Laminated Upton and Canada

lyle · #1 05-01-2007, 04:05 PM

Excuse me for being stereotypical but, yes I am a bass guitar playing who is interested in purchasing an upright. But wait! I'm not as estranged as you might think, I picked up playing double bass at high school with instructions from a local bassist/music teacher on basic technique and body positioning and lucky for me my bass professor at College next year knows how to play upright, so I'm gonna take the plunge!

I'm considering a laminated DB because of the crazy winters they get in Nelson BC, where I'll be studying, and have heard so much great things about Upton from browsing threads here. I love the fact they do a complete set up and I am able to order everything I need, (case, pickup etc) from them. Only problem is Upton is way way east coast, and I'm way way west coast. I just wanted to know if there might be a better choice for me (locally in western Canada). I've played alot of the stuff at Long and Mcquade but for the money it might seem worth it to ship a bass across North America from Upton.

Chime in if you have any suggestions, words of wisdom, opinions on Upton laminated db’s, or just think I’m a poor lost student who has no clue.

Tony F · #2 05-02-2007, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyle

Excuse me for being stereotypical but, yes I am a bass guitar playing who is interested in purchasing an upright. But wait! I'm not as estranged as you might think, I picked up playing double bass at high school with instructions from a local bassist/music teacher on basic technique and body positioning and lucky for me my bass professor at College next year knows how to play upright, so I'm gonna take the plunge!

I'm considering a laminated DB because of the crazy winters they get in Nelson BC, where I'll be studying, and have heard so much great things about Upton from browsing threads here. I love the fact they do a complete set up and I am able to order everything I need, (case, pickup etc) from them. Only problem is Upton is way way east coast, and I'm way way west coast. I just wanted to know if there might be a better choice for me (locally in western Canada). I've played alot of the stuff at Long and Mcquade but for the money it might seem worth it to ship a bass across North America from Upton.

Chime in if you have any suggestions, words of wisdom, opinions on Upton laminated db’s, or just think I’m a poor lost student who has no clue.

My understanding is that the "free bass shipping" mentioned on the Upton site covers the first $150 of the shipping costs. Nine times out of ten that would be enough to cover the whole shipping cost within the USA (I guess they've moved enough of these to have gotten some good rates worked out!) but in your case I think it likely you'll have to pay an additional something to make up the difference.

I know they've shipped a small quanitity of these basses to the UK, so it can be done. Why not drop them a line and give them your address, I'm sure they'd be able to quote an accurate price for the bass including all the shipping costs. I've spoken to them a couple of times and they're a very friendly bunch, really helpful and easy to talk to.

Cheers,

Tony

Peck_Time · #3 05-02-2007, 08:02 AM

Hey Lyle,

Depending on your budget, you should look at the New Standard basses from Schnitzer & De Sola. They are regarded as high-quality laminates that can be played arco.

You might want to look at hybrid basses if your uni course has a significant amount of bowing in it. Also budget money for a reasonable bow, and find out what type of bow-hold your professer teaches!

In fact- it's probably a good idea to ring the university and talk directly to the bass professor about your requirements vis a vis basses/ bows/ what have you.

dmperry24 · #4 05-02-2007, 08:34 AM

I'm no expert at all, but if weather changes are much of a consideration, I would definitely consider the Laminated bass over the fully carved or Hybrid models. That front can distort easily if the climate is not proper temperature, humidy, or there aren't enough pretty girls playing it (I just added the last on my own). I have the Hybrid Hawkes and love it, but I am leery of taking it on the bluegrass festival circuit, mainly due to the excessive heat. I'm really babying that one until somebody puts a foot throught it -- then it becomes a beater!!

Bass · #5 05-02-2007, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyle

...I'm considering a laminated DB because of the crazy winters they get in Nelson BC, where I'll be studying, and have heard so much great things about Upton from browsing threads here. I love the fact they do a complete set up and I am able to order everything I need, (case, pickup etc) from them. Only problem is Upton is way way east coast, and I'm way way west coast......I've played alot of the stuff at Long and Mcquade but for the money it might seem worth it to ship a bass across North America from Upton...

