• 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.

My HORRIBLE Alleva-Coppolo experience...

Status
Not open for further replies.
#81
narud said:
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:rollno:
Click to expand...

Great point. I had issues with an very well loved (around here) boutique brand. Maybe I should've started a thread on it. It still bothers me today and I don't even own the bass anymore.
 
  • Like
Reactions: toan4dayz
#82
Sorry you have to go through this. Must be heart breaking. In every "why are boutique basses so expensive" the answer is invariably "fit, finish and attention to detail". Definitely not what one would expect for $5k.

Too bad. That's a pretty piece of wood and aside from the buzzing it sounds sweet in your vid.
 
#83
Man, I am so sorry to hear that... I have had a couple issues with another top level builder's quality, but they have always made it right for me. Honestly, my relic bass finishes look better, and they are supposed to look beat to hell...

Spending 5k on a Jazz bass is one thing, but spending 5k on something that is not flat out perfect (buzzing) is completely different.
 
#88
I have bought basses through internet since late 90's , My advice is :

1) Ask for some pictures
2) After received the bass pics, forward them to the seller asking seller to re confirm if the bass conditions are exactly like the pics he sent you. Even if the seller said that the bass is brand new , no matter if the seller is a well known shop or a luthier with a very good reputation.

This way you 'll have an email confirmation (with images) from the seller that could be used against him in these situations. This way the bad seller will not have any excuses ! It's a very simple thing, but I'm sure that the majority of us never think about this when buying basses through Internet ! We musicians and bass lovers are always thinking with our "hearts" more than using the reason in this cases. When we buy a new bass we are full of anxiety to receive our new toy and blind ! Even if it's a 5k bass !

Sorry , but I have to say that your Aleva C. bass is garbage ! 5K for this ? I would not pay U$ 500 for it ! Bad neck, damaged finished, tons of scratches ! Fight for your rights ! If you have an email from him confirming that the bass was almost "new" use it against him !

I was thinking to buy a Coppolo bass, but after read this I just gave up !
 
#89
Originally Posted by nukes_da_bass View Post

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...) Tarred and feathered? No. Superglued and feathered? Yes
 
  • Like
Reactions: toan4dayz
#90
I've come to expect essentially flawless workmanship (fit, finish, functioning) on basses priced _much_ lower than that. This is based on owning an MTD 535 (used, around $3K), several used and new Fbasses (in the $2.5K-$3.5K range), a US Brubaker (linked in my sig!), a Sadowsky Metro (used, high teens), and a Carvin SB5K (used, below a grand).

This story is a total jaw-dropper for me... Hope you can get satisfaction from the builder, OP.
 
#91
On the bright side, I just discovered the existence of spalted alder and I want some on a bass; I love alder but don't like the plain finish so I always add a top to it.

Now for your bass, bad finish issues could be accepted but there is no way a 5 grand instrument should look like this. Simply terrible.
 
#92
zagralin_arf said:
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.
Click to expand...


I cant think of anything he could possibly say that would be a decent excuse for that bass leaving his shop in that condition. The best thing he could do would be to apologize and either completely refinish it, and refret the neck, on top of a partial refund, or give a total refund. His tough luck, better luck next time attitude is totally unacceptable.
 
#94
to the OP: sorry for your situation. it hurts to trust someone and have that trust broken.

and yes, there are 3 sides to every story, but the evidence as presented by the OP is pretty clear. i would expect the builder would want that bass back, if for no other reason than to take their logo off the headstock and avoid the shame of a bass with such workmanship with their name on it.
 
#97
yodedude2 said:
to the OP: sorry for your situation. it hurts to trust someone and have that trust broken.

and yes, there are 3 sides to every story, but the evidence as presented by the OP is pretty clear. i would expect the builder would want that bass back, if for no other reason than to take their logo off the headstock and avoid the shame of a bass with such workmanship with their name on it.
Click to expand...

+1. Well said
 
#99
I could be forgiving of much of the obvious shoddiness at a significantly lower price. What is absolutely unforgivable is the slop job shaping of the horns. That's unacceptable on a $150 Squier, let alone at a 1/4 the cost of this bass. What tools does that hack use in his shop? A chainsaw and a hedgeclipper? Wow. Just wow.
 
  • Like
Reactions: toan4dayz
#100
To the OP, I would have bought the bass based on reputation too, so don't feel like you did something wrong. Especially since it was built as a showpiece at a tradeshow. You would expect absolute perfection and maybe some swirls and fingernail marks from the slap happy crowd. Actually, now that I think about it, I would have expected even less wear on this bass since it's a lefty.

I certainly know one manufacturer that I would never purchase from in the future. That's the fit and finish you expect from a sub $500 bass, not a $5000 bass. Actually, a $500 bass is usually higher quality.

I hope you get a quick refund and an apology. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back