Club Alleva Coppolo (Part V)

[KJung]

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.

That LM tone with those relatively new Hi Beams is totally the tone I love. It's amazing how much of that zing and upper mid tone you have to have in your sound to actually project what most think of as a '70's funk tone' out through a mix and through the guitars and cymbals. The downside is that it makes the bass quite challenging to play cleanly. A 70's style J like the LM with nice bright stainless steel roundwounds is quite unforgiving, especially if you play out of a clean, relatively transparent rig without any scoop to it. Of course, if I played solo bass for a living, I'd probably soften that tone profile a bit!

Also, the nice thing about a J is that you can tame that sizzle and grind and 'age those strings a month' with the passive tone control when needed. It's always easier to dial a bit out than trying to dial a bit in IMO and IME!

That being said, I agree, that's not what the LG is about, and even though I dig the Hi Beams on that bass, I look forward to hearing it with a more 'spec appropriate' set of nickels!

 

[Bassist30]

That LM tone with those relatively new Hi Beams is totally the tone I love. It's amazing how much of that zing and upper mid tone you have to have in your sound to actually project what most think of as a '70's funk tone' out through a mix and through the guitars and cymbals. The downside is that it makes the bass quite challenging to play cleanly. A 70's style J like the LM with nice bright stainless steel roundwounds is quite unforgiving, especially if you play out of a clean, relatively transparent rig without any scoop to it. Of course, if I played solo bass for a living, I'd probably soften that tone profile a bit!

Also, the nice thing about a J is that you can tame that sizzle and grind and 'age those strings a month' with the passive tone control when needed. It's always easier to dial a bit out than trying to dial a bit in IMO and IME!

That being said, I agree, that's not what the LG is about, and even though I dig the Hi Beams on that bass, I look forward to hearing it with a more 'spec appropriate' set of nickels!

KJung thanks for the clips of your basses. Its nice that you took the time and helped those who want one of Jimmy's basses. In addition it really gave you the differences of the various models Jimmy makes. The LG does give a more deeper -not too much- tone when you went down to the lower B string. I always thought that also. But I do like the overall tone of the LM. With some adjusting I can get it pretty close to the LG lower end but the LG will be alittle more open. I take it, its because of the PU placements. Now Im not saying it about all LG's and LM's just the differences of your 2 basses. The LM has the same PU's that the LG has. So the differences between the original 60 and the 70 basses will not be the same. What I am saying the fender 60's basses as compared to the there 70's basses are pretty much different. But it isn't as drastic as the differences between the LM and the LG. I do think the LM is a little bit punchier because of its PU placements but not taking away from the bootiness of the LG. They are both great. I would not mind having a LG and a KBP5. But with the economy the way it is right now I may have to wait. But I like the idea that you make one bass the only bass for a real long time. You can see and hear its growth in sound and feel. My bass has changed for the better.

 

[svtb15]

That sounds like fun... I love when i meet up with fellow bass players on gigs like that.. You guys should have fun visiting..

Happy New year to all.

I did try hi beams on my LG and i really liked them. .I usually use XL170s with a custom tapered Low B Daddarrio but i put the hibeams on her and after about 2 days the settle in and woooah... I love that .

Hey Zeb! Yeah, that old school LG has your name on it, especially with some less zingy nickel strings. I'm looking forward to you checking it out sometime.

See you on New Year's Eve (Zeb and I have gigs in the same Casino)!

K

 

[peterpalmieri]

Very cool Ken, thanks for that. As Vic mentioned I found it very useful to bounce back and forth to instantly A/B similar styles on each instrument.

I can totally understand the LM projecting in a mix a little better then the LG for you. In any case the gap should widen on these tone profiles with Nickels on the LG and since you have the luxury of having both it may be a nice change of pace. If I had to guess the nickels may not stay long for you.

The more I listen to your clip the more I understand how my LG sits right in the middle of your basses especially with SS strings.

Great playing BTW, the only thing that I thought may be missing is a really heavy dig with the right hand, while that may not be your style the differences in tone can be pronounced when hearing them that way. You have a nice obligitory slappity pop, that's something I need to focus more on.

I should mention the recording came out great! It's amazing what technology can do these days. A couple of guys I play with swear on bringing these little hand held recorders to all rehearsals and gigs.

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]

 

[svtb15]

ACA "Alleva-Coppolo~holics Annonmous"

"AA" Alleva-holics Annonomous the AA sounds dirty.. but the AA just flows.
Happy New Year Jimmy.

