I'm not sure what you expect from a $2K bass.... made in America
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Bass Experience with upton bass?
- Thread starter Bassplayer1836
- Start date
I'm not sure what you expect from a $2K bass.... made in America
I'm never sure how anyone can claim that a product is "overpriced." Perhaps because of my age (71+) I've learned that a product's price is always set by the buyer, not the seller. If the buyer agrees to the price, then clearly it is not "overpriced." If enough people walk away from a product based on price, then it probably is overpriced, compared to similar products. A sweeping generalization that a specific product is overpriced reminds me of the quote attributed to Mark Twain: "All generalizations are false, including this one."
For most of us, price has two components - cost and value. A price may be too high for me, but may be acceptable to another, or even viewed as a bargain, based on the value the product delivers. And value is in the eye of the beholder.
For most of us, price has two components - cost and value. A price may be too high for me, but may be acceptable to another, or even viewed as a bargain, based on the value the product delivers. And value is in the eye of the beholder.
I consider 2k over-priced for any ply bass - that is just me. In comparison with other basses of the same or better value, Upton is not the best bass you can get for your money. End of story. You are paying for more than what the instrument is and how it sounds, which is a luxury some people have and enjoy.
You can still find nice older European instruments for relatively cheap if you look.
Now, if you want to add other factors such as the legendary service when you buy a bass, made in America, wanting to go with a trusted brand instead of running around trying basses,etc., then, fine, that can figure into what you want to pay.
At the entry level the Uptons I've played are LESS impressive than a Shen, not equal.
It is fair to say we all find value in our own way! For example, I don't have a problem with the high prices of modern and contemporary art, many others do. I doubt Porsche makes the best performing SUV, but, you see plenty on the road. Etc.
Anyway, clearly, I am in the minority, most people have had an overwhelmingly positive experience with them and their products, I have not.
i just find it ironic that you call them out for their "arbitrary" prices when your opinion on what their value is is also arbitrary.
I've owned Eberle, Shen, King Mortone, Karl Meisel and an Upton. In my "arbitrary" opinion, the Upton is the best value at the same price point.
I've only tried carved and hybrid Uptons - was not blown away. They may have the magical ply bass that would change my mind. I've been impressed with a New Standard and couple of nicely set up Kays in my life and nothing else plywood, but, I've never tired the Upton plys.
I have an Upton Brescian and I absolutely love it. I bought it used, so I can't speak to their customer service. My Brescian was actually custom made with a ply top, rather than the hybrids or fully carved ones that they offer, but it sounds better than many hybrids that I have heard. Here's a video I did yesterday of some Bach in solo tuning on it. There are several other clips on my Facebook page if you want to give them a listen. They are cell phone videos but they can give you an idea. It has a big sound!
I will admit that sounds really good. Great playing and great sound!
- Mar 19, 2002
- 800
- 130
- 53
- Disclosures
- President: Upton Bass String Instrument Co.
Hi, Damon (and all),
We’ve been following this thread and appreciating the good with the bad…lots of happy owners, which is always nice to hear. A few missed eMails too, which although is not good to hear, it needs to be heard so we can look at how we do things and get better! I know Gary and/or myself keep a tighter eye on the [email protected] address now more than ever as its a general population eMail that several people here follow… it can be a lot to keep up with.
So, if you’re one of the few we’ve missed or neglected over the years, our humble apologies!!!
But Damon, I have to take issue with some of your claims and statements...
“I think in some of the lower end basses I saw, durability should have been a focus, but, they had thin tops and backs.”
Damon, this couldn’t be further from the truth, and it's completely without basis…and with what building experience can you adequately determine this?
Because we’re building them right…both built to last and sound good, we back them up with a 5-year warranty…something NO other builder does.
Pride of authorship also keeps the workmanship, at all price points, high. There’s not 100’s of us here to point the finger back and forth if something isn’t right. There’s 5 of us building all the basses...and anyone can walk in at any time and watch us work, the main entrance is right into the workshop, not the showroom. You've seen it...you've been here.
We know who pressed the plates or ribs. We know who joined the top and back and carved it. We know who set the neck, who detailed and varnished it, and we know who set it up to play.
"At the entry level, the Uptons I've played are LESS impressive than a Shen, not equal."
We fully expect these things we make to outlive ourselves…and we like that. It’s our immortality…it’s why we all crowd around the bench to look at a 300-year-old Maggini when it walks in…wondering how many Upton’s will have the same fate.
