After playing for 54 years, I have my own upright. It's nothing special, completely laminate, but
IT'S MINE.
Every year my brother-in-law enters the Iowa State Fair banjo competition (he's a pretty good player), and I accompany him. In previous years, I would rent an upright for a month. This year, there were no basses available in the entire state.
So I bought one.
I Des Moines music shop had one for $650, including a bag, stand, bow, and most important, 3 instruction books on bluegrass bass.
We came in second (and since the same person has won first place 15+ years in a row, that's good enough for us).
I have a former student who builds basses (
www.nicklloydbasses.com, check him out) who sent me a Gage Copperhead pickup and a set of decent strings, essentially doubling the value of the instrument.
I used it for a community theatre production of Bright Star, my first use of an upright in the pit since 1976. I seriously need to work on my upright chops.
I just got it back from the shop: new adjustable bridge, and the luthier killed a rattle.
I'm looking forward to bringing it to big band & church gigs when the weather gets a bit warmer.
