They didn't take the bevel out of your finger board?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
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Double Bass Upton Bass Club
- Thread starter kamakiriad7
- Start date
Nope. I asked them about it when I got it, they said I'll get used to it and probably prefer it. And I did within about half an hour.
wow, i have 5 basses and none of them have it. and when i had fingerboards replaced on 2 the luthier took it out of the fingerboard blank. how do you play in thumb position on the E string?' i hope they have changed this policy.
My guess is that it would increased the cost of the bass to have it removed, so why do it? I doubt this is any sort of policy from Upton. Also, kudos to you if you play frequently in thumb position on the E string...not for the faint of heart!
well, my basses are set up by arnold, jeff b. , david gage and barrie k, with no bevel, so its really easy
Don't know, don't care. I can't play in thumb position anyway, and it's just fine for me otherwise.
My first bass had a Romberg bevel and playing on the E in thumb position wasn't an issue. They look weirder than they feel, IMHO.
I'm really looking to the Brescian. They sent me a pic of one that's from the last batch. It's pretty...a light colored varnish and some upgrades. I'm trying to figure out if I can do the 10 hour round trip drive to try it out. I told them that whatever bass I get, there can't be upgrading from there. It's either got to be a lifetime bass or one that I can easily sell to finance the next step up, whatever that is. A hybrid for me may be the best way to go. Arco playing will be more on the jazz bowing side of things, vs playing classical music in an ensemble, and I need it primarily for jazz, big band, musical theater, and "dinner sets" in my corporate band
So I saw and played that Brescian and I think it'll fit your needs perfectly. I'm in a corporate band as well...It was out of my price range but my instructor damn near bought it. Its gorgeous, and sounds amazing. A little more focused than my round back hawkes as its a flatback, really big and projects really nicely. I was so torn but my wife said no
My trip was about 10-12 hours round trip driving, plus 2 hours in the shop. The drive is well worth it but bring another driver with you. Once I picked it up my adrenaline crashed and driving was a lot harder!!! LOL!!
Everyone in the shop was wearing masks and were distanced. There were only 2 of us upstairs and mostly stayed on opposite sides of the room.
You should talk to Eric about some of the perks of buying an Upton regarding trade-ins and repairs. I think you'll be more at ease, I certainly was because I plan on upgrading eventually.
Glad you played that one. They sent me a sound clip vid, but the playing style of the demonstrator was so different than mine, I couldn't get a sense of how it would sound for me. It's expensive for sure. My wife kind of grimaced when I told her the price. At that range, I'd also be putting it up against a New Standard Pamplona or LaScala. I think they'd both be high quality, but it needs to be a perfect match for me. Once I pick, I want no buyer's remorse, and just want to just focus on my music and technique.So I saw and played that Brescian and I think it'll fit your needs perfectly. I'm in a corporate band as well...It was out of my price range but my instructor damn near bought it. Its gorgeous, and sounds amazing. A little more focused than my round back hawkes as its a flatback, really big and projects really nicely. I was so torn but my wife said no
My trip was about 10-12 hours round trip driving, plus 2 hours in the shop. The drive is well worth it but bring another driver with you. Once I picked it up my adrenaline crashed and driving was a lot harder!!! LOL!!
Everyone in the shop was wearing masks and were distanced. There were only 2 of us upstairs and mostly stayed on opposite sides of the room.
You should talk to Eric about some of the perks of buying an Upton regarding trade-ins and repairs. I think you'll be more at ease, I certainly was because I plan on upgrading eventually.
With electric, I've been settled for years. I have no desire ever to get another electric bass.
Just my opinion, one reason I chose the Bohemian was, at that price, I could afford a couple of tonal upgrades for sound - like the 7/8 and deluxe top. I know the comparison isn't exact, but my impression is that those are to some extent already incorporated into the Brescian. (I then added a couple things that are purely for looks.)
