Clarky

Dock of the Bay - dead easy and very chilling to play Jammin' (Bob Marley) - for the same reasons as above

Take it back and list the points you mention - some may be easy to fix (eg, the foam may be a bit compressed under the pickups so that they don't move with the screws as they should), other may be more worrying (eg, loud G or dead spots). if they have a decent on-site set-up person, they may be able to sort these out with little/no difficulty. Either way, they are obliged to replace if its not fit for use. RW Fenders are not cheap and should be perfect!

I don't have the brain or fingers to be a very good bass player (that isn't false modesty, its a fact) so I don't ever expect to be technical "musician" (cue Bilbo telling me to learn to read ). What I do want to do, however, is to make a joyful noise with like-minded individuals and for the occasional live audience to get pleasure from it.

[quote name='sprocketflup' post='905035' date='Jul 25 2010, 06:24 PM']Ok , Im hoping I dont get flamed for this coz its a genuine question, and I mean no offence Ive never heard of Alleva-Coppolo. Its a nice looking bass thats for certain, but what are the qualities that would make someone choose this over any other p style bass please? i.e. exotic woods, amazing electronics package etc etc. Like I said, I mean no offence with the comment, just genuinely curious cheers, Dave Sprocketflup[/quote] Luthier made in small NY workshop with amazing attention to detail, top quality woods (eg high quality rosewood), hand sprayed nitro finish, exceptional preamplifier etc etc. Plus this toured with Clapton in the hands of one of the bass greats Check out the Alleva Coppollo thread in Gear Porn for more info

Great news that it met the sound you are after Dave. Re scratch plate, as you would have guessed I would go tort!

[quote name='barks' post='904965' date='Jul 25 2010, 05:39 PM']I've still got your old 3x10 cab by the way [/quote] One of several bits of kit I wish I had never sold with the benefit of hindsight! BassChat and my OCD together have a lot to answer for

New pics of my new (molan's old) Willie Weeks posted in a separate Gear Porn thread here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=94372&pid=904739&st=0&#entry904739"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...mp;#entry904739[/url] They are at post #17 in this thread

Promised pics - sorry I am no lysdexia ('birds and basses') with a camera

[quote name='Clarky' post='901975' date='Jul 22 2010, 02:54 PM']15 Clarky clan members descending on us from around the globe - if I can get away I will need more than a cold one, more likely ten! If I can't make it, hope its a corker, Adam![/quote] Sorry LEB, they are all still here and its 9.25pm Hope the gig was a blinder!

The Gold bass is quite stunning with the stack-style pots. How good would this look in sonic blue or sea-foam green? Yummy

[quote name='deaver' post='902930' date='Jul 23 2010, 10:42 AM']Back to the Spoiler, my scales suggests that the black Spoiler might be up to 1.5 pounds heavier than the maple one - surely it can't be paint alone - or do Alembic have a secret tonal ingredient in the paint?[/quote] I have read that early 80s Spoilers were slightly less heavy - maybe the body is a tad thicker on mine? Certainly the neck feels a fair bit chunkier, although that might be the glossy black paint playing tricks on me. My left shoulder certainly notices the difference! Anyway I will be trying it out live for the first time tonight, for a cover of Metallica's Enter Sandman at a pub gathering for someone's stag do. So tonight, Matthew, I will be Jason Newsted

Fret gaps apart (which should be a quick fix) is this what you had hoped it to be Dave? I know you have been searching for the right bass since you sold me that P5 a year ago ... and I hope this is the one!

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='902614' date='Jul 23 2010, 12:16 AM']The big question is, how does it compare sound-wise to the natural flamed one, mate? [/quote] To my metal/punk destroyed aural sensibilities, it sounds very similar (the pickups and electronics which are key to the sound of each Alembic model are identical). I suspect, played acoustically, Deaver's maple capped Spoiler is fractionally more resonant, although that may be due to the weight (mine weighs 11 pounds, one more than Deaver's). Sounds good in a rock setting with a nice amount of mid-range bite in the mixed pickup selection, although doesn't fill the lows quite like a P bass (what else does?) My only gripes would be the extra weight and my inability to find strings that perfectly match the neck (fortunately Deaver has tracked down some Alembic 40-100s which we will do a joint order on from the US).

You are a lucky man! That's utterly fabulous, jazzyvee. Enjoy finding your sound

Aha (said Alan Partridge). I misunderstood your OP and assumed you could see daylight between the frets and the board! The pics actually don't look so bad. The frets are seated properly and its just the holes, as walbassist, said that are drilled a little too deep. Tougher call that - probably easier to keep the bass, if it plays well, although if you can get the retiler to pay the Gallery to put a little filler in each gap to tidy it up it would be the best result.

Looks like it balances perfectly - as long as you don't mind playing it as a semi-upright and occasionally smacking the headstock on the side of your head.

Sorry Dave but that really sounds like bad QC. They were obviously not seated properly and its probably pure luck the bass doesn't buzz like hell. I would take photos and send these to the retailer if only to alert them (I presume you could return the bass if necessary under the usual consumer rights?) One potential trouble is, if you decide this bass is not for you, then you may have difficulty selling on an imperfect bass without taking a large hit. If it were me, hassle though it is, I would send it back and get a replacement, asking the retailer to check over the new bass very carefully before dispatching to you. Edit: its probably relatively easy for the Bass Gallery (which I know is not too far from you) to fix this but it would cost and you shouldn't have to bear any extra cost here

[quote name='Low End Bee' post='901972' date='Jul 22 2010, 02:52 PM']9:30 ish. There's a late bar after the gig too. I'll even buy you a cold one.[/quote] 15 Clarky clan members descending on us from around the globe - if I can get away I will need more than a cold one, more likely ten! If I can't make it, hope its a corker, Adam!

I have a godawful family gathering that day that will probably extend into the late evening. If I can get away I will try to make it over as its only a coupel of miles from me. What time are you on stage?

For those wondering why I am jealous of jazzyvee, feast your eyes on this beauty: [attachment=54789:60534.jpg] Enjoy JV!

A black/white/black s/p would look pretty darn nice too!

[quote name='lozbass' post='901776' date='Jul 22 2010, 11:57 AM']Lovely Deaver - one of the most gorgeous maple tops around![/quote] I have subsequently discovered that Deaver/John's bass (my old one) is also quite a bit lighter than my stealth black replacement Spoiler. I weighed mine at the weekend and its 11 pounds which seems pretty heavy given its a 32" scale! Fortunately I have a 3 inch wide leather strap to take the weight off my dodgy left shoulder. The things we do to look RAWWWWKKKKK

When I had the truss rod buzz on an ex-bass (a Rickenbacker) it was certainly not faint or quiet and very obviously was emanating from within the neck. So it doesn't sound like that is the problem. More than likely a loose spring or wire that budged when you adjusted the pickup.

Pickup adjustment springs perhaps? Happens on one of mine and its a bit annoying as I don't want to take the electronics apart and tighten everything. SOmetimes happens on P basses too when the saddle adjustment springs loose thgeir springiness and start to resonate in sympathy with lower notes.