If You Were Gonna Order An Upton.....

[Cathead]

.....and had the money to buy the ply now but needed some more to get the hybrid what would you do? Here are my circumstances. I have an Engelhardt ES9 that I truely love. I have a fully carved Romanian bass that I most definately love. Why I am gassin' for an Upton is beyond me. Reading all the stuff about the Upton basses has got me so curious, and they look so good on my monitor I want one. Anyway, I don't want to buy this bass based on my musical style. I play bluegrass at the time, but I do a lot of home recording in several styles of music. So, I want to get this bass figuring I might just try any style with it. I thought in my mind it would be cool to have a ply.....a hybrid.....and a carved.....each one different from the other. If I got the Upton ply I would go with a totally different type of strings other than the steel that are on my other basses. I just wondered what y'all thought about it all. I wrote the guys at Upton 2 or 3 days ago, but they have not answered. Maybe they're too busy to take another order?

[BRIDGE]

Upton takes a 1000 dollar deposit when you order the bass, then they charge you for the rest two weeks prior to when the bass is going to ship. That gives you a good few months to come up with the rest of the money. If you can afford the ply now and are certain that you will have 1000 more dollars within the next 2 or 3 months to pay the balance, you could order the Hybrid and do it that way. That is what I did, I was in the same situation you're in.

If you're having problems with Upton over email (I didn't, but they're probably super busy lately,) I would just call them. They were very polite and professional over the phone, and answered everything very well. Josh was the guy I spoke to.

[philip sirois]

get a grip cathead. You have two basses that you love, and you're obsessing over a bass you never played because a bunch of guys, the great majority of whom bought an upton as there first bass, and don't have much experience, or all that many basses to compare it to are proclaiming it's wonder in a forum? As a former upton ply owner let me say this. They're fine, a good value for the money, the service is good, but theyre not magical. I actually didn't like mine all that much, and it didn't look as good at home as it did online. Upton would say that I bought mine 3 years ago before they had it together. Now they have their own in house production, etc. Fair enough, although they made the same claims of quality and untouchability back then, so go figure. Many people love them. I don't think those people got ripped off. But neither do I think that they bought a bass unsurpassed in their class as upton claims.

Take a deep breath. If your still obsessing go to upton and play one. Then you can make a decision based on reality. You have two basses to compare it against whcih gives you an advantage only if you play the upton first.

YOur profilie says your gassing for an upton..don't ask you why. Ok I won't ask. I will say that with basses gassing for a brand name instead of a particular bass you've tried and connected with doesn't make much sense.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

+1000 to what philtheseriousone just said.
Get a grip.

[Silversorcerer]

I think Cathead should get an Upton. Go ahead. There's no better time. Imagine, having one of the first few off the American production facility. It's like a '39 Kay. Heck, these are cheap;- order at least one of each. I want the fully carved one.

[yankeeblues]

Speaking only for myself, and as an admitted non-expert, I didn't see a lot of posts proclaiming Uptons to be patently superior to the many other options out there. The "solid value for the $$" sticks in my mind as coming from both players and the builder himself. Of course one's newest instruments should always be better than the earlier ones - otherwise, you are just cranking out product, not engaged in an art. Then, you sell your name to a mega-conglomerate, which turns out crap using the reputation carefully built.

Our choice of an Upton was pretty easy..we live within an hour, the warranty and later support (and possible tradeup) all appealed to me, as did the review of quality and sound. We were able to play all 3 primary models as demos in the shop to compare plywood to carved to hybrid.

I doubt our bass blows away other basses in the same price range. In fact, we were tempted by some very nice Chinese basses sold by a local luthier. He didn't even know who made them. He was matter of fact about that but it left me uncertain about the experience down the road.

From a big investment perspective, I suspect we could sell this bass and get a lot of the new price back if we decided to get something else - now or later. I looked for used ones and found very little to nothing available. I suspect the guy who just posted who didn't love his sold it for a very good price.

In the meantime, we are enjoying our hybrid and the sound and looks are admired by all who see/hear. We'll be having a jazz Thanksgiving here today- I wish all of you the best too! I hope you hard working guys at Upton get a few days off too. :0)

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Originally Posted by yankeeblues

In fact, we were tempted by some very nice Chinese basses sold by a local luthier. He didn't even know who made them. He was matter of fact about that but it left me uncertain about the experience down the road.

:0)

Upton has been mum in the past about the origin of their basses also. It is not uncommon for dealers to protect this information in an attempt to try and add perceived value to their product.

[Cathead]

Some great replies and advice. I'm certainly thinking now if I just truely need to get a grip. It's a lot of money to part with for just "another bass". Thanks so much for the input.

[philip sirois]

Originally Posted by yankeeblues

I didn't see a lot of posts proclaiming Uptons to be patently superior to the many other options out there. The "solid value for the $$" sticks in my mind as coming from both players and the builder himself. :0)

from upton website:

We guarantee you will simply not find a bass anywhere that is made as well, setup as professionally and is as tonally superb to all others as the UB Double Bass!




