Club Alleva Coppolo (Part IV)

[GRoberts]

Hey Gary, sending good thoughts your way on the job hunt...know all too many freinds in the same boat right now.

Thank you. I am actively participating in positive energy, trusting in God, and living in optimism and faith that good things will come. Everything happens for a reason and I am using this change to be the best person I can be. I am making amends, and being of service to others and believing that I will land on my feet. The support, love and comfort of wonderful people in my life assures me it will all work out.

 

[esoxhntr]

Attaboy Gary, keep your head up. Positive attitude generally turns into positive results.

Since we're about to open part 5, how about a slightly new convention? Maybe the obligatory pics could include a favourite amp/cab and a brief description of what kind of music/gigs they are being used for?

 

[BASSKADET]

Maybe I should post this in the tech forum but...
My bass was shipped TX to Vt(big temp diff.). I have had it here a week and have developed a buzz from the 13 -21st fret up. Is this a truss rod adjustment or just raise the saddles a little?

 

[Vic]

Maybe I should post this in the tech forum but...
My bass was shipped TX to Vt(big temp diff.). I have had it here a week and have developed a buzz from the 13 -21st fret up. Is this a truss rod adjustment or just raise the saddles a little?

Does it have a lot of relief? If so, tighten the trussrod a bit and raise the saddles a tad. Fflattening out a neck typically lowers action overall, so you can then raise the saddles and have even relatively action throughout. Just remember to leave a tiny bit of relief in there. If the fret buzz is even over the entire area, as opposed to just a fairly specific couple notes, it's probably not a raised fret.

 

[esoxhntr]

Could be either or both. Shipping and temperature change can wreak havoc on necks and set ups. Check your neck and see if it has developed a "back bow". If not, raise your saddles a little bit.

 

[BASSKADET]

Does it have a lot of relief? If so, tighten the trussrod a bit and raise the saddles a tad. Fflattening out a neck typically lowers action overall, so you can then raise the saddles and have even relatively action throughout. Just remember to leave a tiny bit of relief in there. If the fret buzz is even over the entire area, as opposed to just a fairly specific couple notes, it's probably not a raised fret.

Vic, when I press down on the 1st and 12th fret the strings are sitting on the frets. How much gap should be there?

 

[Vic]

Could be either or both. Shipping and temperature change can wreak havoc on necks and set ups. Check your neck and see if it has developed a "back bow". If not, raise your saddles a little bit.

Maybe, but a backbow most typically rears it's ugly head below the 12th fret.

 

[Vic]

Vic, when I press down on the 1st and 12th fret the strings are sitting on the frets. How much gap should be there?

I like my action down pretty low so I usually have just enough to bounce the string up and down a little in the middle... maybe about a medium pick's worth or so. BTW, adding relief will also raise the strings in the high region, so a little tweak to add relief could solve everything, tho I'm surprised you didn't notice anything in the low-mid region as well. A neck without enough relief typically buzzes all over.

 

[BASSKADET]

I like my action down pretty low so I usually have just enough to bounce the string up and down a little in the middle... maybe about a medium pick's worth or so.

Which way do I turn the truss, cw or ccw?

 

[Vic]

Which way do I turn the truss, cw or ccw?

ccw to add relief (loosen to relax against string tension, which then creates bow and relief). Only give it about 1/4 turn at a time and give it time to settle before rechecking.

Also, pinch at the 1st fret and the end of the heel... I think that's about the 15-16th fret on an AC if I remember correctly. The trussrod affects the neck between the end of the heel and the nut.

 

[BASSKADET]

ccw to add relief (loosen to relax against string tension, which then creates bow and relief). Only give it about 1/4 turn at a time and give it time to settle before rechecking.

Also, pinch at the 1st fret and the end of the heel... I think that's about the 15-16th fret on an AC if I remember correctly. The trussrod affects the neck between the end of the heel and the nut.

Thanks Vic, I'll give that a shot. I'm sure TX is in the 80's and it's been in the 20's here, big difference in temp.

 

[BASSKADET]

I adjusted the truss it made a little diff but I had to adjust the saddles up to get out all the buzz. Now my action is a little higher it will do until I can get it professionally set up.
Thanks again.

 

[Andrew Jones]

Truss rod works the lower frets IE if your buzzing in first position loosen it for more relief. (righty tighty lefty loosy)

Up where you needed space its the saddles, thing is if you raise them you may need a little less relief because you've raised the height of the strings all the length of the neck.


