Club Alleva Coppolo (Part V)

[vision]

Okay, I just got back from playing Ken's LM5 in a mix (church service with organ, keys, drums, choir, and praise team on mics, and me with my LMII/410UL setup.) It absolutely killed! With all the music going on it sounded alot like my Celinder, except for the evenness I talked about earlier. On the Celinder the B string is HUGE and the G string can sound a bit thin in the mix, while on the LM5 all five strings had the same amount of ooomph. You really notice this when slapping. The LM5 has a tighter sound overall. It doesn't have the over the top 70's on steroid sound of the Celinder when playing solo, but the LM5's more raw aggressivness is probably easier to project into the room.

 

[vision]

In fact Joe, I think you may be feeling something in the AC basses that alot of people simply wouldn't ever notice due to your particular style/requirements. (I probably wouldn't get it).

This makes sense to me, I don't play near the bridge at all (I play over the neck pickup) so I don't have to work hard to get that "digging in" jazz bass growl.

 

[KJung]

thats the fodera which i use about 10 percent of the time because i dont get a chance to play much fusion. however, theres a track up there with my 78 jazz. lusitanos

i pay my rent playing earth wind and fire and the gap band and play a jazz bass 90 percent of the time (my main gigging bass is actually ace of bass's old r.i.) hence, my looking for a 5 string jazz

Really nice playing. I hope you find a 5 string that works for you! It thought that cut sounded too fat to be a J. I dug it though!

 

[KJung]

Okay, I just got back from playing Ken's LM5 in a mix (church service with organ, keys, drums, choir, and praise team on mics, and me with my LMII/410UL setup.) It absolutely killed! With all the music going on it sounded alot like my Celinder, except for the evenness I talked about earlier. On the Celinder the B string is HUGE and the G string can sound a bit thin in the mix, while on the LM5 all five strings had the same amount of ooomph. You really notice this when slapping. The LM5 has a tighter sound overall. It doesn't have the over the top 70's on steroid sound of the Celinder when playing solo, but the LM5's more raw aggressivness is probably easier to project into the room.

+1... it really sings in a mix and the fatness of the G and D strings really is something. The funny thing is that, to me, many basses sound balanced solo and then get too big down low in a mix. The LM is just the opposite. When played solo, the G and D can almost seem a little much, and the B does not sound that 'big'. However, in the mix, it just comes out totally, completely fat and even for me.

That LMII/410UL(I) is the bomb with that bass, isn't it? One of my most favorite combinations ever for a 70's type J tone at loud volumes.

Glad you dug it! Now give it back

 

[vision]

The funny thing is that, to me, many basses sound balanced solo and then get too big down low in a mix. The LM is just the opposite. When played solo, the G and D can almost seem a little much, and the B does not sound that 'big'. However, in the mix, it just comes out totally, completely fat and even for me.

+1...it's almost weird how even the strings are, it's like I'm used to overcompensating for the strings sounding bigger as you go lower. But on the A-C you just play the thing and have fun!

Glad you dug it! Now give it back

I knew I was in trouble borrowing this bass . Whenever I borrow something from you I end up getting one at some point - the 310UL, the Thunderfunk, the LMII, and the Celinder.

 

[Basseroni]

thats the fodera which i use about 10 percent of the time because i dont get a chance to play much fusion. however, theres a track up there with my 78 jazz. lusitanos

i pay my rent playing earth wind and fire and the gap band and play a jazz bass 90 percent of the time (my main gigging bass is actually ace of bass's old r.i.) hence, my looking for a 5 string jazz

Your music and playing is off da chain! I loveeeeeeeeeeeee it. Zane Musa is a friend of mine and a GREAT saxophonist as well.

I can really tell the difference in sound between Lucky Charms and Lusitanos. Lusitanos sounds a lot like the growl you would get from an LM5. The bass in Lucky Charms sound more smooth and bridge growly. Both great sounds.

I'm thinking that you could probably cop that same growly bridge tone from the LM5 as well with some differences of course due to the LM5 having single coils and the Fodera having the humbucking soapbars. Not sure though but it sounds possible.

If you do most of your gigs with a that 78 jazz anyway and want that sound in a 5-string package then I say the LM5 will do it for you.

