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Double Bass Upton Bass Club

#621
Hey all,
My beautiful Brescian just came in last week. I did two jazz gigs on Friday and Saturday with the hybrid Brescian and it was wonderful.
One issue I had, however, which I'm hoping to get some help with is regarding speaker clipping while using the Brescian and the Revolution II pickup.
I used to own an Upton ply and played through the same pickup, amp and speaker cab at high volumes when necessary without any issues.
I had Upton re-install my Rev II pickup on the Brescian so I know they did a proper job of installing it.
Here's the issue. When I play a low F on the E string or the open E, with the same strength as other strings, the speaker farts or clips. Never had this issue before. This bass puts out a lot of bottom with those low notes and it seems like the cab can't handle it. I know, however that the cab CAN handle loud and low notes but not this much.
Yes, I did use a lighter touch to get through the gigs. Yes, I did turn my gain and Master volumes down on my Aguilar Tonehammer. Yes, I did move the pickup around to try to get a better "sweet spot". Yes, I did turn the bass and low mid frequencies down on the amp. I also played a lot lower in volume and the problem remained.
I don't seem to have this problem while plugged into a Genz Shuttle 3.0 combo. I'm sure that's because the cab can't even put out the lows I'm having problems with.
The rig in issue is a Tonehammer head with Onyx cab made by Lemur.
The drivers in the cab were going crazy with this bass despite lowering all settings and playing at a moderate volume.
What can I further do??? Please help. Thanks
 
#622
funkythumb said:
Hey all,
My beautiful Brescian just came in last week. I did two jazz gigs on Friday and Saturday with the hybrid Brescian and it was wonderful.
One issue I had, however, which I'm hoping to get some help with is regarding speaker clipping while using the Brescian and the Revolution II pickup.
I used to own an Upton ply and played through the same pickup, amp and speaker cab at high volumes when necessary without any issues.
I had Upton re-install my Rev II pickup on the Brescian so I know they did a proper job of installing it.
Here's the issue. When I play a low F on the E string or the open E, with the same strength as other strings, the speaker farts or clips. Never had this issue before. This bass puts out a lot of bottom with those low notes and it seems like the cab can't handle it. I know, however that the cab CAN handle loud and low notes but not this much.
Yes, I did use a lighter touch to get through the gigs. Yes, I did turn my gain and Master volumes down on my Aguilar Tonehammer. Yes, I did move the pickup around to try to get a better "sweet spot". Yes, I did turn the bass and low mid frequencies down on the amp. I also played a lot lower in volume and the problem remained.
I don't seem to have this problem while plugged into a Genz Shuttle 3.0 combo. I'm sure that's because the cab can't even put out the lows I'm having problems with.
The rig in issue is a Tonehammer head with Onyx cab made by Lemur.
The drivers in the cab were going crazy with this bass despite lowering all settings and playing at a moderate volume.
What can I further do??? Please help. Thanks
Click to expand...

Are you using a high-pass filter?
 
#623
This probably doesn't apply, but I had a similar problem with my setup. I have an Upton standard ply that I run directly into a Ten2. When I first got the amp I had a buzzing sound similar to what a blown speaker might sound like. It turned out to be my endpin was vibrating like a tuning fork. Inaudible unamplified, but prominent when plugged in.
 
#625
So I got my 2009 standard hybrid the other day as a back up to my hybrid brescian/replacement of my Chinese ply. I am impressed with it compared to my brescian but the brescian clearly has more power and projection. One thing could be the standard has D addario hybrids on it while my brescian has spirocore mittles but still I feel like the brescian just has more character and just a different tone which is more to my likening. The standard hybrid is still 100 times better then my Chinese ply. One thing I did realize though is that I need to get some wood taken off of the feet of the bridge on the brescian. I was used to high string heights with sprio lights and a bass that had almost no projection but now I feel like I don't have to fight the bass to get good projection.

More on the standard hybrid, the neck has a slightly different feel to it and also the fingerboard isn't arched as much as the brescian. It also seems like the bridge on the brescian is a lot more detailed then the one on the standard. But overall but are killin basses and I will probably never need anything else.
 
