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Club Alleva Coppolo (part 3)

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#301
Hi guys,

I've been lurking on this thread(s) for some time. I've read every post. I was in New York in February of this year and dropped by Jimmy's shop. He seems a real nice guy. Anyway, the upshot is I ordered a bass from him on 15th February, just before I flew home. He told me he was cutting some bodies in 2 weeks time, so I'm assuming he will have done mine.

The bass I ordered is: LG5, 3TS, nitro, standard bridge, AC pre-amp, Indian rosewood board and passive tone. I'm really looking forward to taking delivery.

Anyway,to my burning question. I don't really want to bother Jimmy, as he is really busy and a silly email is the last thing he probably wants to waste time on. I was told 6 months to delivery, has this changed due to the potential move to Cali? The reason I am asking is I was recently offered a job in Australia, and all going well I will be moving out there August/September. I filled in the UPS chit in the shop, but may have to change this if the orders are delayed.

Thanks for any replies I get.
 
#304
Bernie Connors said:
Has anyone talked to Jimmy about an ash body with a rosewood board?

Just wondering if that's something he will do or not.
Click to expand...

Hey Bernie, my LM-5 is Ash and Rosewood.
Dan
302916893.jpg
 
#306
Thanks for the kind words. I am really, really amazed at the understated way that this bass just out-Fenders actual Fenders themselves. It's really hard to explain. . . and I don't know if it's just my experience, or if Ken, Mike, Dan, etc... can relate. But the bass is so simply elegant and the tone is simple, but complex. It's meat and potatoes, but there is richness that is just difficult to describe. I'm certain that Tom can relate, and I think he said it best in his description of the sound guy that night at his gig. I recently played a 1966 jazz, just beaten to hell. The harmonics jumped off that neck like an electric shock and even though it was set up like total garbage, it was just amazing in tone. Somehow the AC captures that, and it is brand new (minus the garbage set-up, of course ;)). It's really wild. . . you guys will love yours.

One quick question: what do you guys use for the bridge adjustment tool? Jimmy was telling me about some wrenches he bought at NAMM, most of which he ended up giving away and now only has one. He said he's still working on getting some (at minimal cost) to send along with his basses - right now it's just a bridge wrench he sends.

Also, as a side note, he didn't have any Dunlop straplocks in stock at the time, which is a must for me. As a result, I am going to be installing some which has me freaking out. I don't want the first ding to be me being a moron with a screw driver. . . :rollno:
 
#307
gruuv said:
Thanks for the kind words. I am really, really amazed at the understated way that this bass just out-Fenders actual Fenders themselves. It's really hard to explain. . . and I don't know if it's just my experience, or if Ken, Mike, Dan, etc... can relate. But the bass is so simply elegant and the tone is simple, but complex. It's meat and potatoes, but there is richness that is just difficult to describe. I'm certain that Tom can relate, and I think he said it best in his description of the sound guy that night at his gig. I recently played a 1966 jazz, just beaten to hell. The harmonics jumped off that neck like an electric shock and even though it was set up like total garbage, it was just amazing in tone. Somehow the AC captures that, and it is brand new (minus the garbage set-up, of course ;)). It's really wild. . . you guys will love yours.
Click to expand...

Oh I can relate, I can relate! I don't really know how to describe it either though...:cool:

Like I said before, it is something you just have to experience yourself. Those guys that have these basses know what you mean and so do I...I hate to say it, but I told you so! LOL!

:D

By the way a straight screwdriver can work but you can get a right angle screwdriver at Home Depot or Lowes.

Peace,

T
 
#308
So I broke out my KBP-5 for it's first gig last night. The bass sounded phenomenal in a rather dense mix consisting of two drummers, guitar, sax, trombone and singer. The room we played is rather small, 30' by 100' or so and I played through my LMK2 and UL310 rig with small pedal board. First off the KBP-5 has significantly more output than my active LG-5. Second I was worried about playing with a rather freshly finished nitro neck but there were no issues even though the heat and humidity were rather high in the room when we started. The neck felt the same as the poly neck on the LG-5 even at the end of the second set.

