Upton Basses...?

[jbenner913]

Hey everybody,
I was wondering if anybody has played the Upton Professor Bass, sometimes called "Gary's" Bass. I am looking to get a really good bass, without paying too much money, so I stumbled upon Upton Bass. What do you guys think of this bass? Do you think it could be played for a major orchestra audition?
Thanks,
Jon

[drurb]

Originally Posted by jbenner913

Hey everybody,
I was wondering if anybody has played the Upton Professor Bass, sometimes called "Gary's" Bass. I am looking to get a really good bass, without paying too much money, so I stumbled upon Upton Bass. What do you guys think of this bass? Do you think it could be played for a major orchestra audition?
Thanks,
Jon

You might want to "stumble" onto the many reviews and comments in these threads regarding Upton basses in general. I can't recall if I played the new version of "Gary's bass." I certainly don't have enough of a specific memory of that bass to comment other than globally about how the Uptons are great deals in general. Where do you live?

[jbenner913]

I live in Dayton, OH. My bass teacher recommends that I go to the Bass Cellar in Cincinatti, but after visiting their webpage, I was surprised by the prices. I'm sure it is worth a visit to see how those basses play and sound.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by jbenner913

I live in Dayton, OH. My bass teacher recommends that I go to the Bass Cellar in Cincinatti, but after visiting their webpage, I was surprised by the prices. I'm sure it is worth a visit to see how those basses play and sound.

Well, you absolutely should go. It is good experience to play as many basses as possible. It seems like the Bass Cellar would afford you a good opportunity to play basses that are below, within, and above your price range. That will allow you to really appreciate the differences. By the way, what surprised you about their prices? It seems they have an inventory within the price range of "Gary's bass." Of course, I cannot tell you how Gary's bass would compare to the ones at the Bass Cellar that are comparably priced.

Also, could you explain a little more about the "major orchestral audition?"

[jbenner913]

Before I visited the bass cellar's page, I thought I would be able to get a bass that sounded okay, and wasn't all made out of plywood for less than six or seven thousand dollars. Once I saw that they the majority of the basses listed were over fifteen thousand dollars, I didn't know what I was going to do. After all, I'm just a freshman in high school. What do I know, right?
I am looking into auditioning for symphony orchestras once I get out of high school and complete college. The bass that I am renting and playing on now is pretty bad. It is far below what I would need to get a job playing in an orchestra. I don't even want to start talking about the wierd things that it does... I will want to move on to a bass of my own anyway.
Thanks,
Jon

[screamkingart]

Drurb I like how you always talk about upton bass and how you highy recommend them on there great service and products, and you almost get lynched sometimes . Im mostly a lurker around here (i play slap bass ) but i agree with you on upton being a great company! i've bought 2 bass from them a swingmaster and a shen sb80, and even though i didnt go out and buy a $10,000.00 bass from them I felt that there service was great even though i was just buying a bass for $2000.00 and the other for $1275.00 (which is a lot of money, but in the upright bass world those are pennies) I also highly recommend them (mostly over at www.rockabillybass.com) for there great service and products.

by the way i just sold my swingmaster and will be buying a hawkes laminate dark brown

[drurb]

Originally Posted by jbenner913

Before I visited the bass cellar's page, I thought I would be able to get a bass that sounded okay, and wasn't all made out of plywood for less than six or seven thousand dollars. Once I saw that they the majority of the basses listed were over fifteen thousand dollars, I didn't know what I was going to do. After all, I'm just a freshman in high school. What do I know, right?

Well, it seem that they do have some that fit the bill for you. In any case, I would still encourage you to go and play as many as you can.

Originally Posted by jbenner913

I am looking into auditioning for symphony orchestras once I get out of high school and complete college. The bass that I am renting and playing on now is pretty bad. It is far below what I would need to get a job playing in an orchestra. I don't even want to start talking about the wierd things that it does... I will want to move on to a bass of my own anyway.

Ah, you have provided some crucial information. In my opinion, you would do well not to think of the bass you want to buy now as necessarily the bass you will ultimately want and/or have once you have graduated from college. Depending upon your success and how serious you are, you just may want a $40,000 "orchestral" bass. Let's deal with the present. With a budget of $5000, you should be able to get a decent carved bass or upper-end hybrid. You may know that most of the difference in complexity of tone between a laminate and a hybrid stems from the carved top.

I suggest you start another thread asking folks here for the names of good shops within driving distance of where you live. The Bass Cellar is certainly a good start!

