thodrik

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1376385045' post='2172997'] Wow. Interesting response from JC! Kinda with molan on this too.. alot of people ready to pitchfork when they have no experience of AC basses. Certainly, the pics which are on show on TB are not in keeping with the quality of AC that I have seen. Can't really say much more but I am still surprised by the response of JC. For me, it's kinda up there with the people that say, "my bass is better than a Fodera... or finished better than a Fodera... etc." when these people making such claims have never seen one, yet alone played one, in the flesh so to speak. Were the people that say, JC never going to have a penny from me, ever going to buy an AC anyway? It's all kind of sad. [/quote] I don't think that it is necessary to have played an AC bass to realise that something is seriously wrong here. Alleva Coppolo are considered as one of the premier US 'boutique Fender-designed basses' alongside Sadowsky, Nordstrand, Mike Lull etc. It is not necessary to have played an AC bass to recognise that the bass in question is not of the quality expected from such a brand. The most shocking thing is not so much that a substandard bass has managed to escape from the workshop (it happens), but rather the response of the luthier to the problem, in addition to the lengths that the purchaser had to go in order to have the problem resolved. Something may well have happened to the bass between it leaving the shop and it being delivered to the purchaser, however for Mr Coppolo pretty much accuse the the purchaser of trying to engineer the situation with underhand graphic design and photography skills is about as poor as you can get in terms of customer relations. After that, my immediate impression is that I don't particularly feel that I need to play an Alleva Coppolo bass, even if the basses are usually exceptional or if Mr Coppolo is a seriously nice guy in real life and this situation is not a fair reflection of his reputation. It is a real shame.

[quote name='Lew-Bass' timestamp='1376353754' post='2172819'] Jimmy's reply: [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/my-horrible-alleva-coppolo-experience-1006426/index36.html#post14719935"]http://www.talkbass....ml#post14719935[/url] [/quote] That is quite the reply: passive aggressive, accusatory, condescending, poor paragraph structure. I understand that there are two sides to every story, but Mr Coppolo isn't exactly helping himself here.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1376307455' post='2171873'] To be fair, it's the worst $5000 bass I've ever seen. [/quote] It certainly doesn't look great for a new bass. On an early Fender though it would probably be considered 'mojo'.

That thread shows the good and bad of Talkbass. +. Identifying a shoddy workmanship and poor customer relations and making other people aware of it. - Completely over the top responses along the lines 'this is the worst thing I have ever seen'.

Ooh, very nice!

I would echo EBS_freak's comments. Both are great heads. I can't speak for the older Fafner, but I have had a blue stripe Fafner for about 5 years or so and have not had any reliability issues whatsoever.

My 1974 Gibson EB3 has the same problem, there is barely any gap between the ball end of the string and the saddle. Adding that the to the three point design it is like the perfect storm of bad bridge designs. Poor design though is almost a 'quirk' that gives Gibson basses their character.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1375565125' post='2163056'] Rickenbacker already make the 4004 bass which pretty much answers all of those criticisms, but relatively few are sold because it doesn't look exactly like the classic 4001 and 4003 basses. [/quote] The Vigier Excess is apparently somewhat based on a Rick, hence the Roger Glover connection. From owning an Excess for 8-9 years though I can't say that I really see it though, or even hear it unless I am playing it through a very loud all-valve rig.

A good Fender bass will always hold its value reasonably well. Older Fender basses will continue to be more valuable, simply because they will become even older over time. Buy one you like and enjoy it.

Not sure if this is a 'wow, listen to that tone' video, but Ed Friedland does a fairly decent demo of the new line of TE amps. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVyBjX_qkFI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVyBjX_qkFI[/url]

Play them both and keep the one you like more.

When it came grade 8 double bass, my approach was pretty much 'grip it and rip it'. If you notice a natural flow to the music, just go with it. If it seems like just a bunch of interconnected notes, just play it as a bunch of interconnected notes. I did grade 0 to grade 8 in two years and was taught by a cellist who hadn't really played double bass though, so stylistic points were not always a priority for me!

Just go out to a few music shops and try a bunch of basses. It will be a fun day out and it will help you to identify the types of instruments which appeal to your own tastes. You might even find an instrument that you want to buy.

I must be in the minority who don't like tort. Black or white for me.

It might be a T&C that was included as part of a contract that nobody pays attention to, or is aware of. Or it could be an important term of the contract that the employer insists on. Probably a good idea to talk to the employer rather than do a 'what about this?' post on a forum.

Consistency of sound. You get good and bad monitors at venues. Sometimes there are not enough monitors to go around. With a loud drummer and/or guitarist, I don't want to leave anything to chance, especially I am playing in an unfamiliar venue. Ease of use and convenience. Some sound engineers have kicked up a fuss over the DI route. 'I don't want to screw up my monitors by pumping out loads of bass' has been something I've heard a bit over the years when I have tried to use a Sansamp. Although I own a POD and it is a fantastic piece of kit, I prefer just pressing the 'on' button to an amp to get a sound. Tradition/looks/personal preference etc. Personally I like to see and hear an amp onstage. I know that it is possible to get a better 'clear' sound with no bleeding through with a DI and the ability to get an all valve sound through a Kemper profiling amp that can fit into a rucksack. However that is not really something that I am that interested in. I like an element of imperfection of microphones put next to a speaker cab.

My 1978 Precision was pretty immaculate when I got it in 1999. It still looks good now but the finish is starting to flake away on the neck. Surprisingly there are no marks that look like the bass was attacked by a belt sander, mainly because the bass has not been attacked by a belt sander.

I have a V6 with the same preamp (at least as far as I know). It doesn't really do harsh preamp overdrive. It if sounds a bit gritty for your ears, turn the gain down. That is part of the fun of playing with a valve amp.

I really don't think it makes that much of a difference.

Installing a heavier gauge of strings will increase the tension. Raising the action a bit can also reduce clank. Just give the bass a general set up.

No problem. Cheers.

[quote name='zombiespacebat' timestamp='1371852298' post='2118938'] About the thickness of a birthday card I'd say. [/quote] Folded or unfolded?

Inlay of the new album has a picture of Geezer playing a Fender (or one of those Nash basses with a Fender decal).