#626
Well, I took the first step and solved a couple end pin issues. I sawed off 2 plus inches on the end pin and used Teflon tape around the threads of the end pin to secure the rubber stopper. Worked like a charm and the rubber stopper is secure and not moving at all. The internal rattling of the end pin is gone with the smaller length and tighter fitting parts.
Next, I've got to try the bass again through my rig to see if I've still got that clipping going on. Praying it's gone!!
 
#627
Last night I did my third jazz gig in one week since getting the Brescian. Really enjoying this bass and getting compliments on it's tone. One woman even walked up to the bass during my break and took a picture of the bass. Well, also an update on the whole amp/clipping thing. No clipping on last night's gig!!! Cutting off excess end pin and wrapping the end pin threads with a lot of Teflon tape seems to have solved the problem of clipping or farting speaker sounds when playing the low F and E!!
 
#628
Quite a few posts back I mentioned our (Upton Bass) plan for the ISB and i wanted to make sure anyone counting on what I may have said knows whats going on

Basically, Eric and I will be at the show with some 30 basses. We won't have workshop capabilities with us just tons of great basses, bows and a collection of accessories (strings etc) Of course both of us will have our tool rolls and the essentials for emergencies.

Sorry to hijack you guys chatting about the basses (thank you!)

Gary
 
#629
Mgaisbacher said:
One thing I did realize though is that I need to get some wood taken off of the feet of the bridge on the brescian. I was used to high string heights with sprio lights and a bass that had almost no projection but now I feel like I don't have to fight the bass to get good projection.
Click to expand...

Best to be taken from the TOP of the bridge or the legs, not the feet.
 
#631
uptonbass said:
Quite a few posts back I mentioned our (Upton Bass) plan for the ISB and i wanted to make sure anyone counting on what I may have said knows whats going on

Basically, Eric and I will be at the show with some 30 basses. We won't have workshop capabilities with us just tons of great basses, bows and a collection of accessories (strings etc) Of course both of us will have our tool rolls and the essentials for emergencies.

Sorry to hijack you guys chatting about the basses (thank you!)

Gary
Click to expand...

30 basses!!! Any Venetians?
 
#633
The Venetian was a Karr model made with violin corders, a flat back and gofriller ff's. The end result felt venetian to me so I called it that...

Here is some of what we will have:

Upton Basses
-----------------
Concord with RN
Super (4/4)Karr with c ext and RN
Brescian Willow with c ext
Bohemian (Makore)
Brescian Hybrid
Karr 3/4 with RN
Brescian Hybrid with RN
Mittenwald 7/8
Bohemian Lami

Other basses (in no specific order)
-----------------
Hawkes
Prescott Gamba
Tewksbury
Prescott Busetto
Poellman
Golia
Gorman
Grunert
Martin
Kimmel (x2)
Italian Chamber bass
Dutch
Solano
Wilfer
Juzek?
French Guild

...and others that are really important but I'm forgetting
 
#636
The 2013 ISB was an incredible week, and Upton basses were a big hit. I have photos of their basses being played by some very heavy players. It'll take me a while to post pics, but I think you'll like what's coming. ..
Until I have time for action shots, here's my new Concord w/removable neck.
 

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#640
I'm planning on pulling the trigger on a Bohemian in about six weeks and am right on the fence between getting the deluxe and the standard.

Regarding the deluxe top vs. the standard for a Bohemian hybrid. I could hear the difference between the two tops on Upton's Standard video and Eric had sent me a link to a video where the difference between the two tops is explained.

Does the deluxe really make THAT much of a difference for the generalist bassist?

In favor of the deluxe: I get a tone that I may not fully appreciate now, but will down the road as my chops and ear improve. If I want to "upgrade" tone, I would have to buy a better bass. That could happen in two years, 20 or never.

In favor of the standard: I get a nice tone and can apply the savings toward getting a bow.

This will be my first upright and it's one I plan on keeping for a very, very long time. My intentions are to use this for gigging on jazz, musical theater, and maybe some folk/bluegrass and trio/quartets in jazz. Pretty much a general purpose bass. I do not see me trying to do anything heavy duty classical.
 

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