Leaderboard

Wrong thread mate ... you're supposed to be over in Bass Guitars on the Alleva Coppolo topic.

Also posted this on Talkbass but want to here on Basschat as this is where I bought the bass back in January (from @electriccheese in Spain https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/348045-1966-fender-jazz-bass-sold/?tab=comments#comment-3824185 ) - a 'hippy refin' with the body stripped to natural (fortunately not sanded or reshaped in the process). The headstock had also been refinished but the back of the neck and heel still had the original finish (some light nitro overspray) and all parts are original down to the covers, tug bar and case. Will note that it has a nice thin C profile, very low action after a prior 'ski jump' repair and comes in at 8.5 lbs. I had it sent directly to Bravewood and had him restore - going for Fiesta Red faded to coral pink (or akin to some of the mythological 'Selmer refins' some of which tended to the flamingo pink shade) - though it turned out pretty much dead on to the hyper-rare Fender Tahitian Coral - over sunburst. I had an original '65 white guard which I sent as well (John fixed the broken tips). John did an amazing job removing some of the overspray and blending in the new finish on the back of the headstock with the old finish on the back of the neck. Really difficult to see any transition. Just showed up here a few days ago. Super pleased with John's work and the bass itself. Set up and playability is crazy good. With gratitude to Basschat!

The main flaws on my basses are the notes I play.

Today's gig 😁

And to one of the mildly terrifying bits. Is that really the body, clamped in the modified jaws of a workmate, suspended over a towel over a concrete floor and a router pushing down on it????? Yes it is And I'm smiling mainly because it didn't fall out. Or crush. Or bruise. But there are few other ways you can accurately cut the mortice... And I've got to do it again soon, the other way up. Because there are few other ways you can accurately cut the tailstock plate slot... The workmate is a home-made version of a jig that is featured on the excellent ObrienGuitars 'Luthier Tips du Jour Mailbag' series for cutting mortices, and neck angles and tenons. The template is a G&W one. The result: But, Andy. I thought you hated routers? I do. But there are times when it's pretty much the only way to do a task. And did it go faultlessly? Of course not. The mortice is longer than I intended because the template slipped as I was routing. It doesn't matter, but it confirms I hate f*****g routers!! The same rig is used to cut the neck angle and the tenon. For this, the neck is clamped to a board, located by a couple of pegs that fit in the trussrod slot, and hinged so I can rout different angles onto the heel: And what angle? Well - a straight edge on top of the fretboard should ideally just sit on top of the bridge - and then the action height is set by the saddle that will sit proud of the bridge. And that's why I had to make the bridge first. My straight edge is the offcut from the fretboard: And the gap at the top of the heel in the photo below shows the angle the neck has to sit at for the straight edge to lie in the right place: So I tilt the hinged plate to that angle and route that into the heel end. And this time when I check, there's no gap at the top of the heel: It will be actually finished by hand once the bridge is fitted, but this will get me at least into the right ball-park So - ignoring the fretboard taper that hasn't been done yet, and the neck thickness that hasn't been done yet - it continues to progress:

My oldest boy is in the process of transcribing some 'Heart' Tunes for a project. He said to me "Blimey. dad - She's a terrific Rock singer..!!". I can't argue with him, yes she is...

Yes, ultimately Pete didn’t trust them not to keep on diluting them... a Wal with Duncan Designeds, generic preamp and a Schaller bridge would be a fine bass but not a Wal. Paul’s simply not interested and is hugely protective of the brand and hand building to his own high standards.

This. I get that these basses are very special, but, as an ex owner of Wal mk2 and mk3 5 strings (bought second hand), when it comes to the gig they are just another bass. They have to feel right and sound right. They are a lot of money and a very long wait only to find out you really wanted something else. I'd buy a second hand Wal to work out what playing one on a regular basis is like. After 6 months you might change your mind about some important bits. Then look at your need to drop a small fortune on a new one.

I think I’ll pursue a used one - an 84 would be YOB - at least then the hit will be minimal if my memory betrays me and I’m not as in love as an owner as I was as a temporary custodian.

Frets are in and ready to fill the slot ends and dress the frets. I'm also going to get the electric bits sorted - they shouldn't be too bad as there is no preamp on this build. I've tried the LEDs and will connect them to a switch for off/dim/bright positions - I'm pleased with how white LEDs look on this. So this is where I'm at currently. Both of these basses came from the same relatively small slab of beech - there wasn't much waste from this slab at all which is quite pleasing. If I had made a bass with a normal shape/size I would have only got one bass from it. I'm on the look out for another slab of spalted beech for future projects.....