If you are really interested in the Upton, I'd strongly suggest that you get on a plane and play it. For me anyway, $5000 is a price-point where I would not be comfortable buying sight unseen and sound unheard. There are many options available to you. If you do come out east, you would do well to check out the offerings in New York, including, of course, Arnold's New Standards.

Good luck!

[drurb]

Originally Posted by screamkingart

Drurb I like how you always talk about upton bass and how you highy recommend them on there great service and products, and you almost get lynched sometimes .

So, let me get this straight. You like that I almost get lynched?

Just kidding.

[jfv]

Originally Posted by jbenner913

Before I visited the bass cellar's page, I thought I would be able to get a bass that sounded okay, and wasn't all made out of plywood for less than six or seven thousand dollars. Once I saw that they the majority of the basses listed were over fifteen thousand dollars, I didn't know what I was going to do. After all, I'm just a freshman in high school. What do I know, right?
I am looking into auditioning for symphony orchestras once I get out of high school and complete college. The bass that I am renting and playing on now is pretty bad. It is far below what I would need to get a job playing in an orchestra. I don't even want to start talking about the wierd things that it does... I will want to move on to a bass of my own anyway.
Thanks,
Jon

Maybe this store has the policy of posting full retail
prices, but if you talk to them you find out its only
like half the price??

There's no way that someone who is in school should
have to spend that much money, unless daddy's rich
and wants to spoil them

You can get a fully carved chinese (Shen) or Eastern
European (Hungarian or Bulgarian) bass for at or under
5K. If you shop carefully with a person that knows
the instrument you can get something good enough
to last you long into the future.

Spending 3 times that much is unlikely to get you a
lot better sound either btw.

Good luck,

[drurb]

Originally Posted by jfv

Maybe this store has the policy of posting full retail
prices, but if you talk to them you find out its only
like half the price??

There's no way that someone who is in school should
have to spend that much money, unless daddy's rich
and wants to spoil them

You can get a fully carved chinese (Shen) or Eastern
European (Hungarian or Bulgarian) bass for at or under
5K. If you shop carefully with a person that knows
the instrument you can get something good enough
to last you long into the future.

Spending 3 times that much is unlikely to get you a
lot better sound either btw.

Good luck,

Well, I mostly agree. If he ends up with a serious orchestra career, he'll likely want something better than that $5k carved bass. My point was that he should wait and see.

Now, as far as $15,000 not buying "a lot" better sound than $5000, well, I disagree. I guess it depends on what one considers "a lot."

[uptonbass]

I will have my new Professor bass in the first week of April...and for the record this one is NOT for sale, however the EXACT same bass but new is all yours. You can play it evaluate it EVEN get the exact same thing but you cant have mine. No kidding I am all done swapping for a while.

On the bass, PLEASE come and do yourself the favor of playing it. I promise that it compares favorably to instruments twice it's price.

drurb, you can play my new bass next time you are in, you didn't see it nor have I! Only in the white without the ff's finished and without the neck set! Can you guys tell I am excited to get MY new bass?

Attached is a picture of Kyle Kegerreis with his new Professor. It was SUCH a nice bass!!!! AHHHHH! Kyle is the Bassist with many including Carrie Rodriguez, Mark O'Connor, and teacher at Mark O'Connor's fiddle camp.

[jfv]

Originally Posted by drurb

Well, I mostly agree. If he ends up with a serious orchestra career, he'll likely want something better than that $5k carved bass. My point was that he should wait and see.

Now, as far as $15,000 not buying "a lot" better sound than $5000, well, I disagree. I guess it depends on what one considers "a lot."

He's a freshman in high school, there's plenty of time
to worry about that career bass if it happens

I suppose you can find some particular bass that is sold
for 5K and another that sells for 15K and have a significant
increase in sound quality. My point is that, if careful, you
can buy a bass for only 5K that will make that difference
much smaller.

My main point was that you can get a lot of bass for
less money these days if you shop smart.

Regards,

[jfv]

Originally Posted by uptonbass

I will have my new Professor bass in the first week of April...and for the record this one is NOT for sale, however the EXACT same bass but new is all yours. You can play it evaluate it EVEN get the exact same thing but you cant have mine. No kidding I am all done swapping for a while.

On the bass, PLEASE come and do yourself the favor of playing it. I promise that it compares favorably to instruments twice it's price.

...

