Club Alleva Coppolo (Part V)

[vision]

Hey Ken, thanks alot for taking the time to post these, and the commentary was very helpful as you went through the different settings and styles. That Edirol sounds good!

 

[vin*tone]

OK, my first ever attempt at recording clips. I just set the Edirol on its little tripod about 2 feet in front of the Puma500/S212 rig and let her fly, along with a running commentary of settings, etc. I believe my recording level was way too low, but at least maybe you can get a sense as to what these two wonderful basses sound like

The Puma rig sucks a little bit of the grind out of both basses... it's really smooth, but hopefully you will get the idea.

Here's a picture of the 'test rig' and about a 6 minute clip playing different styles and settings on the LM5 and LG5, both with one day old DR Hi Beams.

K

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Great to hear your playing Ken. You're not just a pretty face.
No seriously- boutique gear aside- you've got some great groove going there.

They say that talking about music is like dancing about architecture- so much gets lost in the interpretation of words. After reading so many of your posts trying to describe subtle nuances of tone its great to hear the actual bass sound you're pulling.

I should have put a decent mic on my XMas present list.

 

[KJung]

Great to hear your playing Ken. You're not just a pretty face.
No seriously- boutique gear aside- you've got some great groove going there.

They say that talking about music is like dancing about architecture- so much gets lost in the interpretation of words. After reading so many of your posts trying to describe subtle nuances of tone its great to hear the actual bass sound you're pulling.

I should have put a decent mic on my XMas present list.

Thanks! You know, often my gigging tone is actually more aggressive and growly than the clip. The TecAmp is a very pure 'reference' type of rig. The LMII/410UL(I) or the F1/AE410 really 'dirties and warms up' the upper mids of that LM5, which I really like.

Edit: The cool thing about these little digital recorders is that most of them have the mic's built in. While I can hear the low end 'flubbing' a bit on the clip versus what it actually sounds like, I find that simple little clip using the 'default' setting of the Edirol is relatively accurate in comparison to what I'm hearing out of the rig 'live'.

 

[west*coast*bass]

That LG speaks to me baby...

 

[mgbass]

Hey Ken,

I went to put on a set of nickel low riders and the store was out so I put on a set of DR Hi Beams.
Played them Fri and Sat night, and the first night on my LG-5 was a bit on the "zingy" side, but Sat night as these broken in I really started to dig them...allot!
Can't beat the feel of the "Hi's", and as they settled down they had a nice upper mid growl, which the nickels don't have.

Anyway, looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the low riders, but for now I am sticking with the Hi Beams.

And enjoyed the clip, great job. You should work a booth at the NAMM show!
Cheers
MG

 

[NYJimmy]

Thanks Jimmy that's good info. It seems that my comments were taken in a way I didn't intend, I think it's very cool to have the mojo of a hand carved bass from when "Jimmy used to be in NYC". When I referred to change I didn't mean specifically the CNC machine but rather the transition to hopefully a larger more successful business, that's not always easy. And of course I wish Jimmy all the luck in the world and apologize for not being very clear in my intent.

There was also a line in the post I referenced that said basically, revamped models with specific options and no other choices you can ONLY choose the color, maybe that wasn't clear? Nobody seemed to have any thoughts on that, while in the same post was a two of a kind custom that Jimmy just completed.

Have a Merry Christmas everybody!

Hey Peter, I am glad you are digging a bass I built in NYC, but the term "hand carved" would be a stretch. I don't want you or anyone to be mislead... sculptures like Michealangelo's "the David" are "hand carved" . I promise you that even with the addition of the CNC my method of building will not change much and the quality that you are used to will at least stay the same but they may even get better.
As for your concern with the option changes- I'm not removing the options just offering basses with some more or less...to make life a little easier for players placing orders. For example in the past two years all LG5's & LM5's ordered were built with the passive tone option. So passive tone will be a standard. I think once the new site is completed you may find model & ordering info just a little easier. As for the custom one off's or custom basses of that nature... I will still make (pretty much) anything that anyone wants but of course there will be a fee. I hope this clears a few things up. If you have any questions you can always call me.
-Jimmy
Alleva-Coppolo Basses & Guitars

 

[Ace Of Bass]

. .....So passive tone will be a standard...........

That is a beautiful thing.........

 

[NYJimmy]

Coppolo-holics... sounds like more fun than the law allows!

Well it's funny that nick names (or reference names) for my basses has come up. You all paid for your basses and can call them whatever you'd like... heck you could also do anything you'd like to your bass too (just don't through 'em in a grinder, that will void your waranty). Biologically I am both Alleva & Coppolo but legally I am a Coppolo, so I guess that should make the instruments Coppolo. To be honest I always find it real odd and feel somewhat uncomfortable when my instruments are refered to only as an Alleva. But as uncomfortable as it may feel I am grateful that my instruments are being refered to at all. For what is worth or not worth as an abreviation (which seems to be the thing these days) A-C is OK and seems to be used alot, but the hyphen has to be there because I think there maybe a guitar company called AC and I wouldn't want to cause confusion or make anyone angry. Any way Thank you all Alleva-Coppolo holics.
-Jimmy

 

[Vic]

OK, my first ever attempt at recording clips...

Thanks for doing this!

Ironically, these clips seem to confirm what I heard when I had the AC's here that I had. You may disagree, but until you added the bass and tamed the high end on that LM, it actually sounded just a tad harsh compared to the LG, whereas that LG seemed to be much sweeter and fuller out of the gate, yet not lacking any high end or any of that critical definition (high mids).