[Mod's Hat On] It rather looks as if this topic is about to tumble into pointless and point-scoring sarcasms; my feeling is that it would be best locked, starting with a week or so. If it's re-opened (it's not BC policy to lock topics, generally...) it'll be watched, and further dumb posting will bring about the inevitable permanent lock. Please get back to whatever purposeful occupation you were involved in; there'll be an interlude here. [/Mod's Hat On]

This is very sage advice @chris_b. Any Wal will sound like a Wal with the wood choices changing the aesthetics and giving subtle modifications to the tone. But at heart... it’s still a Wal - the important elements are there. So, if you want a Wal then buying second hand is a very good choice. I love my Wals but I’d find it hard to justify paying the new price - although I appreciate the economics of what Paul is doing with just him and an assistant (only him during lockdown), hand crafting almost every element and outsourcing only a few elements (mostly to his own bespoke specs) and giving the wood elements longer to rest/settle/season than most between operations. His order book is very healthy and so I would reckon build times and prices are only going in one direction. So if what you want is a Wal then second hand is a really good option. If you MUST have a Wal with THAT wood, THAT custom neck profile, THAT colour tuners, THAT finish etc etc then you are self selecting commissioning a new bass at full price with a 30+ month lead time. It’s a choice. Keep an eye out here for them coming up for sale, similarly on Talkbass and if you’re on Facebook I moderate the Wal fan group on there. A lot of basses get offered there before BC, TB, Reverb or eBay. PS yes, the neck profile is a bit unusual and certainly not like a P or J but I find it really, really comfortable and easy to play both thumb around and thumb behind (even with my wee, stubby fingers).

That’s good to know 👍

Gianni, you have made your point eloquently ( really eloquently if english isn't your first language ) but those who have responded have made their's too and they are entitled to. The car analogy doesn't, in the end, work that well, because there are so many other variables come into play....the skill of the user, the rules of the.road...the bloody weather... You can go really fast in a ford focus if you want. Some people find themselves in the position of being able to afford Ferraris...or high-end basses....and they buy them and use them and are happy or not. Other people use ford focus cars or Squiers basses and are happy and content too. And it isn't even a question of empyrical values either...not materials, not how well the things are made....not what they will be "worth" later.....it's all those things and many more besides, and in the end it's a judgement call for the individual which, in the end, is worth it if they think it is. On another thread, Andy Travis talked about his Sadowsky and his Yamaha 414....he pointed out that the Sadowsky is better than the Yamaha but not ten times better, which given the cost differential one might argue that it should be...and yet he seems to like both and hasn't got too hung up about it. That's how it is....we find value in things according to our own, unique criteria.

“Welcome to the hotel A Coppolo...”

Pure Blues arrived today and I fitted them to my VS4 this evening. Really liking them so far, great tension and sound "played in" straight after fitting them.

IME the main difference in sound isn’t the style or type of pickup but more where the pickup is located. I mean everything comes into play but that’s what makes it difficult to generalise and why we must all own lots of basses 🤔

Kate Nash, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Anna Calvi, Elastica, Talking Heads, Pixies, PJ Harvey, Sleigh Bells, Blood Red Shoes, The White Stripes, The Subways. Mainly rock artists and bands, but all have strong female role models, imho.

I think that is the difference I have with my wife. If there is music she can't concentrate on anything else. I cant concentrate on what I am doing unless there is music, I use music at work to blot out the people so I can get stuff done.

Most of the music I listen to comes from the radio. I have Radio 3 on during the day as it's the radio station that has the least talking. I can't abide DJs talking all the time. In some ways I think R3 plays the widest range of music of any station I've come across. When I need a change (or when they lay the opera on too thick), I'll change over to whatever my foreign language station du jour is. Currently it's DubaiNow, it used to be a French language station. I'm no polyglot, but the chatter us easier to ignore if you can't understand it. As for recorded music, I go through patches when I'll put albums on (almost never individual songs - I listen to the whole album, not bits of them), or decide to buy some music to check out something new, but it's usually bought 2nd hand. I don't use Spotify or any streaming service like that. One thing worth sharing - I find it very hard to concentrate on anything else when I actually listen to music (or hear conversation) , I certainly can't read, so it sort of limits when I can enjoy it. I used to listen to a lot more music when I was younger, but not as much now. So it goes.

