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Originally Posted by Classickbass  Thanks for the replies. I will heed your advice and look for a better instrument. I thought it odd that I only see Engels on craigslist, hint hint I suppose. I think I am going to look at Upton's website and see what they have. Thanks again! |
Hi, I just received my Upton Standard last month, and can honestly say you will not go wrong buying from this company. If you check out some of my older posts you will find I had a few small issues with my bass, but these are being resolved. Most of the issues I had were cosmetic, and not really a problem at all. The people at Upton are top notch, and they make a great product along with being a green company. Trust me when I tell you that their basses are worth the extra money.
I can also say that I am making much more progress with the Upton than the other two basses I previously owned. In the past I have owned a blond Englehardt Swingmaster, and a Christopher 100 series bass. Both basses were decent instruments, and were only sold because of circumstances beyond my control. I had to put a few hundred into each instrument for setups, but both were decent quality without issues as both were bought new. The Engelhardt does have a smaller neck, and for me this was not comfortable. At the time I was strictly a electric player, and I thought the smaller neck would be good for me, but I wound up getting cramps playing this bass. The Christopher had a larger neck, and I found it to be much better for my hands. It was a very nice bass for the money, but it was nothing special, and I prefer to support American companies when I can. The Upton has a very comfortable neck for me, and I can play this bass for hours without feeling like my hands are cramping like they would from the Englehardt neck. Sound wise the Upton has a much fatter, bigger, louder tone than the other basses too. I am still very much in the learning stages, and am by no means an authority on these instruments, but I will say that IMHO the Upton bass is a superior instrument that will facilitate faster learning for me because it fits me better.
Lots of people love old Kays and Englehardts, and they are great basses, but they are not for everyone. IMHO The best thing you can do is too play as many basses as you can, and if you find something that interests you then have a teacher, luthier, or accomplished double bassist look at it for you. Others will correct me if I am wrong, but I almost think its better to find a good teacher first, and then have them help you find a bass. I also highly recommend that you read ALL the newbie links here on TB, and do as much research as you can stand on the internet. This may save you allot of time and money in the long run. Best of luck with your quest, and if you have any questions that I can answer regarding my Upton or the other two basses feel free to ask.
