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Double Bass Upton Bass Club
- Thread starter kamakiriad7
- Start date
You'd love my 7/8ths juzek then.
Maybe take a look at quantum. They've got a few large basses for sale right now.
I owned one of the earlier UB Hawkes laminate basses. Bought it and went to the woodshed, but that was right before grad school, marriage, new house, new job, move to another house, kid...and sold it after much neglect - the bass people, not the kid! She's a keeper. 
I play bass guitar in the church orchestra, but there is a lot of opportunities to play upright ('string') bass pizz and some arco. It has always been a dream of mine to play walking jazz lines on DB. Get a teacher and woodshed at night after dinner.
Moved some gear and now have the cash to cover a UB Standard Laminate. Was considering an old Kay. There is one local I'm going to try and play next weekend. But the price range is very close to a new Upton ply. So I'm very close to plunking down the cash to get the build rolling.
I play bass guitar in the church orchestra, but there is a lot of opportunities to play upright ('string') bass pizz and some arco. It has always been a dream of mine to play walking jazz lines on DB. Get a teacher and woodshed at night after dinner.
Moved some gear and now have the cash to cover a UB Standard Laminate. Was considering an old Kay. There is one local I'm going to try and play next weekend. But the price range is very close to a new Upton ply. So I'm very close to plunking down the cash to get the build rolling.
I had a late 90s Upton Hawkes laminate for about ten years and replaced it with the same vintage Medio Fino hybrid, which I’ve had for a couple of years now. Both were exceptional players that gave me zero trouble over the years.
The setup they do on their new basses has got to be a huge differentiator if the prices are anywhere in the same ballpark.
And now they make their own basses, right? My two were (I think) Polish made cores, that are great in both instances. The old one is being used by a regularly gigging bassist friend and is still going strong.
The setup they do on their new basses has got to be a huge differentiator if the prices are anywhere in the same ballpark.
And now they make their own basses, right? My two were (I think) Polish made cores, that are great in both instances. The old one is being used by a regularly gigging bassist friend and is still going strong.
My Upton Hawkes was vintage 2005 so likely European before they started doing that one in CT / crossover time. (Listened to the podcast, so I think that's what Gary & Eric were saying.) Good bass just no time to 'shed. Sold it locally.
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I owned one of the earlier UB Hawkes laminate basses. Bought it and went to the woodshed, but that was right before grad school, marriage, new house, new job, move to another house, kid...and sold it after much neglect - the bass people, not the kid! She's a keeper.
I play bass guitar in the church orchestra, but there is a lot of opportunities to play upright ('string') bass pizz and some arco. It has always been a dream of mine to play walking jazz lines on DB. Get a teacher and woodshed at night after dinner.
Moved some gear and now have the cash to cover a UB Standard Laminate. Was considering an old Kay. There is one local I'm going to try and play next weekend. But the price range is very close to a new Upton ply. So I'm very close to plunking down the cash to get the build rolling.
You won't regret going with a new UB Standard Laminate. I looked at some older american basses when I was looking for mine. I had much the same consideration with the price range as well. With a new UB Standard Laminate, you get a brand new american made bass with zero of the stability and other issues an Old Kay may have. That being said, you are not getting any of that "vintage vibe" that may come from a vintage kay with older woods. That may be an important thing for uprights, it may not. I speak from a primarily electric point of view and I know older/vintage wood can be considered a difference. The most important thing I could say about picking one is play each if you can and pick the one that speaks to you. You can talk about potential build quality issues, age of wood, and just about everything else. But at the end of the day, by the one that speaks to musically and sonically. You can buy a brand new UB for a great deal but if it doesn't inspire you to play as much as the Old Kay would then there isn't a point buying a brand new bass. Same can be said vice versa. An upright is an investment in yourself as much as it is a monetary one so buy the bass you feel fits you and will be the one that you can "speak" with better. Hope that helps and good luck finding your next bass!
I would go Upton. I don't like those really thin necks on Kays and Engelhardts. Upton's necks are fat, juicy, and extremely easy to play.I owned one of the earlier UB Hawkes laminate basses. Bought it and went to the woodshed, but that was right before grad school, marriage, new house, new job, move to another house, kid...and sold it after much neglect - the bass people, not the kid! She's a keeper.
