NBD: UGR

Kerem Koseoglu

Kerem Koseoglu

Aug 27, 2018
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Istanbul, Turkey
www.keremkoseoglu.com
#1
I'm happy to share with you folks that I finally got my hands on my custom made bass!

The bass was made by Ugur Elcik; a Turkish luthier operating in Istanbul. He has built instruments for renown players in Turkiye before, he knows what he's doing.

The main idea behind this instrument was to create a Sadowsky Modern variant, but with a different neck profile and more low mids. Well, as far as I'm concerned, it was a success! It sounds like a pickup truck (in a good way) and growls like a tiger. Spec summary:
  • One piece Ash body
  • C shaped thick neck
  • Maple fingerboard
  • Sadowsky electronics
  • Hipshot bridge + tuners (light)
  • Steel frets
It weighs around 4,5 KG. Here is a sound demo, where I compare it to my other basses (including my Sadowsky M5):



And the obligatory photo set:

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#2
Holy smokes, does that bass sound great! That's not even the word for it. All your basses sound great but there's is something special about that one, without a doubt. And it looks as good as it sounds. Your luthier nailed it for sure. Love it :D

Btw, very nice playing. I hope one day I can play that well... The good thing is listening to that makes me want to practice more, but also to just have fun and take it a bit at a time. Congratulations on your amazing instrument!
 
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#5
That UGR jazz bass is lively and very versatile so can’t ask for more.

I’m surprised it surpasses the Sadowsky but it obviously does.

In my area (Eastern Canada) many pros are using some USA Lakland 5 string jazz basses for the same lively and versatile sound, would be interesting to compare both…………

Anyway, you’ve got a tremendous bass that’s just asking to be played with all kinds of music, congrats.
 
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#9
Drzejzi said:
Did the luthier explain what did he do to achieve more low mids?
Click to expand...
Objectively speaking:
  • Sadowsky and UGR have allegedly the same electronics, but my Sadowsky M5 was produced in Japan, while my recent parts were ordered from Warwick. They might be different under the hood.
  • Sadowsky has a light chambered body, UGR has a relatively heavy one-piece body
  • Sadowsky has a thin neck profile, UGRs has a relatively thick C shaped quarter-sawn neck
  • Sadowsky has a heavier bridge, UGR has a light Hipshot bridge
  • Sadowsky has nickel frets, UGR has steel frets
  • Both have Hipshot lightweight tuners and D'addario NYXL strings
Among those points, wood and electronics seem to be possible significant factors.

According to my luthier, wood choices "do" affect sound, and the mass of the woods were a contributing factor. Which is my opinion as well; based on dozens of my former basses. While many disagree, I always felt like wood mass correlates positively to a fuller sound.

My luthier didn't comment on the electronics, and I don't know if Sadowsky changed the electronic specs when production moved to Germany - so that needs clarification.
 
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#11
First of all, excellent playing. You’re a pro and very talented.

Second, the new bass sounds awesome. I could tell the Sadowsky has a little more clarity or growl but I think I preferred the low-mid shove of the new UGR. If it were me I would be listing the Sadowsky for sale today.

Third, I am shocked to say that I didn’t love the P or the Jazz. I don’t know what’s going on with me right now.

Congrats on the new bass, enjoy it in good health!
 
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#15
HaphAsSard said:
Congratulations on the new bass!

I must say I, unlike others above, liked the UGR headless Jazz the best of all four in the first video: really characterful. It might be less suitable than others in some contexts, but it has personality to spare.
Click to expand...
It fits into a guitar gigbag too - an ideal feature for a backup / travel bass!
 
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