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Double Bass NEW BASS

R

RKPARRISH

Jun 19, 2007
4
0
NORTH CAROLINA
#1
Hello, I am new to this list and have just been watching for about 2 weeks. I have been playing my brothers Engelhardt for about 7 years. I am getting ready to buy a new bass and am looking at the UB Hawkes Laminated. Has anyone here played or seen one of these basses? Are they really much larger than an Engelhardt? Are they a good bass for bluegrass. thanks for the response.

Thanks,
Ronnie
 
#3
I'm a beginner and have owned a Laminated Hawkes since November 2006. I play psycho-surfabilly (if there is such a thing) but I'm sure the Hawkes would work just as well for bluegrass.

It looks good, sounds good and plays good.

I can't compare to an Englehardt.
 
#4
I have heard and played one Upton Hawkes. I owned an Engelhardt for several years and have heard and played several others.

The Upton will come with a professional setup. A new E'hardt will require setup for optimal playing and sound (at a cost of anywhere from $2-600). The Upton has a larger neck which will be more comfortable to play and the one I played had a better tone than any E'hardt I have heard. On the other hand, the Engelhardt is built like an M1A1 tank which is an advantage in some playing environments.

If I were buying and needed to choose between those two, it would be Upton.

BUT if at all possible I would suggest you spend some time shopping and playing basses. You might find something really good that way. There is no substitute for actually feeling and hearing a lot of basses. There are several NC posters here who might point you toward dealers/luthiers in your area.
 
#6
I agree with Steve. IMO, the Upton Laminate is far and away a superior instrument to the Engel. I say that having owned a Kay from 1967 - 2002. I have played every version of the Upton Laminate over the years. The current one is the best yet.
 
#8
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Jerry enjoys an outstanding reputation which he has earned & richly deserves. He plays/has played bluegrass professionally for many years. He only sells a bass that he has personally set-up & is gig-ready at a very competitive price . . . with many, many new Englehardts as well as vintage Kays, American Standards, Kings, Epiphones, Gretsch, etc. currently available from which to choose . . . & . . . he's close enough to NC for you to visit & play a bunch of different laminates. Give him a call . . .
 
#9
If you haven't already found a new bass, there is a festival in Snow Camp, NC this weekend. It's the Bass Mountain Festival. I'm sure there will be a number of vendors there that will let you try a few basses to see which one you like. I'll be headed up Saturday morning to do just that. I had to return the borrowed EC-1 I was playing.
 
#13
here it is
 

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