I do agree the LM has more going on in those upper mids, but between the two, at least IMHO (FWIW), the LG is "perfect" whereas the LM is just a bit much. The really strange part is, yeah, the LM is a bit more aggressive, and normally I really go for that, but maybe the aggression is simply focused at the wrong spot for my personal tastes or something. Again, much to my surprise given my track record, the LG just really calls to me more.

The bottom line is, I'm hearing exactly what I heard before, and can't really think of a better way to put it than I already did... all the sweetness of that classic 60's J tone, but not lacking any of the definition of the later models.

All that said, it was also obvious to me both of these basses are similar enough that anyone would be elated with either one... holy cow, just oozing tone from every direction. We're just talking minor prefs here.

 

[Vic]

Any way Thank you all Alleva-Coppolo holics. -Jimmy

HEY! WHERE'S MY LG?? I'M STARTING TO FEEL SOME PAIN HERE! (damn you Ken!)

jk... Jimmy, I'm really looking forward to talking to you in person in a few weeks.

 

[KJung]

Thanks for doing this!

Ironically, these clips seem to confirm what I heard when I had the AC's here that I had. You may disagree, but until you added the bass and tamed the high end on that LM, it actually sounded just a tad harsh compared to the LG, whereas that LG seemed to be much sweeter and fuller out of the gate, yet not lacking any high end or any of that critical definition (high mids).

I do agree the LM has more going on in those upper mids, but between the two, at least IMHO (FWIW), the LG is "perfect" whereas the LM is just a bit much. The really strange part is, yeah, the LM is a bit more aggressive, and normally I really go for that, but maybe the aggression is simply focused at the wrong spot for my personal tastes or something. Again, much to my surprise given my track record, the LG just really calls to me more.

The bottom line is, I'm hearing exactly what I heard before, and can't really think of a better way to put it than I already did... all the sweetness of that classic 60's J tone, but not lacking any of the definition of the later models.

All that said, it was also obvious to me both of these basses are similar enough that anyone would be elated with either one... holy cow, just oozing tone from every direction. We're just talking minor prefs here.

+1 Both sound great to me. I guess I prefer the LM thing since that 'harshness' translates to great punch and cut in the mixes I perform in (mostly pop and funk). The LM (and most 70's style instruments) can sound a bit 'over the top' solo'd (especially through an uber clean 'reference' type rig like the TecAmp), but once the drums kick in, that upper mid grind and that bit of extra pop really translates well on the gig. Pure personal taste there.

I always prefer to have the tone I like with a slight cut to the passive tone control (sometimes in some mixes, it stays open all night), then to be 'missing something' that I can't dial back in. And, the bass boost on those recordings is about 10%, and pretty much the same on both basses when I dialed it in... just a slight fattening of the low end.

That being said, from your other instrument preferences and playing style, I would guess the LG would be more your cup of tea! There is enough difference in tone, and especially feel, between those two basses that it would be hard for a player to not have a preference of one over the other!

 

[Vic]

That being said, from your other instrument preferences and playing style, I would guess the LG would be more your cup of tea!

See, that's just it... I'd typically think the opposite, at least based on specs and posts, but you're right... the LG definitely floats my boat better.

That said, again, at least to my ears your clip is really well done if you want to A/B their tone. It sounds just like I remembered them both.

An interesting thing to do is take the segments of each part of your clip and directly A/B them... especially the slap... you can really hear the tonal diffs that way. I just clicked back and forth on the progress slider in winamp, but someone could also use a sound editor and slice it up to do the same thing.

 

[KJung]

See, that's just it... I'd typically think the opposite, at least based on specs and posts, but you're right... the LG definitely floats my boat better.

That said, again, at least to my ears your clip is really well done if you want to A/B their tone. It sounds just like I remembered them both.

An interesting thing to do is take the segments of each part of your clip and directly A/B them... especially the slap... you can really hear the tonal diffs that way. I just clicked back and forth on the progress slider in winamp, but someone could also use a sound editor and slice it up to do the same thing.

Cool! I do really, really like these basses.

 

[alfredpunkjazz]

Does anyone knows if Jimmy uses different pickups on his basses???

I'm thinking on a couple of darkstars in a black and maple modern 4...

 

[KJung]

Does anyone knows if Jimmy uses different pickups on his basses???

I'm thinking on a couple of darkstars in a black and maple modern 4...

NOooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Man, Jimmy's basses are all about the early Fender thing, and he winds his own pickups in house. If you want to do the above... buy a Lakland. I'm going to lose sleep tonight thinking about the horror of this

 

[alfredpunkjazz]

LOL

Come on, it is not thaaaat awful... Is it???

 

[KJung]

LOL

Come on, it is not thaaaat awful... Is it???

I was being a little 'tongue in cheek'. Jimmy would obviously be the one to talk to. My guess is, he wouldn't have much interest in doing that. If you were going to go that route, probably Nino Valenti would be a good choice IMO.

 

[west*coast*bass]

LOL

Come on, it is not thaaaat awful... Is it???

Yes. Yes it is.

 

[alfredpunkjazz]

Damn.

...

ha ha ha ha.

ok

 

[needmoney]

Nice clips Ken. Dang, those Hi-Beams are zing-tastic! You need to wear those suckers in some! I'd love to hear the LG with some Nickels on it though.