We play a wide variety of covers as well as a few funk jam based originals and the bass just worked for the whole night. I didn't touch the tone controls on the amp all night. The bass cuts through the mix in a wide variety of styles. A few examples, a couple of blues numbers including "Pride and Joy" and a Susan Tedeschi song "Hurts so Bad". Rolled off the tone knob a had I had a fat blues tone. We also play a lot of funk-soul and the tone with the tone knob wide open fit perfectly playing "Pass the Peas" and "Pick up the Pieces". We also played a straight and slow version of the John Prine song "Angel from Montgomery", which we arranged with horns and words can't describe how well the bass sat in the mix. Big fat pillows. A friend recorded the show and I'll try and post a couple of clips if the recording turned out well.

Between the LG-5 and the KBP-5 my bass gas is gone.

Although I could use a blocked bound maple necked LM-4 as a slap machine.

Dave
 
#310
jim nolte said:
All I've wanted for the past 16 years is a 5 string version of my L series, neck date May 7 65, Jazz Bass. Where is Jimmy moving to in California so I can play one of these things? The Monterey, Carmel area is very nice!!! :) Jim
Click to expand...

You are in luck...The LG-5 is exactly what you are looking for and then some IMHO! Give one a try!

Peace,

T
 
#311
gruuv said:
LG-5
Old growth alder
Old growth/slab cut Dalbergia Negra board
Small vintage frets
Nitro finish
Sunburst
Tort guard
Tinted headstock (vintage look)
Jimmy's pickups and preamp, with passive tone
And I opted for his new bridge

Shipped with Zon Nickels, which he recommended prior to getting his strings done, so he shipped a set of his new nickels to try out after some time with the Zons, for comparison purposes.

I basically told Jimmy that I'm looking for the fattest pre-CBS jazz that Leo would've built in 5 string with the darkest, tightest grained Dal Neg possible (which I actually discovered later was Mitch's exact request. It turns out he and I have nearly identical preferences in woods/tone which is pretty cool). Well, Jimmy delivered. Believe it or not I've only played her unplugged for the last few days. This is a special bass and I'm waiting to plug her in until I get a real feel for the natural tone of this baby. (Let the name-calling begin!)

I'll try to get some better shots, my only problem is that in order to take a picture, I have to stop playing her. I'm actually playing her right now, as I type this. It's all got to do with the angle... nevermind.

The Dalbergia is literally almost black. I, like many others here, love the dark, dark rosewood. It has a slightly dark red hue in a line running up under the B, but other than that in one spot it's just freaking ebony! :bassist:

And even without plugging in, she's alive. I actually spent about 45 minutes talking to Jimmy on the phone the night he shipped, the day before he left for California - just such an awesome guy. He told me this is pretty much Tom's bass with a B string as far as wood selection, tone, punch, etc... (which he said to tell him, that it will make him nuts! :eek:) He also told me after he had the bass strung up and ready to go he wanted to hang onto her as a demo/NAMM type bass because she came out exactly as he'd wanted. Might be sales talk, but it worked on me! :smug: Seriously though, Jimmy described the tone as thick and buttery warm and even unplugged, this is an accurate description.

All the cliches are accurate in my experience. She looks brand spanking new, but feels "old" and broken in. She retains that classic Fender vibe (I've been lucky to play a couple of early 60's, pre-CBS jazz basses, although never owned one), but with a more comfortable, playable neck. It's remarkable. And the nitro is outstanding! I've got it on body and neck and it's wonderful. I will have Jimmy build me an LM-5 (way out in the future - that one will definitely be a California era bass) and will probably have him poly that one, for a different vibe. But I've already got a Dalbergia board set aside for a fretless project and that's going to be nitro all the way as well.

