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Double Bass Upton Bass Club
- Thread starter kamakiriad7
- Start date
- Feb 3, 2005
- 7,331
- 10,197
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Bergantino Audio Systems and GHS Strings
I've been borrowing a Palatino bass for lessons for a few months, but I needed to return it to the owner.
After a couple weeks of searching, I bought my first double bass, a 2008 UB Standard, Opus 49. Other than needing some new strings, it's in great shape.
After a couple weeks of searching, I bought my first double bass, a 2008 UB Standard, Opus 49. Other than needing some new strings, it's in great shape.
- Mar 19, 2002
- 800
- 130
- 53
- Disclosures
- President: Upton Bass String Instrument Co.
I looked it up, it was ordered in May and shipped out of here in July of 2008! Enjoy!!!
Made my first trip to Upton in CT today to drop off my Romanian for some TLC.
Wow! Had a great time playing the basses in their showroom, and was really impressed with their workshop area.
What impressed me the most was their standard model plywood bass... wow, sounded awesome. I see one in my future.
Wow! Had a great time playing the basses in their showroom, and was really impressed with their workshop area.
What impressed me the most was their standard model plywood bass... wow, sounded awesome. I see one in my future.
curious about your comment. Is 2008 the first year of that model or is it the first year that Uptons were made in the US?
Is there a directory of the history of Upton basses floating somewhere? I'm looking to buy my first upright soon, and am very interested in Uptons. Were they not always made in the US at the shop in Stonington?
thanks
Jeff
- Sep 19, 2007
- 161
- 12
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Hagstrom, Mahalo
They didn't begin as a total US make, but now they are, and the maturity of the craftsmanship shows. I played one of the early Professor basses, and today's Uptons are better than ever.
I played my standard laminate bass equiped with a Revolution Solo pickup this weekend thru an Acoustic Image Ten2. It was an Irish folk trio (guitar, fiddle,bass) and the bass sounded amazing! When I took the bass out of its bag the soundman commented on how beautifull it looked, and said he could'nt wait to hear it. He came up to me halfway during our first set, and said "the bass sounds perfect don't change a thing" Then after the show he said the bass sounded fantastic, and wanted to know all about it.. I have really grown to love this bass, and my electrics haven't seen any action in weeks..lol
the more I learn, there more there is I need to learn.
There is an Upton Standard Hybrid for sale locally from a private seller. Anyone know what markings indicate the various pedigrees here? Who made them for Upton prior to their in house builds?
I know that when they sell a Shen, they do the final workups in the shop in CT. Last December my wife & I took a day trip up there and was quite impressed with what we saw; Dave was most gracious with the amount of time that he was able to devote to our visit and they were very hospitable. I played a Shen SB150 hybrid and an Upton Standard Hybrid that they had just finished up.
thanks all.
There is an Upton Standard Hybrid for sale locally from a private seller. Anyone know what markings indicate the various pedigrees here? Who made them for Upton prior to their in house builds?
I know that when they sell a Shen, they do the final workups in the shop in CT. Last December my wife & I took a day trip up there and was quite impressed with what we saw; Dave was most gracious with the amount of time that he was able to devote to our visit and they were very hospitable. I played a Shen SB150 hybrid and an Upton Standard Hybrid that they had just finished up.
thanks all.
I was told Upton started building thier own basses in 2007.
If you look inside the bass and get the year and opus number I am sure Dave or someone at Upton can tell you more. Also, Upton uses a unique scroll design(only one turn for lack of a better discription) which is another way to tell.
Is this private seller located in New Brunswick? If so, that is an American-made Upton and the seller is mistaken about the date of purchase. The scroll is a dead giveaway.
If I'm guessing wrong about which bass you mean, then I've heard of early Upton instruments being made everywhere from Romania to Poland depending on the date they were made. I don't know how true those claims are, but they were made by reliable sources.
The New Brunswick person, incidentally, came off as kind of an ass during my correspondence with him. He refused to believe that depreciation has made his four- (or six-) year-old bass worth less than a new one. I bought a Shen instead. Nice bass.
I found the Craigslist ad in question and I agree that it certainly looks to be a US-made Upton. The seller may or may not be kind of an ass, but I don't think the asking price is out of line. A new Upton hybrid with the solo extension fingerboard plus all of the extras included - bow, bag, pickups, etc. etc. would add up to over $5k shipped.
Not trying to start anything, but I would not sell my standard for any less than what I payed either. Especially since they have gone up in price.
Yep, that's the one. The seller has been polite with me in email correspondance & I have no beef with him. I'm just trying to learn all I can before making a large purchase.
This is all of about 3 or 4 miles from my house, so its a no-brainer to go check it out. If it looks good I may have a bass! The standard hybrid is what I more or less figured I would buy If I bought a new one from Upton; based on my experience with my trip to Stonington in December.
I'm a newbie to DB, have been playing guitar for 30+ years and picked up bass 5 or 6 years ago when my bands bass player moved on and left us with a void. Upright though....this is so much different. I have only had something like 6 weeks of lessons; so to say I'm a bit green here is an understatement. I have a rental student grade bass, and its paid for through the end of the year, so I'm not in any rush. I just happened to be poking around CL one day as I ate lunch and stumbled across this listing. Most the DB ads on fleabay & CL are for CCB's and old Kays. An old Kay would be nice, an Upton Hybrid would be so much nicer.
This is all of about 3 or 4 miles from my house, so its a no-brainer to go check it out. If it looks good I may have a bass! The standard hybrid is what I more or less figured I would buy If I bought a new one from Upton; based on my experience with my trip to Stonington in December.
I'm a newbie to DB, have been playing guitar for 30+ years and picked up bass 5 or 6 years ago when my bands bass player moved on and left us with a void. Upright though....this is so much different. I have only had something like 6 weeks of lessons; so to say I'm a bit green here is an understatement. I have a rental student grade bass, and its paid for through the end of the year, so I'm not in any rush. I just happened to be poking around CL one day as I ate lunch and stumbled across this listing. Most the DB ads on fleabay & CL are for CCB's and old Kays. An old Kay would be nice, an Upton Hybrid would be so much nicer.
If you are in need of a local luthier to take a look at the bass or for any work, I highly reccomend Jack Hill just a few miles down Route 1 in Lawrenceville, jdhillmusic.com. He made my old Kay sound a million times better. He is also a fantastic player and teacher, all the while being a heck of a nice guy to boot!
Cheers,
Dennis
Cheers,
Dennis
