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
Looking at all the photos above sure makes me long for the delivery of my new UB. As I posted way last fall the wait is hard hard. So at this point I am wondering if others have had similar experience with Upton as I have. Signed agreement for a new bass last June (2021) and was told about a 9 month wait. Next communication was February (month 8) of this year for final payment and was told the build was starting. Nothing until May, (month 11) with email for a string/pick up check and notice the bass was getting into the varnish stage. Finally I got up the courage to call middle of June (month 12), didn’t want to be a bother and was told via an email a few days later bass in the varnish stage. Starting to panic a bit wondering if it got sold out from under me or something more drastic. Has this been the experience of others?
I like the company, the people, and their product, but IMO their customer care/communication could be improved. They had some issues when COVID began, but they should've been able to iron them out by now.
If you are like me, tho - not long after you have your bass any concerns over the wait will quickly recede.
Thanks Ed, I think you are correct once it is in my hands things will change. But I also agree they do not seem to communicate at all with customers. Thanks for adding some courage to the wait.
That was my experience also. Very sparse communication. I'm kind of disappointed about it.
What you’ve reported here is consistent with my experience as well.
But I finally figured out that I simply needed not to be shy about calling and emailing to ask about progress. (Calling on the phone got better results than emailing.) Whenever I did so, I got as much information as was available at the time, I think. When I was at the bass barn picking up my basses both times, I observed that Upton Bass has a LOT of basses in the construction pipeline at any moment—not to mention repair, reconditioning, and setup projects. My own builds were part of a much bigger ecosystem.
Both builds took longer than I might have wanted, but the end result was good.
But I finally figured out that I simply needed not to be shy about calling and emailing to ask about progress. (Calling on the phone got better results than emailing.) Whenever I did so, I got as much information as was available at the time, I think. When I was at the bass barn picking up my basses both times, I observed that Upton Bass has a LOT of basses in the construction pipeline at any moment—not to mention repair, reconditioning, and setup projects. My own builds were part of a much bigger ecosystem.
Both builds took longer than I might have wanted, but the end result was good.
I Put money down for a hybrid standard so Inwill be joining your ranks soon enough. Seriously considering an upgrade though, my usage is solo playing Rabbath repertoire for my own enjoyment and working on auditioning soon for my community orchestra. Given that, what does the hive mind think would be most beneficial, upgrading to the fully carved standard or staying hybrid and upgrading to the deluxe top option. Unfortunately can’t do both. Thanks!
They’re not selling basses out from under people - I mean, there’s no reason to as it’s not like they have a “make it for me faster” sort of fee.
I ordered mine at the start of the pandemic, and it basically arrived in late November of that year. While that is shorter than the time you’ve waited, it’s also several months longer that was originally estimated.
This is the sort of thing where it’s not like they can add capacity quickly, so every additional person represents an investment. At the same time, you also don’t want to increase capacity beyond what is sustainable.
What is the price diff between the 2 options? I have a hybrid Bohunk w/ deluxe top. That top is an impressive hunk of wood, and the sound is great. I THINK I remember at the time thinking the top would be the biggest bang for the buck upgrade, but not sure.
In my personal situation - with the possibility of playing outside and temp/humidity changes, I thought the hybrid would be the most stable. But I'm not sure how much that mattered. And, tho I practice arco and am in a beginner ensemble, I was going for a BG cannon.
Would be interesting to hear from anyone who compared similarly setup fully carved w/ hybrid w/ deluxe top. I'd imagine the difference to be - subtle.
As to having your bass sold out from under you--don't worry, your bass literally has your name on it somewhere. On my Bostonian, they wrote my last name in white china marker at the very end of the swoop fingerboard, where nobody can see it unless they're looking up from below.
I have not yet wiped my name off. It's a reminder that this bass was built for me and no one else.
I have not yet wiped my name off. It's a reminder that this bass was built for me and no one else.
Thanks all for the kind words. I am excited and surely looking forward to making the trip to pick it up! When I was at sea for 60 or 70 days at a stretch there was a rhythm of patience but the last few days things always got kinda hyped up so guess it is a little of that as it gets closer. Thanks again.....
They have a video where they compare laminate ribs versus what you’d get on a fully carved bass.
Frankly, the laminate ribs seem better.
From my back and forth with them, before I decided to just go basic for my first Upton, they indicated that the deluxe top gives you a lot of bang for the buck. Frankly, that’s what I’d do.
Any idea on the size difference between a 3/4 and 7/8? I’ve got a bohemian with a C extension on order, and the more I think about it, I’m about 99% sure going to a 5-string would be better for me. And if I go 5…should I go 7/8 for the extra internal volume to help make that B speak. My 2 use cases for the bass are community orchestra but mostly fairly Rabbath centric solo rep up at the end of the fingerboard. I suppose I’m just concerned about ease of access to the upper register. I don’t want to trade the upper register access for extra thunder, if that makes sense. But if I can get both, hoooweeee watch out now!
A 5 string will have closer string spacing and without a more pronounced arch to the fingerboard you will need to be more precise with your bowing at the top of the fingerboard on the E-A-D than with a 4 string.
If anyone wants to measure their 34 Bohunk, I'll measure my 7/8. What measurements do you want?
The 7/8 sure is loud and low, but sure is big and heavy as well.
Thanks! It’s not so much the exact measurements and weight I’m concerned about as much as the playability. Assuming you have average non-monkey length arms, Do you feel the 7/8 size restricts upper register access, or is it about the same as a 3/4?