These are astonishing basses. And they even smell good (might be the nitro, or the fancy old/new jazz bass mojo). Either way, you pull it out of the box and just go, "Wow, it's just a jazz bass, and yet, it's not just a jazz bass." I'm not sure exactly how to describe it. Anyway, I'm glad I've taken the time to get to know her acoustically, because I know I am in for a whole new treat when I plug her in. This is kind of a once in a lifetime experience so I'm taking my time with it, like a good wine.

For those of you waiting, it will be well worth it if! More pictures, reviews, etc... to come as we grow old together. I've never said this before about a bass (because I know my tendencies) but I just don't ever see myself getting rid of this bass --- ever.

It's time to don my club number. . .

nana.gif
Click to expand...




Gruuv......we do indeed have twin basses.

I am glad that I went with all the specs that I did even after 6 months of playing it..thats a good sign.

Congrats on your beautiful LG ...and to everyone else who has received their ACs in the last while. They all look great.

I'm also looking forward to one .

Mitch
 
#316
I kinda feel the same way (about being able to live without another A-C, especially after the RA came).........still, I can only wonder how badass they are in different combinations......I see a lot of Sadowskys with exotic tops floating around and talk of more exotic top Nordys coming soon, but we seem to be the only guys in that "Super Fender Clone" group that don't don't seem to look for even more from the luthier.....I mean, when Carey Nordstrand anounced he was making tops for his Nordys, some guys Sh!t their pants.....that seems to be a real testament to how dead on and just fulfilling Jimmy's basses are.....
 
#317
Ace Of Bass said:
I kinda feel the same way (about being able to live without another A-C, especially after the RA came).........still, I can only wonder how badass they are in different combinations......I see a lot of Sadowskys with exotic tops floating around and talk of more exotic top Nordys coming soon, but we seem to be the only guys in that "Super Fender Clone" group that don't don't seem to look for even more from the luthier.....I mean, when Carey Nordstrand anounced he was making tops for his Nordys, some guys Sh!t their pants.....that seems to be a real testament to how dead on and just fulfilling Jimmy's basses are.....
Click to expand...

I totally agree...I am one of those guys who love a nice top but I have to say that I am totally satisfied with everything about my 3TS.

Peace,

T
 
#319
I think any 3TS coming from Jimmy is going to be just as nice! Mine is awesome in every way! I have seen a few and they are all killer! I have said it before, I think Jimmy is producing the finest Vintage Fender clone ever made and I am very blessed to have the one I have...

:hyper:

Peace,

T
 
#320
gruuv said:
I am really, really amazed at the understated way that this bass just out-Fenders actual Fenders themselves. It's really hard to explain. . . and I don't know if it's just my experience, or if Ken, Mike, Dan, etc... can relate. But the bass is so simply elegant and the tone is simple, but complex. It's meat and potatoes, but there is richness that is just difficult to describe.
Click to expand...

:) Gruuv, I totally know what you mean...100%. I can't figure out or isolate the element that causes these basses to project nuance, but they do. And it's good nuance! I have other basses where the pups pick up every little hifi nuance of my playing (makes me a little nervous!) and others still where the 18vpreamp makes for amazing versatility, but the LG5 just has a spledid straightforward tone with an unmistakable sheen of nuance/growl/bite/cut. My guess is it's the old dry wood, the homewound pups, and a newish set of strings that makes the instrument's voice really come alive...I've noticed that with dead strings (even with considerable active EQ) my AC sounds much more dead than other basses where the active preamp can overpower the true passive sound of the bass. Then I put some new nickles on and that sweet voice is right there jumping out. The vintage sweetness is there in the passive, and I wish I could say that for more fenders I've played. Not to discount fenders in the least bit, cause when you find a good one...oh geez oh man!

Ok, shutting up now, people who haven't played these probably think I'm gushing and full of crap, but I think those of you who have, get it. :hiding:
 
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