I'm in Western Canada as well, therefore I went with the laminate model. Next year I'll install a humidifier on the furnace, the dry winter made a noticable difference in the action. It was about 30 to 35% relative humidity at my place... too low.

I wouldn't worry about shipping. Upton's policy of covering shipping up to $150 USD really helps - I wound up having to chip in about $50.

My Long and McQuaid store currently has only one DB for sale. It sounds nasally, it's an ugly orange, there are chips in it since it was a student model, the grain of the wood is a little random, the bridge sucks, etc... And they want CDN $2,000! It's a piece of crap compared to my Hawkes.

Read the following thread, it'll give you more info on shipping to Canada. The pricing will be a little off since the Hawkes model jumped $100 (due to dollar values I presume) and of course our CDN has risen slightly. It'll give you an idea though, you'll have to do the math yourself.

buying a DB from US. Ship to Canada

neal davis · #6 05-02-2007, 10:56 AM

I've brought my carved bass to nelson in winters and summers and it held up fine. If you want a lamanate for piece of mind though I'd say go with the upton. Do not get any of the junk for L and M, it isn't set up, sounds bad and way over priced. Do you have any luthiers locally? If so I'd check there before anything just so you can also try before you buy.

drurb · #7 05-02-2007, 11:19 AM

I wondered if your preference for the laminate may have also had something to do with your budget. What is your budget? Is there no possibility to maintain temperature and humiditiy within safe ranges when you in BC? If not, then I certainly understand why you'd want to go with a laminate. If so, then I'd look seriously at the Upton hybrid. IMO, dollar-for-dollar, it is an even better buy than their laminate.

Greg Clinkingbeard · #8 05-02-2007, 04:16 PM

I live in Kansas and the shipping from CT was just under $200, so I paid around $50. The hybrid is a very nice bass and I have not seen or played anything nicer that wasn't quite a bit more money.

That said, the shipping is going to cost you enough, IMO, that it may be better to buy locally. Before you pull the trigger, you may want to do some shopping in Seattle to see what is available. http://www.hammondashley.com/basses.html

You definitely wouldn't go wrong buying an Upton bass and I love mine, but there are a lot of basses to choose from and it's a big investment. Choose wisely.

lyle · #9 05-02-2007, 05:29 PM

My budget is around $3000-$3500, it can budge a bit considering I could borrow some money but I would like to keep it in that range. Mostly I was considering the laminent because of weather, I'm not sure how touchy uprights are to climate change but I didnt really want to take a risk. From what I've heard the hybrid is amazing though so lets not count it out. Also I'll probably be playing mostly contemporary/jazz stuff at school so if I go with a laminent its not like I'm hugely concerned about arco, I want to learn it but it is not huge. So how stable, and how much would i have to worry about a hybrid?

Also thanks for the comment on L&M, I tried their stuff and found it very hard to play and it was like 3000-3500, thats the main reason I am considering Upton. Also locally there are like one or two double bassists and not much for luthiers as far as i know.

Awsome, that thread on shipping to canada is great! thanks.

thanks
-lyle

ps. keep in mind my budget i would also like to include, bag, bow, pickup etc.

drurb · #10 05-02-2007, 06:08 PM

I recommend, with a budget like that, that you put laminates out of your mind. IMO, you should be looking at hybrids. It is not true that the carved top is only advantageous for arco. Far from it. The sustain and complexity of tone characteristic of a carved top are highly desirable for pizz.

Yes, carved tops do require more care in terms of temperature and humidity swings. Assuming you do not plan to play the bass outside routinely, you should be fine so long as the bass "lives" in an environment where the temperature and humidity can be controlled. In living spaces, temperature is usually not the issue. Humidity can be controlled in a small-to-medium sized room quite well with a tabletop humidifier that might run you all of $30-$50.

neal davis · #11 05-02-2007, 07:53 PM

+1 with the dr, I keep the humidity controled in my studio are with a humidifer in the winter and a dehumidifer in the summer, it's easy to do. check out some luthiers in your area.

http://www.gollihur.com/kkbass/luthiers.html has links to bass luthiers and shops in bc, some may mean a trip to Van but there are more basses in and around bc than you think. If in Van try and speak to some bass players and ask who they go to to get work done etc, maybe help you with some leads. good luck but with your budget I'd go with at least a hybrid

lyle · #12 05-02-2007, 10:34 PM

My friend told me the same thing, I dont know the next time I'm buying another upright so might as well get the hybrid. The only thing though is I might leave this beast at school, in a room which i could humidify as well, but how much more work are we talking here? I'm also renting and transportation might be tricky when I'm at school so i dunno, I just dont want to wreck my bass, and the solidness of a laminent seemed nice. I know the carved top isnt just waiting to explode on me but ya.

