Engelhardts in New England

Charles_A · #1 10-09-2006, 08:38 AM

Hello,

I am in the process of planning a DB purchase. I have had the chance to jam a couple of times on a Cremona at a local music store, and have confirmed that I definitely want to play DB. (I have been a bass guitar player for 15 years.) However, I am not planning to buy the Cremona. I've come to the conclusion that an Engelhardt is probably the best value. I am particularly interested in the ES-1. I do have a rule about playing the actual instrument I am going to buy before making the purchase, and am wondering whether there is a place in New England that I could do just that. My local music store can get one, but I doubt they will bring one in just for me to try and then ship it back if I decide against it. They don't normally carry uprights. Another music store within reasonable distance would be able to do maintenance/setup etc and I would trust them to do an adequate job. I am in central Maine and would be willling to travel within New England. Anyone got names? I tried the Engelhardt website and it is not helpful. I could email them if no one here has any suggestions.

Thanks!

jmceachern36 · #2 10-09-2006, 09:06 AM

Are you willing to travel to or near Boston?

Charles_A · #3 10-09-2006, 09:10 AM

Yes.

BTW I am interested in new or used.

Chasarms · #4 10-09-2006, 09:17 AM

Mr. Upton and his colleagues offer Englehardts.

He's in Mystic, CT.

Charles_A · #5 10-09-2006, 09:25 AM

I did not know that. I have heard good things about Upton - will check into that possibility, especially if I could perhaps get a good deal on a used one. Mystic is not too bad a drive.

Greg Clinkingbeard · #6 10-09-2006, 10:30 AM

Check the website. They offer properly set up basses that may initially cost a bit more than an Englehardt purchased elsewhere, but I believe it would easily be worth the money because of the set up.

Charles_A · #7 10-09-2006, 10:48 AM

Thanks guys. I think Upton is the way I am going to go. I am still building financial momentum on this, but the time is coming. I've been researching this for months now, and for this kind of money, I want #1: a "real" set up and #2: hands-on time before I buy. Sounds like Upton is the solution.

Tritonis · #8 10-09-2006, 11:38 AM

While you're at Upton, you might want to check out some of the Hawkes models, depending on your price range.

drurb · #9 10-09-2006, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clink

Check the website. They offer properly set up basses that may initially cost a bit more than an Englehardt purchased elsewhere, but I believe it would easily be worth the money because of the set up.

...and because the Upton instruments blow away the Engels!

Tritonis · #10 10-09-2006, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

...and because the Upton instruments blow away the Engels!

Agreed.

philip sirois · #11 10-11-2006, 04:41 AM

Don't get stuck on the englehardt. The upton is well worth the extra money.

Charles_A · #12 10-11-2006, 08:43 AM

I'll take that into consideration when I visit...but I'll be stretching my budget to buy pretty much anything, and at that level every extra dollar is going to hurt. Believe me, it's tempting to go with the Cremona because I can afford it now, but I know it's a bad idea.

philip sirois · #13 10-11-2006, 08:51 AM

check out these....http://bassesonline.com/index.html

I bought a bass from these guys ( a wilfer) and after a couple hundred extra for setup I'm very happy with it.

The eberles are sort of ugly(a matter of taste of course) but they're pretty good for the money. Ebony fittings, etc.
You could bring it to a local luthier to get it set up and still be ahead of the game. Search these forums for more on these.

Charles_A · #14 10-11-2006, 09:52 AM

Thanks Philip, these are intriguing. $1,000 would be a very comfortable price point. Nausea sets in at around $1400 plus... I like the 30-year-old Czechs a lot.

Seems like there are some great deals out on the internet, but I just really don't want to buy an instrument until I lay my hands on it.

ctcruiser · #15 10-17-2006, 03:52 AM

The ES-1 is somewhat playable out of the box. I started with mine just that way and have had additional setup work done as my budget allowed.

Besides Upton, you can also check out David Mix in Branford (203-488-7368) (www.davidmix.com). He is a great luthier who works out of his house. He apprenticed with Lou DiLeone and still visits him occasionally. He usually has a variety of used instruments in stock and can order new instruments. I am a lefty and I was able to order an Englehardt ES-1 for less than the price of a righty from Upton or Gollihur. He does not ship basses as he believes that every player is unique and that they should try out a bass to be sure that is what they want. He is willing to just talk about basses and your needs without having to make a sale. I have heard great things about Upton as well, but Branford is only a few towns over from me so I haven't gone down towards Mystic.

BTW, I am originally from Presque Isle, but still have family living up north of you.

Charles_A · #16 10-17-2006, 01:33 PM

Small world. There's an Ed Fuqua around this board who also plays DB and is from my hometown of Augusta. He apparently "worked" constantly when he lived up here. Must be nice...

Ed Fuqua · #17 10-18-2006, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles_A

Small world. There's an Ed Fuqua around this board who also plays DB and is from my hometown of Augusta. He apparently "worked" constantly when he lived up here. Must be nice...

Hey, who the **** are you? Just kidding, but when and how long were you in Augusta? And where do you mean by "up here"? I was in Boston for about a year and a half, I worked a little bit but I was mostly in school. Do you mean Augusta? Cause I was working a LOT there (and Columbia SC), but that ain't really "up" from here (or New England).

Anyway, e-mail if you want, lessee who we know in common.

mburd · #18 10-18-2006, 10:25 AM

Around here the joke is:
Q:Where did the "R" in Faah-mington (Farmington) go??
A: It went East to Aguster (Augusta)

*It sounds funnier when it's natively spoken....

Oh.. and BTW... it's "Angle-haaahts"

Marcus Johnson · #19 10-18-2006, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles_A

Small world. There's an Ed Fuqua around this board who also plays DB and is from my hometown of Augusta. He apparently "worked" constantly when he lived up here. Must be nice...

Love the quotation marks.... that's how some of my family say it when referring to what I do for a living... " Oh, so you're going to 'work' now?"

Ed Fuqua · #20 10-18-2006, 10:53 AM

This is sounding more like Augusta MAINE (where I never been in my life) not Augusta GEORGIA (where I spent my mispent Ute)....