Upton Bass

[timobee4]

If thats what Eric said than I must have gone off the rail to quick again! But still think that if I was looking for a bass with a smaller budget thinking of a Chinese bass as an option these videos irrespective of what Eric said would put off 99% of people of purchasing Chinese bass and I do have the feeling that that was their intention! By the way I am not Chinese I have great respect for the people and their culture and food. And yes some of their basses are firewood material!


[quote=drurb;11413926]Okay, I looked them up. Lets see--- right in the first video you referenced, Eric says, "I don't want to make a generalization about all Chinese basses... There's some reputable Chinese basses out there...

[chris1125]

Originally Posted by drurb

To each his own. What's important to me is sound and playability as well. In my case, that's exactly why I'll likely never own any Shen above an entry-level one (perhaps as as a second "outdoor" bass). They just don't cut it for me. I find them to be good values at the entry and, perhaps, mid-level level but not after that. To my ears and hands, they just don't compete with what else is available at the >=$8000 prices. Maybe you have a very special $5000 Shen. I've just never played one that would best the basses I prefer >=$8000. I wouldn't expect them to. Bottom line: If I have upwards of $8000 to spend on a bass (again ), it won't likely be spent on a Shen. No offense to the Shen lovers here, most of whom didn't drop $8000 or more on their basses.

No offense taken, when I was in the market I was looking for a big German bass in the $8,000+ range. I went to a shop that had 30 or 40 basses in the price range with no price tags. I had it down to two basses, an old 19th century German bass and a 7/8 shen willow that both felt and sounded great to me. The shen was $5,000, the German was $12,500! Since I bought it 6 years ago, I haven't played a single bass in the price range that even compares. Do I enjoy the idea of playing a Chinese bass? Not really but I love the sound which has noe opened up tremendousely. If I could do it over again, I would make the same choice. A week or two ago I was looking at bows and played a bass that was $7,000, some kind of modern European bass. I don't know whether I was closer to laughing or crying, but let's just say I put the bass down and got the shen out of the car rather quickly.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by chris1125

No offense taken, when I was in the market I was looking for a big German bass in the $8,000+ range. I went to a shop that had 30 or 40 basses in the price range with no price tags. I had it down to two basses, an old 19th century German bass and a 7/8 shen willow that both felt and sounded great to me. The shen was $5,000, the German was $12,500! Since I bought it 6 years ago, I haven't played a single bass in the price range that even compares. Do I enjoy the idea of playing a Chinese bass? Not really but I love the sound which has noe opened up tremendousely. If I could do it over again, I would make the same choice. A week or two ago I was looking at bows and played a bass that was $7,000, some kind of modern European bass. I don't know whether I was closer to laughing or crying, but let's just say I put the bass down and got the shen out of the car rather quickly.

What you did was perfect! You picked the bass that spoke to you. We all know that price certainly doesn't go one-to-one with sound/playability. Now, given that you love the bass so much, then as long as it is built well, why not enjoy the idea of playing a Chinese bass?! It's YOUR beloved Chinese bass that speaks to you. It's your musical mate so who cares where it came from?

[chris1125]

Originally Posted by drurb

What you did was perfect! You picked the bass that spoke to you. We all know that price certainly doesn't go one-to-one with sound/playability. Now, given that you love the bass so much, then as long as it is built well, why not enjoy the idea of playing a Chinese bass?! It's YOUR beloved Chinese bass that speaks to you. It's your musical mate so who cares where it came from?

Well, I've had some interresting encounters with very well known proffessors that absolutely hated shens (hence why I didn't apply to those universities )
Some shens are great, others not so much but that's how it is with all basses, if I'm lucky I'll upgrade at the next isb convention but I'll never give up the willow, my first "real" bass.

[spoonido]

I'm not trying to be a snoot about it, but considering the state of the economy, if I can possibly buy a new American made instrument over a new import, then I feel a kind of obligation to buy American.

Thus, I have an Upton on order, spending far more than I originally had intended, but feeling much better about it. I try to apply this to other purchases as well.

It used to be I felt that Chinese people deserve to make a living too, and "live let live" and all that, but things are going down the tubes so fast in this country because fat CEOs are firing middle class workers and hiring non-union labor at slave wages in foreign lands while getting tax breaks on their mega salaries thanks to the new morality in our political system. As a result, no one makes anything here anymore, and I am sick of it.

Rather than getting deeper into politics, let's just say that buying a bass made by a luthier in New England has a lot more appeal than buying an imported factory made product from underpaid workers who may not even play or own one of the company products.

[GrowlerBox]

Originally Posted by spoonido

I'm not trying to be a snoot about it, but considering the state of the economy, if I can possibly buy a new American made instrument over a new import, then I feel a kind of obligation to buy American.

Thus, I have an Upton on order, spending far more than I originally had intended, but feeling much better about it. I try to apply this to other purchases as well.

It used to be I felt that Chinese people deserve to make a living too, and "live let live" and all that, but things are going down the tubes so fast in this country because fat CEOs are firing middle class workers and hiring non-union labor at slave wages in foreign lands while getting tax breaks on their mega salaries thanks to the new morality in our political system. As a result, no one makes anything here anymore, and I am sick of it.

Rather than getting deeper into politics, let's just say that buying a bass made by a luthier in New England has a lot more appeal than buying an imported factory made product from underpaid workers who may not even play or own one of the company products.

I had no choice but to purchase a bass made in another country. On the basis of reviews here, I was keen to look into an Upton and tried in vain to contact them by email via their website to discuss models and shipping.

Instead, I have a Christopher through a not-quite-local dealer, and I'm very happy with it, but I can't help but wonder what the Upton would have been like ....

[transition]

Originally Posted by spoonido

...let's just say that buying a bass made by a luthier in New England has a lot more appeal than buying [a bass made in China].

This is getting a bit far afield from the OP, but... I struggled with this a bit, too. Obviously, I'd rather buy something made in the US over something made in China; I would like nothing better than to support US bass makers.

However, the other side of the coin is supporting local businesses. Putting money into my local economy is definitely something I'm pretty serious about.

And, as it turns out, I'm lucky enough to live roughly three miles from an actual bass specialty shop, with a real, live bass luthier.

It's very much in my personal best interest to do what I can to help him keep his doors open; buying a Shen from a local business still helps my local economy, and helps keep a valuable resource in business.

(it also helped that I totally fell in love with a Shen that he had; it is still an instrument and not just a "statement" after all.)

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by spoonido

considering the state of the economy, if I can possibly buy a new American made instrument over a new import, then I feel a kind of obligation to buy American.

Originally Posted by transition

buying a Shen from a local business still helps my local economy, and helps keep a valuable resource in business.

Both valid points. Your first obligation though is to find the best bass for you, regardless of maker.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

Both valid points. Your first obligation though is to find the best bass for you, regardless of maker.

I certainly agree with this, but for many, there is, apparently, a tradeoff. From reading the posts here, I gather that some weigh their market philosophies substantially when making a choice such that they might accept a slightly less-optimal instrument in favor of purchasing from a supplier they find more desirable. I understand that, although, personally, that's not a tradeoff I've ever had to make. Of course, if you can have the best of both, then all the better.

[transition]

Originally Posted by transition

it also helped that I totally fell in love with a Shen that he had; it is still an instrument and not just a "statement" after all.

Yeah - I did want to make sure this got said. I couldn't be happier with my bass.

Well, I could if I could play better, but... when my teacher plays my bass, I couldn't be happier with it!

But that will come with time. Off to my lesson now, in fact!

[drurb]

You mean you wanted to make sure that it got said again?

[transition]

I guess so.