any opinions on the Upton Professor Standard Poplar?

[jimgray]

Hi folks-

I have been lurking and reading voraciously for a bit here.
I am a recovering EUB player, looking for my first UB.

I have only played a few instruments, but am very excited.
I played a new Shen ply and hybrid (found the tone of the hybrid much more desirable). I tried a new Roumanian carved instrument at the same shop (Johnson Bass in Waltham, MA). I liked the character and response of the carved instrument, but am a little concerned that a newbie like me can properly care for a carved instrument (not sure how legit that concern is).

Then I went to the Boston Upton shop and played the Upton Professor Standard Poplar (a few weeks later, unf).
http://www.uptonbass.com/UB-Professo...d-Double-Bass/
I spent maybe 45 mins or so with it, and found it quite nice. I wish they had a Shen hybrid in the same room for me to compare, but alas...

It ain't particularly cheap ($4,500), but seems very well made and may be a lot of bass for the money. I'd like something that I won't soon have to replace, has a killer sound (to motivate me to practice a lot - I am a "tone head"), and will take the bow well, should I evolve in that direction.

They don't offer a trial period, so I need to try to bribe a bass playing friend to go check it out with me. That is probably my next step.

So - does anyone have experience with these?
Any advice?

molto grazie-
Jim Gray

ps: anyone want to buy a nice Kydd 5 string?

[stranded horse]

Poplar sounds like a rather strange wood choice...
It's qualities are like the exact opposite of the more common maple.

[Fletcher Lanning]

Then why are so many old Italian string instruments made with poplar?

[shwashwa]

poplar is quite popular actually. lololol, its true though. i wonder why they dont offer a trial period. thats a red flag to me and im quite surprised considering all the good things ive heard about their customer service.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by stranded horse

Poplar sounds like a rather strange wood choice...
It's qualities are like the exact opposite of the more common maple.

With all due respect, I think your judgment is way off base (bass?) regarding poplar as a choice for instruments. You might think differently if you had played one of the poplar basses about which the OP asked. By the way, do a search on "poplar" in this forum.

Originally Posted by shwashwa

poplar is quite popular actually. lololol, its true though. i wonder why they dont offer a trial period. thats a red flag to me and im quite surprised considering all the good things ive heard about their customer service.

They build them to order. Maybe that's why they don't offer a trial period.

[jrlynch]

the last i looked, the upton folks offer a 100% credit toward a trade toward another instrument. me thinks that's fair.

[shwashwa]

well, if that's true then i would have to agree. can you link to the page where it says that?

Originally Posted by jrlynch

the last i looked, the upton folks offer a 100% credit toward a trade toward another instrument. me thinks that's fair.

[Fletcher Lanning]

It's on their website. There should be a link to trade-in policy on the sidebar of the homepage. You could also e-mail or call them directly. They are really great to talk to when you're buying an instrument.

[LeslieD]

The Upton folks brought a poplar bass to the 2009 ISB, and of all their basses I liked it the best. I have a willow Shen bass, and in some ways it was quite similar. The particular bass I played (and I only spent a few minutes playing it) had a warmer & less "bright" sound than their maple basses (of course that might have been THAT particular bass' set up). I liked that it seemed a bit lighter (weight wise) than their maple basses.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by shwashwa

well, if that's true then i would have to agree. can you link to the page where it says that?

Here you go. It says:

Our 100% trade-up credit given for the bass you purchased from us in the past allows you to match your instrument to your growing abilities.

Not only does it say that, but I know first-hand that it works. Check my profile-- I've used the trade-up policy twice. In order to get that 100% credit, you have to be trading up and, of course, you can't have trashed the instrument. I suspect that they'd let you make a lateral move soon after buying a bass if you were unhappy. You'd have to check with them about that.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I believe many reputable shops have some sort of a trade-up policy. KC Strings thankfully does, as I was able to make a nice trade last year.
Jim, my advice would be for you to play several basses in your area and buy the one that has the best feel and tone. There is a lot of value in establishing a relationship with a local shop, as you will need adjustments and repairs in the future.
Based on my experience owning one of Upton's Romanian imports a few years ago, I would expect them to be a reputable option. However, choose a particular bass and don't buy based on brand or model number because every bass is different.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by clink

However, choose a particular bass and don't buy based on brand or model number because every bass is different.