Now, for the thin plates…that’s a real head scratcher for me. I just measured a Shen laminate plate and its 5.5mm, while the Upton is 5.8mm.
But ok, that’s laminated bass, and you said, “I’ve only tried carved and hybrid Uptons”.
So let’s talk about solid plates since this is what you categorically stated was too thin.
Our flat-back are either 6.5mm for poplar or 6mm for maple. Occasionally we go into the 5.5-5.8mm range for really hard maples, like the English Sycamore. In the end, you have to let the wood tell you…and decisions have to be made when you’re thicknessing.
Our standard tops are domestic Sitka spruce from the pacific northwest and are carved with a full arching (no recurve) and are 8mm all around. Pretty generous actually.
Deluxe tops are German spruce from a very well regarded and used woodcutter. They’re 8mm under the bridge and through the sound holes and have a graduated thickness going to about 6mm through the upper and lower bouts with a good recurve on the outside of the arch, flaring up to a healthy 7-8mm edge thickness.
Fully carved backs have a much more complicate graduation pattern and will vary from wood choices like the flat-backs…but workshop guidelines keep us in line and, as I said above, you have to let the wood tell you…and decisions have to be made when you’re thicknessing. It's pretty common to have about +10mm under the soundpost and gradually thinning out to the upper and lower bouts using a very traditional Sacconi style graduation pattern. I don't think a single shop out there would measure a plate and say, "wow, this is out of the norm".
Damon, we know the bar is extremely high every time. Our customer's expectations of what we give them (a handmade double bass) in comparison to what they give us (their hard-won money) are about 2 to 1, from our point of view. You pay us $2k while expecting $4k. $5k paid, $10k expected. Etc. Etc.
That’s OK! That’s the way we like it, that’s the way we’ve always done it, and we will continue to do it for a very long time. That's why when someone is taking that leap of faith and asking us to build them something that doesn't exist, were a safe bet. Because of all of the advertising, website building, video shooting, social media posting...and chest thumping... it's all short-lived if you can't back it up with something that exceeds expectations.
Damon, we don’t expect to make everyone happy, although we try like hell. We’ve always had our naysayers and our defenders alike. I’m not sure if the root cause of your gross generalizations and unfounded statements against us are because you didn’t like our rehair prices? Is it that simple?
Also, this comment seemed weird…you said, “I consider 2k over-priced for any ply bass” but then you went on to say, “I’ve been impressed with a New Standard”, which is over double that stated figure.
It’s such a generalized statement…that $2K is overpriced for any laminated bass. How do you figure this math out? Have you cost-effectively built one? Two? Hundreds?
Making basses in America…our parts cost more because they are all top notch parts, we don't skimp (really…we ask often if we need to be putting a $$$ carbon fiber endpin assembly, made in the USA, into our Standard level basses…but then again, the phone never rings because an endpin doesn’t work right).
Our wood costs more because it's sustainable and responsibly bought.
Our labor costs more because we pay a living wage.
And we keep our prices in check with what people can afford by utilizing a DTC business model.
“I expected them to be more of a cool local bass shop based on their rep. and videos. I didn't find that to be the case.”
OK, now that’s just hitting below the belt…lol. We’re wicked cool! SMH
So, in true old school TBDB fashion, this thread will light up like a Christmas tree now and get shut down. I don't look at TB much these days (lots of luthiers seem to go this route) but it's good to know some things never change.
We’ve been following this thread and appreciating the good with the bad…lots of happy owners, which is always nice to hear. A few missed eMails too, which although is not good to hear, it needs to be heard so we can look at how we do things and get better! I know Gary and/or myself keep a tighter eye on the [email protected] address now more than ever as its a general population eMail that several people here follow… it can be a lot to keep up with.
So, if you’re one of the few we’ve missed or neglected over the years, our humble apologies!!!
But Damon, I have to take issue with some of your claims and statements...
“I think in some of the lower end basses I saw, durability should have been a focus, but, they had thin tops and backs.”
Damon, this couldn’t be further from the truth, and it's completely without basis…and with what building experience can you adequately determine this?
Because we’re building them right…both built to last and sound good, we back them up with a 5-year warranty…something NO other builder does.
Pride of authorship also keeps the workmanship, at all price points, high. There’s not 100’s of us here to point the finger back and forth if something isn’t right. There’s 5 of us building all the basses...and anyone can walk in at any time and watch us work, the main entrance is right into the workshop, not the showroom. You've seen it...you've been here.
