Congrats - really does look nice. I need to find time to make a trip up to the shop for a setup soon.
Last time I was up there they were still in Stonington.
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Double Bass Upton Bass Club
- Thread starter kamakiriad7
- Start date
Last time I was up there they were still in Stonington.
Drove down from Maine to pick up my bass from Eric & Chris yesterday. AND my son met me at the barn, driving up from NYC. And of course hanging with Gary and the crew.
And play some basses -- the Tiny Martin Prescott was sounding really nice and there's a prototype for an artist bass that was really workin'.
Beautiful day, great meal, friends, family . . . grab a bass, play mine, grab another bass, play mine . . . It doesn't get better than that!
And play some basses -- the Tiny Martin Prescott was sounding really nice and there's a prototype for an artist bass that was really workin'.
Beautiful day, great meal, friends, family . . . grab a bass, play mine, grab another bass, play mine . . . It doesn't get better than that!
Well, I'm about 6 months late on this subject, but I'm an old curmudgeon - so I don't NEED to be on time!
....thought I'd toss my opinion into the pile anyway -
I flat could NOT play with the bevel in any position! It felt like the fingerboard had a tumor. Maybe it was years of playing an Englehardt and then a Kay S-9 Swingmaster, but I just could NOT get used to it - and I tried.
So since my Upton had been severely damaged and I was doing a restoration anyway (a neck reset and...because I simply can't afford a new, quality fingerboard...AND because I just wanted to see if it could be done... reassembling a shattered ebony 'board) I planed the bevel completely out and re-did the relief.
Disclaimer - I Do NOT recommend you try this at home!
But have 50 years' experience as an instrument repair and restoration tech - primarily acoustic guitars, mandolins, banjos, electric everything, dozens of string family instruments including basses...and have built fretless electric basses. So it was also a challenge to myself to verify I could do it properly, bouncing ideas off the guys at Upton and using some "outside the box" thinking.
Now that it has NO bevel I can play it and other bass players like it as well (plus the restoration has held together for quite some time now!)
....thought I'd toss my opinion into the pile anyway - I flat could NOT play with the bevel in any position! It felt like the fingerboard had a tumor. Maybe it was years of playing an Englehardt and then a Kay S-9 Swingmaster, but I just could NOT get used to it - and I tried.
So since my Upton had been severely damaged and I was doing a restoration anyway (a neck reset and...because I simply can't afford a new, quality fingerboard...AND because I just wanted to see if it could be done... reassembling a shattered ebony 'board) I planed the bevel completely out and re-did the relief.
Disclaimer - I Do NOT recommend you try this at home!
But have 50 years' experience as an instrument repair and restoration tech - primarily acoustic guitars, mandolins, banjos, electric everything, dozens of string family instruments including basses...and have built fretless electric basses. So it was also a challenge to myself to verify I could do it properly, bouncing ideas off the guys at Upton and using some "outside the box" thinking.Now that it has NO bevel I can play it and other bass players like it as well (plus the restoration has held together for quite some time now!)
Everyone's got to find their own way, bro. That's great you can do restos like that, too! You may be right about getting used to no bevel at first. I had played a few uprights along the way but never really played enough to develop any specific likes or dislikes, and when I asked them about the bevel, Eric says, "Play it for a few days and you'll never want to go back." Well I don't mind going backWell, I'm about 6 months late on this subject, but I'm an old curmudgeon - so I don't NEED to be on time!
I flat could NOT play with the bevel in any position! It felt like the fingerboard had a tumor. Maybe it was years of playing an Englehardt and then a Kay S-9 Swingmaster, but I just could NOT get used to it - and I tried.
So since my Upton had been severely damaged and I was doing a restoration anyway (a neck reset and...because I simply can't afford a new, quality fingerboard...AND because I just wanted to see if it could be done... reassembling a shattered ebony 'board) I planed the bevel completely out and re-did the relief.
Disclaimer - I Do NOT recommend you try this at home!
Now that it has NO bevel I can play it and other bass players like it as well (plus the restoration has held together for quite some time now!)
but I actually do miss it if it's not there. Weird, but works for me.
I'm getting ever closer to putting in a deposit, but I can't decide between the Standard Hybrid or a Bohemian Hybrid + Deluxe top (as they no longer offer Standards with deluxe tops.) Wondering if you folks can help...
Is it really *that* substantial of a difference? "You'll always be thinking you should have done it" kind of a difference? What about durability, with the thinner top? I know the Bohemian would also be a flatback - how much of a difference will that make?
I can afford it, I guess, but I don't know if it'd be wasted on me. I've played pretty basic plys or EUBs all my life (Englehardt EM1 from 18 years old to 30, NS NXT5 from 30-35, Shen SB80 from 35 till today) but I've recently joined a community symphony and would like that sort of thing to be a part of my life again going forward. Finally having an instrument that isn't a chore to bow is appealing.
