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Club Alleva Coppolo (Part 9)

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About $1,000:D

The stock Indian RW is fantastic IMO and IME. I'm sure the Brazilian is totally amazing, but that is just a lot of money, and also makes resale difficult.

some of the best, burpiest lgs that have impressed me the most have been indian rosewood. and after hearing what britts 4 string ra goes for new now, that 1k upgrade is pretty hard to justify imo. that and a nitro finish is going to get you into fodera's pricing structure.
 
that and a nitro finish is going to get you into fodera's pricing structure.

+1...on my LM5 order I really wanted to get blocks and binding, but that would have bumped me up to and LM5 Deluxe which is around a $1000 increase. That much for a rosewood upgrade is tough to justify, but at least you can argue that there's a tonal difference. But blocks and binding is PURELY cosmetic - so I REALLY couldn't justify dropping an extra grand on it...
 
+1...on my LM5 order I really wanted to get blocks and binding, but that would have bumped me up to and LM5 Deluxe which is around a $1000 increase. That much for a rosewood upgrade is tough to justify, but at least you can argue that there's a tonal difference. But blocks and binding is PURELY cosmetic - so I REALLY couldn't justify dropping an extra grand on it...

I went with the blocks and binding, weighed it heavily and hope that I'll keep this bass forever and in that case it will be worth it. I've got a Dalbergia board on my KBP5 and I'd say that I'd consider the additional cost if I do order a new LG5 spec'd ultra vintage..

Sounds like Celindermotoman's RA4 is more expensive then my LM5 when you factor in the Nitro finish by about $500.....
 
some of the best, burpiest lgs that have impressed me the most have been indian rosewood. and after hearing what britts 4 string ra goes for new now, that 1k upgrade is pretty hard to justify imo. that and a nitro finish is going to get you into fodera's pricing structure.

+1 The A-C pricing is a bit like the FBass pricing. The 'base' models (which are just killer in every way) are VERY reasonably priced (for example, a base LM is still about $500 less than a similarly spec'd Sadowsky NYC ash/maple Vintage, and the 'free' Indian RW board on my LG is among the nicest pieces of RW I've seen in 30 years.. sounds darn good too!) However, if you 'fancy them up', things get stupid, like $5,000 for a 4 string RA with Nitro:eek:

If one just focuses on pure tone, playability and quality, the 'base' level LG and LM are simply amazing in every way... not cheap, but a good price value. Once you get fancy, things move into the 'I know it's a stupid amount of money, but I just want it'... which is of course cool (unless you try to sell one used:smug:).

IMO!
 
+1 The A-C pricing is a bit like the FBass pricing. The 'base' models (which are just killer in every way) are VERY reasonably priced (for example, a base LM is still about $500 less than a similarly spec'd Sadowsky NYC ash/maple Vintage, and the 'free' Indian RW board on my LG is among the nicest pieces of RW I've seen in 30 years.. sounds darn good too!) However, if you 'fancy them up', things get stupid, like $5,000 for a 4 string RA with Nitro:eek:

If one just focuses on pure tone, playability and quality, the 'base' level LG and LM are simply amazing in every way... not cheap, but a good price value. Once you get fancy, things move into the 'I know it's a stupid amoung of money, but I just want it'... which is of course cool (unless you try to sell one used:smug:).

IMO!

the pricing for options cracks me up. it reminds me of when someone calls for a gig that i really dont want to do. you give them the, "what its going to take to get me off the couch" price. if they agree then word up.i just had a guitar player give me one of those prices the other day...haha
 
Those are my basses..

The narrower headstock is the older type,,, HE now has a wider one as seen on the sunburst.
He just wanted to add more wood up top to get that more traditional sound.. it does make a difference...
My older narrow headstock kbp4 has the Ultra light mini tuners that you see on many 5 string basses... bass plays like a dream...
He went to the newer headstock about 3-4 years ago.. I hear there is a newer update too but i have not seen it yet.

PS the Jazz bass in not an Alleva.. it is a fraken fender.. Jimmy made me a custom neck for that bass.. so it is just an Alleva Neck on fender body with Alleva 65 style pickups.



I've noticed that there are a couple different headstock shapes amongst the A-C basses. Some are more fat and some are more thin and pointy.

Was there a certain time that the headstock shape changed?

Are the current ones the fat ones or the pointier ones?

Is it an option to get one or the other?

Here's a picture of what I mean. Look at the two four strings on the right. I've seen this difference in five strings and between P and J style. What's with it?

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+1 The A-C pricing is a bit like the FBass pricing. The 'base' models (which are just killer in every way) are VERY reasonably priced...

and the 'free' Indian RW board on my LG is among the nicest pieces of RW I've seen in 30 years.. sounds darn good too!)...

If one just focuses on pure tone, playability and quality, the 'base' level LG and LM are simply amazing in every way... not cheap, but a good price value...
Not enough "+1's" for this.

My LG is the "Standard" which is one very small notch up from the Basic (I think it's just a matter of including the tint and a tort guard or something like that), so it's not the absolute base model, but pretty close. I can absolutely say without any reservation the tone is every bit as good (actually, for my purposes, BETTER) than the crazy expensive Classic Supreme I checked out previously. I VERY HIGHLY recommend his Base/Standard models to everyone unless you really just have a ton of spending money and are also super particular about aesthetics.
 
