My HORRIBLE Alleva-Coppolo experience...

[nukes_da_bass]

Read the entire OP

Only hearing one side of the story. I'd like to hear the builder chime in, Havent we seen him on this forum many times?

 

[fourstringdrums]

That is disgusting workmanship, but I wanted to comment on something else: The OP said that the bass arrived in a crappy gig bag. These days it's pretty much expected that once you hit the $1400 mark, chances are you're going to get a hardshell case of decent quality. Not getting one after paying $5000 is ridiculous.

But of course given the other problems that's a completely moot point, but it did bother me.

 

[mmbongo]

I can't believe that someone who calls himself a luthier would let this out of his shop.

 

[Herrick]

Whoa whoa whoa whoa stop the clock!

Before we all storm Frankensteins' castle with pitchforks and torches, has Jimmy even been approached with the situation?
Is it possible he has a few kids in the shop who were screwing around with the bass and Jimmy never saw it in this condition?
All of a sudden the guy makes a mistake and everyone is reaching for tar and feathers.
Lets see what the company owner offers in way of resolution...
(from another small business owner who wishes people would try the owner before rushing to the tar and feather mart...)

Did you read Addison's post?

 

[gravesbass]

Only hearing one side of the story. I'd like to hear the builder chime in, Havent we seen him on this forum many times?

There are pictures in this thread. That pretty much tells the story IMO. $5,000.... not a $500 MIM Fender.

 

[fleabee]

Don't forget the video, this is not just based on cosmetics.

 

[Hopkins]

There are pictures in this thread. That pretty much tells the story IMO. $5,000.... not a $500 MIM Fender.

I would be upset if my 500 dollar Fender looked like that

 

[LowBSix]

I'm shocked.... The pictures match the experience of the OP.

Jimmy's reputation is NOT of this example. I've been to the AC West coast shop and Jimmy's guest at local events. He's never been anything other than a confident gentle man in my experience.

I too am concerned that such a gifted artist/builder is well.

I'm not a fan of "public lynching". It would be nice to hear from him or a representative, his "understanding" of the transaction.

I'm hopeful the OP is made whole and the result to be nothing other than positive for all.

 

[Jookbox]

Mostly looks like build quality control, not wear and tear.

 

[levis76]

This is a disgrace. Not even a $200 Squier will have these flaws.

+1

We've all seen and played basses made on a factory line that look better than this travesty.

From the pics it looks like a nice AC bass was given to a high school kid with a super glue fetish. SO MUCH SUPER GLUE.

Seems to me the bass was not prepped properly before finishing and the frets started to pop out and the poly just went to hell.

Really hope the builder and proprietor of AC makes this right, by either offering to build the same bass the right way or a flat out refund.

 

[Chef]

Not many times.
Occasionally.

Only hearing one side of the story. I'd like to hear the builder chime in, Havent we seen him on this forum many times?

 

[Means2nEnd]

Only hearing one side of the story. I'd like to hear the builder chime in, Havent we seen him on this forum many times?

The pictures and the video are enough for anyone biased or not to see that this is not wear from playing it is simply piss poor manufacturing AND finishing. This bass would not have left almost any shop on the planet. I have seen better gloss finishes on a glazed Duncan Donuts period. The sanding was not finished and it’s obvious the clear coat was poorly applied and over sanded in some spots and not nearly enough on others.

Chris is a personal friend of mine I have bought basses from him and sold basses to him. I know his experience in the professional world of gigging and working with one of the best builders on the planet. This was not a tear or a tar and feathering it was hard for him to post but obviously it needed to be done. Honestly if you paid what he paid for it and were told tough luck all sales final and well maybe I’ll look at the neck what would you do? I was scared to rip on Warrior and in quiet desperation bought two basses one with horrible finish work and the second with faulty wiring. Maybe if I was brave enough to post objectively and as well-spoken as Chris maybe I might have saved someone else the thousands of dollars I lost and maybe they would be looked at closer before they left that shop and everyone would have could have benefited but I’m Italian and I would not have been so professional and able to separate my personal feeling and the facts nearly as well as they were presented in the OP.