We know who pressed the plates or ribs. We know who joined the top and back and carved it. We know who set the neck, who detailed and varnished it, and we know who set it up to play.
"At the entry level, the Uptons I've played are LESS impressive than a Shen, not equal."
We fully expect these things we make to outlive ourselves…and we like that. It’s our immortality…it’s why we all crowd around the bench to look at a 300-year-old Maggini when it walks in…wondering how many Upton’s will have the same fate.
Now, for the thin plates…that’s a real head scratcher for me. I just measured a Shen laminate plate and its 5.5mm, while the Upton is 5.8mm.
But ok, that’s laminated bass, and you said, “I’ve only tried carved and hybrid Uptons”.
So let’s talk about solid plates since this is what you categorically stated was too thin.
Our flat-back are either 6.5mm for poplar or 6mm for maple. Occasionally we go into the 5.5-5.8mm range for really hard maples, like the English Sycamore. In the end, you have to let the wood tell you…and decisions have to be made when you’re thicknessing.
Our standard tops are domestic Sitka spruce from the pacific northwest and are carved with a full arching (no recurve) and are 8mm all around. Pretty generous actually.
Deluxe tops are German spruce from a very well regarded and used woodcutter. They’re 8mm under the bridge and through the sound holes and have a graduated thickness going to about 6mm through the upper and lower bouts with a good recurve on the outside of the arch, flaring up to a healthy 7-8mm edge thickness.
Fully carved backs have a much more complicate graduation pattern and will vary from wood choices like the flat-backs…but workshop guidelines keep us in line and, as I said above, you have to let the wood tell you…and decisions have to be made when you’re thicknessing. It's pretty common to have about +10mm under the soundpost and gradually thinning out to the upper and lower bouts using a very traditional Sacconi style graduation pattern. I don't think a single shop out there would measure a plate and say, "wow, this is out of the norm".
Damon, we know the bar is extremely high every time. Our customer's expectations of what we give them (a handmade double bass) in comparison to what they give us (their hard-won money) are about 2 to 1, from our point of view. You pay us $2k while expecting $4k. $5k paid, $10k expected. Etc. Etc.
That’s OK! That’s the way we like it, that’s the way we’ve always done it, and we will continue to do it for a very long time. That's why when someone is taking that leap of faith and asking us to build them something that doesn't exist, were a safe bet. Because of all of the advertising, website building, video shooting, social media posting...and chest thumping... it's all short-lived if you can't back it up with something that exceeds expectations.
Damon, we don’t expect to make everyone happy, although we try like hell. We’ve always had our naysayers and our defenders alike. I’m not sure if the root cause of your gross generalizations and unfounded statements against us are because you didn’t like our rehair prices? Is it that simple?
Also, this comment seemed weird…you said, “I consider 2k over-priced for any ply bass” but then you went on to say, “I’ve been impressed with a New Standard”, which is over double that stated figure.
It’s such a generalized statement…that $2K is overpriced for any laminated bass. How do you figure this math out? Have you cost-effectively built one? Two? Hundreds?
Making basses in America…our parts cost more because they are all top notch parts, we don't skimp (really…we ask often if we need to be putting a $$$ carbon fiber endpin assembly, made in the USA, into our Standard level basses…but then again, the phone never rings because an endpin doesn’t work right).
Our wood costs more because it's sustainable and responsibly bought.
Our labor costs more because we pay a living wage.
And we keep our prices in check with what people can afford by utilizing a DTC business model.
“I expected them to be more of a cool local bass shop based on their rep. and videos. I didn't find that to be the case.”
OK, now that’s just hitting below the belt…lol. We’re wicked cool! SMH
So, in true old school TBDB fashion, this thread will light up like a Christmas tree now and get shut down. I don't look at TB much these days (lots of luthiers seem to go this route) but it's good to know some things never change.
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks for everyone's input in this thread. I'm fairly certain that the OP can purchase an Upton laminate bass with confindence.
As a builder with over 4 decades of experience in construction with a majority of it in custom woodworking, I find that my Upton bass is one of the few things that isn't overpriced.
Thanks Eric and Co.
I would like to see my instrument decades down the road. The chances that it will be still around are certainly better than mine.
As a builder with over 4 decades of experience in construction with a majority of it in custom woodworking, I find that my Upton bass is one of the few things that isn't overpriced.
