If you go on our Vintage & Used Basses section on our website, you will see a number of basses awaiting restoration. Some of these need a little work, a few look like they’ve been hit by a train and practically need a new bass. We show them in their pre-restoration state for a reason: if you buy one, you should have input on the restoration process so it truly becomes your bass. Let’s say you are looking to have an old Juzek restored. Perhaps you want a certain string length? Within reason, we can adjust it. You have a specific varnish…
View Full Post
Gary and Chris are at the ISB Convention at Florida State University College of Music in Tallahassee, Florida. Leading up to this up a number of very special basses have been finished, to be on display at the convention. Lately, we’ve been talking a lot about “dream basses”, and that’s exactly what these are. Each one was built specifically for, and in close collaboration with its player. When you reach out to us, we want you to be as informed as possible — to know what’s possible and what options you have. Maybe it’s ergonomics. Do you need a smaller bass with a shorter string…
View Full Post
Upton Bass is happy to return to the 2025 International Society of Bassists Convention in Tallahassee, Florida. We’re bringing a curated lineup of instruments that speak to the heart of what we do: turning the wishes and dreams of musicians into exceptional double basses. On display will be a dozen unique instruments, each one built in deep collaboration with the player it was built for. Highlights include: A bold five-string Brescian, with details custom made from the client’s own walnut tree. A six-string Gagliano model – the second six-string we’ve ever made. The Gagliano and Santagiuliana basses built for Blake…
View Full Post
At Upton Bass, we’ve built our reputation as expert bass makers, but we’ve always had an eye on the cello world. While we’ve made cellos over the years, they remained a backburner project as our focus stayed on double basses. That’s about to change. We take great pride in the unique place we hold in the double bass world, with our instruments played in top symphony orchestras, on the best jazz stages, and in the hands of Grammy-winning musicians, while remaining accessible to players on many levels. Crafted right here in Mystic, Connecticut, our basses offer tremendous value. An important…
View Full Post