"Hi, my name is Kirk. and Im an Alleva-holic"

If that will fit in my Signature line i should put it there


.

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

 

[peterpalmieri]

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

Very cool, thanks Jimmy. I thought there would be more to everything then the simple post by someone earlier. And your to modest...Love my A-C

 

[KJung]

Very cool Ken, thanks for that. As Vic mentioned I found it very useful to bounce back and forth to instantly A/B similar styles on each instrument.

I can totally understand the LM projecting in a mix a little better then the LG for you. In any case the gap should widen on these tone profiles with Nickels on the LG and since you have the luxury of having both it may be a nice change of pace. If I had to guess the nickels may not stay long for you.

The more I listen to your clip the more I understand how my LG sits right in the middle of your basses especially with SS strings.

Great playing BTW, the only thing that I thought may be missing is a really heavy dig with the right hand, while that may not be your style the differences in tone can be pronounced when hearing them that way. You have a nice obligitory slappity pop, that's something I need to focus more on.

I should mention the recording came out great! It's amazing what technology can do these days. A couple of guys I play with swear on bringing these little hand held recorders to all rehearsals and gigs.

Hey Pete,

Thanks! As Kirk mentions above, as the Hi Beams are settling in, I dig them more and more on the LG. There is a certain beauty to using one brand of strings on most of your basses. You can buy in bulk and it's easier to never get caught without a new set.

Regarding the direct A/Bing, I'm glad you guys figured out how to do that. I tried to do a more 'holistic' sort of approach to allow people to hear different styles within each instrument, since I figured (and the comments seem to support this) that most would have a clear favorite based on their interest in the more mellow 60's type sound, or the very aggressive 70's thing.

And yeah, now that slap style has pretty much disappeared from pop gigs, I find it harder and harder to keep my chops up and my execution clean and time even, etc. (especially when you are doing something like the LM5 through the Tecamp rig, which will really make a man out of you. It's REALLY unforgiving of slop). But, it at least gives TBers who are interested a feeling for the slap tone of these instruments.

And yes, I'd put your bass right smack in the middle of the two of mine, which is a good place to be IMO!

Good comment on the 'digging in'. I have a pretty light touch, but do enjoy grinding down low sometimes. I'll include that if I ever do this again (maybe my Sadowsky MV5 and the Alleva LM versus the RV5 and Alleva LG).


K

 

[svtb15]

I think i have a fairly light touch too.. the good thing about that is that you can always dig in when needed. .but if you are already digging in you cant go to 11...if you are already there... So +1 on the light touch...

One word that so many forget about these days that us old-times reminisce about.. dynamics +1 Ken

Good comment on the 'digging in'. I have a pretty light touch, but do enjoy grinding down low sometimes. I'll include that if I ever do this again (maybe my Sadowsky MV5 and the Alleva LM versus the RV5 and Alleva LG).


K

 

[steve9000gi]

Ken,
Very nice bass recording; really nice playing. Funny thing that nobody else reported, so I'm guessing it has something to do with my computer/net setup: your extremely useful spoken explanations were *way* lower in volume than the playing, and I had to compress the living $#!^ out of the downloaded mp3 file to hear voice without being blasted by bass. But like I said, it appears to be my rig and I got past it no problem (the playing I listened to uncompressed after I extracted the vocals).

I hear the family resemblance is between the two basses (or at least the similarity of the player ) but I do very much also hear the greater aggressiveness of the LM. I'm not the first one to say it, but it makes me want an LM to complement my LG.

What I'm wondering -- opposite you, Ken, I've always had a fondness for darker wood fretboards (out of 5 Fender and Fender-style instruments I've got 4 rosewoods and an ebony) -- and I wonder, futilely, I fear, given the number of variables even between two different pieces of the same kind of wood (and I believe this topic has been raised previously in TB ), how much of that increased aggressiveness is due to the maple/ash and how much to the 70's pickup placement. I may just have to go with the maple/ash and quit orbiting around the inevitable.

Now I'm also wondering: Ice Blue or CAOJ? Oh yeah, and there's the question of paying for it .

Thanks again for the great clips, Ken.

-Steve

P.S. (edit) I've also got Hi Beams on my LG-5 and I'm very happy with how they're sounding -- they're well past the first day's clank.

S

 

[Vic]

Ken,
Very nice bass recording; really nice playing. Funny thing that nobody else reported, so I'm guessing it has something to do with my computer/net setup: your extremely useful spoken explanations were *way* lower in volume than the playing

Nope... same here, but rather than run it through a compressor, I'd just get the sound into an editor and highlight his vox and raise the volume on those sections. Easy. I'd really rather not process the bass sections in any way. Haven't done it tho, 'cause it wasn't that huge of a problem for me... just had to listen close between clips.