 

[narud]

Your music is off da chain! I loveeeeeeeeeeeee it. Zane Musa is a friend of mine and a GREAT saxophonist as well.

I can really tell the difference in sound between Lucky Charms and Lusitanos. Lusitanos sounds a lot like the growl you would get from an LM5. The bass in Lucky Charms sound more smooth and bridge growly. Both great sounds.

I'm thinking that you could probably cop that same growly bridge tone from the LM5 as well with some differences of course due to the LM5 having single coils and the Fodera having the humbucking soapbars. Not sure though but it sounds possible.

lucky charms had the pickups centered. im not trying to have a jazz that does anything that the fodera does. it does it already and ive played 3 lm5's at this point as well as some 4 strings and other stuff and i can get that growl but i have to dig in too hard to get it for my taste. my action is set pretty low (carey nordstrand commented that he wouldnt ship a bass to a customer with the action i have on the 78 jazz unless he knew they played with a light touch) so im not really digging in that hard to get that sound.

btw, you know all the bako mfc guys right? ive known forrestt for years and we used to teach at the same music store.

 

[narud]

Your music and playing is off da chain! I loveeeeeeeeeeeee it. Zane Musa is a friend of mine and a GREAT saxophonist as well.

thanks for the kind words. zane is definitely beastly!

 

[XavidmanX]

btw, you know all the bako mfc guys right? ive known forrestt for years and we used to teach at the same music store.

(I know this wasn't directed at me but I thought I would still chime in )

I play with a great saxophonist on occasion, Paul Perez, who used to play with mfc. Not sure if he still does anymore...probably not since their myspace doesn't mention him.

That cat can get crazy on that sax...great musician.

 

[KJung]

lucky charms had the pickups centered. im not trying to have a jazz that does anything that the fodera does. it does it already and ive played 3 lm5's at this point as well as some 4 strings and other stuff and i can get that growl but i have to dig in too hard to get it for my taste. my action is set pretty low (carey nordstrand commented that he wouldnt ship a bass to a customer with the action i have on the 78 jazz unless he knew they played with a light touch) so im not really digging in that hard to get that sound.

btw, you know all the bako mfc guys right? ive known forrestt for years and we used to teach at the same music store.

Do you definitely need to keep it at 34" scale? I wonder if Mike Lull couldn't make a very heavy body ash bass for you in a 5 (I think he only does 35" scale necks). You could probably spec some Antiquity II"s in there and maybe get the 'feel' you are missing with the Alleva, while still maintaining a 'true J' tone in a 5 string.

Edit: That and a plek fretjob for uber low action might get you close to where you need to be

 

[narud]

(I know this wasn't directed at me but I thought I would still chime in )

I play with a great saxophonist on occasion, Paul Perez, who used to play with mfc. Not sure if he still does anymore...probably not since their myspace doesn't mention him.

That cat can get crazy on that sax...great musician.

paul's a bad man too. ive never played with him but my wife used to do causuals with him.

 

[narud]

Do you definitely need to keep it at 34" scale? I wonder if Mike Lull couldn't make a very heavy body ash bass for you in a 5 (I think he only does 35" scale necks). You could probably spec some Antiquity II"s in there and maybe get the 'feel' you are missing with the Alleva, while still maintaining a 'true J' tone in a 5 string.

theres some stuff going on at the nordstrand shop that im waiting to check out and work with him with so im waiting to see how that turns out.

i dont know what mike's vintage series neck profile is like, but i had a modern 5 that didnt agree with me at all. i couldnt get along with the neck shape.

 

[KJung]

theres some stuff going on at the nordstrand shop that im waiting to check out and work with him with so im waiting to see how that turns out.

i dont know what mike's vintage series neck profile is like, but i had a modern 5 that didnt agree with me at all. i couldnt get along with the neck shape.

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of the feel and even the look of those basses, but just brainstorming with you!

Let us know what is happening over on the Nordstrand side of things. I REALLY couldn't come to terms with those basses, but the quality is first rate. If he can do more of a true jazz thing, maybe with those 70's wound singles (I haven't heard those) that might be cool.

Good luck again. It's hard if you know exactly what you want and then not be able to find it. My approach is to throw $20,000 at it over a decade or so, and eventually stumble into the truth through random, dumb luck

 

[Basseroni]

btw, you know all the bako mfc guys right? ive known forrestt for years and we used to teach at the same music store.