Is it really *that* substantial of a difference? "You'll always be thinking you should have done it" kind of a difference? What about durability, with the thinner top? I know the Bohemian would also be a flatback - how much of a difference will that make?
I can afford it, I guess, but I don't know if it'd be wasted on me. I've played pretty basic plys or EUBs all my life (Englehardt EM1 from 18 years old to 30, NS NXT5 from 30-35, Shen SB80 from 35 till today) but I've recently joined a community symphony and would like that sort of thing to be a part of my life again going forward. Finally having an instrument that isn't a chore to bow is appealing.
Can't really offer more than my experience. I never compared the 2 tops (or backs). My mindset was pretty simply that I was paying quite a bit for the bass, that I wanted to make sure I didn't "cheap out" on relatively small incremental purchases that MIGHT result in a slightly "better" sounding instrument.
I wanted a BG "cannon" as the majority of my playing is acoustic BG/oldtime. Eric suggested going up to a 7/8 was the easiest "bang for the buck" upgrade, and IIRC he suggested the flatback would project better. (Around here we've debated that several times w/ no clear resolution.) I thought that since I was paying so much, I might as well go w/ the upgraded top - maybe thinking a future owner would appreciate it. I would suspect that among the possible upgrades, the top would be of greatest importance to a future/talented buyer. I'll be interested to hear from those who could appreciate the difference.
Of course - the upgrades add up, because I also added fancy neck, tuners, dots...
Personally, another reason I went for flatback is b/c my other bass is curved. Vive la' difference!
I just really didn't want to be in a position where I got the bass and somewhere down the line thought, "Gee, I wish I hadn't cheaped out on..." Likely the last bass I'll ever buy, and I could well afford whatever I paid. Many folk would think I overpaid. And given my lack of talent/ability - I probably did!
Unless things have changed since I got mine, they are the same Basses, you can only customize the Bohemian. So it's down to what feature you want your dream Bass to have... If the specs are those of the Standard, go for it. If you want something different, like different tuners or color, specific setup, ... the list goes on ... talk to them, they will make one just for you!
Right, the difference is that I can't get a Standard Hybrid with an optional Deluxe top - it has to be a Bohemian to add that as an option.
I've been in communication with Upton for a while, and I got some interesting advice from them just now: coming from a ply they said I'd notice a substantial lack of pizz volume going to the Standard Hybrid, but the flat back + deluxe top on the Bohemian would add the volume back. I do enjoy being loud, so that might be my answer...
I've been in communication with Upton for a while, and I got some interesting advice from them just now: coming from a ply they said I'd notice a substantial lack of pizz volume going to the Standard Hybrid, but the flat back + deluxe top on the Bohemian would add the volume back. I do enjoy being loud, so that might be my answer...
I had the exact dilemma as you...originally was going for a Standard Hybrid as i own a Standard ply. After talking with Upton i was also talked into buying up a bit, and got a Bohemian Hybrid flatback(no deluxe top). Unfortunately i can't really say what i would had missed out on by going with the Standard Hybrid because i have never played one, but i can at least say the bass i did get is a pretty incredible instrument that feels like a huge upgrade from my ply. Seems to have nice punch and volume, the tone from the top sounds awesome, and the fit/finish is pretty much perfect. A lifetime bass for sure, and no regrets by not getting the standard whatsoever. Sounds best with Spirocores compared to a synthetic or gut string as it is much darker/deeper sounding than my ply.
It may be that going from your current ply bass, strung with your current set, to a Standard hybrid would tend to etc. I expect that it depends on setup, strings, body-size, flat / round, string-length . . .
DISCLOSURE: I am proud to represent Upton Bass String Instrument Corp. as its attorney. This is not a neutral post by a neutral poster.
This thread got me thinking about the top on my bass, and looking back at what I considered when ordering the deluxe. I was a little surprised that even Upton's vid about the deluxe top did not do as good a job as I might hope in COMPARING the 2. Yes, Gary does describe the considerable attention given a deluxe top, but does not really explain what that provides that is lacking in a standard. Does that make sense? And i didn't see any clear, direct side-by-side recording comparisons.
To clarify - none of this post is intended to criticize any aspect of Upton bass and their products. I am thrilled w/ my Upton hybrid Bohemian. The top is an incredibly impressive piece of wood, w/ amazing grain, arch, and recurve - but I honestly do not know how significant of a difference I would have been able to perceive if it were a standard carved top. I would be very interested in opinions of talented players who have done side-by-side comparisons.
