lozbass

I foolishly sold my AH200 Series 6 around a year ago. Big mistake. I've just picked up a 250smx - there's nothing quite like an old Trace...

[quote name='chris_pokkuri' post='572734' date='Aug 18 2009, 11:27 AM']Why don't people use really big speakers more?[/quote] I'd guess this is really a weight and convenience issue - big speakers seems to imply (generally) large cabinets. In some ways I mourn the passing of the super-size bass cab. As a younger man I would think nothing of hoiking a folded horn (rear firing 18" Cerwin Vega, front firing 12" and tweeters) around to gigs that frequently involved stairs. This thing was ex Sad Cafe I think - it was around 4 feet tall and weighed around 130lbs. It sounded absolutely immense and could genuinely interfere with audience breathing at about 15-20 feet (especially if it was sat on a 3-4 foot high stage). Happy days and one of the better sounding cabs I had in a fairly long career (a career that is now over). I use a ul112 these days - more befitting my age.

Hmmm, I like this thread... Basses: 1. Alembic small standard custom Series II with a full facing in Walnut (cut from the piece that was used for 4000's Triple O - without doubt the most stunning piece of Walnut I've ever seen) 2. Alleva Coppolo LG4 Custom in Sonic Blue, bound and dots with a DN board 3. Fender Jazz vintage 1960 (original) in Olympic White Amps (and effects): 1. Aguilar DB680 2. Aguilar DB728 3. Universal Audio LA-2A Compressor Cabs: 1. Aguilar DB412 2. Aguilar DB810 3. Epifani ul310

Not to everybody's taste clearly, but certainly to mine - gorgeous! I just know this is going to play beautifully and sound like nothing else on the planet (other high-end Alembics apart)

Gorgeous! It's amazing how well the chrome stands up on mid '70s Jazzers. My '76 is almost identical to the one in the images apart from very heavy gig and playwear on the body - the chrome work, however, looks almost new.

Absolutely lovely LM5 Bugbass - the black and maple is just a classic combination! I notice you appear to have the original strap pins on the bass - I don't know if you intend to change them, but if so, just a quick warning. My AC arrived with Dunlop straplocks installed. I marginally prefer the Schaller system but when I tried to swap the Dunlop for Shaller pins at the weekend, I discovered that the screws for the Dunlops are much wider than those for the Schaller and thus can't be used to secure the latter. I've retained the Dunlops - not a big deal but worth bearing in mind.

Absolutely lovely - there's a real coherence across the collection - well done!

[quote name='bh2' post='552000' date='Jul 26 2009, 07:27 PM']Cor! Congrats on that... I'm wondering what year the RW's are replicating? I know it's 60's.[/quote] Hi bh2, I may have misled you in an earlier post in the thread (sorry for this) - it wasn't a Fender 3TS and RW that I was expecting but an A-C (it's on p5 of the Alleva Coppolo thread in Gear Porn). To the OP, if you're around in central Manchester, you're more than welcome to come along and try my '76 Jazz

Hi Platypus - haha - rumbled: Sonic Blue and Shell Pink are my favourite colours for a J. I'm certainly not going to trade the Fodera on it but it would be a nice complement

I love these too - particularly gorgeous on a Jazz with bound and dot board! Mine (pictured below) isn't such, but lovely anyway

Hi Steve, thanks - you're right - this is one of two almost identical basses originally owned by Tommix (he had two 4 strings with DN boards). This is the second - the first had a burst that had been shot by Jimmy's ex-Fender spray-guy and has the best 3TS finish I've ever seen. This second bass is really not far behind in the finish stakes (my images really can't do it justice) and is reported to be the better player. If it isn't, then I'd love to play the other one! I've played a lot of Jazz basses in the past 30+ years (from very old vintages, through CS and Masterbuilt into contemporary and super Js) - the Alleva is genuinely a real standout

Hi and thanks, just a micro-review and some comments on tone: Build quality and finish are just superb - exactly what you'd expect in this segment of the market (the burst is really lovely in the flesh) Playability - action is very low and this is probably the fastest bass I have (for both left and right hands) - playing is genuinely effortless and I've found myself pulling-off lines (evenly for me!) that I really couldn't get on other basses Feel - this bass feels (spookily) played-in, very much like a really old Fender right from the off - it's large but light and sits into the body extremely neatly. The bass feels 'alive'. It's very comfortable both sitting and standing. The neck is shallow and thin but feels substantial - it's not as skinny at the bottom end as some '70s Jazzers Tone - the bass is surprisingly loud when unplugged. Notes leap off the board in a way that I've only experienced previously with an Alembic. There are no dead or dull spots - this is genuinely the first time I've come across this with a Fender-style bass. Volume of notes is entirely even across strings and the board as a whole - again a revelation in a Fender-style bass. The bass is also surprisingly loud when amplified. In passive it sounds like a '60s Jazz (with a little more zing and aggression - fundamental and overtones are amazingly complex). In active, it sounds huge - it retains a characteristic jazz tone, plenty of honk and growl, but with a power and clarity that will cut through any mix. There have been only a few occasions on which I've acquired a bass and then thought 'I'd have another of these' immediately. Acquiring the Alleva has been one of those occasions. I'll post a full review and some better images as soon as possible.

Some (rather weak) images of mine - I'll try to do better later in the week if the sun comes out. The spec is as an LG4 Classic Supreme (but I think it was just known as a 'Standard' when it was built). The bass is around 9 months old and apparently is the last bass built in the NY shop before the move to California. It's a nitro finish with a Dalbergia Negra board. I'll get a review up and comparison with a couple of other Jazzes when I have a chance.

I have to agree with much of what I read above. I don't gig anymore so weight isn't an issue for me (I also have a lightweight Epi and a very heavyweight Agi so I hope my views aren't coloured by my own gear). However, when I see bands today, it's always the bassplayers with the heavyweight gear that have the best tone (to my ears). I hear a fair amount of Markbass lightweight gear - I know this is a big favourite on here and I think it sounds great at low volumes - at gigs and high volume though, I've almost invariably found it to be lifeless and characterless. Without doubt the best sound I've heard in recent weeks was an old, very heavy, Trace Elliot combo - full, tight bottom-end, loud but controlled, clear and ultra-poky - kind of dangerous and intimidating (not everybody's choice of course). I've regretted selling my Series 6 AH200 almost since the day it went.

Your wisdom, countenance and good grace will be much missed. My best wishes for the hiatus and I'm sure we all look forward to welcoming you back fully refreshed and with a beautiful new custom bass

A TV logo looks like this... Edit: oops, beaten to it...