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Double Bass Upton Bass Club
- Thread starter kamakiriad7
- Start date
Well I can tell you that my Upton has a very "large" sound while bowed....DRUB can attest to that as he has almost the sister to mine except his is fully carved whereas mine has a flat back....loud and large sound comes to mind and for sure not thin in any sence of word....just my opinion
This is very helpful, drurb. I'm thinking of something like a 5/8 Bostonian, so your experience with your Concert is very applicable, and gives me confidence that Upton can make a bass that suits me and my needs/tastes very well. (And hopefully in less than 18 months!)
Jean-Marc, your comments on your Upton's arco sound are also helpful. Whether it's strings, the recording, or what-have-you, the arco sound samples on the Upton website are not terribly impressive. The real life arco sound is apparently much better, based on everyone's experience here.
And David, Ruby looks great!
So now it's just a matter of making the decision to spend the money and treat myself to a new bass . . . I've wanted to for a while, so maybe the time is right.
- Hal -
I found that my instrument reacts very well to any changes I have made with strings and set-up or just the temperature....I'm in Florida and every little bit counts...I am using the EP for strings after trying way too many different kinds.....and all this to say that your bass WILL need time to open up to all the factors just mentioned....I just had my bow rehaired by Eric and wow buddy.....even a fairly inexpensive bow with new hair made a huge diff....just a thought...good luck....and no I do not hug posts like this all the time...it is just raining here like never before...
I have a Bostonian. I have had it for about 6 months now, and the arco sound is GREAT!. Deep warm sound, very even across the fingerboard. I use it for classical 100%. If I had some way to record it, I would post some clips of me working on Beethoven's 9th. It has really opened up in the last 3 months. Initially the E string sounded a little "tight" but now is big and blooming. I love it.
Good luck Bherman! You're gonna love it there!
Here's an updated list, folks. Please remember to post pictures of your bass to get a member number (just to keep things consistent, and, we want to see your beautiful bass!)
01 - kamakiriad7 (Hybrid)
02 - drurb (Concert)
03 - Ghost Note (Standard Gamba)
04 - jmpfretless (Professor Deluxe)
05 - ZENBASSGUY (Standard)
06 - dbmike (Standard)
07 - brijonrob (Standard)
08 - Bass (Standard)
09 - BPeder (Hybrid Deluxe)
10 - lofreek (Hybrid Five string)
11 - olivieraleman (Hybrid)
12 - Don Sovil (Professor Deluxe)
13 - swmmojo (Standard)
14 - Gary Lynch (Standard)
15 - jhillman (Hybrid)
16 - chuck3 (Hybrid)
17 - DrBassie (Poplar Deluxe Flatback)
18 - PaperbackRyder (Standard Gamba)
19 - joinercape (Standard)
20 - Krispy (Standard)
21 - LouisF (Gary Karr Hybrid Deluxe)
22 - funkadelickbass (Hybrid)
23 - Desert Hardwood (Standard Superswing "Blondie")
24 - Chuck3 (Standard, Hybrid)
25 - Russell Bergum (Bostonian Concert)
26 - Roger Davis (Professor)
27 - thebassbass (Professor Deluxe)
28 - MK1 (Hawkes Laminate)
29 - David Morris (5/8 Hybrid)
30 - RichardL (Hawkes Hybrid)
31 - LowEndRick (Hybrid Deluxe-ish)
Rick, what parts of your bass are deluxe-y? It looks just like mine from the front but if there's any sort of flaming going on in the maple neck I'd love to see it! I'm a sucker for flame, what can I say. I'm sort of regretting not getting a hybrid deluxe instead of a standard a few years ago, but hey, student budget and all...
Cheers
Chris
Here's an updated list, folks. Please remember to post pictures of your bass to get a member number (just to keep things consistent, and, we want to see your beautiful bass!)
01 - kamakiriad7 (Hybrid)
02 - drurb (Concert)
03 - Ghost Note (Standard Gamba)
04 - jmpfretless (Professor Deluxe)
05 - ZENBASSGUY (Standard)
06 - dbmike (Standard)
07 - brijonrob (Standard)
08 - Bass (Standard)
09 - BPeder (Hybrid Deluxe)
10 - lofreek (Hybrid Five string)
11 - olivieraleman (Hybrid)
12 - Don Sovil (Professor Deluxe)
13 - swmmojo (Standard)
14 - Gary Lynch (Standard)
15 - jhillman (Hybrid)
16 - chuck3 (Hybrid)
17 - DrBassie (Poplar Deluxe Flatback)
18 - PaperbackRyder (Standard Gamba)
19 - joinercape (Standard)
20 - Krispy (Standard)
21 - LouisF (Gary Karr Hybrid Deluxe)
22 - funkadelickbass (Hybrid)
23 - Desert Hardwood (Standard Superswing "Blondie")
24 - Chuck3 (Standard, Hybrid)
25 - Russell Bergum (Bostonian Concert)
26 - Roger Davis (Professor)
27 - thebassbass (Professor Deluxe)
28 - MK1 (Hawkes Laminate)
29 - David Morris (5/8 Hybrid)
30 - RichardL (Hawkes Hybrid)
31 - LowEndRick (Hybrid Deluxe-ish)
Rick, what parts of your bass are deluxe-y? It looks just like mine from the front but if there's any sort of flaming going on in the maple neck I'd love to see it! I'm a sucker for flame, what can I say. I'm sort of regretting not getting a hybrid deluxe instead of a standard a few years ago, but hey, student budget and all...
