Double Bass Upton Suitcase Bass

[Sam Sherry]

Because I'm the Uptons' lawyer, for confidentiality reasons I wanted to hold back on commenting until somebody else said, 'I played it.'

I played it. Speaking as a lifelong gearhead, it's as cool as cool gets. It actually does fit in a standard suitcase and it actually does assemble in about fifteen minutes as shown in the video. The plywood model I played sounds like a good ply, amplifies like a good ply and plays like an Upton (which is a powerful compliment in my highly-biased opinion).

They're on to something here which could change life for DB players who travel by any means other than car.

No comment or implication here about what, if any, plans Upton may have to market it at any point via any particular mechanism.

DISCLOSURE: I am proud to represent Upton Bass String Instrument Corp. as its attorney. This post is not made by a neutral party. This post should not be misconstrued as legal advice concerning or related to the qualities of the Upton Suitcase Bass or any other aspect of the UBSIC business. Why are you still reading this? Go practice bass while I go practice law!

 

[Don Hergert]

@Eric Rene Roy , I noticed your presence in the "King Mortone Tuning Machines" thread (and thank you for the great pics there!!!)...

Would you perhaps be able to provide some official news about this instrument? It's getting more and more interesting!!!

 

[cultrvultr]

Has anyone else tried one? My main questions would be:

1) acoustic volume. Does it have similar unamplified volume to a plywood bass?

2) Rigidity. The chadwicks I’ve played always felt a little loose and creaky when playing them. I find it very distracting and worried they will fall apart mid-gig(not that it ever happened). Would love to see how these basses fit together.

 

[damonsmith]

I played it. Really good sound. Lightweight and looks great. It is shaped just like their standard laminate bass. They have 2 prototypes in the shop. They are hoping to either do a kickstarter or just get at least 50 orders to get started making them. Price point about $5K.

5K is too much for any ply bass. 4 is reasonable for such a thing. 5 if they can chop up a hybrid.

 

[Don Kasper]

K is too much for any ply bass. 4 is reasonable for such a thing.

Have you ever built (or repaired) anything using your bare hands?
Your ongoing (uninformed?) observations and criticisms of Upton Bass Shop prices, would lead me to believe that you haven't.
Just my $0.03.
Thanks.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

5K is too much for any ply bass. 4 is reasonable for such a thing.

Your analysis excludes the cost of a flight case.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

5K is too much for any ply bass. 4 is reasonable for such a thing. 5 if they can chop up a hybrid.

If they can get $5k, good for them. I would think potential airline charges and other convenience issues are part of the equation in setting the value. The idea of playing the same instrument every night on the road will be appealing to many, I suspect.

 

[damonsmith]

Your analysis excludes the cost of a flight case.

Well, I am comparing it to a Chadwick, and the suitcase should be cheaper than flight case.

If they can get $5k, good for them. I would think potential airline charges and other convenience issues are part of the equation in setting the value. The idea of playing the same instrument every night on the road will be appealing to many, I suspect.

Yes, that was pretty much the way of the Czech-ease.

Have you ever built (or repaired) anything using your bare hands?
Your ongoing (uninformed?) observations and criticisms of Upton Bass Shop prices, would lead me to believe that you haven't.
Just my $0.03.
Thanks.

I suppose there is truth in your comment - However, I think their cost is "made with bare hands" + historic New England real estate (of which I am informed enough). I get that some people are willing to pay a premium for that.
My criticism are always about the prices of the instruments their instruments are competing with, of which I am very well informed. Their overhead is not a concern someone wanting the best instrument for their money should be bothered with.

I would hope they would farm these out overseas, there is no real cache in it being hand made in New England, the idea is cool enough.

 

[Don Kasper]

there is no real cache in it being hand made in New England,

For someone with Zero experience making anything by "hand", you sure have a lot of strong, unsubstantiated opinions regarding things that are made by the hands of others.
(Sheeesh...Like trying to explain Gravity to a chicken.)
I'm done.
Thanks.

 

[damonsmith]

For someone with Zero experience making anything by "hand", you sure have a lot of strong, unsubstantiated opinions regarding things that are made by the hands of others.
(Sheeesh...Like trying to explain Gravity to a chicken.)
I'm done.
Thanks.

I mean, I think it is a bit like what should WE get paid, right? Once an instrument is in the world it is valued for what it is and what is comparable to, not what someone thinks they deserve for it or even what it cost them to make. I am well aware that it takes many hours, effort and other overhead costs. This is in regard my comments in other threads about their entry level instruments I have experienced, in regard to your comments on this thread.