 

[Bernie Connors]

Now if Ken only had an RA-5 to throw in the mix, the world would be a better place. I really need to hear one of those recorded.

 

[esoxhntr]

To be fair to Jimmy's heritage, I think it should really be extended to "Alleva-Coppoholics Anonymous"... it just rolls off the tongue, try it!

My name is __________ , and I'm an Alleva-Coppoholic. It's been almost two weeks since I ordered my last Alleva Coppolo bass...

 

[Bernie Connors]

But isn't this thread just a big support group already?

Especially for guys like Vic!

 

[Vic]

But isn't this thread just a big support group already?

Especially for guys like Vic!

Ummm.... yes...

 

[KJung]

Ken,
Very nice bass recording; really nice playing. Funny thing that nobody else reported, so I'm guessing it has something to do with my computer/net setup: your extremely useful spoken explanations were *way* lower in volume than the playing, and I had to compress the living $#!^ out of the downloaded mp3 file to hear voice without being blasted by bass. But like I said, it appears to be my rig and I got past it no problem (the playing I listened to uncompressed after I extracted the vocals).

Hah! Steve (and Vic).. that's a classic case of a guy who didn't know what he was doing. I put the rig up, pointed the recorder at the rig, balanced the volume of the rig to my speaking voice... and..... then sat down behind the mic

 

[steve9000gi]

Nope... same here, but rather than run it through a compressor, I'd just get the sound into an editor and highlight his vox and raise the volume on those sections. Easy. I'd really rather not process the bass sections in any way. Haven't done it tho, 'cause it wasn't that huge of a problem for me... just had to listen close between clips.

Yeah, that would work, too...maybe easier, depending on your setup. I agree, you don't want to obscure the sounds of the basses by processing them.

 

[jonno1707]

I cant kick the habit...Nor do I want to...

 

[KJung]

Ken,
Very nice bass recording; really nice playing. Funny thing that nobody else reported, so I'm guessing it has something to do with my computer/net setup: your extremely useful spoken explanations were *way* lower in volume than the playing, and I had to compress the living $#!^ out of the downloaded mp3 file to hear voice without being blasted by bass. But like I said, it appears to be my rig and I got past it no problem (the playing I listened to uncompressed after I extracted the vocals).

I hear the family resemblance is between the two basses (or at least the similarity of the player ) but I do very much also hear the greater aggressiveness of the LM. I'm not the first one to say it, but it makes me want an LM to complement my LG.

What I'm wondering -- opposite you, Ken, I've always had a fondness for darker wood fretboards (out of 5 Fender and Fender-style instruments I've got 4 rosewoods and an ebony) -- and I wonder, futilely, I fear, given the number of variables even between two different pieces of the same kind of wood (and I believe this topic has been raised previously in TB ), how much of that increased aggressiveness is due to the maple/ash and how much to the 70's pickup placement. I may just have to go with the maple/ash and quit orbiting around the inevitable.

Now I'm also wondering: Ice Blue or CAOJ? Oh yeah, and there's the question of paying for it .

Thanks again for the great clips, Ken.

-Steve

P.S. (edit) I've also got Hi Beams on my LG-5 and I'm very happy with how they're sounding -- they're well past the first day's clank.

S

Thanks, and again sorry about that bad balance between the voice and bass. I won't make that mistake again.

I'm a pretty strong believer that the pickup placement has less of an impact than the wood. For example, I hear VERY little difference, if any, between the Sadowsky Metro UV (70's) and an identically spec'd MV5 (60's placement). Also, one of the most 'legitimate' sounding 70's J instruments to my ear is the Lakland DJ (which has 60's position pickups).

I have to agree with Roger on this one.. it's mostly the maple board. However, the pickup placement and body wood would complete the whole package if you are looking for that particular vibe IMO.

 

[svtb15]

I love that .I knew if we put our heads together it would create something.. That does flow well...
"Alleva-Coppoholics Anonymous" AA

To be fair to Jimmy's heritage, I think it should really be extended to "Alleva-Coppoholics Anonymous"... it just rolls off the tongue, try it!

My name is __________ , and I'm an Alleva-Coppoholic. It's been almost two weeks since I ordered my last Alleva Coppolo bass...

 

[Bass7755]

Thanks for posting the clips Ken. Both the LM and the LG
sound GREAT! Nice playing too!
Dan