Club Alleva-Coppolo (Part 21)

[YCBass]

And Jimmy says it's eastern ash but I didn't know those could be that light. The grain and weight makes me feel like it's more swamp ash but who am I to argue.

My KBP5 is also eastern ash and that one is more like you would expect. It's at least a pound heavier than my LM, being passive and with 1 pickup.

 

[bassballs27]

Back to the weight discussions; my LM5 is 8.4 lbs. and it's actually too light in my opinion, but I'm telling myself that I'll appreciate that more later when I'm older, LOL. I replaced the bridge with a BadAss and the added weight makes a difference in feel and sound. I think it's an awesome instrument, definitely the best and my favorite I've owned, but I don't know how many you (purists/connoisseurs) will find it to be a "true" 70's 5-string like some of the heavier LM's.

That is pretty light, most LG5's are somewhere around 9lbs.

Speaking in a generalized sense as weight is discussed so much on this site, but it's mostly due to players that want a bass to be built for comfort or to not exasperate a neck or shoulder injury sort of like you mentioned. Adding mass to the bridge obviously changes how the bass sounds? Some would say no, others say yes. There's many on this site that will say the pick-ups are the main driving force behind the sound of the instrument. I believe the right woods chosen by a good luthier are definitely part of the tone equation having experienced a lot of Jimmy's basses and many other brands. Ash is an interesting wood where weight matters from my experience, but you always have to play the finished instrument to find out. Heavier pieces of ash tend to have a huge sound...but not always. Light ash can sound great too, but generally for some serious cutting tone.

Remember your former 2011 Limited Edition LM5 from what back? I owned that bass a while back. That one was pretty killer. I also remember that one wasn't overly heavy and it had a Badass bridge on it too. SOLD - FS ONLY: Alleva-Coppolo LM5 Deluxe Limited Edition
9.5lbs from your thread...not that heavy. I had Jonno's former Blonde LM5 which near 11 lbs
TRADED - Alleva Coppolo LM5 Deluxe - Butterscotch Blonde
This one had the had a hipshot bridge on it. I was lucky enough to have tried your former LM5 with a hipshot bridge too.

I'm doing an experiment testing out the Fender Fat Finger. Just had two shipped to me today so I have nothing to report yet. I'm sure some have tried these already, so I'm late to the party, but it's interesting how attaching more weight to the headstock can add sustain and move deadspots. The cost of admission to try one of these was pretty cheap for the experience, but I thought why not? Is it possible that it could make any of my basses sound better? I guess I'll find out!

Also interesting to consider that Tom Stenback adds a weight inside the control cavity of his basses to do something similar that the Fat Finger achieves. Was this design principle added to replace the void due to the cavity therefore replacing the missing mass? I don't know the answer to this question, maybe someone does.
I did notice in some of the videos on YouTube of Tom's basses that he added clamps to the headstock.

There's definitely ideal weight for an instrument. Couldn't imagine what one of those double neck basses weigh...those are probably real boat anchors! Doesn't mean they'll sound awesome either just because they weight a ton.

The one conclusion I can confirm is weight doesn't necessarily make a bass "better"...some basses are just built with all the right conditions for amazing tone.

Having said all this, I'd still like to check out that fancy LM5 that Sammy has in stock! LOL!

 

[rodl2005]

I've got a 08 Fender RW-P that's Alder lightweight and sounds great.
One of my other faves is a 2013 Gibson EB4 which is also very light and is alder too.
I've never weighed my AC EUT5. I will later tho

 

[otto B]

I am finally pick up an Alleva Coppolo LG5 CSL. This is truly a one-of-a-kind ACLG5 Classic Supreme Limited with a Brazilian Rosewood Professor nitro finish. This bass was made especially for Dave Boonshoft of Aguilar. What an incredible bass, I am blown away how awesome this bass sound.

 

[Edgar]

I am finally pick up an Alleva Coppolo LG5 CSL. This is truly a one-of-a-kind ACLG5 Classic Supreme Limited with a Brazilian Rosewood Professor nitro finish. This bass was made especially for Dave Boonshoft of Aguilar. What an incredible bass, I am blown away how awesome this bass sound.

Oh yeah!

Seems Jimmy has recently replaced the Aguilar OBP-3 preamp that was initially installed in that LG (when Aguilar ordered two LG5 Classic Supreme Limited Edition for their showroom).