Indeed, what clink says it true. Every bass is different. It has to be because we're talking about wood here. The issue is how much do individual instruments differ within a particular model and brand. That depends on a number of factors including the price-point (which can bring more design variables into play), the overall design, quality control, etc. I will say this. From my experience playing numerous Upton flatbacks I've found them to be remarkably consistent. Visit their shop in Connecticut and you'll find out why that is. It's also great fun!

[jimgray]

Sorry - I didn't mean to mis-focus the discussion on the lack of a trial period at Upman's. They don't, but that is not my question here.

My question for the group is if anyone has played these basses in specific and has any input on them.

thanks-
Jim

[Dbassmon]

Jim

I think there are a great many of us on TB that own Upton basses. I do not own a professor. I own a Hybrid Hawks which is the European made Hybrid (carved top, ply back) Upton produced before bringing the manufacturing completely to Connecticut.

Harvey S and Mike Richmond, two very well known and well respected NYC bassists are both playing Upton Hybrids these days, Mike just ordered his so technically, he plays mine regularly for the past couple of years and decided he wanted one... his is on the way. I think he will have his in March some time. Point is these basses are well made and sound great arco or pizz and top pros are playing them. You would buying a quality instrument whether you chose a hybrid or professor, spruce/maple or spruce/poplar, flat or round back. The trade up policy would sort of make it a no risk proposition but it is your bass, you have got to like the sounds and the way it plays.

One note: a new bass (regardless of what brand) needs time to start really sound great as it needs to be played and open up. Yours, should you buy one, will really start opening up after several months to a year and continue to sound better all the time

[Eric Swanson]

Originally Posted by jimgray

...My question for the group is if anyone has played these basses in specific and has any input on them.

thanks-
Jim

My answers are, "No," and, "no."

If you fill out your profile, it lets us know more about what you might have in mind...

[jimgray]

Thanks Eric-

I filled out my profile - I am in Sharon, MA.

As I said in my original post:
"I went to the Boston Upton shop and played the Upton Professor Standard Poplar.
I spent maybe 45 mins or so with it, and found it quite nice."

I am fortunate to be near a few shops that sell some nice instruments, but appreciate the wisdom of this forum, and this is a big purchase for me; hence my question.

thanks-
Jim

[Eric Swanson]

Thanks, Jim. Sorry for my sloppy reading! Sounds as if you are doing your homework.
At one of us has a brain...:-).

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Eric, did you take your meds today?
Your point is perfectly valid. I sense that some people entering the DB world approach the daunting task of choosing an instrument as they would a car or appliance. Given the price of a nice bass it is understandable that they would want to do lots of research; you don't want to drop $5k on a poor instrument. The fact that many new players have absolutely no idea what they are looking for in terms of tone (other than a Ray Brown or Paul Chambers sound) surely makes it more difficult.
The temptation to buy based on reputation or the buzz on an on-line forum isn't too far removed from a Consumer Reports rating, IMO.
Jim, on-line reviews of any make or model of DB may come from bassists playing jazz, bluegrass, blues, community orchestra, country or whatever. Within those genres, players might value a dark or bright bass, growl, sustain, whatever. The most valuable information comes from playing a particular bass, and preferably getting the opinion of an experienced player or teacher.
I post this because it was my story a few years ago and I bought a bass on-line. Sure, I got a decent instrument, but it wasn't the instrument for ME.
Jim, avail yourself of the many fine shops in your area. If I lived in Boston, Upton would certainly be on my list, but choose the bass that is right for YOU.
Any input gleaned here should be only a small part of your decision.
That's my advice for what it's worth.

p.s. It took me one hour to write this with several interruptions. I now see that Eric seems to have calmed down. Good luck Jim. Hopefully my rant will be of some value to you.

[Bass]

Originally Posted by jimgray

.....My question for the group is if anyone has played these basses in specific and has any input on them...

My answers are also no and no.

I wonder if it could be somehow arranged to have a Shen Hybrid in the same room as the Upton Professor, so that you could compare the directly?

[jimgray]

I think that is a very good idea - a "bake-off".

In my perfect world, I'd like to compare:
1) Poplar Professor
http://www.uptonbass.com/UB-Professo...d-Double-Bass/
2) used Professor (non-poplar) if still available...
http://www.uptonbass.com/used-ub-pro...d-double-bass/
3) Upton Hybrid Basic
http://www.uptonbass.com/UB-Standard...d-Double-Bass/
4) Shen Hybrid
5) Shen Willow?

I will pay my teacher to come help me with this evaluation/decision.
Then I will buy one.

I bet Upton will help me setup this bake-off...
I'll let you all know how it goes-

Jim