I'm primarily an orchestral player, although I also find blues to be as enjoyable to play on my upright as it is on my EBG.
I don't really see myself owning more than three upright basses. The first, which I plan to purchase within the next 18 months, would be a 3/4-sized Hybrid flat-back gamba-cornered "workhorse" bass, to be used for rehearsal duty. Upton's "Bohemian" model is currently the leading contender, though I'm curious to see how their upcoming "Mittenwald" model will turn out. I'm thinking a hard maple neck, Poplar-ply back and sides, deluxe Spruce top.
The second, likely to be purchased within the next few years, would be a 3/4's or small-7/8's fully-carved model, to be used in chamber ensembles, weddings, and church duty. I see myself going two ways with this bass-- either a violin-cornered instrument with a round poplar back, or a Busetto-cornered instrument with a flat maple back.
The third would be an all-out custom-made, "heirloom" instrument that I would like to keep in my family, primarily for orchestra concerts. I'm envisioning something in the Panormo/London school, a 4/4 body size and 43" mensure. I'm also envisioning highly-figured Sycamore for the back and sides, along with a stout neck. This would be topped-off with traditional English Baker-style tuners. I may have to wait until after my as-yet-nonexistent kids go off to college or trade school before I could finally commission this one!
I don't really see myself owning more than three upright basses. The first, which I plan to purchase within the next 18 months, would be a 3/4-sized Hybrid flat-back gamba-cornered "workhorse" bass, to be used for rehearsal duty. Upton's "Bohemian" model is currently the leading contender, though I'm curious to see how their upcoming "Mittenwald" model will turn out. I'm thinking a hard maple neck, Poplar-ply back and sides, deluxe Spruce top.
The second, likely to be purchased within the next few years, would be a 3/4's or small-7/8's fully-carved model, to be used in chamber ensembles, weddings, and church duty. I see myself going two ways with this bass-- either a violin-cornered instrument with a round poplar back, or a Busetto-cornered instrument with a flat maple back.
The third would be an all-out custom-made, "heirloom" instrument that I would like to keep in my family, primarily for orchestra concerts. I'm envisioning something in the Panormo/London school, a 4/4 body size and 43" mensure. I'm also envisioning highly-figured Sycamore for the back and sides, along with a stout neck. This would be topped-off with traditional English Baker-style tuners. I may have to wait until after my as-yet-nonexistent kids go off to college or trade school before I could finally commission this one!