Also, a plywood bass that gets put in a suitcase, as opposed to their finer instruments, has no cache being handmade in New England, that is what I meant. This was in regard to the topic at hand.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

However, I think their cost is "made with bare hands" + historic New England real estate (of which I am informed enough). I get that some people are willing to pay a premium for that.

No, the cost is R&D and the resulting innovations. It’s the same reason new developments in technology, medical science and everything else cost a lot of money. You have to recoup the cost of countless failed prototypes. It’s simple economics.

 

[damonsmith]

No, the cost is R&D and the resulting innovations. It’s the same reason new developments in technology, medical science and everything else cost a lot of money. You have to recoup the cost of countless failed prototypes. It’s simple economics.

Agreed. I suppose it depends on how the sound compares to a Chadwick ply and hybrid vs. how much more convenient it is. Still, a basic ply bass shouldn't be over 2K so 2k for the case and R & D is fair enough. They'll sell plenty if the price is good!

 

[Tom Lane]

I think you guys should continue talking past one another because it makes great threads.

Not.

 

[Don Hergert]

If I had the price sitting around and not needed somewhere else I'd be talking with them on the phone now. I really like my Alcoa, but the idea of packing a double bass that is setup for my tastes into a suitcase and traveling just about everywhere with it is very appealing.

Worth mentioning though, I have a pro jazz DB'ist friend/mentor who has a removable-neck Eminence 4-string with the travel case set, and has traveled with it frequently as luggage. It isn't fool-proof in the hands of an airline baggage handler, either. He has had the sound-post fall, which he had to get fixed on-the-fly upon arrival at least at one destination. He eventually had it lightly glued in place.

From the way the Upton Suitcase bass breaks down, I would guess the sound post is -- or at least can be -- re-seated every time it is re-assembled. Almost as good as having an access port.

 

[eh_train]

It looks good from a (considerable) distance. The video is really just a teaser, and the details will tell the real story.

Chadwick basses, as much as I wanted to like them, are "fiddle-y" and have a lot of parts that can crack or come loose. I've repaired several, and they don't seem to wear well.

"Bass-in-a-box" designs aren't going to work for every player, as you need to feel comfortable putting the thing together while on the fly. Some players just want to play and are uncomfortable doing adjustments of any sort. That said, if their design is fool-proof and robust, they deserve to corner the market.

 

[damonsmith]

I don't think there is any chance of being less fiddly than a Chadwick or even as fiddly. More for sure, the up side is going to be far more convenient and the Chadwick is pretty convenient.
Once these more mechanical travel options come into play, we need to think about them more in terms of bicycle maintenance - I have a screw driver in my Chadwick case and tighten things down regularly. I have had no issues in the 2 or 3 years I've had it.
Same for this, you'll need to carry tools and keep things tight. I will be a great option.

It looks good from a (considerable) distance. The video is really just a teaser, and the details will tell the real story.

Chadwick basses, as much as I wanted to like them, are "fiddle-y" and have a lot of parts that can crack or come loose. I've repaired several, and they don't seem to wear well.

"Bass-in-a-box" designs aren't going to work for every player, as you need to feel comfortable putting the thing together while on the fly. Some players just want to play and are uncomfortable doing adjustments of any sort. That said, if their design is fool-proof and robust, they deserve to corner the market.

 

[Sam Dingle]

I find it strange that upton released that video in 2018 and I haven’t seen any update about it since then. Have they made any official statements about it? I assume it’s still not available?

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

I find it strange that upton released that video in 2018 and I haven’t seen any update about it since then. Have they made any official statements about it? I assume it’s still not available?

From a marketing perspective, vendors who are experimenting with a new product don't usually publish press release updates saying, "About that great idea, we're still busy failing as we try to discover viable technology that will let us sell at a good price point that makes us a profit." :;

 

[sean_on_bass]

From a marketing perspective, vendors who are experimenting with a new product don't usually publish press release updates saying, "About that great idea, we're still busy failing as we try to discover viable technology that will let us sell at a good price point that makes us a profit." :;

They also wouldn't normally release a teaser video for a new product that will take years to actually become available, but here we are.

 

[matthewbrown]

I played it. Really good sound. Lightweight and looks great. It is shaped just like their standard laminate bass. They have 2 prototypes in the shop. They are hoping to either do a kickstarter or just get at least 50 orders to get started making them. Price point about $5K.

If they can manage $5k, they will have rent all my doubts asunder. That's an amazing price.