I agree with the fact that the Indian RW is spectacular.. the Indian RW base grade is what i order too...
At times you will see very nice grain and chocolaty color that is just spectacular in the Indian

however, my kbp4 has an African grade which to me on close inspection seems very close to DN in grain texture but more red / chocolate in color. The only other person that i know and believe has African RW is Jason... on his LG5 big red bass... they were both made around the same time..... maybe that is why the kbp4 I have has that top end sparkle.?? dont know. but it works fine..


I do have a DN RW on my P5, but it was a NAMM show bass.. it is now my main 5 string.. I like that it has such a focus and point to the note, folks tend to not think it is a P bass.. Is it the DN.. honestly i cant tell.. but this too just works fine, and im happy... Jimmy knocked this one out of the ball park
 
I still have my trusty roadweary 1972 P, and 1981 G&L L1000, for sentimental reasons as much as anything...
But, I personally won't ever buy another 4 string.
 
I mainly play 4 string but am pondering getting a 5... I feel like if I'm gonna drop this much coin I should go for the extra string just in case... Any thoughts from the gallery?

And does anyone know the price difference between a 4 and a 5 LG standard?

That's a tough one. In general, you will have an easier time reselling a high end bass that is a 5 string versus a 4, and Jimmy's 5 string necks are just SO amazing IMO.

The simple answer is that there is absolutely nothing you can't play on a 5 versus playing it on a 4. However, of course, the 6 string guys say the same thing, but the muting issues and neck width, combined with the slightly closer string spacing on most 6's make those basses literally unplayable for me. So, I understand it is a very personal thing (how wide of a neck is 'too wide' and how difficult the extra string muting challenge will be to an individual).

If I was playing a 4 string, I would most probably be playing a nice Fender. For 5 strings, these A-C's just kill for me.

So, 5 string all the way, since you asked:D The price, I believe, is virtually the same for a 4 or a 5.
 
Are there many differences between the "hipshot" brigde on the LG Standards and the "AC Vintage Style" bridge on the LG Classics?
What's the price difference between a LG5 Standard and a LG5 Classic? (i'd be great if you guys can't tell the full price of both, not just the difference)

According to Jimmy's 09' price list:

The LG5 standard is $3685 and the LG5 classic is $4695, so the difference is ~$1000.

Also, there is no difference in price between 4 and 5 strings of the same models i.e. LM4 deluxe and LM5 deluxe.
 
Are there many differences between the "hipshot" brigde on the LG Standards and the "AC Vintage Style" bridge on the LG Classics?
What's the price difference between a LG5 Standard and a LG5 Classic? (i'd be great if you guys can't tell the full price of both, not just the difference)

Most who have tried both say the vintage bridge is just a touch 'darker sounding', but my guess is, it is pretty minor.

The best thing to do with prices is to email Jimmy to send you a price list.

I believe the relatively 'base' models (i.e., no crazy board upgrades, no nitro or matching headstock, no blocks, no binding) are around $3,300 or so. Add a hundred or two for a 'custom' paint color (metalic, etc.). Anything more than that gets CRAZY, STUPID, EXPENSIVE... blocks and binding... upgraded board, Nitro paint... add around $1,000 EACH for these upgrades, which IMO are totaly unecessary to achieve 'A-C tone' (not that they aren't cool or worth it to some, but these upgrades have very little to do with playing the gig with one).

It is simpler to ignore the whole 'basic', standard, classic, custom' name thing (overly complicated and confusing with 20 different models). There are the 'base' models (LG and LM and KBP), that are quite reasonable ($3,300 or so). There are some reasonably inexpensive upgrades (certain special poly paint colors, the custom bridge, etc.) that will add a couple hundred bucks or so to the base model. After that, get out your wallet (most of the RA models are very expensive, since blocks and binding are typically standard on that model)!


Edit: Looks like I'm $100 or so under with with above 'base' prices. I guess everything goes up! Still, a good $500 less than a similar spec'd NYC Sadowsky Vintage (base price around $3,900 now).
 
Thanks jij04002

$1000 it's a big difference!! are there any other changes aside from the bridge and the option of getting a nitro finish?


This is why it is better just to spec the bass you want:

Pick the general 'era'...

LG, LM or RA (or P Bass, of course)...

- pick your color
- Blocks/binding or not ('cha-ching' for yes:D.... yes by definition with the RA)
- pick your finish (poly or 'cha- ching' Nitro)
- Pick your board (standard or 'cha-ching'... old growth whatever)
- pick your bridge (standard or the custom bent plate... small 'cha ching')

Get a price on that specific instrument. If you try to figure out the differences in the models, it will make you crazy (one of the few things that Jimmy didn't do right IMO).

So, again start at around $3,400 or so for the base price of the LG or LM (add $1,000 or so for the RA due to blocks and binding being stock), and go from there.
 
Availability of the DN board is another question. It was very rare when I asked Jimmy about it more than a year ago. It was also $1500 then. Could be more now, not sure. These prices will all change after NAMM as well.

Hey Bernie!

$1,500 for a board upgrade (especially given the amazing basic Indian RW Jimmy provides for 'free') is simply ridiculous IMO.

Edit: Again, the only reason I'm posting so much about this is all the PM's I've gotten over the past couple of years with everything thinking these basses cost $5,000.

The best way to think about this is that it will cost you about $3,400 to get into a full fledged, wonderful, amazing, perfectly playing, wicked sounding LG or LM. Any options after that are mostly aesthetic, and might be worth it for various reasons (and, are VERY expensive). Again, this is similar to the FBass pricing model IMO. As Vic posts on occasion, don't think the 'base' or 'standard' models are in ANY way lower end.. they just don't have the excess bling!
 
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