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Double Bass Upton Bass Club

#223
bherman said:
I was a bit disappointed though that they had hardly any Upton basses there to try.
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I think that UB Standard is one of the only "showroom" basses we have ever built and vowed to hang onto. In a perfect world we would have one of each model to show...but I think people waiting for basses would rather have theirs (right Jay!)
 
#228
I loaned my Karr Delux Hybrid to the band from Germany doing the attached gig. (The actor Burghart Klaussner is best know to US audience for "The White Ribbon" and "The Reader"). His bassist, Gerold Donker, wanted it strung with Bel Cantos (don't ask me why; I was really hesitant). But the bass sounded fantastic. It was a real "cafe society" band sound - trumpet, accordian, piano, bass, sax/clarinet and bass (It was the first time I'd heard my bass amped. Really sounded good!). He brought the bridge height up a little and all I can say is that bass sounded really great both bowed and pizz in the room (which was filled with a lot of diplomats and Hollywood types)... So well done, Eric!

Louis

PS If there are Youtube clips, I'll post them later.
 

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#229
LouisF said:
I loaned my Karr Delux Hybrid to the band from Germany doing the attached gig... He brought the bridge height up a little and all I can say is that bass sounded really great both bowed and pizz in the room (which was filled with a lot of diplomats and Hollywood types)... So well done, Eric!

Louis

PS If there are Youtube clips, I'll post them later.
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I'd love to see those Youtube videos.

Louis, how do you like your Karr bass? How does it compare to a carved solid wood bass? What's the three best things about it? Any downsides? Thanks in advance.:)
 
#230
"Louis, how do you like your Karr bass? How does it compare to a carved solid wood bass? What's the three best things about it? Any downsides? Thanks in advance."


Without wanting to sound like a "shill" for Upton, I love the bass. It plays well enough to hold its own in a couple of community orchestra sections where my colleagues have fully carved Sun, German and Czech basses.

Three best things: 1) comfortable size and ease of playability; 2) tone; 3) the look of the bass (I commissioned it for stage performances of the Suskind play "The Double Bass")

There's a sound clip on the Upton web site of Eric making my bass.

Hope this helps.

Louis
 
#231
Thanks,Louis, that does help. I like Eric's video, especially now knowing that the bass is yours! But maddeningly, he didn't play it on the video.

I'm especially interested in comparing the Professor bass to the Karr bass, but being in L.A., it'll have to wait until either the 2011 ISB or a trip to Connecticut later this year.
 
#232
This may not be fair, and Eric may want to correct me, but having bought a laminate Hawkes professor for my college and my own Karr, I'd say, first, they are both fine basses.

The Hawkes is more "sectional" - big, fat, meaty and obviously larger. The Karr has lots of bottom but has more of a solo character. And I don't think this is just because the instruments were laminate and hybrid, repsectively, but because of the Karr/Jim Hamm influence on the design of the smaller bass.

Louis

PS: If you're ever in LA you're welcome to try out my bass.
 
#235
Hey guys, I admit that I am a total noob on the double bass side of the things. We bought a new house and I will actually have a music room! This has led me to some gas to finally get an upright. I used to think EUB, but I have changed as I now play a lot of americana, traditionals, and New Orleans music.

Anyway, Upton has caught my eye, the stamdard specifically. I want something good enough to gig with down the road without spending a small fortune. Thoughts on this as a first but long term upright? Options I should consider such as side markers, etc. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
 
#236
NOLA Bass said:
Hey guys, I admit that I am a total noob on the double bass side of the things. We bought a new house and I will actually have a music room! This has led me to some gas to finally get an upright. I used to think EUB, but I have changed as I now play a lot of americana, traditionals, and New Orleans music.

Anyway, Upton has caught my eye, the stamdard specifically. I want something good enough to gig with down the road without spending a small fortune. Thoughts on this as a first but long term upright? Options I should consider such as side markers, etc. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
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The Upton standard is an excellent choice. Great quality, low price, made in the USA. I would consider taking lessons, rather than getting side markers.
 
#238
You don't need them! (the side markers that is) The muscle memory is different with a DB. The neck also gets thicker as you move up and your hand just gets used to it. You'll also get a few visual markers from the flame/grain in the wood of the neck that you can use.
 
#240
NOLA Bass said:
Any practical thoughts on the D vs Eb neck and different scale lengths? I assume the violin corners is just an aesthitic feature with no other plus or minuses.
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Usually, d neck is considered standard but it's all about preferance. A good teacher could recomend the best preferences for your situation as well but in reality, it helps the mos to just play different basses and see what feels the most comfortable to you.
 

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