Cheers
Chris
I ordered my bass in the fall of 2007 when Upton was just beginning their USA production. I picked up the bass in January of 2008. At the time I believe they had not really settled on what would constitute a hybrid "deluxe" model or a hybrid "standard" model. So, mine has laminate maple back and sides, but not highly flamed. It is respectable maple just nothing to write home about visually. I believe all my hardware is what you would find on the deluxe models but I am not entirely sure of this. Regardless, I enjoy this bass increasingly as it has opened up over the few years I've owned it. I love the tone. From the beginning it was setup beautifully and continues to be extremely comfortable to play. Eric and Jack recently had a chance to play and tweak it a bit. Jack got my string height dialed in nicely to maximize playability and tone.
Great to hear, Russell! This puts my mind at ease . . . for an instant. Then it makes me want one of my own, and suddenly the mind is not at ease, but caught in wanting. Now I just have to see what my financial planner comes up with to decide when I can buy a Bostonian.
BTW, what kind of strings are you using? Are they good for pizz on your bass as well, or are they really orchestral/arco strings?
- Hal -
- Sep 19, 2007
- 161
- 12
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Hagstrom, Mahalo
This may be a no brainer to you Upton fans, but I'm looking to buy my first upright bass and am discouraged by all the Chinese instruments that come from who knows where using who knows what for wood.
I've been to Upton about 4 years ago and played the "Professor." Honestly, unless it didn't impress me compared to the laminates there! I don't know why, but maybe that particular one didn't do it for me.
Thing is, all these Chinese basses and even the used basses are not much less money than the "real deal." But I'm worried about investing in the Professor if I didn't care much for the one I tried 4 years ago. Have the basses improved? Or are you guys gonna throw tomatoes at me for doubting Upton?
I've been to Upton about 4 years ago and played the "Professor." Honestly, unless it didn't impress me compared to the laminates there! I don't know why, but maybe that particular one didn't do it for me.
Thing is, all these Chinese basses and even the used basses are not much less money than the "real deal." But I'm worried about investing in the Professor if I didn't care much for the one I tried 4 years ago. Have the basses improved? Or are you guys gonna throw tomatoes at me for doubting Upton?
It's possible that the one you tried four years ago was one of the European instruments they brought in unfinished, then finished and setup here (or there, Mystic). I have owned a couple of those before Gary began building them completely in his own shop, and the ones I had were terrific. But that said, The basses they build now in Stonington are way ahead of the old imports in every way, well maybe except price. It's worth another look. I recently took my hybrid in for repair and ended up ordering a new one! They are doing absolutely beautiful work, with lots of new features and options.
I also bought a Shen hybrid to get me through till the new one is ready, it's a very reasonable bass for very reasonable money too....
I also bought a Shen hybrid to get me through till the new one is ready, it's a very reasonable bass for very reasonable money too....
I use TI Belcanto's.
They sound wonderful for arco/orchestra - SUPER easy to bow. The are good for pizz, but I only pizz about 5% of the time. If I were playing jazz, I would use something like Spirocores. Eric probably would have some recommendations. Lots of reading and comparisons in the TB Strings section too.
- Sep 19, 2007
- 161
- 12
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Hagstrom, Mahalo
That's what I was told in the email I received from them. I also got a link to a youtube video for a listen. That helps, too. Did you have to wait long for your bass to be finished?
In the past, I've waited two to four months for basses, this next one will be ready about late June according to Gary. Right now they are busy getting ready for a big trade show, but I don't consider a few months a long wait for a custom made instrument. I have never been disappointed by anything out of the Upton shop! Always worth the time and money.
I visited with them in their Boston location this past weekend - Jack was very helpful and spent lots of time with me, I was a bit disappointed though that they had hardly any Upton basses there to try (mostly consignment); the only one I was able to spend any time with was a standard; a customer happened to be there with a Karr that he let me try, but they didn't have a hybrid there.
Jack is the best! As to their rarely having Uptons in stock, that's a pretty sure sign that they can't (or refuse) to make them fast enough for the demand. They are worth waiting for.
Today marks the 19th week since I placed my order for a Standard Lam... Do you know how UN-FUN it is to be taking UB lessons and only being able to practice on my EB? Theory, theory, theory with no physical reward!!! (except during the lesson on my instructor's instrument-somuchfun, somuchfun, somuchfun...)
Today marks the 19th week since I placed my order for a Standard Lam... Do you know how UN-FUN it is to be taking UB lessons and only being able to practice on my EB? Theory, theory, theory with no physical reward!!! (except during the lesson on my instructor's instrument-somuchfun, somuchfun, somuchfun...)
You chose to order a custom instrument rather than just buy one somewehere, so you chose to wait, but it will be worth it!
