Club Alleva Coppolo (Part V)

[Andy Brown]

Brian even emailed me that I could quickly take it out and take a look and then put it back in the case to warm up. However, one thing you learn at the age of 51 is to relax and take your time (or else you get tired and have to go to bed early).

I'd probably sit on the box in an attempt to incubate it.

Glad it made it ok.

 

[jonno1707]

I'd probably sit on the box in an attempt to incubate it.

Glad it made it ok.

Way to much info Andy....

 

[KJung]

Here is a quick picture of the pair. This used LG seems literally new (even the plastic protection sheet was still on the back plate). The strings were dead and it needed a quick set-up, but no big deal... a new set of Hi Beams, a neck tweak and it is good to go!

Anyway, obviously haven't spent a lot of time yet, but one of my TB buddies mentioned he talked to Jimmy about this bass, and Jimmy said it felt 'old', and I will totally agree. I'm not sure if it's the amazing board (guys, even this stock Indian RW board is about the best board I've ever seen.. dark, chocolate, a little bit of striping... amazing), or the nitro finish on the body and the neck or what, but it's creamy and fat and warm/dark sounding versus my LM. VERY nice, and it really does feel like some of those mid 60's J's that I've had the honor of playing at Gravity Strings in St. Louis.

Anyway, I dig it. It's much more 'different' to my LM than the LG that Pete has... it's much 'darker, warmer and older' sounding to my ear. My LM is in the middle 9 pound range, this one feels about a pound lighter.

Wonderful!!!

 

[esoxhntr]

Nice Pair.

 

[kobass]

Awesome, Ken! Glad to hear that it arrived safely. Congrats and all the best with it!


Cheers,
Kevin

 

[mgbass]

Ken,

Congrats on the LG, I totally agree with your comments on the Indian Rosewood.
The LG-5 I have is also beautiful, dark with light stripes.
Know you will enjoy it, it sounds like it has an "old soul"
Cheers
MG

 

[KJung]

Thanks guys. You know, I really am an ash/maple 70's sort of guy, but it seems to me that Jimmy's heart and soul lives in these more pre-CBS type specs and models. While I'm sure the LM will continue to be my primary bass, this thing just oozes what many of us think of when we say 'vintage Fender'... that lightweight, warm alder+rosewood sound with that 'nitro look and feel'. It's an impressive bass.

I don't think the Hi Beams, which IMO bring out the best of the more zingy, aggressive LM are going to be the right string for this bass, so I might (GASP) actually put some nickels on this one to finish out the 'smooth mellow' vibe.

Really nice!

 

[svtb15]

Ken,real pretty bass!!.
i hope it is not too dark for you... the Indian RW on the p4 is fairly bright sounding but ithat one m not sure what RW is on my p5 but it is darker sounding.. i should be getting a dalbergia negra RW neck soon for my kbp5 and i will try to do some sort of comparison.

 

[KJung]

Ken,real pretty bass!!.
i hope it is not too dark for you... the Indian RW on the p4 is fairly bright sounding but ithat one m not sure what RW is on my p5 but it is darker sounding.. i should be getting a dalbergia negra RW neck soon for my kbp5 and i will try to do some sort of comparison.

I have the bright thing covered with the LM. I really was looking for a different voice, and this one has it! It's not 'bad' dark, just really that thing we all talk about between alder/RW and maple/ash.

Interestingly, my Sadowsky pair is much more similar tonewise, with the RV still being quite bright and modern sounding... of course not quite as upper mid aggressive as the MV, but more similar than different. This particular LG really says 'vintage' pre-CBS to me, while my LM really does do a later 70's J thing (although maybe without the aggressiveness of a very heavy ash body that some of the Fender's had).

Very cool again. I wish I wasn't off tonight This thing needs to get on a gig!

 

[DrGroovenstein]

Thanks guys. You know, I really am an ash/maple 70's sort of guy, but it seems to me that Jimmy's heart and soul lives in these more pre-CBS type specs and models. While I'm sure the LM will continue to be my primary bass, this thing just oozes what many of us think of when we say 'vintage Fender'... that lightweight, warm alder+rosewood sound with that 'nitro loook and feel'. It's an impressive bass.

I don't think the Hi Beams, which IMO bring out the best of the more zingy, aggressive LM are going to be the right string for this bass, so I might (GASP) actually put some nickels on this one to finish out the 'smooth mellow' vibe.

Really nice!

Try some D'addario XL-170s. Cheap investment, and thats what Jimmy shipped on my bass.

 

[KJung]

Try some D'addario XL-170s. Cheap investment, and thats what Jimmy shipped on my bass.

Cool. The Hi Beams are just perfect to my ear on more 'modern' voiced instruments like the Sadowsky J's, or the more 70's thing of the LM, but they just don't fit the vibe of this bass at all. I don't think I'd want to go with flats, but would like a more mid warm and less edgy roundwound sound.

