My New Upton Bass!

Rocky · #1 09-03-2010, 04:07 PM

Some of you may remember me ordering an Upton standard bass back in mid July. Today I received some pictures of my new baby which should be completed very soon, and I thought I would share. Thank you Eric, and everyone at Upton that had a hand in making my bass!!!!!

MattyBass · #2 09-03-2010, 04:44 PM

Cool,

She's looking purty!! I like the way her curves glissen in the light.... Nice wood, the bass that is..

and I love the blue fingerboard.. lol...

When is that baby expected to be delivered??

Congrats.. give us an update when she arrives..

Rocky · #3 09-03-2010, 04:46 PM

Matty, She goes into setup next week so maybe two weeks?
Thanks, and I'll post pictures when she's here.

ole Jason · #4 09-03-2010, 11:06 PM

That's a nice looking finish.. a little different from their usual chocolate color. I like it.

Rocky · #5 09-03-2010, 11:14 PM

Hi Jason, yes its an antique amber with some reddish brown added.

thomashawk · #6 09-03-2010, 11:24 PM

Gorgeous!

Russell Bergum · #7 09-05-2010, 06:20 PM

I like it. Very Nice! I think I'll have mine stained more like yours.

Aleph5 · #8 09-08-2010, 06:07 PM

Wow! Is that really a $2k bass?!

Rocky · #9 09-08-2010, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleph5

Wow! Is that really a $2k bass?!

Well the antiqued tuners were extra, but yes it was really close to that price. I also opted for the adjustable bridge, and strings are not included in the base price so that added to the final cost too.

The Tyler · #10 09-09-2010, 12:09 PM

Very puurrrdy!

Rocky · #11 09-10-2010, 10:08 PM

Got my ship date today! Shipping on September 16th, and should be here September 22..

chuck3 · #12 09-11-2010, 10:54 PM

excellent, man.

I play out of two locations and have an Upton in each. Up north I have a Standard plywood (whatever it's called) and I can tell you that this bass has kicked butt wherever it's gone. It's recorded an album and done many gigs.

In the city I have the Hybrid (carved top) and it really sings. It's a more sensitive bass than my upstate girlfriend as concerns humidity and the like, but it's my jazz bass in the city, and when in form is a thing of beauty.

The Upton folks are great and if you ever have questions or problems they are there to help.

Rocky · #13 09-11-2010, 11:06 PM

Hi Chuck, I'm really excited about this bass, and although everyones advice to play any bass before you buy it is valid I just decided to take a big leap of faith with this purchase. I have owned two basses prior to this. One was a Englehardt that had a thin neck which gave me hand cramps, and the other was a Christopher that I traded a guitar for, but decided my guitar was worth more, and so we traded back. I have read so many great reviews on Upton basses, and people seem to be very happy with them that I decided to take the chance ordering one. I'm pleased to read comments from players like you who are happy with their basses, and have yet to read any truly negative comments on these instruments. What year is your laminate, and did you get it new? Rob

swmmojo · #14 09-11-2010, 11:19 PM

Congrats Rocky. You will LOVE it. I cannot wait to hear your review. Great color/finish.

Rocky · #15 09-11-2010, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swmmojo

Congrats Rocky. You will LOVE it. I cannot wait to hear your review. Great color/finish.

Thanks swmmojo, I'm still fairly new to the DB world so I'm not sure my opinions will be worth much, but I will post pictures, and answer any questions anyone has.

chuck3 · #16 09-12-2010, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocky

What year is your laminate, and did you get it new? Rob

I got it about 18 months ago. It was new but there is a little bit of a story behind it. I had business taking me up and down Route 95 and I knew where Upton was and what they did, so I just randomly stopped in. One of the luthiers was testing this bass and lamenting the fact that it had a slight cosmetic flaw (very minor inturn of the wood on one of the f-holes). It had been built on order for a customer in California but Upton didn't want to ship it if there was a risk of a rejection for this cosmetic flaw. They were going to rip the top off and put a new one on. I played it for a few minutes and it had the warmest tone of any bass I'd played. So I said I'd take it at a discount and accept the "flaw," and a deal was quickly done. It would have been a shame to take that bass apart, as time has told.

One comment though - the laminate basses, IMO, are best for country, rock, rockabilly, bluegrass - but not ideal for jazz. It's a big, full, warm tone. My Upton Hybrid has more what I am looking for, for jazz - a more defined and singing tone. That said, my Upton Standard has really carried the ball for me up in the Hudson Valley. Other musicians just see the bass in the house and they know who's playing it.

Rocky · #17 09-12-2010, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuck3

I got it about 18 months ago. It was new but there is a little bit of a story behind it. I had business taking me up and down Route 95 and I knew where Upton was and what they did, so I just randomly stopped in. One of the luthiers was testing this bass and lamenting the fact that it had a slight cosmetic flaw (very minor inturn of the wood on one of the f-holes). It had been built on order for a customer in California but Upton didn't want to ship it if there was a risk of a rejection for this cosmetic flaw. They were going to rip the top off and put a new one on. I played it for a few minutes and it had the warmest tone of any bass I'd played. So I said I'd take it at a discount and accept the "flaw," and a deal was quickly done. It would have been a shame to take that bass apart, as time has told.

One comment though - the laminate basses, IMO, are best for country, rock, rockabilly, bluegrass - but not ideal for jazz. It's a big, full, warm tone. My Upton Hybrid has more what I am looking for, for jazz - a more defined and singing tone. That said, my Upton Standard has really carried the ball for me up in the Hudson Valley. Other musicians just see the bass in the house and they know who's playing it.

Sounds like you were lucky to find this bass, and get a good deal. Do you have any pictures? What type of strings are you using on this bass?

chuck3 · #18 09-12-2010, 08:14 PM

ha - I'm not much of a picture guy. If you would like to listen to an Upton Standard plywood that rocked an album, listen to this from C.B. Smith the songwriter. Every cut has the Upton Standard plywood bass, and it's gotten good record reviews, with particular mention of the good bass sound:

http://www.cbsmithmusic.com/index.php?/listen

Rocky · #19 09-12-2010, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuck3

ha - I'm not much of a picture guy. If you would like to listen to an Upton Standard plywood that rocked an album, listen to this from C.B. Smith the songwriter. Every cut has the Upton Standard plywood bass, and it's gotten good record reviews, with particular mention of the good bass sound:

http://www.cbsmithmusic.com/index.php?/listen

Thats cool. I listened to a few cuts, and man that bass is fat! What kind of strings are you using?

bert harris · #20 09-12-2010, 10:04 PM

i have an upton chocolate standard...love it...congrats on your bass