Need advice; Alleva Coppolo RA5 Vs. Ken Smith BSR5

[otto B]

I need some advice, just over 2 month ago I acquired a Alleva Coppolo RA5, great bass, however lately I being having a Gas for a Ken Smith BSR5, I can't have both. I need some advice, what bass do you all recommend the AC or the KS? Both builders make awesome basses. I would like to hear other players recommendations. What bass would you recommend to keep and why?

 

[mp40smg]

It depends on the sound you are going for. But if it were me, I'd keep the Smith. To me the AC is just another Fender knock off..

 

[Kmrumedy]

I think you are the best person to answer this question as I see by your feedback that you actually already owned and sold a Ken Smith BSR5. You have intimate knowledge of both basses.

As a player and my personal opinion - I have owned and played almost all of the so called " Super Fender " clones or builders. What I discovered in this VERY expensive journey is I went full circle and ended up with a vintage Fender. Spent my time and found one with really good bones. Found a luthier that can set it up like a super Fender. When I need that extra boost or modern tone I simply plug it into an outboard preamp like a Sadowsky. Best of both worlds. I have found this has saved me thousands of dollars experimenting on the latest TB koolaid builder charging $4-$6K for a hopped up Fender like instrument. All these super Fenders I end up selling 6 months later, then buy another one with different name, sell that one....rinse repeat. So that solved my super Fender issue.

Smith.....well.....only a Smith will do. I've been playing the same BT5 since 1989.

I think trying to swap an AC for KS (or vice versa) and have them do the same things is just not a reasonable expectation. They are 2 different builds.

Not sure if this helps. Either way you are getting or have a top tier instrument.

 

[J.Wolf]

Having played a bunch of Smiths and a handful of AC's, I will offer my perspective.

AC's are not a fender knockoff. They are THE Fender knockoff that in almost any comparo stands head and shoulders above other fender style instruments (there are a few other standouts, but for all intents and purposes.....) They are exceptionally well playing, great sounding basses that nail the vintage fender vibe but offer modern features and quality. The ones I played at NAMM were stupid good. really.

I have only played a few Smiths that I loved, and many that I found lifeless and awkward, ergonomically. They really kill at getting the smith sound but if I was getting one, I'd want one with the Armstrong dual coils and neck thru/set neck that the Smith tone is known for.

At the end of the day, its an apples to orange question. Do you want a Fender style bass? Hard to beat the AC. Do you want that compressed modern sound? Smith's offer that in spades.

 

[ole Jason]

If you want one of the best quality Fender clones available the AC will be hard to beat. If you want modern tones the KS will be hard to beat. It should be noted that plenty of MUCH cheaper basses can get reasonably similar tones as both basses so why not just get a cheaper version of whichever tone you desire less?

 

[otto B]

I appreciate all the feedback, i did own KS before but it’s been years that i had forgotten the feel and sound. I can say that I had always had mix feeling about single coil jazz basses until I got this AC, it change my perspective, this bass sounds great. I do tent to look forthe more punchy clean cut through the mix modern sound. That was the reason about the GAS for a KS.

 

[J.Wolf]

I will agree that there are some much cheaper ways to get that 70's Fender sound, with good build quality. AC is the best "cost is no concern" option, but for my money, I'd agree with the above post and keep the Smith and find myself a used Nordy, or something similar. Or even go the Sire route for serious value.

 

[otto B]

Being that I already have the AC RA5 on hand, would you say to just keep it or do you all recommend to move to the KS?

 

[J.Wolf]

I'm a much bigger AC fan than a Smith fan, so I'm biased, but if you love the AC, keep it!

 

[J.Wolf]

that said, you could probably cop the 70's jazz vibe for cheaper more easily than copping the Smith vibe for cheaper. Perhaps.

 

[nostatic]

fwiw, my Smiths sounded (in my hands) like very angry P-basses. I liked it a lot. For the ergos, add a second strap lock below the halfway point - that fixed the way they hang on a strap for me. I ended up moving both my Smiths as I was making a commitment to 6-string (which has now lapsed - sigh) and 4 but I also have decided that 19mm spacing for a 5'er is better for me.

