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Double Bass Upton Bass Club

#261
So, I'm taking the plunge soon and the Upton Standard really looks like an excellent choice. I have a question though as I've barely been able to find many uprights to play on. The Upton is a "big 3/4 or small 7/8" according to the site. How big a difference is that. I found one upright I got to play on locally that I'm positive was full size. It felt huge. I'm about 5'8" 200, so not the biggest guy in the world. Shoot, I love my Sadowsky's b/c they have a downsized jazz body and a skinny neck. Thus, upright is a little intimidating. 3/4 seems to make a lot more sense. Is the slightly larger Upton barely different or is it a more significant size change. Not being able to line up 3/4, 7/8 and full size, I really can't tell. Should I pay for a true 3/4 (I think I saw Upton can do that) or am I blowing that difference out of proportion. Thanks guys!
 
#262
You are blowing the difference out of proportion, IMO. :) As I'm sure you know, there are vagaries surrounding bass "sizes." What really matters is playability and that's something to which the guys at Upton have paid great attention. The slope of the shoulders, rib proportions, etc. make them quite a pleasure to play. My advice would be to just let them do what they do without asking for any special modification with regard to size. You should be fine.

By the way, I was hanging out at Upton Bass last Friday and Gary showed me some ergonomic changes they implemented in mid-April that, if anything, make the basses easier to play. He'll be featuring them at the upcoming ISB meeting.
 
#263
Generally speaking, a larger body will gain volume and fullness on the low end at the expense of portability and ease of handling. The difference is maybe an inch or two. I played an Upton Standard gamba last fall and while the shoulders were noticeably wider than my 3/4 German gambas, it did not feel outlandishly huge. Playing in thumb position could be harder, but I rarely venture up that high.

As far as comparing EB to DB, forget it. I liked my Sadowskys just fine, but that just doesn't translate.
 
#264
BassGreaser said:
man all this Upton talk has me wanting to order my dream 5/8" Hybird with a 41.5 scale length that has a set of Clef all plain guts on it!!
Click to expand...

I bought this bass about a year ago this month - 5/8 hybrid with 41.5" string length. It's fantastic! Upton's 5/8 size is close to what others call 3/4. It doesn't feel like a 'small' bass and doesn't sound like it either. I sold a nice old carved german bass to fund it and don't regret making the change.

edit: mine has regular depth ribs which I think contributes to the larger feel and sound
 
#266
basss said:
I bought this bass about a year ago this month - 5/8 hybrid with 41.5" string length. It's fantastic! Upton's 5/8 size is close to what others call 3/4. It doesn't feel like a 'small' bass and doesn't sound like it either. I sold a nice old carved german bass to fund it and don't regret making the change.

edit: mine has regular depth ribs which I think contributes to the larger feel and sound
Click to expand...

Pics PLEASE!! how long is the build time for an Upton bass right now?
 
#270
NOLA Bass said:
So, I'm taking the plunge soon and the Upton Standard really looks like an excellent choice. I have a question though as I've barely been able to find many uprights to play on. The Upton is a "big 3/4 or small 7/8" according to the site. How big a difference is that. I found one upright I got to play on locally that I'm positive was full size. It felt huge. I'm about 5'8" 200, so not the biggest guy in the world. Shoot, I love my Sadowsky's b/c they have a downsized jazz body and a skinny neck. Thus, upright is a little intimidating. 3/4 seems to make a lot more sense. Is the slightly larger Upton barely different or is it a more significant size change. Not being able to line up 3/4, 7/8 and full size, I really can't tell. Should I pay for a true 3/4 (I think I saw Upton can do that) or am I blowing that difference out of proportion. Thanks guys!
Click to expand...

I took delivery of my Standard Poplar Hybrid in February. Wonderful tone, finish and workmanship, but uncomfortable to bow because of the 21" upper bout and full depth ribs at the neck block. Short arms and fingers. Since mine was built I understand that they have gone to 5 1/2" ribs at the neck, which might take care of my access problem. I have been talking with Gary about building me a new hybrid with the upgraded top (see their recent YouTube) in the "Solo" pattern: a 19" upper bout and the new rib depth should solve my problem. As is said elsewhere, great folks to deal with.
 
#271
I wanted to post here sooner, but I was away on a meditation retreat . . . two weeks ago, I made the trip to the Upton shop in Stonington. drurb joined me there to lend his experience and advice. Gary and the crew were just as great as everyone on Talkbass said they are. He spent a lot of time talking to me, showing me around the shop, explaining how they make their basses, etc. He told me how he could make a bass to suit my space-efficient body and playing style. So I placed my order!

The great folks at Upton are making me a 5/8 Bostonian--a fully-carved roundback bass with a spruce top and poplar back and sides, gamba shape, and a modified solo profile (narrow upper bout). Gary and Eric are doing something special with the upper back and neck for easier playability ("I have an idea for what I want to do with your bass--trust me.") 41" string length, Eb neck made just the size I want, nicely curved fingerboard and bridge for my arco style, antiqued finish, fully adjustable (short) carbon fiber endpin, Evah Pirazzi Weich strings . . . we discussed all the details and settled on exactly what I want. Estimated build time is 12-14 weeks (2 down, 10-12 to go. ;))

I'll be sure to post photos when it finally arrives. Until then, I'll have to just dream about playing it!

- Hal -
 
#275
Okay... Just a peek, mind you...:smug:
 

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#276
Oh, that one! Yeah, Pastor Hal and I ate our lunch using that as a table a little while back. Sorry about the ketchup stain just south of where the post will be. :D

Seriously-- it's fun to have those "in process" pics. I have a few as well. Which model is it?
 
#279
Hey NOLA, congrats on the new music room! A double bass is a great addition, and especially with the type of music you're playing.

I ordered my Upton hybrid in 2008 with side dots up to the octave position. They're beautifully done - inlaid with pernambuco - and tough to see from a distance... you really have to be right up close to tell they're there. That said, when I order my next bass it won't have position markers. They did help a lot at first, but only within the first eight months or so. After that I really didn't need them but I relied on them anyway. Now I'm finishing my degree on classical bass this fall, and it's become a crutch and a bad habit. I've practiced a lot in the dark to eliminate the need to look at my fingers, and it's a lot better, but if you're spending most of your time playing below the break it's best to forgo the position markers, IMO.

NOLA Bass said:
I definitely plan on some lessons but being an electric player, I must admit the dots are enticing in helping my comfort level and sort of being a crutch to get going.
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#280
I don't think I'm a member of this club, but I have two Uptons - a hybrid that I use mainly for jazz in Brooklyn, and a standard that I use mainly for rock, blues and bluegrass in the Hudson Valley. I've made the pilgrimage to Stonington several times, although not since 2009 when I bought the basses, and the Upton people are great.

The standard in particular gets a lot of love at gigs, and it has kind of become my band's avatar up there. I can't link the photo for some reason, but here's a link:

The Vague Assurances | Facebook
 

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