 

[ddhm]

Oh man, I can only imagine the rage that the OP has right now. My heart goes out to you brother.

If the builder stands by the opinion that this is a $5000+ bass and does not correct this issue(s), I would wager that he'll stop getting orders altogether. If he'll let something like that leave his shop, I'll never get anything from him no matter the outcome of this situation. There is no excuse for that sort of work. For $5k, I'd expect perfection. For $1k I'd expect something WAY better than the OP got. Heck, for $250 I'd want better.

Deeply discounted? $700 is NOT a deep discount against $5k+. It would be enough of a discount for what the seller had described... I guess but that ain't what the buyer got for sure.

Not shipping in a case is pretty silly too. It's $5k for goodness sake. Would a hundred or 2 break the bank? That's about all a case costs these days. It sounds like the buyer expected a case and I would too.

Are all sales really final? I doubt it in this case. You didn't get what you paid for. I'd get the law involved... and the BBB.

 

[The Bass Clef]

Well, except for 1 person on here (who apparently commented before reading your entire post), it's unanimous that AC should take this bass back and give you your $$ back. I'm sure he will read this thread sooner or later if he hasn't already. He can't deny that everyone feels for you and agrees they would be upset and wanting their $$ back too if it happened to them. The whole pawning it off to one of his dealers without inspecting it really bothers me too Addison. It's like he's admitting that there are issues, and will make you a refund, contingent upon dooping someone else into buying that hopefully won't notice the many issues. Good luck man, I hope you can resolve this soon.

 

[kai_ski]

This all started in February of this year when I saw a lefty Spalted Alder LG 5-String posted on the A-C Facebook page. I was quoted a price of $5695 and encouraged to stop by the booth at the Feb 23rd Bassacre show to try it out.

Looks like he was in a real big hurry to get it to the show. Too bad he let it out of the shop in that condition. I can't imagine why he would highlight it on his facebook page. I feel bad for players and dealers who have to deal with builders like this. At the very least, the builder should replace the neck and pay to have the entire instrument professionally refinished. That would likely cost him less than giving a full refund and turning the bass into firewood.

 

[nukes_da_bass]

I read the OP. i think the OP should get a refund.
I still want to hear Jimmys side, from jimmy.
Everyone deserves their day in court. Thats how liberty functions.

 

[zagralin_arf]

Absolutely shameful. If a 200 dollar Squier had those issues, GC would clearance it out at cost.

I'd say the OP should email a link to this thread to AC, tell him that due to his horrid customer service the issue is being made public. A letter to Bass Player magazine probably couldn't hurt. If AC see's his name being besmirched like this he will take action...or just retire.

 

[narud]

If you go back through the AC club thread a couple of months, you will find my experience with AC. While the bass I received was not nearly as bad as this one, I was equally disappointed in the finish of such a high end bass. And, I will add, I heard from 6 other TB members that had similar issues with an AC bass, but didn't want to go public for various reasons.

I hope that you can get a full refund from Jimmy for that bass. What a disappointment.

its a shame that people wont post their experiences. people go ape **** with complaints over minor issues with a mim fender.

around 3 or 4 years ago when i was looking at getting some 5 strings built i posted about my experiences with some of his basses and sketchy quality. you invariably will have to deal with the claims you have an axe to grind so i get why people are hesitant. i specifically remember playing an RA5 at his shop that the blocks and binding looked super rough for a 5k bass. the eventual owner posted here raving about it so obviously some people dont look/care about that stuff or are seduced by the hand made thing.

10 years ago when i took delivery of my custom fodera i was pissed at dried glue seeping out of joints but was told by the dealer that thats part of going hand made

 

[zagralin_arf]

Hey Mods, can we make this a Sticky? This is something everyone should be aware of...

 

[iggy]

What do you want to hear from Jimmy? " Yeah, I decided to pull a fast one on an unsuspecting customer and it did not pan out for me. Sorry." The OP got burned. Did you see the pictures? There is just one side to this. He got shafted.