I could never get past the AC headstock but I'm shallow that way . At this point I have a Sadowsky Satin Deluxe 5'er that is working well for me. Which is odd because I hate JJ basses, especially ash/maple. Go figure...

 

[AngelCrusher]

A happy compromise- i played a ken smith burner that really blew my mind.

 

[Admiral Akbar]

You can't go wrong with either builder.

Both are passionate about what they build, and create from a player's perspective.

Ken Smith was a double bass/electric bass session pro, and brought that knowledge end experience as a player into his unique, and innovative instruments.

Jimmy Coppolo grew up learning his craft in the busy shops of NYC, working with and incorporating ideas of some of the greatest bassists of all time, as well as adding a huge amount of his own creative intuition into the AC line of basses and guitars.

Both of these men are perfectionists and of strong opinion on what works and what doesn't work.

I'd keep the AC and save the pennies and get that BSR5. I use a BSR6 as well a 1985 BT4 and would never ever part with these instruments. I consider both works of art and integral to "my sound" and playing technique. I'd love to get an AC someday!

 

[Kirk Bryant]

If you can't afford both stop future tripping. ...Of course, if you can, if it's not being completely fiscally irresponsible. If you're employed, have the money, or will be able to pay it off in a reasonable length of time, why not? Break out the plastic, and make payments. Isn't that what it's for? A little instant gratification.

 

[cnltb]

Being that I already have the AC RA5 on hand, would you say to just keep it or do you all recommend to move to the KS?

I'd keep the AC and get on with playing music rather than overthinking gear.Smiths tend to have quite a distinctive tone to them which may or may not work as well in projects you are involved with, as the more generic AC.

 

[madbass6]

I need some advice, just over 2 month ago I acquired a Alleva Coppolo RA5, great bass, however lately I being having a Gas for a Ken Smith BSR5, I can't have both. I need some advice, what bass do you all recommend the AC or the KS? Both builders make awesome basses. I would like to hear other players recommendations. What bass would you recommend to keep and why?

Keep the smith..

 

[bearhart74]

Having played a bunch of Smiths and a handful of AC's, I will offer my perspective.

AC's are not a fender knockoff. They are THE Fender knockoff that in almost any comparo stands head and shoulders above other fender style instruments (there are a few other standouts, but for all intents and purposes.....) They are exceptionally well playing, great sounding basses that nail the vintage fender vibe but offer modern features and quality. The ones I played at NAMM were stupid good. really.

I have only played a few Smiths that I loved, and many that I found lifeless and awkward, ergonomically. They really kill at getting the smith sound but if I was getting one, I'd want one with the Armstrong dual coils and neck thru/set neck that the Smith tone is known for.

At the end of the day, its an apples to orange question. Do you want a Fender style bass? Hard to beat the AC. Do you want that compressed modern sound? Smith's offer that in spades.

+1 for the correct usage of "for all intents and purposes"

 

[J.Wolf]

I know a little, for all intensive purposes

 

[bass12]

Depends on what your real interests are. If your primary interest is checking out different basses and playing the flip game then, by all means, sell the AC and get the Smith. If you are simply trying to find a bass that works for you and that will help you to concentrate on the music then you just have to decide for yourself whether or not the AC is that bass. Contrary to popular parlance, you can go wrong with any bass brand. Basses are like apples: you can narrow things down by choosing a particular variety (a Honey Crisp, for example) but liking the variety won't necessarily mean that you'll like the individual apple that you've chosen. Not every AC with the same specs will sound the same and not every Smith with the same specs will sound the same. It's always a crapshoot - unless you get to try the bass before buying.

 

[J.Wolf]

I'm a sucker for analogies and that apple one is a great way to describe the phenomenon of "just because you played an XYZ that you loved doesnt mean you'll love the next XYZ".

Prime example. I don't really care for the way Smiths play/feel. They look awesome, certainly sound great for their thing, and are obviously adored by their fans. A buddy pulled out a neck thru 5 the other day that was SMOKIN. I mean really smokin. I don't know what the deal was, but if this was a 10, the other neck thru smiths I've played have been 4's or 5's (purely subjectively). As such, I've gotten really leery about buying basses online, and especially ordering custom basses. Its just always a crapshoot. I'd say there are 3 or 4 builders tops that I would order a custom from anymore, and I can't afford most of them. lol. but i digress