I did a little estimate with all the doodads I want with my bass with the super swing laminent and it came close to $3500 at my door step so ya. Gosh I know you guys are right but I gotta think it over for a bit.

I think I'll contact some of those vancouver guys and see what they got to say, thanks guys.

neal davis · #13 05-02-2007, 11:29 PM

lyle just see if you can play as many as possible, one of my students got a hybrid/case/pickup for under 4000 cnd and I know you can to, just don't bite the bullet too fast and buy something if you aren't sure. the upton basses are great but try and play some basses before you buy. I bought my first upright which was a decent factory carved/with case and pickup for under 5000 and it held up for many years(still have it as a backup bass) good luck

lyle · #14 05-03-2007, 09:55 AM

Thanks alot guys, great advice. I might make a trip down to the coast and play some basses.

I emailed alot of those Luthiers in BC but anyone else know of a good double bass dealer in BC, or in Calgary, I have family there so that would work too.

thanks guys
-lyle

**Damon Rondeau** · #15 05-03-2007, 10:45 AM

If you're going down to the lower mainland, why don't you sneak across the line and visit Hammond Ashley in Seattle? I only know of them through TalkBass, but you're talking real live well-established professionals. Worth the trip, I would say, if you're spending that kind of dough on an instrument you'll play for years. Take the bus if you have to.

We've got luthiers and TalkBassers Gerald Samija and Jake de Villiers out that way, too. Why not get in touch?

Nelson may be in the sticks when it comes to bass professionals, but Vancouver/Seattle sure as heck isn't. Take advantage -- talk, visit, play. (I do know that Nelson has a LOT of woodworkers hidden away -- there's gotta be some secret luthiers.)

As for humidity: Toronto and most points thereabouts east is high humidity, Nelson distinctly is not high humidity. Nelson's low humidity is NOT bad for your bass, carved or not. Moving your bass through radical changes of humidity, from low to high or vice versa, is what will give you trouble. Out east, you're moving from high summer humidity to very low household humidity in the winter due to forced air heating -- wood will definitely move a lot in those conditions. Your situation in Nelson is much more copacetic.

lyle · #16 05-03-2007, 11:33 AM

awsome, thanks alot for the climate info.

Also I will consider Seatle, I have a friend whos place I could stay at so it might work out. Thanks guys.

EggyToast · #17 05-03-2007, 12:11 PM

Yeah, my teacher mentioned the same thing to me. I was asking him about acoustic uprights, as I'm currently on an EUB, and he said that a gradual change in humidity extremes isn't so bad. It's the sudden changes, like a drop of 10-15%, that can kill a bass. Which also means that it tends to be more of a problem for basses that are moved around a lot, as it's often very dry outside in the winter, but less dry indoors where, you know, people live and have wet things around.

drurb · #18 05-03-2007, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EggyToast

...indoors where, you know, people live and have wet things around.

I'm not even going to ask!

**Damon Rondeau** · #19 05-03-2007, 02:26 PM

Another poster mentioned bluegrass festivals and heat and that can certainly be a problem, too. The heat, I mean, not the festivals.

lyle · #20 05-03-2007, 02:44 PM

I'm almost fully convinced on a hybrid. I mean I don't know the next time I'll be buying another upright again, so might as well spend a bit more money right?

But I'm still a bit worried about damaging a nice bass and don't want my owrry to hold me back from playing any gigs. Everyone reasures me I should be fine thoug, I'll probably end up with a 30 dollar humidifier, maybe one of those f hole humidi guys on Upton, and very happy with a carved top Hybrid. Well see....