Buy UB Hawkes Laminate or Rent-to-Buy Schoenbach?

[uptonbass]

Originally Posted by Blacksheep

Going east, but thanks for the offer.

Hope to see you on this shore!

[ashjazz]

Greetings all, this is my first post in the TalkBass Forum.

Regarding Bass's comment about Schoenbachs from Long and McQuade,

Props to Gary and Eric from Upton who posted on this thread. 2 days from now, I'm receiving a "Gary's Bass" from them and I can't wait to try it out, I'm very excited... I shall be sure to let you all know how it sounds.

MY QUESTION. I'm upgrading from a Schoenbach. It's what I call the "Long And McQuade Special" it was made in Czechoslovakia for Long and McQuade in the 1990's, for >= $2,000 CDN.

I WAS WONDERING what I can expect to ask for this bass now.

Thanks everyone in advance for your comments.

~ Ash

[gandhiflower]

As a customer of Upton Bass, I can speak first hand of the quality of their workmanship (and show pictures). I purchased a Hawkes lam. in September of last year. After a two month delay, which I had no problem with until I recieved the bass, I was highly dissapointed.

The instrument i recieved resembled the instrument pictured on their website only in its general charicteristics as an upright bass: four strings, big, made of wood, etc. the bass i recived sounded ok, the setup is not optimal so I don't know how good the instrument can sound yet. The finish was among the worst I've seen applied to a wood surface- it has a blue glow to it. The finish itself is very grainy. The cuts for the purfling were made by a heavy hand as there are gouges around the entire front (spruce) and some very ugly, what seem to be tool marks on the maple in back. The tail peice broke when I was bring the strings up to the first tunning- haden't reached proper pitch before breaking.

I have pictures if you'd like. It is not made with the care and expertise of a fine shopm, and it is certianly a different bass you would expect from a shop with the reputation of Upton's.

If it were a table, you would say "that table looks poorly made". Its a bass though, so I say what a shame.

As a company, they treated me very poorly when I called them to question the bass I was sent. They kept saying "sorry you don't like your bass" as if I was dissapointed about the color. They never once accknowledged the pictures I sent, nor answered any of the questions about the poor setup, finish, varnish, tail piece, purfling, gaps in the wood around the neck. Interesting people, I guess. they just don't make nice instruments.

Like I said, I do have pictures of my new Upton bass if you'd like to see the bass I was sent.

[Bass]

Originally Posted by ashjazz

Greetings all, this is my first post in the TalkBass Forum.

Regarding Bass's comment about Schoenbachs from Long and McQuade,

Props to Gary and Eric from Upton who posted on this thread. 2 days from now, I'm receiving a "Gary's Bass" from them and I can't wait to try it out, I'm very excited... I shall be sure to let you all know how it sounds....

Welcome, Ash! Please let us know first hand what you think of the bass. When I re-read my post I came down pretty hard on the Schoenbachs, but I think my comments are fair.

I'm pretty happy with my Laminate Hawkes (European), here's a photo. Looks good, sounds good, plays good:

[BRIDGE]

Originally Posted by gandhiflower

Like I said, I do have pictures of my new Upton bass if you'd like to see the bass I was sent.

I'm curious to see it. It sounds like you had a horrible experience! I'm sorry to hear it.

I have a US Upton hybrid, and have been very happy with it. No, it doesn't have magic powers or something, but I think it's definitely a good instrument for the price, and I think it looks good too. I've read some pro and con opinions of Upton basses but yours definitely sounds like the worst I've ever read! Sorry you got a bad deal.

[bassrad]

I live in Manitoba as well and I know how hard is to find Db here.
I ended up ordering Bulgarian from Gollihur Music and am very, very happy with it. (Skip L&M if you can)

Just to pass info that ~2200.00$ DB with shipping, taxes, custom and brokerage fee was almost 3000.00$, but I am sure that you already did the research on that. If the bass is made in USA, as much as I know, there will not be any custom fees.
You will also have to add the setup cost and I would suggest a luthier Zdzislaw Prochownik (he is listed on Gollihur's website).
If you need any more info about importing the bass PM me.

Good luck.

Radovan

[drurb]

Originally Posted by gandhiflower

As a customer of Upton Bass, I can speak first hand of the quality of their workmanship (and show pictures). I purchased a Hawkes lam. in September of last year. After a two month delay, which I had no problem with until I recieved the bass, I was highly dissapointed.

The instrument i recieved resembled the instrument pictured on their website only in its general charicteristics as an upright bass: four strings, big, made of wood, etc. the bass i recived sounded ok, the setup is not optimal so I don't know how good the instrument can sound yet. The finish was among the worst I've seen applied to a wood surface- it has a blue glow to it. The finish itself is very grainy. The cuts for the purfling were made by a heavy hand as there are gouges around the entire front (spruce) and some very ugly, what seem to be tool marks on the maple in back. The tail peice broke when I was bring the strings up to the first tunning- haden't reached proper pitch before breaking.

I have pictures if you'd like. It is not made with the care and expertise of a fine shopm, and it is certianly a different bass you would expect from a shop with the reputation of Upton's.

If it were a table, you would say "that table looks poorly made". Its a bass though, so I say what a shame.

As a company, they treated me very poorly when I called them to question the bass I was sent. They kept saying "sorry you don't like your bass" as if I was dissapointed about the color. They never once accknowledged the pictures I sent, nor answered any of the questions about the poor setup, finish, varnish, tail piece, purfling, gaps in the wood around the neck. Interesting people, I guess. they just don't make nice instruments.