I believe the other one (3TSB) still has the Aguilar preamp, Dave sold it several years ago and did pop a few time in Talkbass's classifieds.

Nice!

 

[otto B]

Oh yeah!

Seems Jimmy has recently replaced the Aguilar OBP-3 preamp that was initially installed in that LG (when Aguilar ordered two LG5 Classic Supreme Limited Edition for their showroom).

I believe the other one (3TSB) still has the Aguilar preamp, Dave sold it several years ago and did pop a few time in Talkbass's classifieds.

Nice!

Yes, indeed, the pre-amp and the pickups were replaced from the Aguilar to AC. I was told by john from John Fox Bass this particular bass was build specially to Dave. Yes the bass was placed in the Aguilar showroom.

 

[Randy W Lopez]

Back to the weight discussions; my LM5 is 8.4 lbs. and it's actually too light in my opinion, but I'm telling myself that I'll appreciate that more later when I'm older, LOL. I replaced the bridge with a BadAss and the added weight makes a difference in feel and sound. I think it's an awesome instrument, definitely the best and my favorite I've owned, but I don't know how many you (purists/connoisseurs) will find it to be a "true" 70's 5-string like some of the heavier LM's.

Was the BadAss a direct fit? I've thought about adding one myself.

 

[YCBass]

Was the BadAss a direct fit? I've thought about adding one myself.

Yes it is, but I only used the 4 middle screws. I didn't want to drill 2 new holes for the outside screws since the standard bent plate won't cover them completely if reinstalled, per Jimmy. The middle 4 is more than enough to hold it securely.

 

[Joelc73]

Back to the weight discussions; my LM5 is 8.4 lbs. and it's actually too light in my opinion, but I'm telling myself that I'll appreciate that more later when I'm older, LOL. I replaced the bridge with a BadAss and the added weight makes a difference in feel and sound. I think it's an awesome instrument, definitely the best and my favorite I've owned, but I don't know how many you (purists/connoisseurs) will find it to be a "true" 70's 5-string like some of the heavier LM's.

Mine is around 10… and it does sound like it! It can be heavy though.

 

[YCBass]

That is pretty light, most LG5's are somewhere around 9lbs.

Speaking in a generalized sense as weight is discussed so much on this site, but it's mostly due to players that want a bass to be built for comfort or to not exasperate a neck or shoulder injury sort of like you mentioned. Adding mass to the bridge obviously changes how the bass sounds? Some would say no, others say yes. There's many on this site that will say the pick-ups are the main driving force behind the sound of the instrument. I believe the right woods chosen by a good luthier are definitely part of the tone equation having experienced a lot of Jimmy's basses and many other brands. Ash is an interesting wood where weight matters from my experience, but you always have to play the finished instrument to find out. Heavier pieces of ash tend to have a huge sound...but not always. Light ash can sound great too, but generally for some serious cutting tone.

Remember your former 2011 Limited Edition LM5 from what back? I owned that bass a while back. That one was pretty killer. I also remember that one wasn't overly heavy and it had a Badass bridge on it too. SOLD - FS ONLY: Alleva-Coppolo LM5 Deluxe Limited Edition
9.5lbs from your thread...not that heavy. I had Jonno's former Blonde LM5 which near 11 lbs
TRADED - Alleva Coppolo LM5 Deluxe - Butterscotch Blonde
This one had the had a hipshot bridge on it. I was lucky enough to have tried your former LM5 with a hipshot bridge too.

I'm doing an experiment testing out the Fender Fat Finger. Just had two shipped to me today so I have nothing to report yet. I'm sure some have tried these already, so I'm late to the party, but it's interesting how attaching more weight to the headstock can add sustain and move deadspots. The cost of admission to try one of these was pretty cheap for the experience, but I thought why not? Is it possible that it could make any of my basses sound better? I guess I'll find out!

Also interesting to consider that Tom Stenback adds a weight inside the control cavity of his basses to do something similar that the Fat Finger achieves. Was this design principle added to replace the void due to the cavity therefore replacing the missing mass? I don't know the answer to this question, maybe someone does.
I did notice in some of the videos on YouTube of Tom's basses that he added clamps to the headstock.

There's definitely ideal weight for an instrument. Couldn't imagine what one of those double neck basses weigh...those are probably real boat anchors! Doesn't mean they'll sound awesome either just because they weight a ton.

