Double Bass Upton Bass Club

[BobKay]

My first Upton is a hybrid 3/4. Already owned a '51 Kay. I initially thought I wanted a hybrid to get better tone, etc. I did, but an added advantage is a slightly thicker neck that really felt good.
My second Upton is a full ply 7/8ths, that was purchased as a replacement for the Kay. Once I spent a couple of years playing the hybrid, I grew tired of the thinner Kay neck. The 7/8ths was purchased for playing in all weather conditions here in southwest Florida. It has turned out to be a great sounding bass, and I use it most of the time, especially playing unamplified.

The Upton necks are not huge or bulky; it's not like playing a 2X4 with the edges rounded off. The neck on the 7/8ths is slightly thicker, mostly because of the thickness of the fingerboard.

Hope this helps.

 

[Bigbassguy]

I'm very happy with Upton necks. for me, they are very comfortable.

jc

 

[Ed S]

I'm really interested in having an Upton built, but I have never had the chance to play one. So I'm probably going to have to wait until I get a chance to drive out east - probably next summer.

But I thought I'd take a wild flier and ask if any current members of the Upton club are in the Chicago area, and might be willing to let me just see how the neck feels in my hand. Anyone interested in helping me spend a bunch of money?

 

[Ed S]

Well happy birthday to me! Just sent the e-mail asking how big a check I gotta send where.

Hey - how is my kid's pregnancy like my new bass? Both require approximately 9 months' gestation!

 

[Holdsg]

just an update on my broken neck saga.
I received my bass back today from Upton.
They did a fantastic job with complete neck replacement (was able to keep the fingerboard from original bass).
@Eric Rene Roy and Gary Upton....Thank you so much for your assistance in a painful learning lesson (it was ALL my fault)
The bass was fully insured (less my deductible) so another lesson to y'all, make sure to insure your babies.

 

[s0707]

@Holdsg, good news you got your bass repaired. What kind of insurance do you have?

 

[Holdsg]

inland marine thru Hartford, via Heritage Insurance Services at musicins.com

 

[Ed S]

Looks like my wait for membership in this club is soon to end. Got a text from Gary on the road 2 states over. He expects to make it here this afternoon. Bohemian hybrid, 7/8 flatback, deluxe top, and a couple of other upgrades just to make it purty!

And now I'm supposed to focus on work how?

I'll post pics, I promise.

 

[Lucky Beall]

I just ordered a similar 7/8 but round back and all laminate. How long since ordering have you been waiting? And what extras and what color? Thanks if you have time...
Lucky

 

[Ed S]

... How long since ordering have you been waiting? And what extras and what color? Thanks if you have time...
Lucky

It has been a LONG wait - over a year. Covid really messed with their logistics. I was glad to have a bass I enjoy playing while waiting.

I got a highly flamed neck, and some upgraded/antiqued/plated tuners. I think they put up a couple of photos of my scroll/tuners on their FB site.

If this isn't mine, it is very similar.

I asked for it to be very dark brown with mild distressing. I'll post pics when it comes - which should be in just a couple of hours! Yay!

 

[Ed S]

Bass was delivered yesterday afternoon on Gary's most recent cross-country trek. I'll probably start another NBD thread, as I tend to go on too long and don't want to make this thread too much about me.

This is a pic of the new bass last night (w/ the vanquished ply on it's side in the background! ) I'll take more pics today in the better light.

Everything looks/sound/feels REALLY good. Couple of things:
-The carved top is SO different from the ply I'm used to. It has an VERY pronounced grain, and strong recurve. Playing it, you can't deny the difference in sound that results from moving that big, graduated piece of wood...
-I love LOVE the French Rubner tuners. They are so massive and textured between your thumb and finger.

Was nice to meet Gary, but they were being very Covid safe, so we didn't really hang. It was a REALLY long wait, but I'm liking the bass so much that the long wait has already faded into the background.

 

[HotRoded]

Congrats on your new baby!.......

 

[jefff100]

View attachment 4073960

Bass was delivered yesterday afternoon on Gary's most recent cross-country trek. I'll probably start another NBD thread, as I tend to go on too long and don't want to make this thread too much about me.

This is a pic of the new bass last night (w/ the vanquished ply on it's side in the background! ) I'll take more pics today in the better light.

Everything looks/sound/feels REALLY good. Couple of things:
-The carved top is SO different from the ply I'm used to. It has an VERY pronounced grain, and strong recurve. Playing it, you can't deny the difference in sound that results from moving that big, graduated piece of wood...
-I love LOVE the French Rubner tuners. They are so massive and textured between your thumb and finger.

Was nice to meet Gary, but they were being very Covid safe, so we didn't really hang. It was a REALLY long wait, but I'm liking the bass so much that the long wait has already faded into the background.

congratulations ! So happy for you.
I know how much of an improvement it was for me to go from a really poor quality student rental to buying my Upton hybrid - I’d love to someday upgrade to a deluxe top flatback.

also happy to see the thread brought back to life!

 

[g-dude]

So my Upton Standard Laminate arrived yesterday — full details in the thread I started, but thrilled to join the club.

 

[modbass]

So this happened today...2007 Hawkes Hybrid, laminate back, solid maple ribs, carved spruce top.

I've never played an upright that felt or sounded this good!!

About 10 hours round trip to the shop and back so i'll dig into it more tomorrow...

 

[JimmyM]

So this happened today...2007 Hawkes Hybrid, laminate back, solid maple ribs, carved spruce top.

I've never played an upright that felt or sounded this good!!

About 10 hours round trip to the shop and back so i'll dig into it more tomorrow...

View attachment 4076214

I've got one my own self, although I got mine when it was called the Jazz/Bluegrass, and it's orange colored. But I love it. Still the best sounding plywood upright I've ever played (although I haven't played some of their newer models).

 

[modbass]

I've got one my own self, although I got mine when it was called the Jazz/Bluegrass, and it's orange colored. But I love it. Still the best sounding plywood upright I've ever played (although I haven't played some of their newer models).

Hey Jimmy your reviews on this bass were part of the reason I got it. Been playing all day and the sound is huge, round, and open. Have to get used to the thumb position transition as it’s bigger than my old bass.

I played the standard, a Brescian, and a few other basses. I gravitated towards the Brescian but value for money I couldn’t pass up the Hawkes.

 

[JimmyM]

Hey Jimmy your reviews on this bass were part of the reason I got it. Been playing all day and the sound is huge, round, and open. Have to get used to the thumb position transition as it’s bigger than my old bass.

I played the standard, a Brescian, and a few other basses. I gravitated towards the Brescian but value for money I couldn’t pass up the Hawkes.

Glad I could help. That's exactly how I feel about it, although I didn't have to get used to anything except the Rhomburg bevel since I didn't have a whole lot of experience when I got it and I still can't play in thumb position

 

[GretschWretch]

So this happened today...2007 Hawkes Hybrid, laminate back, solid maple ribs, carved spruce top.

I've never played an upright that felt or sounded this good!!

About 10 hours round trip to the shop and back so i'll dig into it more tomorrow...

View attachment 4076214

I don't know where this pic was taken, but I want to go there when I die.

 

[Holdsg]

That’s the Upton shop/barn in Mystic, CT