Thanks Eric and Co.
I would like to see my instrument decades down the road. The chances that it will be still around are certainly better than mine.
It was the rehair prices first, then being a bit shocked at running into a few basses up here and in Texas - they sounded OK, not amazing and my comments on the thin tops and construction were just by sight - they may stand the test of time just fine. Still, you guys have a solid rep., so it won't hurt you to have me be unimpressed! The guy playing Bach on the ply in this was impressive so there is that.
While we are on the subject, charging what a master bow maker charges is never going to sit well with me, I'd have been happy to pay reasonable price and would have been regular customer during my time here if it was even around $85 - which is still high. Rehairs are the oil changes of this world, if you had got me in I may have had other work done as well.
I spent a lot of time up and down the 95!
At the same time, with the amazing reputation you guys have, I was taken aback by the rehair price and the basses I encountered, so, there is that to consider. It is higher than all the NY shops I know of, as well as the shops in Texas and the West Coast. Better to not offer them at that rate. Closer to what Sue Lipkins and other master bow makers were charging as of a few years ago. When I moved to Boston because of your fantastic reputation I thought Upton would be the shop I used up here - as I said - I never found one and got back to Houston enough to use Quantum.
The thing about the Shen I own (A Chadwick hybrid) and the Shens I've encountered is that they do tend to exceed expectations of what they cost and what an entry level instrument should be, they aren't lighting the world on fire either, but, no one is claiming they are.
The NS WAS impressive for a ply, I think you can get a better bass for that price as well.
Again that is my experience up against seemly hundreds of satisfied customers, so, you will be fine!!
While we are on the subject, charging what a master bow maker charges is never going to sit well with me, I'd have been happy to pay reasonable price and would have been regular customer during my time here if it was even around $85 - which is still high. Rehairs are the oil changes of this world, if you had got me in I may have had other work done as well.
I spent a lot of time up and down the 95!
At the same time, with the amazing reputation you guys have, I was taken aback by the rehair price and the basses I encountered, so, there is that to consider. It is higher than all the NY shops I know of, as well as the shops in Texas and the West Coast. Better to not offer them at that rate. Closer to what Sue Lipkins and other master bow makers were charging as of a few years ago. When I moved to Boston because of your fantastic reputation I thought Upton would be the shop I used up here - as I said - I never found one and got back to Houston enough to use Quantum.
The thing about the Shen I own (A Chadwick hybrid) and the Shens I've encountered is that they do tend to exceed expectations of what they cost and what an entry level instrument should be, they aren't lighting the world on fire either, but, no one is claiming they are.
The NS WAS impressive for a ply, I think you can get a better bass for that price as well.
Again that is my experience up against seemly hundreds of satisfied customers, so, you will be fine!!
Hi, Damon (and all),
We’ve been following this thread and appreciating the good with the bad…lots of happy owners, which is always nice to hear. A few missed eMails too, which although is not good to hear, but needs to be heard so we can look at how we do things and get better! I know Gary and/or myself keep a tighter eye on the [email protected] address now more than ever as its a general population eMail that several people here follow…and with some days getting 100 emails (and more), it can be a lot to keep up with.
So, if you’re one of the few we’ve missed or neglected over the years, our humble apologies!!!
But Damon, I have to take issue with some of your claims and statements...
“I think in some of the lower end basses I saw, durability should have been a focus, but, they had thin tops and backs.”
Damon, this couldn’t be further from the truth, and it's completely without basis…and with what building experience can you adequately determine this?
Because we’re building them right…both built to last and sound good, we back them up with a 5-year warranty…something NO other builder does.
Pride of authorship also keeps the workmanship, at all price points, high. There’s not 100’s of us here to point the finger back and forth if something isn’t right. There’s 5 of us building all the basses...and anyone can walk in at any time and watch us work, the main entrance is right into the workshop, not the showroom. You've seen it...you've been here.
We know who pressed the plates or ribs. We know who joined the top and back and carved it. We know who set the neck, who detailed and varnished it, and we know who set it up to play.
"At the entry level the Uptons I've played are LESS impressive than a Shen, not equal."
Where those the Shen's without the twisted necks? Maybe the ones without the 4 piece bolted scrolls (we have plenty of pictures)? Or maybe the ones that had neck joints that actually were fit? Or the laminated spruce tops "Cosmetically Veneered Tops".