I've never played a Brescian, but my understanding is that it is a BIG bass, that can be set up to do pretty much whatever you want it to do. I love the look of those big shoulders, and was somewhat going between a Brescian and the one I got.
Also, my understanding is that they use the same necks on all of their models, so to that extent, the models are somewhat fungible.
I'd suggest you might better use your time making the drive upon completion, to allow a good test drive and they can make any final adjustments to "tune" it to your preferences. (You would have to pay tax, as opposed to shipping costs.) During the build, you have to have expressed some preferences w/ respect to the bridge parameters, which will differ depending on whether you are - say - a bluegrass slapper or an orchestral player. But if you pick it up, they could really dial it in for you.
If you have the time, sure, make 2 trips. Compare flatbacks w/ rounds, and the different models set up differently. But you can't guarantee that they will have all of the basses available at any particular time. Enjoy the experience. I don't think you could go wrong w/ a Brescian hybrid. I think that would be plenty of bass for anyone short of the most accomplished orchestral players.
I've never played a Brescian, but my understanding is that it is a BIG bass, that can be set up to do pretty much whatever you want it to do. I love the look of those big shoulders, and was somewhat going between a Brescian and the one I got.
Also, my understanding is that they use the same necks on all of their models, so to that extent, the models are somewhat fungible.
I'd suggest you might better use your time making the drive upon completion, to allow a good test drive and they can make any final adjustments to "tune" it to your preferences. (You would have to pay tax, as opposed to shipping costs.) During the build, you have to have expressed some preferences w/ respect to the bridge parameters, which will differ depending on whether you are - say - a bluegrass slapper or an orchestral player. But if you pick it up, they could really dial it in for you.
If you have the time, sure, make 2 trips. Compare flatbacks w/ rounds, and the different models set up differently. But you can't guarantee that they will have all of the basses available at any particular time. Enjoy the experience. I don't think you could go wrong w/ a Brescian hybrid. I think that would be plenty of bass for anyone short of the most accomplished orchestral players.
This.
I won’t make representations regarding their policy - that’s for them - but it did actually result in me diving in at a slightly lower price point than I originally intended, with an eye towards upgrading in the future to what I imagine my dream bass would be, as opposed to spending a bit more and treating it as a one shot purchase.
Frankly, I’m loving my standard laminate so much that not only am I practicing more, but I’m more likely to pick it up to noodle around on than one of my bass guitars.
Oh cool! I didn't know there was an Upton Bass forum. I'm a two-time Upton owner. I guess I need to get in on this.
I just got back from Mystic, CT. Here is the NBD. A wonderful bass, great food and a fun road trip.
I just got back from Mystic, CT. Here is the NBD. A wonderful bass, great food and a fun road trip.
I'm following this thread of the UB Club--which I also just discovered--closely. I've placed an order for a carved Bostonian, which I hope won't be ready until I've been vaccinated and can drive to Mystic from Northern Virginia to pick it up. I'm thinking it won't even start to be built until late May or early June, so I'm counting on the world changing a good deal between now and then.
(I'm about as paranoid about covid as anyone I know personally. I don't go into buildings other than my house unless medically necessary...)
PS: Can somebody tell me what NBD signifies? Sorry, I'm an ignorant noob.
(I'm about as paranoid about covid as anyone I know personally. I don't go into buildings other than my house unless medically necessary...)
PS: Can somebody tell me what NBD signifies? Sorry, I'm an ignorant noob.
That's awesome. Sounds like the lead time is pretty long now, or is that when you want to get it?
I think the lead time actually is that long—and indeed, that really is when I want to get it. I want to make the road trip to Mystic to pick up the instrument, and I do NOT travel anywhere at all right now (old geezer with asthma, avoiding covid at all costs).
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That's pretty long. I was going to go up there to try out an existing Brescian that they had, but they sold it. At this point, I don't want to drive 5 hours each way. Plus, I don't want to wait that long for a new bass, or don't think I do, and even then, what if I don't like it? Likely it will sound very similar to any other Brescian they make but there will certainly be some risk associated with buying something like that, and I haven't even played one (and would need to make that trip to try it). If there was someone local to me that had one, I'd possibly be willing to try it and then talk with those guys and place an order, but yeah...it's a long wait. I'm starting to feel like my current bass is holding me back.