I'll look those up. I'm thinking the Sadowsky Nickels might work nicely also... I think the original Black label.

K

 

[DrGroovenstein]

Yeah the sadowsky's would be a good fit as well. I really like the Blue (steel) on my Sadowsky. I think they have a bit stiffer feel that than the XL-170s, which feel more like the tension of the DRs to me. I don't know what the core materials are on the XLs. I used to plan nothing but DRs (hibeams and fatbeams) until Mikebass turned me on to the D'addarios.

 

[KJung]

Yeah the sadowsky's would be a good fit as well. I really like the Blue (steel) on my Sadowsky. I think they have a bit stiffer feel that than the XL-170s, which feel more like the tension of the DRs to me. I don't know what the core materials are on the XLs. I used to plan nothing but DRs (hibeams and fatbeams) until Mikebass turned me on to the D'addarios.

Ah, I've played so many of Mike's basses, that I know those strings now. Yeah, they sound great. I'm going to try a set in a while.

I too really like the Sadowksy Blue label steels, and have them on my MV5... tight tension, growly, grindy and aggressive. The Hi Beams just SING on the LM though... perfect!

I think virtually all roundwounds are on hex cores. I think the Hi Beams and at least some of the versions of Tomastiks (or whatever they are called) are round core. Not sure of any others.

 

[jonno1707]

Congrats Ken she looks great enjoy in good health...

 

[svtb15]

i am looking forward to a gig report.. i am using my LG tonight and tomorrow on a church gig in the AM.. the engineer on the church gig loves the warmth of that LG-RW

I have the bright thing covered with the LM. I really was looking for a different voice, and this one has it! It's not 'bad' dark, just really that thing we all talk about between alder/RW and maple/ash.

Interestingly, my Sadowsky pair is much more similar tonewise, with the RV still being quite bright and modern sounding... of course not quite as upper mid aggressive as the MV, but more similar than different. This particular LG really says 'vintage' pre-CBS to me, while my LM really does do a later 70's J thing (although maybe without the aggressiveness of a very heavy ash body that some of the Fender's had).

Very cool again. I wish I wasn't off tonight This thing needs to get on a gig!

 

[mgbass]

Ken,
The strings are the one thing I have been struggling with.
had the D'Aders that Jimmie sent on it, not crazy about them. Have the Sadowsky Blue Nickels on it now, better,,,,,have not found best yet.
So keep me in the loop as you move through strings.
MG

 

[Andy Brown]

Congrats Ken! I'm looking forward to the gig report too.

 

[KJung]

Ken,
The strings are the one thing I have been struggling with.
had the D'Aders that Jimmie sent on it, not crazy about them. Have the Sadowsky Blue Nickels on it now, better,,,,,have not found best yet.
So keep me in the loop as you move through strings.
MG

You too please. I'm pretty clueless about anything except zingy stainless steels! I've played a number of Sadowsky basses with the original Black label nickels, and they sounded pretty nice and felt nice and tight. I'll probably order one set of Blue and one Black (I think Roger makes Blue and Black Nickels) and A/B them.

This LG is definitely not a stainless steel roundwound bass!

 

[peterpalmieri]

Cool. The Hi Beams are just perfect to my ear on more 'modern' voiced instruments like the Sadowsky J's, or the more 70's thing of the LM, but they just don't fit the vibe of this bass at all. I don't think I'd want to go with flats, but would like a more mid warm and less edgy roundwound sound.

I'll look those up. I'm thinking the Sadowsky Nickels might work nicely also... I think the original Black label.

K

Go play that damn thing! Congrats, I ordered two sets of Nickels from Jimmy and I am probably going to go put them on now.

Honestly I had used EB slinky hybrids on my JO, switched to the Lakland Nickels and notice no difference, I hope Jimmy's are similar...

Again enjoy that thing, you have me wishing mine was a little warmer now!

 

[GRoberts]

Ken, iF you like Hi Beams, and want the same 'feel' and set up, I highly recommend DR Sunbeams. In my experience, they have the same tension as Hi Beams.

PS: I have had a set of Sadowsky Blue Label Stainless on my bass for the past few months. Man, those strings just kept sounding good! I kept thinking; "When are these gonna go dead so I can try something else!?" <smiles> I finally swapped since I have a recording session coming up, and I went back to a set of nickels (Not Sadowsky), and think I may ultimately prefer the Stainless sound.

Cool. The Hi Beams are just perfect to my ear on more 'modern' voiced instruments like the Sadowsky J's, or the more 70's thing of the LM, but they just don't fit the vibe of this bass at all. I don't think I'd want to go with flats, but would like a more mid warm and less edgy roundwound sound.

I'll look those up. I'm thinking the Sadowsky Nickels might work nicely also... I think the original Black label.

K