Shouldn't it be "How much advertising material can SBL send out during one of the competitions?"

Only you can make that call

Don’t forget the benefit of entering the competition by allowing access to your Facebook, Twitter, instagram, and gawd knows what else. Any person or company giving away prizes of that value will make far more than that for the sale of your data.

My humble opinion is NOT to reopen this thread, and to remind trolls, would-be trolls and those who like an argument no matter how badly they contradict themselves that they may well be breaking the forum rules and hurtling headlong towards a warning. Just sayin', Gianni.

Sell it and buy something custom, and built with some passion

I think the lockdown has led to a lack of traffic on basschat - we’re falling down the Google listings - so Ped is ordering nitro finished basses and starting fights about boutique American luthiers that’s only a handful of us have played... to get more traffic.... you wait, I predict Paul McCartney related thread next. thats my conspiracy theory, feel free to brand it on the back of your headstock!

No, that's wrong Andy

PPS buy second hand and then subsequently sell and you’ll probably make money, not lose it the way prices are going, even second hand.

Glad you liked it! Their debut album is one of my favourite albums, and it’s a real shame they didn’t get the recognition they deserved. Here’s a different side to them, guesting on an Ultramarine track from 1995...

The Mk 3 five string I played at the SE Bass Bash a few years ago was the finest bass I've played and it's been top of my GAS list since. This was the one in fact At those prices I doubt I'll own one though, certainly not a new one.

I'll take your word for that (I haven't wasted my time trying to follow the bickering). These "xyz basses aren't worth the price tag" posts are pretty pointless. Mostly they are framed as questions when in reality they are just making statements about personal preferences. Why is the AC headstock any more ugly than any other bass? Is it? Doesn't bother me, it's just a shape. Fender headstocks aren't pretty, either. No one else can use Fender's, so pick a shape. As a Sadowsky and Mike Lull owner I can tell anyone, who hears with their eyes, that while these basses resemble Fenders they are not copies at all. They are made to a much higher spec than the originals they are based on, which adds an extra dimension to the way they play and the way they sound. Their success is what prompted Fender to cash in by setting up the Custom Shop, a move that actually copies manufacturers like Sadowsky, AC and many others. Arguing over how much anything costs is a waste of time. Why is a Ferrari more expensive than a Ford Focus when they do exactly the same job? The answer is, of course, they don't do the same job! Same with basses.

Well (Wal). Before Mr Herman took the ropes, there was a mention of the UK PRS distributor Headline taking over the brand. Within the discussion was an “SE” type line. And I think that’s where the talks fell apart.

It is a huge sum of money. Knowing our luck, we'll place an order and Wal will introduce an import line for half the price.

£6000+ is a no go. Just checked in - she says £5000 is the limit. And quite right too. I want one - but not £6000. I’m not a bad player, but my sadowsky at £2500 is better than I deserve.

I have ALWAYS wanted a Wal for my 40th (in 4 years). Mrs Travis (who is fit and supportive) has said it absolutely can happen. But I’ll most likely be buying used - otherwise the order will have to go in next year.

Count me in, and a mate who’s converted from the dark side (a former rhythm guitarist, but he’s said sorry and is now definitely a bassist).

My most expensive bass, an NS-Design CR5M upright was flawless when I bought it and is still perfect 14 years on. My second most expensive bass, a Fender JMJ mustang cost nearly a grand and there are chips & scrapes all over the body. It was bought brand new, but to a casual observer it looks like it could be over 40 years old - it almost looks like the damage was done deliberately 😠

It's better than Ed Sheeran so I'm not complaining even though I'm not particularly excited either but then it's just one of those things that happens from time to time, y'know, someone puts out a YT vid of themself playing some 1970's lift music in a dimly lit studio while looking all thoughtful and musicianly, and people say 'Oh, wow, you've got to hear this' and some other musos think 'Well, me and Ben and Torq could do that' so they go off and do it and put out a YT vid and soon pretty much everyone's doing it then someone else gets dressed up as a Bay of Biscay trawlerman and plays sea shanties to an EDM beat while looking all thoughtful and musicianly and the cycle kicks off again.

RIP. Amazing musician.