I play bass guitar in the church orchestra, but there is a lot of opportunities to play upright ('string') bass pizz and some arco. It has always been a dream of mine to play walking jazz lines on DB. Get a teacher and woodshed at night after dinner.
Moved some gear and now have the cash to cover a UB Standard Laminate. Was considering an old Kay. There is one local I'm going to try and play next weekend. But the price range is very close to a new Upton ply. So I'm very close to plunking down the cash to get the build rolling.
I owned one of the earlier UB Hawkes laminate basses. Bought it and went to the woodshed, but that was right before grad school, marriage, new house, new job, move to another house, kid...and sold it after much neglect - the bass people, not the kid! She's a keeper.
I play bass guitar in the church orchestra, but there is a lot of opportunities to play upright ('string') bass pizz and some arco. It has always been a dream of mine to play walking jazz lines on DB. Get a teacher and woodshed at night after dinner.
Moved some gear and now have the cash to cover a UB Standard Laminate. Was considering an old Kay. There is one local I'm going to try and play next weekend. But the price range is very close to a new Upton ply. So I'm very close to plunking down the cash to get the build rolling.
As others have said, you wont regret the Upton if you gonthat route. When I was shopping I looked at several old Kay’s I found on Craigslist. Then when I got to reading - the standard Upton was essentially the same money. I figured it was worth my time to drive to the Upton shop. There I was able to compare several Kay’s, a laminated Shen, and a hybrid Shen and a laminated Upton that they had just completed.
At the time Upton was selling Shen’s as well as the their own in house builds.
No comparison- the laminated Upton was a better bass & better tone than even the hybrid Shen - and all were better than the Kay’s that they had there.
As we were driving home even my wife was telling me I should buy the Upton - That’s something I don’t get very often!
Old beat-up Kays have a certain charm, but many I have seen have major problems (some are downright unplayable). I echo the others. You are going to love the hassle-free Upton.
Jimmy, I think I'll be the same way. Never played a Kay though, and hoping the one close to me is still around a week from Saturday. (Just can't there before then.) I think that will help me decide.
Heck, I don't even like 4-string BG necks anymore!
I wish I could do an initial trip to check stuff out and then get them to build an Upton after that. Long drive I'm probably not going to swing. So gonna try the local Kay and go from there. I really liked the neck on the older UB Hawkes.
'Preciate the input. I do like the 'charm' but would rather have the hassle-free!
Question for you UB Standard Laminate owners: How brown is this joker? Can you see some grain through the hand-applied finish? Or does it look like it was "polished with a Hersey bar" as they used to say in the Army.
As we were driving home even my wife was telling me I should buy the Upton - That’s something I don’t get very often![/QUOTE]
My wife and I were visiting the barn (3rd visit) back in 2015. Eric spent a fair bit of time answering my questions, etc. As we were leaving, my wife turned to Eric and told him I would be buying a bass from them. Put my order in several months later, and haven't looked back. Wonderful Bohemian Hybrid Deluxe. And the bigger Upton neck vs. Kay is a big advantage as your hands won't tire out as quickly.
My wife and I were visiting the barn (3rd visit) back in 2015. Eric spent a fair bit of time answering my questions, etc. As we were leaving, my wife turned to Eric and told him I would be buying a bass from them. Put my order in several months later, and haven't looked back. Wonderful Bohemian Hybrid Deluxe. And the bigger Upton neck vs. Kay is a big advantage as your hands won't tire out as quickly.
Here’s mine - shot with an iPhone and crappy basement lighting. Pretty brown, but you can make out some grain in there.
Too brown for me. That's why I paid to have an upgraded birch top veneer on my Bohemian ply so that I could have a lighter finish. Did the same for the sides and back of the Bohemian hybrid Upton.
Thanks fellas. Yeah, that's my one (albeit superficial) hangup.
Guess I could keep saving, pay the extra $250 and do a Bohemian with lighter finish. Here's a newb question: Does the flatback add volume or issue?
Guess I could keep saving, pay the extra $250 and do a Bohemian with lighter finish. Here's a newb question: Does the flatback add volume or issue?