Yankeeblues quote
"From a big investment perspective, I suspect we could sell this bass and get a lot of the new price back if we decided to get something else - now or later. I looked for used ones and found very little to nothing available. I suspect the guy who just posted who didn't love his sold it for a very good price."



Well, I paid around $1950 for bass, bag and bow with tax. After one year sold them for $1350. And I live in New York City, with 15 million people in a 50 mile radius, at least half of whom play the double bass I wasn't in a great hurry either. If you live in west virginia, I wouldn't bet on a quick sale with no loss. So it's still more prudent to purchase prudently than to expect that you'll always get your money back because so many people gotta gets themselves an upton.


That's not to say that yankee didn't do the right thing. He got a nice bass that he likes from a reputable local luthier for a good price. And he played it first.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Originally Posted by yankeeblues

Our choice of an Upton was pretty easy..we live within an hour, the warranty and later support (and possible tradeup) all appealed to me, as did the review of quality and sound. We were able to play all 3 primary models as demos in the shop to compare plywood to carved to hybrid.

I live in Kansas, so Upton's warranty and great service meant little to me. I rolled the dice and have been pretty satisfied.
A couple of trips to local luthiers later, as well as some fine-tuning by me, later I realize the value in buying locally whenever possible. I have recently diagnosed a problem with an uneven fingerboard that has been bothering me since I bought the bass. There is a high spot on the G side near the heel. Sighting down the board reveals a less than stellar planing job. One more thing to either fix or live with.. It isn't all that bad, but certainly not perfect either. If I lived in CT I would have asked Upton to fix it, but it will cost me some money.
To echo Philip's comments, when I sell my bass to upgrade to a fully carved instrument, I expect to take a hit of at least a few hundred bucks. Buying a $3,000 bass with the intent that it is an investment, or 'the Kay or New Standard' of tomorrow (as some have said) is foolish. Buy the bass that chooses you and enjoy it. Your chances are better buying locally in my opinion.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by yankeeblues

I didn't see a lot of posts proclaiming Uptons to be patently superior to the many other options out there.

Originally Posted by philip sirois

from upton website:
We guarantee you will simply not find a bass anywhere that is made as well, setup as professionally and is as tonally superb to all others as the UB Double Bass!

This was not a post here on TB-- it's advertising from their site and appears on the page for their laminate. Clearly, their laminate is not constructed better, set-up better, and tonally superior to all other basses! I think that, at least, one would have to add the qualifier "for the price" to the above and, even then, that statement certainly would not enjoy universal agreement. On the top-level page for their own basses they do add the price qualifier in their statement, "we guarantee that you won't find a better double bass for the price on the market!" That's certainly subject to opinion!

Originally Posted by philip sirois

Well, I paid around $1950 for bass, bag and bow with tax. After one year sold them for $1350. And I live in New York City, with 15 million people in a 50 mile radius, at least half of whom play the double bass I wasn't in a great hurry either. If you live in west virginia, I wouldn't bet on a quick sale with no loss. So it's still more prudent to purchase prudently than to expect that you'll always get your money back because so many people gotta gets themselves an upton.


That's not to say that yankee didn't do the right thing. He got a nice bass that he likes from a reputable local luthier for a good price. And he played it first.

I agree completely. I would never recommend that someone purchase a bass with the expectation that the investment can be recouped. While resale and/or trade-in value is certainly something to be weighed in the mix, approaching the purchase with the thought that you can "get out" in case you make the wrong choice is just unwise. I also agree that it is best to play first whatever you might buy. For some folks, that doesn't seem practical and they choose to buy on-line based on reputation, whether the bass be a New Standard, a Shen, a Kremona, a Strunal, an Upton, etc. IMO, playing before you buy is less crucial (but still highly preferred) in the lower price ranges. IMO, as soon as you climb to price-points in the $4000 range, one simply should not buy sight-unseen and sound-unheard.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by clink

Buying a $3,000 bass with the intent that it is an investment, or 'the Kay or New Standard' of tomorrow (as some have said) is foolish. Buy the bass that chooses you and enjoy it. Your chances are better buying locally in my opinion.

+1

[MT Spaces]

Originally Posted by Cathead

Some great replies and advice. I'm certainly thinking now I just truely need to get a grip. It's a lot of money to part with for just "another bass". Thanks so much for the input.

Hey Cat ..... pretending that I am the little conscience guy that sits on your shoulder .... let me remind you of your own bass-object room that you posted here:
http://www.bluegrassbassplace.com/ph...opic.php?t=681

Maybe you have enuff low-enders for now. What do I know ?? .... I have 2 Kays (but zero slabs) and have bad GAS for a NS ... now I just have to do my own post about Cleve vs. LaScala . Take your time .... your heart is in the right place. It seems that you are dreaming more of big busty double basses and less of canoe paddles . That's a good thing.

CATHEAD'S BASS OBJECT ROOM BELOW:

[yankeeblues]

Just as a clarification: I did not mean to imply that buying our Upton was a good "investment" in terms of $ appreciation. I meant that I would expect to get most of my money back if and when we need/want something better. As far as the guy who sold his $2000 laminate for $1300; I would expect to do better with one in exec condition. Perhaps I am wrong but I live in a town with an abundance of music programs and serious students. I suspect another bassist would be glad to buy our bass at a mutually attractive price. I also think a Connecticut-made bass would be a very desirable factor here in Connecticut and the region.