I do not regret any aspect of my purchase. I'm fortunate enough that I could afford the upgrade. Nearly every day I am thrilled with one or another aspect of the bass. Just the other day I was playing a piece that had a lot of As and Bs on the G string - and the clear beautiful tone literally gave me goosebumps. The E-string is giving me a tad more of a challenge - which I KNOW is primarily due to my technique/skill - but to my disfavor I've been wondering about diving down the string rabbithole.
If you can afford it, and you THINK it will give you pleasure/satisfaction - my standard thought is to go with the best you can afford. I HATE second-guessing my purchases, and wondering if I underbought. It isn't as tho you are going crazy and buying something entirely out of your league. But each of us has to make our own decision.
Again - I hope some pros w/ experience will check in - possibly w/ sound/vid.
To clarify - none of this post is intended to criticize any aspect of Upton bass and their products. I am thrilled w/ my Upton hybrid Bohemian. The top is an incredibly impressive piece of wood, w/ amazing grain, arch, and recurve - but I honestly do not know how significant of a difference I would have been able to perceive if it were a standard carved top. I would be very interested in opinions of talented players who have done side-by-side comparisons.
I do not regret any aspect of my purchase. I'm fortunate enough that I could afford the upgrade. Nearly every day I am thrilled with one or another aspect of the bass. Just the other day I was playing a piece that had a lot of As and Bs on the G string - and the clear beautiful tone literally gave me goosebumps. The E-string is giving me a tad more of a challenge - which I KNOW is primarily due to my technique/skill - but to my disfavor I've been wondering about diving down the string rabbithole.
If you can afford it, and you THINK it will give you pleasure/satisfaction - my standard thought is to go with the best you can afford. I HATE second-guessing my purchases, and wondering if I underbought. It isn't as tho you are going crazy and buying something entirely out of your league. But each of us has to make our own decision.
Again - I hope some pros w/ experience will check in - possibly w/ sound/vid.
I would hope that is the case. Otherwise, the advice given @jasonbraatz ("...I'd notice a substantial lack of pizz volume going to the Standard Hybrid, but the flat back + deluxe top on the Bohemian would add the volume back...") is either ignorant or disingenuous... unless the person giving the advice knows that the Standard Hybrid is usually weak in pizz volume.
It is always a challenge to accurately represent what someone else said in a different context.
The folk at Upton are definitely not a charity, but nothing in my experience suggested a hint of disingenuousness, or anything to suggest that their priority is anything other than making a living while producing quality instruments, and satisfying customers. I felt no pressure for an "upsell" at any point in my purchase.
Whether anyone feels any given bass is "worth" the price paid is IMO a very subjective opinion.
The folk at Upton are definitely not a charity, but nothing in my experience suggested a hint of disingenuousness, or anything to suggest that their priority is anything other than making a living while producing quality instruments, and satisfying customers. I felt no pressure for an "upsell" at any point in my purchase.
Whether anyone feels any given bass is "worth" the price paid is IMO a very subjective opinion.
Well, the person giving this advice was an Upton employee, so I'd imagine they'd generally know the deal. It was said as a comparison point vs. my ply bass, that the standard hybrid would be a substantially nicer sounding bass - particularly arco - but that I'd probably lose some of the volume and projection I'm used to.
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Obviously the staff at Upton are not psychics, but they are trying to sell basses and when dealing with a customer a long distance away you kind of have to consider taking their word for it, or find a bass locally instead. Anything that is said about double basses in generally hard to verify without being there in person and even then it can be hard since you are dealing with the sound of the space you are in. As such, their advice should be taken as general rather than specific to this customers situation. I can at least say they are known as being an honest company to deal with, so i don't think they are blowing much smoke up our asses, just giving their general opinion on a ply vs a hybrid roundback vs a hybrid flatback. And also, i think they are in the best place to give such an opinion, considering how many basses are both built and pass through their shop.
I agree with you in general and doubt that there was any dishonest intention. However, many people in many situations repeat "common wisdoms" or myths which are generalizations or simply unsupported by facts, often in order to appear more knowledgeable. I've played enough basses to know that the statement "plywood basses are louder pizz than hybrid basses" is an absurdly gross generalization. Some are, some aren't, and even between two basses of the same model from the same maker, there will be differences.
Just sayin' : Take that kind of generalization with several grains of salt.
I agree, and i think buyers should definitely try to be educated enough to think from that angle. Also, hopefully Upton is providing that context more often than not, and indicates that they are speaking about their own product line and not blindly comparing their own basses to other makers.
I bought from Upton two times with a large amount of trust as i did not drive up to their location to try anything. I had to trust that they would give me a bass that i would be extremely happy, sight unseen/feel unfelt. Was a definite roll of the dice, and when spending thousands alot of people are going to be nervous in that situation. I would argue that if folks are not willing to offer that trust when ordering an Upton from a large distance away then they may want to consider finding a local option instead.