We fully expect these things we make to outlive ourselves…and we like that. It’s our immorality…it’s why we all crowd around the bench to look at a 300-year-old Maggini when it walks in…wondering how many Upton’s will have the same fate.
Now, for the thin plates…that’s a real head scratcher for me. I just measured a Shen laminate plate and its 5.5mm (we had to buy one back from the customer as the fingerboard fell off and the neck heel separated, its a loaner now, anyone can come to inspect it), while the Upton is 5.8mm.
But ok, that’s laminated bass, and you said, “I’ve only tried carved and hybrid Uptons”.
So let’s talk about solid plates since this is what you categorically stated was too thin.
Our flat-back are either 6.5mm for poplar or 6mm for maple. Occasionally we go into the 5.5-5.8mm range for really hard maples, like the English Sycamore. In the end, you have to let the wood tell you…and decisions have to be made when you’re thicknessing.
Our standard tops are domestic Sitka spruce from the pacific northwest and are carved with a full arching (no recurve) and are 8mm all around. Pretty generous actually.
Deluxe tops are German spruce from a very well regarded and used woodcutter. They’re 8mm under the bridge and through the sound holes and have a graduated thickness going to about 6mm through the upper and lower bouts with a good recurve on the outside of the arch, flaring up to a healthy 7-8mm edge thickness.
Fully carved backs have a much more complicate graduation pattern and will vary from wood choices like the flat-backs…but workshop guidelines keep us in line and, as I said above, you have to let the wood tell you…and decisions have to be made when you’re thicknessing. It's pretty common to have about +10mm under the soundpost and gradually thinning out to the upper and lower bouts using a very traditional Sacconi style graduation pattern. I don't think a single shop out there would measure a plate and say, "wow, this is out of the norm".
Damon, we know the bar is extremely high every time. Our customer's expectations of what we give them (a handmade double bass) in comparison to what they give us (their hard-won money) are about 2 to 1, from our point of view. You pay us $2k while expecting $4k. $5k paid, $10k expected. Etc. Etc.
That’s OK! That’s the way we like it, that’s the way we’ve always done it, and we will continue to do it for a very long time. That's why when someone is taking that leap of faith and asking us to build them something that doesn't exist, were a safe bet. Because of all of the advertising, website building, video shooting, social media posting...and chest thumping... it's all short-lived if you can't back it up with something that exceeds expectations.
Damon, we don’t expect to make everyone happy, although we try like hell. We’ve always had our naysayers and our defenders alike. I’m not sure if the root cause of your gross generalizations and unfounded statements against us are because you didn’t like our rehair prices? Is it that simple?
Also, this comment seemed weird…you said, “I consider 2k over-priced for any ply bass” but then you went on to say, “I’ve been impressed with a New Standard”, which is over double that stated figure.
It’s such a generalized statement…that $2K is overpriced for any laminated bass. How do you figure this math out? Have you cost-effectively built one? Two? Hundreds?
Is it because a Chinese bass leaves China invoiced for $300?
It then gets another $300 in shipping to get it to a distributor, who then raises the price 50-100% to the retailer (with another $300 in domestic shipping) before the retailer then raises it another 50-100% (some more because they throw out the cheap parts and start anew) to the end user?
Making basses in America…our parts cost more because they are all top notch parts, we don't skimp (really…we ask often if we need to be putting a $$$ carbon fiber endpin assembly, made in the USA, into our Standard level basses…but then again, the phone never rings because an endpin doesn’t work right).
Our wood costs more because it's sustainable and responsibly bought.
Our labor costs more because we pay a living wage.
And we keep our prices in check with what people can afford by utilizing a DTC business model.
“I expected them to be more of a cool local bass shop based on their rep. and videos. I didn't find that to be the case.”
OK, now that’s just hitting below the belt…lol. We’re wicked cool! SMH
So, in true old school TBDB fashion, this thread will light up like a Christmas tree now and get shut down. I don't look at TB much these days (lots of luthiers seem to go this route) but it's good to know some things never change.
I will add that I heard Carl Testa play a beautiful set and get a great sound out of his Upton with no amp - I didn't try the bass myself, though.
Is it possible you meant "immortality" rather than "immorality"? Although, if that is your immorality, it's a pretty good bad habit to have.
My two Uptons are a ply from 2009 and a hybrid Bohemian from around 2012 - both great basses at prices I could afford, and still going strong.
