Chef
In Memoriam
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
- Status
Pretty much exactly what's on his web site. Standard LG5 w/tort, burst, full preamp and ptc. Vintage tint on the neck tho, and poly finish. Sorry, no nitro for me.
Niice! I'm not sure if you've spoken with Jimmy yet, and I'm not sure if I'm supposed to say this but he got the hard shell cases today and he said he liked them a lot; said it was the exact vibe he was looking for.
He said they'd be included with the LG Classic, Classic Supreme, and KBP Classic and Classic Supreme only. The bass is held at an angle (vintage way) and the accessory compartment is on the side corner. [Exact to 60's spec he says].
Edit: But I'm not sure if he'll be shipping them yet though.
Chef
In Memoriam
Sounds like he's talking about something different to me.While Jimmy did mention the Contego case to me-and I have one and like it-it's not exact to 60's anything...and, ain't no side corner in a Contego: it's teardrop shaped.
Can anyone here compare level of quality of A-Cs vs an NYC Sadowsky?
Also, and I apologize if it has been answered before, but who here has compared the nitro vs poly finishes on these basses?If so, any significant tonal difference perceived?
Also, and I apologize if it has been answered before, but who here has compared the nitro vs poly finishes on these basses?If so, any significant tonal difference perceived?
I own NYC Sadowsky basses (well, as of last week, bass in the singular... an NYC Vintage ash/maple with Sadowsky singles) and Alleva's (an LM with poly and an LG with Nitro).
Any discussion of 'quality' between these two lines is IMO misguided. Both are as 'high' on the quality continuum as any basses made today (by quality continuum, I mean fit and finish, playability, service and support, design, and an entire 'custom' feel, with pickups, preamps, etc. designed to work together, etc.).
The Alleva Nitro finish is absolutely beautiful, and really old school. It seems relatively robust, but IMO, I would only recommend a Nitro finish if you were very driven by the whole 'vintage look and feel' thing. I don't think there is any impact on the tone whatsoever (given the current ultra thin poly finishes), and even though the Nitro finish that Jimmy uses does seem pretty durable and tough, you still need to baby it (i.e., use the correct case without any plastic coming into contact with it, etc.). The only reason that I bought my LG with Nitro finish is that I fell in love with a used one. If I was ordering one, it would be poly all the way.
The main decision IMO between the NYC Sadowsky and Alleva is if you want a more modern feeling and looking J instrument (i.e., more 'active sounding', reduced body size, more modern 12" radius in the 5 string, etc.), or if you want to stay closer to a somewhat vintage Fender feel, look and tone in a 5 string. It I was one who dug, for example, a fancy wood top on a J Bass, it would be Sadowsky all the way. While Jimmy can do this also, it doesn't really seem to be his 'thing', and it REALLY is Roger's thing IMO. He has some of the most beautiful top veneers and clearcoat/trans finishes I've ever seen.
I love both lines of basses, and at this point, they are the only two lines of basses I'm interesting in owning.
IMO as always!
Thanks Ken.
I am seriously considering selling some basses and ordering an A-C, but it is huge amount of money for me to invest on a bass I've never played. On paper though, it seems right up my alley.
My other hesitation is I don't feel I've played any bass worth over $2k (to me). The point of diminishing returns kicks in before that, and I feel like after a point I am just paying for something "different" but not better.
YMMV, IMO, etc.
I am seriously considering selling some basses and ordering an A-C, but it is huge amount of money for me to invest on a bass I've never played. On paper though, it seems right up my alley.
My other hesitation is I don't feel I've played any bass worth over $2k (to me). The point of diminishing returns kicks in before that, and I feel like after a point I am just paying for something "different" but not better.
YMMV, IMO, etc.
The 'diminishing return' thing is definitely real, and I agree with it. To me, it's worth paying 100% more in some cases to get 25% (or even less) 'better'. It just depends what is important to you. I'm lucky enough to have enough cash at this point in my career (playing and day gig) to pay quite a bit of a premium for what I feel is the absolute best. To be perfectly honest, I could be just as happy with a Lakland Skyline DJ if I had to be.
Many ask me the same thing about amps (i.e., is the Puma worth double the cost of the LMII?, etc.). When asked in that 'black and white' way, my answer is 'no'
I am happy to pay 50% more for 5-10% "better" but wouldn't go so far as to pay 200-300% more for 1-2% "better".
Then I would say either the Alleva or the NYC Sadowsky would be worth every penny to you. Both the NYC Sadowsky and the Alleva are IMO at the very top of the boutique J category in just about every evaluation category you would care to use.
Edit: I'm talking about active 5 strings here. Honestly, if I was a 'passive 4 string guy', I'd be playing a Fender... period.
I am a passive 4 string guy with several Fenders...
It would be hard for me to justify the cost of an Alleva then. I again have yet to find an active Fender 5 string that speaks to me, both from a neck profile, fit and finish, and especially pickups and electronics perspective (IMO and IME).
The Sadowsky is a bit of a different thing, since Roger does not really attempt to vibe older Fenders, but rather puts his on stamp on a more modern, aggressive, J like tone (i.e., a Sadowsky 4 string will sound quite different than a Fender J)
IMO!
I have some nice Fenders but not a "magical" one they way people have describe certain vintage Fenders. So far, all the ones I've owed and played were ok, but not spectacular. Everyone here seem to rave about A-Cs capturing this vibe consistently.
+1 to that. If you don't have the ability, time and/or motivation to play LOT's of newer Fenders until you find 'that one', I agree. One of the things you get for the massive amount of cash with these boutique J's is a much more consistent execution from bass to bass.
I was lucky enough to live close to a bass only retail store that constantly had new and used J basses coming through. Many were 'eh', a few where PERFECT (and mostly in the $500-$900 price range). I still think about a 2007 (I think) MIM ash/maple 4 string J that was literally among the finest J's I've ever played. Sometimes, even 'massed produced' instruments just get that magical combination of just the right pieces of wood coming together.
Put another way, I really love the way my active 5 string Alleva's feel and sound reasonably close to a really good, older Fender 4 string J Bass to my ear and hands.
Then I would say either the Alleva or the NYC Sadowsky would be worth every penny to you. Both the NYC Sadowsky and the Alleva are IMO at the very top of the boutique J category in just about every evaluation category you would care to use.
Edit: I'm talking about active 5 strings here. Honestly, if I was a 'passive 4 string guy', I'd be playing a Fender... period.
Interesting, do you think Fender Custom Shop is comparable to the quality of Alleva Coppolo? Or were you talking vintage Fender?
I have never played the true 'Custom Shop' Fenders (the very expensive true custom made models). I have owned and played the 'production custom shop' models (whatever they are called.. like the 62 Reissue, etc.), and was totally unimpressed.
I was actually talking new and off the rack. If you can find a 'good one', they are as good as anything if you are talking about the classic passive 4 strings. But, SO many of them suck, you have to really play a lot of them to find one that is awesome IMO and IME.
svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
- 4,741
- Disclosures
- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
I've played a few of the true Custom Shop models, and I hope I don't get flamed for saying so, but you're not really missing anything above what you've already played. I've never felt the high end CS stuff was "worth it". IMHO!
Thanks for the opinion. My #1 is an '02 Fender Classic '60s Jazz Bass with Fender CS '60s pickups. I haven't played many other Fenders, and I bought it used, but it plays, sounds, and feels great.
By production custom shop, do you mean American Vintage?
I had a master built CS Fender jazz once- it was ok, slightly above average. Would never pay $4-6k for one.
- Status