The one conclusion I can confirm is weight doesn't necessarily make a bass "better"...some basses are just built with all the right conditions for amazing tone.

Having said all this, I'd still like to check out that fancy LM5 that Sammy has in stock! LOL!

Yes, I remember my former bass fondly. That was a good bass and I wish I would've kept it. Before I ordered my LM5, Jimmy actually offered me a trans white Empress body that was already done and just needed a new neck since it was a twin of that one.

I agree with you that there's no hard and fast rules. The guidelines are out there based on player's experiences but there's always those pleasant exceptions and you just take an instrument for it is and if it works for you.

 

[YCBass]

With regards to the BadAss changing the sound, I'll do my best Mitch Starkman here… It did seem to tighten up or compress the lows and scoop the mids a bit. I find this bass to be very even acoustically, a bit mid-forward for ash. I'd bet it would make a really nice fretless actually. The BAV brings it closer to the normal LM territory for me.

 

[basses55]

Yohann, and others….yes …there are differing opinions on what mass(weight) does ..and then add an individual's opinion on top of that on whether like it or not. But when reading an open forum IMO you have to consider where the info is coming from. These are musical instruments meant to be used and played in mixes i.e. live gigs, sessions. The more, the better. Real world musical contexts… and not just basement rehearsals or a room in your house alone through a rig. One source is to talk to really good luthiers cause they get feedback from pro bass players and also from their R and D people. They also usually have good ears and have seen trends not over a few instruments , but over hundreds. Gigging and recording musicians obviously good source too. There may be differing opinions but at least they are practical ones for what these instruments are designed for.
In the end, BEST thing to do if you can is to try a few different basses in your live gigs and in your recording sessions with other instruments (MIXES) and determine for yourself.

 

[basses55]

Yes, I remember my former bass fondly. That was a good bass and I wish I would've kept it. Before I ordered my LM5, Jimmy actually offered me a trans white Empress body that was already done and just needed a new neck since it was a twin of that one.

I agree with you that there's no hard and fast rules. The guidelines are out there based on player's experiences but there's always those pleasant exceptions and you just take an instrument for it is and if it works for you.

There are definitely exceptions because wood is wood… it's an organic living material that does not grow in a completely uniform way. However that said, there are also definite trends over a number of instruments Also confirmed by those luthiers I respect. Whether one likes or dislikes the effect of more or less mass is another question.

 

[Randy W Lopez]

Yes it is, but I only used the 4 middle screws. I didn't want to drill 2 new holes for the outside screws since the standard bent plate won't cover them completely if reinstalled, per Jimmy. The middle 4 is more than enough to hold it securely.

Thank you

 

[YCBass]

Speaking of… I was changing the strings and doing scheduled maintenance so I thought I'd share some bench pics.

 

[bassballs27]

Yes, I remember my former bass fondly. That was a good bass and I wish I would've kept it. Before I ordered my LM5, Jimmy actually offered me a trans white Empress body that was already done and just needed a new neck since it was a twin of that one.

I agree with you that there's no hard and fast rules. The guidelines are out there based on player's experiences but there's always those pleasant exceptions and you just take an instrument for it is and if it works for you.

Jimmy certainly makes a lot of great instruments that simply sound great!
Some of them are truly exceptional.

 

[bassballs27]

Speaking of… I was changing the strings and doing scheduled maintenance so I thought I'd share some bench pics.

Hi Yohann, is that an ebony fretboard on that LM? Nice choice!

 

[YCBass]

Hi Yohann, is that an ebony fretboard on that LM? Nice choice!

Indonesian Rosewood!

 

[bassballs27]

Indonesian Rosewood!

Oh nice! Jet black! Very cool.
Nice to see an LM5 without a maple board for something different.

 

[YCBass]

Oh nice! Jet black! Very cool.
Nice to see an LM5 without a maple board for something different.

Yes, I love how dark it gets but, in fairness, it was freshly oiled when I took these pics. In a few weeks it'll lighten to a chocolate brown color. I wish it stayed like this all the time though.

And ash/rosewood has been my combo for a long time and was my original order from Jimmy back in 2009. I came to own others largely due to impatience with the build and I grabbed what was available that spoke to me. 2 years ago, I finally decided to "right the ship" and order my original spec. The only difference is that original bass was going to be black.