I bought a plywood from them about 10 years ago. It's beautiful and I'll never let it go. I suck but I've been fortunate to be able to study with heavies; they've all loved it.
Because of how happy I was with the bass I've bought all kinds of other random stuff from them; my first bow, strings, wheels etc. Never a problem.
I think the short of it is that it's a serious shop, they clearly care about what they do. I'm sure you can get a more incredible instrument, but they strike me as the kind of people who would encourage you to do that, if that's what you're in to.
Because of how happy I was with the bass I've bought all kinds of other random stuff from them; my first bow, strings, wheels etc. Never a problem.
I think the short of it is that it's a serious shop, they clearly care about what they do. I'm sure you can get a more incredible instrument, but they strike me as the kind of people who would encourage you to do that, if that's what you're in to.
... BOOM ROASTED...Hi, Damon (and all),
We’ve been following this thread and appreciating the good with the bad…lots of happy owners, which is always nice to hear. A few missed eMails too, which although is not good to hear, but needs to be heard so we can look at how we do things and get better! I know Gary and/or myself keep a tighter eye on the [email protected] address now more than ever as its a general population eMail that several people here follow…and with some days getting 100 emails (and more), it can be a lot to keep up with.
So, if you’re one of the few we’ve missed or neglected over the years, our humble apologies!!!
But Damon, I have to take issue with some of your claims and statements...
“I think in some of the lower end basses I saw, durability should have been a focus, but, they had thin tops and backs.”
Damon, this couldn’t be further from the truth, and it's completely without basis…and with what building experience can you adequately determine this?
Because we’re building them right…both built to last and sound good, we back them up with a 5-year warranty…something NO other builder does.
Pride of authorship also keeps the workmanship, at all price points, high. There’s not 100’s of us here to point the finger back and forth if something isn’t right. There’s 5 of us building all the basses...and anyone can walk in at any time and watch us work, the main entrance is right into the workshop, not the showroom. You've seen it...you've been here.
We know who pressed the plates or ribs. We know who joined the top and back and carved it. We know who set the neck, who detailed and varnished it, and we know who set it up to play.
"At the entry level the Uptons I've played are LESS impressive than a Shen, not equal."
Where those the Shen's without the twisted necks? Maybe the ones without the 4 piece bolted scrolls (we have plenty of pictures)? Or maybe the ones that had neck joints that actually were fit? Or the laminated spruce tops "Cosmetically Veneered Tops".
We fully expect these things we make to outlive ourselves…and we like that. It’s our immorality…it’s why we all crowd around the bench to look at a 300-year-old Maggini when it walks in…wondering how many Upton’s will have the same fate.
Now, for the thin plates…that’s a real head scratcher for me. I just measured a Shen laminate plate and its 5.5mm (we had to buy one back from the customer as the fingerboard fell off and the neck heel separated, its a loaner now, anyone can come to inspect it), while the Upton is 5.8mm.
But ok, that’s laminated bass, and you said, “I’ve only tried carved and hybrid Uptons”.
So let’s talk about solid plates since this is what you categorically stated was too thin.
Our flat-back are either 6.5mm for poplar or 6mm for maple. Occasionally we go into the 5.5-5.8mm range for really hard maples, like the English Sycamore. In the end, you have to let the wood tell you…and decisions have to be made when you’re thicknessing.
Our standard tops are domestic Sitka spruce from the pacific northwest and are carved with a full arching (no recurve) and are 8mm all around. Pretty generous actually.
Deluxe tops are German spruce from a very well regarded and used woodcutter. They’re 8mm under the bridge and through the sound holes and have a graduated thickness going to about 6mm through the upper and lower bouts with a good recurve on the outside of the arch, flaring up to a healthy 7-8mm edge thickness.
Fully carved backs have a much more complicate graduation pattern and will vary from wood choices like the flat-backs…but workshop guidelines keep us in line and, as I said above, you have to let the wood tell you…and decisions have to be made when you’re thicknessing. It's pretty common to have about +10mm under the soundpost and gradually thinning out to the upper and lower bouts using a very traditional Sacconi style graduation pattern. I don't think a single shop out there would measure a plate and say, "wow, this is out of the norm".
Damon, we know the bar is extremely high every time. Our customer's expectations of what we give them (a handmade double bass) in comparison to what they give us (their hard-won money) are about 2 to 1, from our point of view. You pay us $2k while expecting $4k. $5k paid, $10k expected. Etc. Etc.