Usually a bass that's been set up well shifts slightly due to weather all that is needed is the truss rod tweek.It's surprising that a bass as young as yours need saddle adjustments but......


It need what it needs.



Aj

 

[Vic]

I adjusted the truss it made a little diff but I had to adjust the saddles up to get out all the buzz. Now my action is a little higher it will do until I can get it professionally set up.
Thanks again.

Sounds good.

Truss rod works the lower frets IE if your buzzing in first position loosen it for more relief. (righty tighty lefty loosy)

Up where you needed space its the saddles, thing is if you raise them you may need a little less relief because you've raised the height of the strings all the length of the neck.

Usually a bass that's been set up well shifts slightly due to weather all that is needed is the truss rod tweek.It's surprising that a bass as young as yours need saddle adjustments but......


It needs what it needs.

+1

TR and saddle adjustments definitely go together. I always set my relief first, and then saddle height.

 

[NYJimmy]

I might be the reporting the death of my first ever Alleva Coppolo bass. Hows this for a horror story -

I have my dream AC on order and therefore decided to trade my AC Jazz in for a couple of great but cheaper basses to make room for the new number one. I shipped the bass to the US using a company I'll exclude because of legal reasons. Shipping internationally costs a bundle so I used a quick service that cost over $300 but I turned down the option to pay an additional $350 on insurance.

My first update -

The shipping company have received a box in Nashville with no contents. They decided to destroy the box. Wheres my bass? They have no idea.

After some pressure from me. The second update is -

US customs decided to "destroy" the bass. No reason why - no communication given. They then apparently sent the "empty box" on to this company

This is clearly bs. These morons have either lost my bass, someone has stolen it or worse still, some genius has torched it. Anyone who has ever owned an AC would know that hearing one has been destroyed is the worst possible outcome. These are works of art. I felt good about trading it because another player would get to use it. If I end up being out of pocket for this bass, thats a disaster. If it never shows up and they confirm it has been destroyed, it is a complete and total disaster. It's been a pretty rough couple of days

I'm taking some steps to make sure this is resolved legally. Theres no excuse for a parcel to just disappear when it has not even made it out of the depot. I just hope the bass shows up.

Sorry I haven't been on Talk Bass in a while I would have responded sooner. My heart stopped when I read this. If I can be of any help at all please don't hesitate to contact me. As for your Black KBP4, I recieved the body from the painter Friday afternoon. I have to finish a fret job Monday morning and then I can complete your bass. I'll e-mail you as soon as the bass is ready to ship. Hang in there with the "lost" bass, the shipping company has to resolve this.
Jimmy

 

[Tendollarcat]

Sorry I haven't been on Talk Bass in a while I would have responded sooner. My heart stopped when I read this. If I can be of any help at all please don't hesitate to contact me. As for your Black KBP4, I recieved the body from the painter Friday afternoon. I have to finish a fret job Monday morning and then I can complete your bass. I'll e-mail you as soon as the bass is ready to ship. Hang in there with the "lost" bass, the shipping company has to resolve this.
Jimmy

Thanks very much Jimmy. I really appreciate you responding to this. You are a class act.

An update -

The company have now confirmed that no bass has been destroyed. However, the box the bass arrived has been destroyed. They have now confirmed that they have two "guitars" in their "Lost and Found" area. I've given them a full description of the AC - which is not hard considering it has a unique serial number. They are going through the process of hopefully finding my bass now.

My thoughts initially were -

You have two guitars in Lost and Found???? Let me guess - the other one is a Fodera

I'm staying completely and totally on the shipping company's back until this is resolved. I'm even emailing them a daily update of what they have told me just so they have it in writing The national manager is involved and I'm thinking these guys now understand I won't go away.

Fingers crossed I can report that the AC is alive and well in the next couple of days.

 

[Bernie Connors]

I'm certainly looking forward to that post!

 

[BASSKADET]

If it's in Lost and Found and there's damage. I'd make them replace it. Good Luck!

 

[tommixx]

If it's in Lost and Found and there's damage. I'd make them replace it. Good Luck!

NO DOUBT!

Peace,

T

 

[Tendollarcat]

Thanks guys. I had a very funny conversation with the shipping company yesterday. They are pretty worried that I've mentioned legal action when this first happened.

Their comment was -

"Well. You didn't take out insurance so you have no claim"

My answer -

"You're right. I won't be claiming insurance. I'll be taking legal action for a breach of contract, inclusive of any legal fees. Are you telling me you believe you've fulfilled your contract to me as the carrier of my bass?"

Never mess with a man's Alleva Coppolo