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Double Bass Upton Bass Club
- Thread starter kamakiriad7
- Start date
It's pretty simple: They do it all themselves. In one end comes lumber, tuners, strings, endpins and people heading to work. Out the other end comes double basses.
The $1,900 bass is a no-frill musical tool. Frills take time and cost money. I've played a bunch of them and they sounded nice for plywood basses. A lot of that reflects two facts: 1) Real luthiers designed and refined on-site a model that sounds good the way they build it on-site; and 2) Jack, the guy who planes fingerboards at the Upton shop, IS a double-bass player and HAS planed literally hundreds of boards. Like my old maestro used to say, "The first two hundred are the toughest."
Yeah. I'm their lawyer (and Gary's pal). This is not a disinterested review. Beyond that, they make a nice bass, they're nice people, and it's a pleasure to see a business IMPORT high-skill craft jobs FROM Europe.
The advice I always give people is that your best bet is to play a lot of basses and try to play the one you're buying. Obviously, buying a brand-new bass is different from that but "try a bunch" is still words I'll stand by.
Good luck with your search.
Well, it looks like I'll need to find some Uptons to check out... I'll be up in LA this weekend, so I'll see what I can find...
Big
When I decided to buy a new bass I considered several, Bob Gollihur, New Standard, and Upton. I avoid buying anything chinese, just my thing. Anyway, after several phone sessions with Gary I decided it was the best deal for what I had to spend. They make them there and have a warrenty. Also, Gary has a trade in policy, calls it bass equity, I think. Some may ask how I could buy a bass sound unheard? Ive been in manufacturing for 30 years, and if they are making them to a pattern, using same materials for each model, that cant vary much. Thats how you build a brand. I checked all comments from Upton owners, talked to Gary, and was sold.
When I decided to buy a new bass I considered several, Bob Gollihur, New Standard, and Upton. I avoid buying anything chinese, just my thing. Anyway, after several phone sessions with Gary I decided it was the best deal for what I had to spend. They make them there and have a warrenty. Also, Gary has a trade in policy, calls it bass equity, I think. Some may ask how I could buy a bass sound unheard? Ive been in manufacturing for 30 years, and if they are making them to a pattern, using same materials for each model, that cant vary much. Thats how you build a brand. I checked all comments from Upton owners, talked to Gary, and was sold.
Thanks to Les and his huge amount of patience I finally get to post my pictures of my own Professor Extra DeLuxe...and this instrument was bought after many hours on the phone with Gary, Eric and Kate as well .All of them finding a very professionnal way to reassure me with my worries and answer my questions....after trying many other way more expensives instruments I told Gary to go ahead and build me one with the wood he recommended and the quality of wood I wanted and the finish as well.....results....complete happiness...thanks to all of you at Upton...
- Mar 19, 2002
- 800
- 130
- 53
- Disclosures
- President: Upton Bass String Instrument Co.
Thank you Jean-Marc! The log (and I do mean log...Gary had to buy me a new band saw just to cut it up) yielded enough wood to make three identical flat backs. Jean-Marc's is v1.1 and v1.2 & v1.3 have yet to be made. Triplets!!! Someday all three basses should get together for a reunion. Now THAT would be an exclussive Upton Club!
Beautiful bass Jean-Marc. I can hear her purr.
Eric, it was a pleasure talking with you on Friday there at Upton.
Eric, it was a pleasure talking with you on Friday there at Upton.
To be honnest I told Gary and Eric that I wanted an instrument that looked like it had been played for a while and after that I told them to go in the shop and let their imagination go.......at the end I paid the bill .....totally happy....and it is getting better by the day...no kidding
Just one more thing.....thanks to the set up(done at Upton) it plays ten times better than it looks.....now just imagine that.....
- Mar 19, 2002
- 800
- 130
- 53
- Disclosures
- President: Upton Bass String Instrument Co.
This just came out...I think it's in the bookstores now. It touches on the scroll, since you asked.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
That simplified scroll is part of the design on every USA-made Upton. By the way, Jean-Marc and I are "sycamore neck" brothers. His neck and mine were made from the same special stock.
The day I picked up my Concert, Jean-Marc was in the shop test-driving his new baby before flying back to Daytona so I got a chance to play his Professor. Oh mama!
I'm lookin' real hard at gettin the upton laminate. Shore is purdy.
Anybody willing to let me try out their upton in the Atlanta / N Ga area?
I'll bring a beer payment!
Anybody willing to let me try out their upton in the Atlanta / N Ga area?
I'll bring a beer payment!
First. HillBilly, I'm in Marietta and also want to play a Upton. If you find someone, let's go out and have a listen together.
_____ My question to the group___ If I buy an Upton laminate, should I go with the 42" standard scale that it comes with or the more comfy 41.5"?
thanks
_____ My question to the group___ If I buy an Upton laminate, should I go with the 42" standard scale that it comes with or the more comfy 41.5"?
thanks
Well I guess it is just a matter of taste and you should try more than just one Upton....do not get me wrong....all of them are top notch.......from the bottom up....really....All I have to say is that I have played on some upright basses that were twice or three times the price and well......I made my mind up after playing the bass that Gary built for me....I (not to repeat myself) told Gary what I wanted over the phone .....and bingo.....coming to Daytona soon.....come to the house and try it.....
I've never played a 41.5" bass before, but I can say that with a 42" scale length bass, one's hands do adjust.
I've been GASsing for a second Upright bass recently (one to keep at the university to practice on, and one at home). Originally, I was looking at a Stentor, Schoenbach or something else that's a little cheaper, around $1000, but I'm pretty sure now I'm just going to go with another Upton, a laminate this time.
Of course, I have to get a C-extension for the Hybrid first though...
p.s. Jean-Marc.. that bass is incredible!
I've been GASsing for a second Upright bass recently (one to keep at the university to practice on, and one at home). Originally, I was looking at a Stentor, Schoenbach or something else that's a little cheaper, around $1000, but I'm pretty sure now I'm just going to go with another Upton, a laminate this time.
Of course, I have to get a C-extension for the Hybrid first though...p.s. Jean-Marc.. that bass is incredible!