That’s OK! That’s the way we like it, that’s the way we’ve always done it, and we will continue to do it for a very long time. That's why when someone is taking that leap of faith and asking us to build them something that doesn't exist, were a safe bet. Because of all of the advertising, website building, video shooting, social media posting...and chest thumping... it's all short-lived if you can't back it up with something that exceeds expectations.
Damon, we don’t expect to make everyone happy, although we try like hell. We’ve always had our naysayers and our defenders alike. I’m not sure if the root cause of your gross generalizations and unfounded statements against us are because you didn’t like our rehair prices? Is it that simple?
Also, this comment seemed weird…you said, “I consider 2k over-priced for any ply bass” but then you went on to say, “I’ve been impressed with a New Standard”, which is over double that stated figure.
It’s such a generalized statement…that $2K is overpriced for any laminated bass. How do you figure this math out? Have you cost-effectively built one? Two? Hundreds?
Is it because a Chinese bass leaves China invoiced for $300?
It then gets another $300 in shipping to get it to a distributor, who then raises the price 50-100% to the retailer (with another $300 in domestic shipping) before the retailer then raises it another 50-100% (some more because they throw out the cheap parts and start anew) to the end user?
Making basses in America…our parts cost more because they are all top notch parts, we don't skimp (really…we ask often if we need to be putting a $$$ carbon fiber endpin assembly, made in the USA, into our Standard level basses…but then again, the phone never rings because an endpin doesn’t work right).
Our wood costs more because it's sustainable and responsibly bought.
Our labor costs more because we pay a living wage.
And we keep our prices in check with what people can afford by utilizing a DTC business model.
“I expected them to be more of a cool local bass shop based on their rep. and videos. I didn't find that to be the case.”
OK, now that’s just hitting below the belt…lol. We’re wicked cool! SMH
So, in true old school TBDB fashion, this thread will light up like a Christmas tree now and get shut down. I don't look at TB much these days (lots of luthiers seem to go this route) but it's good to know some things never change.
Yeesh. Gary’s gonna be be mad part of his grad map escaped...
Suggestion? Play every bass you can. If it speaks to you, grab it. If it doesn’t, move on. It will speak to someone.
They’re made out of trees. It’s not the end of the world.
Suggestion? Play every bass you can. If it speaks to you, grab it. If it doesn’t, move on. It will speak to someone.
They’re made out of trees. It’s not the end of the world.
Well, I can't speak to the issue of price-value, as I've only ever played other people's Upton basses (I think the only ones I've ever played were all laminate) and for short times; they seemed like nice basses but without doing direct A to B comparisons I can't really comment further.
As to published prices I think the Upton plywood basses seem in range to me, given they are made in the USA.
I remember some years ago it seemed like they were more focused - at least in their website adverts - on the plywood moderately priced market and now they're more focused on the high end basses, and I wish their moderately priced selection was more like it used to be - but I think they actually posted some information on how their actual business was driving which models they offered.
Finally, I called them a couple years ago to ask a question about shipping a bass (not one of theirs) and I'm not sure who I talked to but I think it was the owner and he was just incredibly helpful and generous with his time, for something that probably would not earn him a dime. So on the grounds of that one experience they certainly appear to be upright guys.
As to published prices I think the Upton plywood basses seem in range to me, given they are made in the USA.
I remember some years ago it seemed like they were more focused - at least in their website adverts - on the plywood moderately priced market and now they're more focused on the high end basses, and I wish their moderately priced selection was more like it used to be - but I think they actually posted some information on how their actual business was driving which models they offered.
Finally, I called them a couple years ago to ask a question about shipping a bass (not one of theirs) and I'm not sure who I talked to but I think it was the owner and he was just incredibly helpful and generous with his time, for something that probably would not earn him a dime. So on the grounds of that one experience they certainly appear to be upright guys.
- Mar 19, 2002
- 800
- 130
- 53
- Disclosures
- President: Upton Bass String Instrument Co.
Go learn how to rehair then, and then buy and stock all the varieties of hair and tools, and take a crack at it, and then do it over an over and over until you get it right every time.
String changes are oil changes...anyone can do them.
A good rehair is a highly skilled thing, lots of people try and fail at it, and you've got to be "game on" when doing it as there are too many things that can go wrong in a rehair and make you look like a fool. You have to love it...or it'll show in your work. Equating a rehair to an oil change is insulting to everyone doing them.
