Yeah that makore bass sounds amazing, It's in the Boston shop now. I played it a little while they were adjusting a few things on my Brescian. I had to stop playing before I got to attached.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Bass Upton Bass Club
- Thread starter kamakiriad7
- Start date
Actually, that Medio Fino hybrid was an instrument that was imported completely finished.
It's a special bass. Did they still have the Shen sb200 up there? I've been writing that one but not sure if I really want a 7/8ths bass. I play a 5/8ths now. It'd be an adjustment. I may wait and order a Karr bass instead. Can anyone comment on those for mostly theater and jazz?
Its my understanding that the early days of Upton they were buying imported instruments and doing final setup and upgrading some items in their Stonington, CT. shop. Eventually they transitioned to having those imported instrumetns made to their spec. and eventually ceased importing alltogehter.
I was advised at one point that an imported Upton can be distinguished from a US made instrument by looking at the scroll. The US made instrument will only have 1 full turn of the scroll carving; and is a trademark of theirs.
Anyone with more defining knowledge feel free to correct me.
At anyrate, Upton has always sought to provide a quality bass at a price that reflects genuine value. I visited their Stonington shop early on in my bass shopping endevours and I was duly impressed.
Jeff
You are correct about the progression. Here are details about the locations. The history actually goes back a bit further. I bought my imported hybrid from Gary in 2002 when he ran a one-man storefront shop in tiny Jewett City, CT. You knew you went too far off the highway if you passed the single stop-light in town.
Later, Gary relocated to Mystic, right down the street from the Mystic Seaport. Those were the big importing days and it was in that shop that Gary and Eric developed their own design patterns that were eventually made in overseas factories. It was after the move to Stonington that full USA production began. Indeed, the scroll pattern identifies the USA-made instruments. Now, Upton is back in Mystic at their newly-built rustic location. I've bought a bass from each of the shops except the current one. Hmm... gotta do something about that. 
Joshua was kind enough to show it to me yesterday and it truly is a beautiful bass with fantastic depth and sweet sound. Much easier to get around on than the numbers would have you believe. Joshua sounds wonderful on it.
I vaguely remember a corner shop right across from a waterfront. They had a few basses set up just for me to try based on what I'd told them of my playing style. I don't care where it was made. They were lovely people and the one they thought I would love, was the one that felt like it was made for me. I plunked down all my cash. I was 19, and I'd just cleaned out my savings for that trip so I paid in cash. My first big purchase... And definitely the best one.
It seems quite likely that you have the very bass I owned! I checked the dates and it seems I was off when I posted earlier. I traded my hybrid back to Gary in the summer of 2004-- nine years ago. Do you have extra little notches cut on each side of the saddle? Mine had the endpin upgraded and it looks like that's what you have as well. As I said, it was a great bass for the money.
Hahaha. What a freaking small world. It very well could be your old bass. There are notches on each side of the saddle. The inside sticker says "Genuine Upton Bass Viol Hybrid Medio Fino". If you have the serial, I can check it against mine. If this was yours, it was in perfect condition when I bought her. I never knew it was used, probably because I never asked. I played it and it was meant for my hands, so I bought it the same day. That's a pretty funny coincidence if it actually does happen to have been yours at one time. I've beat the hell out of her, but I'm pretty hard on my instruments. I have to say, its held up over the years. I didn't humidify for the longest time because I had no clue back then, and I dragged her back and forth, all through the NYC subway system. She was the first bass I owned (I was a renter...ugh) and I have a picture of her tattooed on my leg.
One day I'll finally have enough cash for a fully carved, but between this one and my electrics, I'm pretty well set.
Did anyone ever get a recording of the carved Mittenwald that was at the ISB? I'm still thinking about trading/selling my Brescian hybrid for that bass. even though the Btecsian hybrid is more practical I might be ready to throw out practical
Hybrid? Carved? Round back? Details! This Brescian owner is excited to see the end product as well. The Brescian is an awesome bass. Congrats, man!
Fully carved. I'm trading in my previous Upton (Op. 74, the one with the rosewood strip aka "Rose") as a partial payment on this new bass.It's gonna have a round back, and a low B (well, Low C is the plan for me, old school 5er tuning).
I spent a bunch of time with the guys over the course of two day at the ISB (Ask Gary, I think I thoroughly wore out my welcome.), and then sat down with them and discussed what I liked and didn't like about every bass in their showroom at the convention. After finding out exactly what I DIDN'T want, we focused on what I needed and what I DID want, so it'll be sycamore back and sides with german spruce top, 5 strings, with a slightly greater angle on the neck block and a slightly higher overstand (both for playability).
Designed for classical playing!
