Upton Bass Club

kamakiriad7 · #1 02-04-2009, 09:26 PM

Hey everyone,

I'm pretty sure we need an Upton Club/owner's thread. I don't think I need to get into why these instruments are so great.

What year/opus is yours? post pics or stories here!

Ok. Here is the official member list (post a picture of your Upton bass(es) to get a member number. PM me if I missed you or if you don't want a number):
01 - kamakiriad7
02 - drurb
03 - Ghost Note
04 - jmpfretless
05 - ZENBASSGUY
06 - dbmike
07 - brijonrob
08 - Bass
09 - BPeder
10 - lofreek
11 - olivieraleman
12 - ogre

drurb · #2 02-04-2009, 09:44 PM

I've been a member of "the club" since 2003. Below is my current and third bass from Upton. It's an Upton Concert, Opus 2. The story is here. It sounds even better now.

Menacewarf · #3 02-04-2009, 09:53 PM

The pleasing green landscape soothes me. (I grew up in Connecticut)

O yah nice bass too

kamakiriad7 · #4 02-05-2009, 03:18 PM

Beautiful instrument!! By the way, Drurb, I've got to thankk you for directing me towards Upton last year. It turns out that I was already flying to the U.S. to see Return to Forever in Boston, so I just popped over to the Upton headquarters to meet Gary and the gang. What a facility.

I ended up ordering a Hybrid Standard, Opus 183, and needless to say it's the envy of all of the lower-string players at the classical music school I attend.

I'll post pictures of it here soon.

Ghost_Note · #5 02-05-2009, 07:13 PM

I'm waiting for mine (it's a Standard Gamba) that should be ready within the next week or two. This is my first DB and I'm feeling like a very happy and excpectant father right now

.

tomshepp · #6 02-06-2009, 04:39 AM

That is a beaut! Let's see some others.

M Ramsey · #7 02-06-2009, 05:53 AM

I'm not in, nor will I ever be. You can possibly find me over in the American Standard/King Moretone bass club.

Now, somebody just needs to show me where it's located.

lowEndRick · #8 02-06-2009, 06:15 AM

I am not one for joining clubs or attaching myself to any particular brand of anything, but I do love my Upton Hybrid.

Here she is

drurb · #9 02-06-2009, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M Ramsey

I'm not in, nor will I ever be.

Give it time.

Tejano Bass · #10 02-06-2009, 07:48 AM

Big Mike:

Quote:

I'm not in, nor will I ever be. You can possibly find me over in the American Standard/King Moretone bass club.

Now, somebody just needs to show me where it's located.

Check your PM for location . . .

drurb · #11 02-06-2009, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tejano Bass

Big Mike:

Check your PM for location . . .

Is the location a secret? Hey, start your own club thread!

jmpfretless · #12 02-07-2009, 09:22 AM

Two years ago I meet someone here in Daytona who introduced me to Upton Basses.....her Upright bass had such a high level of craftmenship that I could hardly believe when she sait that it was the less espensive upright bass Upton made ....wow....I needed to investigate....after countless hours on the phone with Gary(some patience this guy has)...an order was put in for my new Professor Ultra Deluxe....and let me add...a trip to Stonington sealed the deal. Never have I been more happy with anything I ever bought....To meet all of them was a treat this guy here is not about to forget....Gary was more than happy to find a nice place for me to spend the night in nearby Mistic and my
god the rest is history as they say...what a bunch..what an instrument....what a company....Gary...Aubrey....Eric.....And the ever happy Kate......Thanks from the bottom of my heart..

ZENBASSGUY · #13 02-07-2009, 09:50 AM

so i'm a music major in an underfunded music program at a state school ( yah i know big surprise) anyway the school has 2 basses one sounds like a cardboard box rapped in a down comforter and the other is about to break in half due to a huge crack in the neck.
so i bit the bullet and bought an upton standard. and i haven't touched my electrics in about 3 months. i don't even like the sound of electric bass anymore. the only thing that sucks is that i can't play at the level that i could on electric but i know time and practice will fix that.

dbmike · #14 02-07-2009, 10:08 AM

I bought a laminated Hawkes (#8) in 2006 after trying several different laminates and hybrids. For my budget and usage goals, it was a perfect fit: great sound, comfortable neck, and nice looks. The fact that Gary and his colleagues were such a pleasure to deal with made it a very easy purchase. Two plus years later I am addicted to upright and am slowly saving for a carved version -- once my last two kids are out of college!

brijonrob · #15 02-07-2009, 01:59 PM

Just picked up my new Upton Standard on Friday, She's a beauty!!

jmpfretless · #16 02-07-2009, 09:12 PM

I will post some pictures of my baby as well soon......
Just like Drurb except....flatback.....loud baby and what a tone...Good God this thing makes me happy....

Ghost_Note · #17 02-07-2009, 10:55 PM

Beautiful Hybrid and Standard lads.

lowEndRick--I imagine the acoustics in that corner resonate with woody warmth.

Bass · #18 02-09-2009, 08:08 AM

2006 Upton Hawkes Laminate.

lowEndRick · #19 02-09-2009, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost_Note

Beautiful Hybrid and Standard lads.

lowEndRick--I imagine the acoustics in that corner resonate with woody warmth.

I don't play there often since its the entrance to our house. I chose it because there is a skylight there and the pics come out better. But it does sound full and warm there. Actually this bass sounds pretty full and warm just about anywhere

Ghost_Note · #20 02-09-2009, 06:41 PM

BTW: I didn't want Drurb's bass to go unrecognized. I had seen this beauty earlier in a PM. I showered it with compliments but since those took place in private, I now shall proclaim so in public.

Les, it's a beaut!

I've also heard wonderful things from the folks at Upton about you're playing ability.

Guess I better stop now before you blush.

Paul