Double Bass Old Kay or New Estle Louis Carved + Perpetual Strings

[cj4258]

I dreamt of having a five string with high C string and a low B extension on the E string. I didn't ask. But I kinda want to. $2500? Sure!

 

[BassFalcon]

That would be a formidable beast!

 

[DaveAceofBass]

UPDATE!

I just slapped down $7500 on a brand new Brescian hybrid from Upton. It will be an $8200 bass once done, hopefully in about three months.

I was looking into one of these but then I found my LaScala Hybrid at Bass Violin Shop and couldn't pass it up. That said, I think you should rename this thread and turn it into a build thread and post pics along the way. I'd love to see the Brescian Hybrid as it's being built. Congrats!!!

 

[BobDeRosa]

Sounds to me that you'll be happier with a carved bass, but I know nothing about the Gollihur bass you mentioned.

 

[cj4258]

Got my aforementioned Upton Brescian about three weeks ago. Incredibly long wait but it is every bit as dreamy as I anticipated. I had them put on perpetuals with stark D and G. Then, last weekend a Kay five string with low B followed me home. I'm very happy.

Just ordered a Spiro high C for experimentation.

Headed to St. Louis soon to pick up a couple bass stools. You know the ones that are a stool and also a bass stand.

First pic is the Upton with my plywood nightmare behind it. Second pic is the Kay and third pic is a family portrait.

 

[SVT4001]

Beautiful! Congratulations on all of the additions to the family!

 

[Ric Vice]

Got my aforementioned Upton Brescian about three weeks ago. Incredibly long wait but it is every bit as dreamy as I anticipated……………………………First pic is the Upton with my plywood nightmare behind it. Second pic is the Kay and third pic is a family portrait.

The folks at Upton are wonderful to work with. I had to have the neck replaced on my Kolstine Busetto Travel Bass. They have neck blanks that are cut from high quality maple that they have on hand for building their basses. The new neck was far superior to the original. Wood selection makes a big difference in what the basses
will sound like and Upton has the goods. It also helps that they are master craftsmen, building basses.

 

[damonsmith]

I recently did a fairly long tour on my hybrid travel bass. When I got home to my fully carved old bass it was really like night and day, especially arco. Hybrids vibrate more freely than plywood but there is no substitute for the whole instrument freely vibrating from on note to the other.
If you can change it to something fully carved I would strongly suggest you do. Orchestra concerts and rehearsals are long and a hybrid, even a good one, is going to be more tiring to play.

UPDATE!

I just slapped down $7500 on a brand new Brescian hybrid from Upton. It will be an $8200 bass once done, hopefully in about three months.

I really fought with myself for a five string upgrade. But in the end I went with four. I'll get there eventually.

I'd like to thank the forum for steering me in a more expensive direction but I feel a more wholesome choice. Something really awesome that I can customize and make my own - and made here in the USA.

The Estle Louis may still happen in the future. I love Gollihur for many reasons.