I would have bought a used Hybrid if I could have but looked for almost 6 months. And since we compared the Upton to a good Chinese no-named bass, I felt that it might be easier to sell the upton "someday."

I'm not taken back by Upton's advertising either. For me, they delivered what they promised. However, even the world's very best products are subject to problems or owner disassatisfaction; you can't please everyone. If I had to mail order the Upton, I am sure we would have looked at other options, although I don't recall seeing any other US-made carve tops for $2750....are there any? We didn't mak an exhaustive search.

I am not at all defensive about our purchase. It was a smart move for us - everyone has different needs and expectations.
I would recommend Upton always as a good option but not the only way to go for a student bass.

[jimmyduded]

ok this is quite a long topic so correct me if this is already mentioned, never buy a bass becuse of a brand, especially if you havent played the brand. When I bought my bass I wasnt looking for a juzek, I was looking for a bass. I loved the way it felt and its tone, thats the only reason I bought it, now that ive realized I love the brand I believe Im getting another but dont judge before you play, other people arent blowing the cash for YOUR bass so YOU have to like it, not them

[Cathead]

CLINK:
Your chances are better buying locally in my opinion.

I suppose the two things that defeat that is the fact that there is nowhere close to buy locally here and the fact that I just want to get my hands on an Upton. But, I think I'm maybe "getting a grip". I still want one, though.

Bob, thanks for being that little concience on my shoulder. You are right. And, you are right about the fact that my heart has strayed away from the canoe paddles. I have recorded with each one of those basses and have a wide variety of sounds to choose from matching the bass with the sound I am after at the time. But, the DB thrills me, and I can't keep my hands off them. I reckon that's why the Upton (I'm listening, Jimmy) is haunting me. I can just see the Upton hybrid sitting between the ply and the carved.......get a grip, Cat!

[MingusAmongUs]

Buffalo Bob, that was one of the funniest posts I've read in a long time.

Cathead:
Maybe you just haven't found the RIGHT bass yet, since you keep on buying them! When you do, I bet your GAS will subside. Your quest has begun. When you find the bass that really calls out to you, you have about 40 basses to sell to get the cash... whatever it costs.

[Cathead]

Originally Posted by MingusAmongUs

Buffalo Bob, that was one of the funniest posts I've read in a long time.

Cathead:
Maybe you just haven't found the RIGHT bass yet, since you keep on buying them! When you do, I bet your GAS will subside. Your quest has begun. When you find the bass that really calls out to you, you have about 40 basses to sell to get the cash... whatever it costs.

To be honest I think I have found the right bass(es). I love the volume and the growl of the ES9 and the carved bass sounds so warm and woodsy. I reckon I just wanted bragger's rights of owning an Upton hybrid strung up with those blacks. I suppose it truely IS nonsense. If I didn't almost have enough money to get one I suppose I wouldn't think about it. I appreciate all this input, though. Maybe I have come to my senses.......maybe.

[jisbass]

What I said in another thread:

I said earlier that my friend got an Upton laminate. He got on the upton bandwagan without even trying out any other basses. I told him to try and find a used bass locally, but he got impatient, and went with the reviews on this forum.

I think he made a good choice in the end, but I was a bit disappointed when I tried the bass. I didn't want to post my opinion of it so soon, because it was so new. I wanted to give it some time to break in.

I was disappointed not because it was a bad bass. It's a great laminate bass, but because of all the hype, I was expecting it to be a "magical" bass. But in the end, it's a good laminate bass. Don't get me wrong, it's much better than the Strunal laminate I used to have. The set up and the finish on the upton is awsome. Even though it has a 42" string length with a large upper bout, it was easy to play.
But my Christopher Hybrid and Carved basses sounded better, at least to my ears. Of course a fair comparison would be to compare a hybrid with a hybrid, carved with a carved, but I was expecting the Upton laminate to blow my Chrissys away. Not the case.

When I said that the Upton lam was better than my old Strunal, I didn't necessarily mean the sound. I meant it in a overall sense, the finish, construction, material, etc. My Strunal was actually louder w/ Helicores, and the upton had Spirocore Mittels. Upton had a more focused tone, but kinda sounded tight. The upton should open up in due time, but don't know yet.

So, the Upton lam may or may not noticibly be better(sounding) than the ES9 you have, and the hybrid most likely would not be better than your fully carved. If someone who doesn't own a bass was shopping for a bass and their choices were between an Upton lam and an ES9, I might recommend the Upton depending on their situation, but in your case I just don't see why you would want one. It's like owning a Honda Accord, and you want a Toyota Camery. Some may like one more than the other, but they are pretty much in the same class. If you sold your ES9 to get a hybrid, or wanted to upgrade your carved for a higher end carved bass, that may be a different story.

The Upton bass I played is a good bass. My friend loves it. I'm just trying to bring you back down to Earth.

[Cathead]

Thanks, jisbass. Point well taken. Y'all have helped me get over my "fit of insanity".