Very nice, if I lived on the 'other' coast I'd be out there
to check it out

Peace,

[drurb]

Originally Posted by jfv

He's a freshman in high school, there's plenty of time
to worry about that career bass if it happens

I suppose you can find some particular bass that is sold
for 5K and another that sells for 15K and have a significant
increase in sound quality. My point is that, if careful, you
can buy a bass for only 5K that will make that difference
much smaller.

My main point was that you can get a lot of bass for
less money these days if you shop smart.

Regards,

Gee, I think we are in violent agreement all the way around.

[Gufenov]

I see quite a few Shens, Knillings, and other instruments for under $5,000 on the Bass Cellar site.

If you plan to use the same instrument through High School and College, you will likely need set-up or repair work sooner or later. Have you given some thought to where you will have repair work done on your bass? Upton has a reputation for good products and set-up, but they can't help you much a couple years down the road when your sound post needs work.

I think you owe it to yourself to visit the Bass Cellar. You may or may not find the instrument you seek, but at the very least you will establish a relationship with a luthier / vendor nearly in your back yard. A lot of us wish we were so lucky!

[rdwhit]

Originally Posted by Gufenov

I see quite a few Shens, Knillings, and other instruments for under $5,000 on the Bass Cellar site.

If you plan to use the same instrument through High School and College, you will likely need set-up or repair work sooner or later. Have you given some thought to where you will have repair work done on your bass? Upton has a reputation for good products and set-up, but they can't help you much a couple years down the road when your sound post needs work.

I think you owe it to yourself to visit the Bass Cellar. You may or may not find the instrument you seek, but at the very Beast you will establish a relationship with a luthier / vendor nearly in your back yard. A lot of us wish we were so lucky!

I've done lots business with the bass cellar. I send students there often. There is plenty of stuff in all price ranges there. By all means, take the trip and see what they have. ALWAYS VISIT NNICK LOYD when in Cincinnati too.
NLLOYD5@YAHOO.COM.
Call both places on the phone first.
My students have bought various Shen models from both shops. I Think they start at about $1,500. I've not played an Upton yet. Many credible people here give them good reviews.

[mesmithnm]

Check out Nick Lloyd in Cincinatti

http://www.nicklloydbasses.com/

Nick handles New Standards and Shens that should be right in your price range. I've not done business there, but he seems to have a great reputation around TalkBass. One advantage of doing business locally is that you develop a relationship with a local guy for all your setup and repair needs.

Oh - I just noticed that rdwhit suggested Nick. I'll post this anyway since it has a link to his web site

[bpclark]

+1 on both the Bass Cellar and Nick Lloyd

The Cellar did some excellent set up work on my Kay and Englehardt.

Nick has done some good work on my Kay for me. I can also say that Nick is first class people too especially considering what I put him through trying out one of his Shens. And it's actually worth visiting his shop just to meet Warren.

[orange-man]

jbenner913,

I HIGHLY recommend taking a trip to Upton. I flew to Upton for the day, and as I was boarding the plane, I questioned my sanity in taking a plane trip to see a bass, but the plane fare turned out to the among the best money I ever spent. Knowing what I now know, it would have been a no-brainer to fly there for the day as I would have been remiss if I didn't try the Upton basses. See what fares are available, as you can fly into either Hartford or Providence.

Upton is a first-class operation and Gary is absolutely fantastic to deal with. You will be very impressed with their attention do detail, the great set-ups, and most of all, the sound quality and playability of the basses. I believe that the price-to-sound quality ratio is among the best you will find. I've heard other people say that here on TB, and I always thought it was a kind of back-handed compliment, but now I understand what they are saying. They are excellent basses on their own merit ....and they just so happen to be priced attractively...better yet.

The problem with going to one or two shops is that you will undoubtely find a bass in that shop that you like the best, but it might not be the best bass for you. By expanding your search to places like Upton, you get a better feel for what is available.

After trying many basses in various shops, I chose the Hybrid Hawkes and could not be happier with it. I will be reviewing the bass in another thread in the near future.

Good luck in your search!

[rdwhit]

Originally Posted by mesmithnm

Check out Nick Lloyd in Cincinatti

http://www.nicklloydbasses.com/

Nick handles New Standards and Shens that should be right in your price range. I've not done business there, but he seems to have a great reputation around TalkBass. One advantage of doing business locally is that you develop a relationship with a local guy for all your setup and repair needs.

Oh - I just noticed that rdwhit suggested Nick. I'll post this anyway since it has a link to his web site

In fact, that is my hybrid La Scala in the photo on Nicks web sight. Great Bass. As good as many older "well seasoned" basses I've owned in the same price range, and very low matainance . I can't believe I forgot to mention New Standards.