others) can you compare an LG5 with an RA5?
I love both 60s and 70s style jazz basses and the RA seems like an intriguing option but then again the LG5s all sound so good...
I love both 60s and 70s style jazz basses and the RA seems like an intriguing option but then again the LG5s all sound so good...
I've had both LG's and RA's. LG's for the most part are straight up 60's spec jazz style basses. Rule of thumb is alder body, rosewood board.
RA's are "best of both worlds" 60's and 70's. Normally an RA will have an alder body but a maple board and will have 70's pickup spacing where an LG has 60's pickup spacing. They're both great. If you're slapping the bass for a living, the RA might be for you. If you love the Marcus Miller 70's sound, an RA (or an LM) might be for you. If you're about the vintage 60's specs and you want that growl, then an LG any day. Also if you want any type of rosewood board under your frets, then go LG.
Now having said that, let me go back to the beginning of my reply. "Rule of thumb" can vary if you so choose to. There are certain custom builds where you can get a different body. I have a showroom LG (PM for more info) that has an upgraded body and instead of alder you get Okume. Okume will give you a type of mid scoop and a bump in the lows. If you really want a slap tone with an umph in the low end but don't want a maple board, this is a build you might consider.
I would honestly tell you all Alleva-Coppolo basses are great and no two sound exactly the same. But certainly LG's have their tonal tendencies as do LM's and RA's... and KBP and the rest of the lines.