Oh yes, I know Forrest and I'm good friends with all of the other band members. I have my own lead bass solo band and Dennis Hamm is the keyboard player for that and plus I work with Dennis on other projects. I've known all of those cats for years as I'm based in Bakersfield, too.

I play with a great saxophonist on occasion, Paul Perez, who used to play with mfc. Not sure if he still does anymore...probably not since their myspace doesn't mention him.

That cat can get crazy on that sax...great musician.

Yes, Paul Perez is a beast, too. We gig together from time to time but mostly when I'm asked to sub for the regular bassist for Mento Buru. You know my buddy Gary Rink. He talks about you all of the time when I go visit him at Stockdale Music. He told me about the LG5 you let him check out and how floored he was over the feel of that bass.

 

[Vic]

thats the...

This is OT, but I must say, I really dig your playing a lot!

 

[XavidmanX]

paul's a bad man too. ive never played with him but my wife used to do causuals with him.

Yeah...he's one of those guys that's so good that it almost makes me stop playing so I can just watch and listen.

 

[XavidmanX]

Oh yes, I know Forrest and I'm good friends with all of the other band members. I have my own lead bass solo band and Dennis Hamm is the keyboard player for that and plus I work with Dennis on other projects. I've known all of those cats for years as I'm based in Bakersfield, too.

Oh...cool...another Bakersfieldianite.

Yes, Paul Perez is a beast, too. We gig together from time to time but mostly when I'm asked to sub for the regular bassist for Mento Buru. You know my buddy Gary Rink. He talks about you all of the time when I go visit him at Stockdale Music. He told me about the LG5 you let him check out and how floored he was over the feel of that bass.

Yeah...Gary is a good guy and a beast on the bass. I take my basses by the shop every now and then, especially when I have something new, so that I can hear how the bass SHOULD be played .

Now that I checked out your myspace I know who you are...Gary mentions you a lot, especially when we got to talking about AC's, and I'm pretty sure we met at Guitar Center once. I was bringing in a Valenti for my bud Ron Brown to check out as you were walking out and you asked me if it was an Alleva Coppolo. THAT is what first got me looking into Jimmy's basses as I had no clue what you were talking about at the time.

Anyway, I dig your grooves on the bass. Hopefully we will see you around town soon.

Sorry for the OT discussion, fellas.

 

[XavidmanX]

Speaking of getting back on topic...

Basseroni, I saw in your profile that you have an LM5 coming soon...would you mind sharing the specs? Sorry if you already detailed that earlier and I missed it.

 

[Basseroni]

Speaking of getting back on topic...

Basseroni, I saw in your profile that you have an LM5 coming soon...would you mind sharing the specs? Sorry if you already detailed that earlier and I missed it.

Yep, I remember that teal-colored Valenti. It stood out as it's my favorite color and that was my first and only time seeing a Valenti live.

I ordered an LM5 with a maple fingerboard, transparent black body, and a white pearloid (or black) pickguard. Jimmy is going to send me some pics of the body with both pickguards and I'll make my decision then. I'm leaning more towards the white pearloid though but I just want to be sure. I also asked him if he could keep the bass between 8.5 and 9 pounds. I don't need another heavy bass in my stable. My Musicman takes care of that at 10 pounds.

Oh and thanks for the compliments and yes, Gary is a beast on bass. I first heard him years ago when he was still in high school playing with the Kern County Honor Jazz Band and then Split Figure. He was even killin' then.

 

[peterpalmieri]

I'm convinced I will stay with the Hi Beams on the LG now.

I was able to break in my set of Nickels and get very close to the exact sound I am looking for with Nickels. With my particular LG it still has a little more zing to the sound which will probably help in live situations but very much the tone I was hoping for. I can still dial up a more SS string 70s type tone when I need it using the onboard treble control and rolling back the VTC slightly. But don't get me wrong for slap playing the SS are totally superior.

Unfortunately I am off pretty much all month so getting her out on a gig won't happen any time soon. I am hoping to spend most of my free time practicing the DB when not doing the needed home repairs...

I've never done this in the past but I think I might just bounce back and forth between the Hi Beams and nickels depending on the gig. This bass can do both very well That might save me from having to own a seperate LM or other 70s style J...