Only you can decide your willingness to wait. I readily found the long wait challenging, but I was glad that I had a bass I enjoyed playing all the while.
While each bass will differ somewhat, Upton follows their patterns quite closely. So if you play and like a recent Brescian, I think it close to 100% that you will like a future Brescian. And their necks are all the same across the models.
This is what I would do if I were in your position. I'd plan on making 2 trips. First, drive up there before ordering to check out the various models, as well as to size up their operation and the people. If you are satisfied, place your order and plan on waiting. Then, next fall/winter, plan on making the trip again to pick the bass up. As I understand, they are very accommodating in letting buyers test the bass and willing to tweak the setup. (To me 10-hrs of driving each w/ a couple of hrs at the shop in between is not insurmountable - but everyone's tolerances vary. If you are COVID comfortable, there are worse places to overnight than Mystic.)
The bottomline is this is the only way to get exactly the bass you have in mind. The alternative is to just accept that you will be conducting an ongoing search to try to find a bass you like as much as the Brescian. You probably would be able to eventually find such a bass - possibly even at a lower price (tho no guarantee as to appearance - if that matters to you) - but no guarantee how long the search would take, or how much travel would be involved.
Some folk enjoy the ongoing search. Me, once I realized what I wanted, I was ready to make the call and wait the needed time. If you think it will be important to you to have a bass that was made specifically to you, commissioning a bass w/ Upton or another maker is the only way to get there.
Final point - the wait seemed interminable. But once I got the bass, it was mazing how quickly any - uh - frustration/disappointent over the wait disappeared.
Good luck whatever you choose.
While each bass will differ somewhat, Upton follows their patterns quite closely. So if you play and like a recent Brescian, I think it close to 100% that you will like a future Brescian. And their necks are all the same across the models.
This is what I would do if I were in your position. I'd plan on making 2 trips. First, drive up there before ordering to check out the various models, as well as to size up their operation and the people. If you are satisfied, place your order and plan on waiting. Then, next fall/winter, plan on making the trip again to pick the bass up. As I understand, they are very accommodating in letting buyers test the bass and willing to tweak the setup. (To me 10-hrs of driving each w/ a couple of hrs at the shop in between is not insurmountable - but everyone's tolerances vary. If you are COVID comfortable, there are worse places to overnight than Mystic.)
The bottomline is this is the only way to get exactly the bass you have in mind. The alternative is to just accept that you will be conducting an ongoing search to try to find a bass you like as much as the Brescian. You probably would be able to eventually find such a bass - possibly even at a lower price (tho no guarantee as to appearance - if that matters to you) - but no guarantee how long the search would take, or how much travel would be involved.
Some folk enjoy the ongoing search. Me, once I realized what I wanted, I was ready to make the call and wait the needed time. If you think it will be important to you to have a bass that was made specifically to you, commissioning a bass w/ Upton or another maker is the only way to get there.
Final point - the wait seemed interminable. But once I got the bass, it was mazing how quickly any - uh - frustration/disappointent over the wait disappeared.
Good luck whatever you choose.
I'd love to have an Upton hybrid, but I imagine shipping to Nova Scotia would be cost prohibitive right now.
Possibly logistically very difficult too.
Can't wait for the present madness to be over so the border can be opened. Wouldn't mind a trip to Mystic as it sounds like a neat place.
Just sold my Engelhardt, so I sit here broken hearted. I've nothing but rather nice guitars and bass guitars to play.
Possibly logistically very difficult too.
Can't wait for the present madness to be over so the border can be opened. Wouldn't mind a trip to Mystic as it sounds like a neat place.
Just sold my Engelhardt, so I sit here broken hearted. I've nothing but rather nice guitars and bass guitars to play.