Like I said, I do have pictures of my new Upton bass if you'd like to see the bass I was sent.

Wow! This sounds like a real horror story. I always wonder about these situations in which a customer reports being treated in a manner completely inconsistent with the reputation of a dealer. As I've said before with regard to a number of retailers, it seems better to work this out privately. Still, I understand that you want to make others aware of your issues.

Telling you that they are sorry that you didn't like your bass seems like the first thing they should do. To be sure, that's not all they should do! Did it end there? What, if anything, did Upton offer you when you complained? Did they just tell you "tough luck?" Did they offer you some money back? Did they offer to take the bass back?

[Eric Swanson]

Originally Posted by gandhiflower

As a customer of Upton Bass, I can speak first hand of the quality of their workmanship (and show pictures). I purchased a Hawkes lam. in September of last year. After a two month delay, which I had no problem with until I recieved the bass, I was highly dissapointed.

The instrument i recieved resembled the instrument pictured on their website only in its general charicteristics as an upright bass: four strings, big, made of wood, etc. the bass i recived sounded ok, the setup is not optimal so I don't know how good the instrument can sound yet. The finish was among the worst I've seen applied to a wood surface- it has a blue glow to it. The finish itself is very grainy. The cuts for the purfling were made by a heavy hand as there are gouges around the entire front (spruce) and some very ugly, what seem to be tool marks on the maple in back. The tail peice broke when I was bring the strings up to the first tunning- haden't reached proper pitch before breaking.

I have pictures if you'd like. It is not made with the care and expertise of a fine shopm, and it is certianly a different bass you would expect from a shop with the reputation of Upton's.

If it were a table, you would say "that table looks poorly made". Its a bass though, so I say what a shame.

As a company, they treated me very poorly when I called them to question the bass I was sent. They kept saying "sorry you don't like your bass" as if I was dissapointed about the color. They never once accknowledged the pictures I sent, nor answered any of the questions about the poor setup, finish, varnish, tail piece, purfling, gaps in the wood around the neck. Interesting people, I guess. they just don't make nice instruments.

Like I said, I do have pictures of my new Upton bass if you'd like to see the bass I was sent.

Sorry to hear of your disappointment. A few thoughts:

- Where are you (no profile info...) and why did you buy sight unseen?

- What are your contract terms (including verbal agreements, which are binding in all states)? Have you discussed returning the instrument for a refund with Upton?

- Quality is relative and subjective in the DB marketplace. Concurrently, Upton (and their happier customers) can think their product is great and you can think that it is not, and you can both be right. Focus on what works for you, or not. Give up on "winning" the quality game.

- Keep it professional. Talk with Upton about specifics and try to work it out with them.

- Every instrument in the low price ranges has to have some compromises. Its a matter of finding the mix that each of us can live with. If you don't like the labor/budget choices that Upton has made to keep their pricing affordable, find another instrument that suits your sensibilities better.

While I have discussed my awareness of several "fit and finish" issues on my bass, I bought the instrument after i examined it and played it twice. I find the labor and budgetary decisions that Upton made acceptable for my needs and the instrument to be a fair and reasonable value for its' price.

The shortcomings you list do not surprise me - these are inexpensive basses. Frankly, though, any specific defects are less relevant than this central question, "Will this bass work for you or not? If not, what will you do?"

[Keyser Soze]

Originally Posted by gandhiflower

As a customer of Upton Bass, I can speak first hand of the quality of their workmanship (and show pictures)....

Like I said, I do have pictures of my new Upton bass if you'd like to see the bass I was sent.

Let the armchair "experts" (and FoUs) and Upton's lawyer weigh in.

A picture is with a thousand words, no?

so, "Let it Rain..."

"Win some, lose some" is how it usually works.

Hope this forum will help to get you a fair shake, customer satisfaction.

[Blacksheep]

Strange that this thread has resurfaced....
I have since bought a UB Hybrid and am very happy with it. My teacher, the principal in the orchestra, only has good things to say about it.

[jrlynch]

i've had two very serious internationally touring players play my upton hybrid, one in a gigging situation, playing over a weekend. they were both amazed at the price/quality of the instrument. i'm still finding my voice on it, but meanwhile the upton folks are capable of delivering a truly high quality instrument ... mine keeps sounding better.

i don't get the sniping form of the complaint here ... a real profile would help.

jeff.

[Eric Swanson]

Originally Posted by jrlynch

i don't get the sniping form of the complaint here ... a real profile would help.

jeff.

+1 on the profile info. If you are a real customer with a bonafide issue, who are you?

The people at Upton are hardworking folks who deserve a chance to address any real issues in a professional manner, IMHO. Not sniped at from behind an alias and a blank profile...

[BRIDGE]

And he never did post the pictures of this supposedly sub par instrument that I asked him to (that he said he would post if asked.)

[chuck1073]

Pretty much takes the wind out of the sails of that complaint.
Especially considering the number of very satisfied UB owners that are eager to post pix of their instruments.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I emailed Gandolf requesting a response.

[Eric Swanson]

Following your lead, Clink, I also PM'd Gandhiflower this morning, at around 6:30 EST...

[moles]

I would look inside that Schoenbach for a label inside the bass. I'd be 99.9% willing to bet that it's a Strunal 50/4. I'm not sure why Long & McQuade insist on selling it under their own name - I think it's just them being weird. You'll find lots of people on there that've played Strunals, they seem to have a fairly good reputation.