https://youtu.be/xzMqHo8lW3Y Being a small shop in a red barn in New England, we at Upton Bass have always felt a special connection to Abraham Prescott. He was one of the few renowned American bass makers of the 19th century, and his instruments have found their place alongside Italian classics in major symphony orchestras. We love his basses. Bold, busetto-cornered giants with the sound to match. So it’s only natural that we would carry on the legacy and create our own interpretation. Chris recently completed a stunning new Prescott-inspired build, and we are very proud of it. This bass placed in…
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We recently wrote about our Juzek restorations. Many times we refer to them as “Uptons made from old parts”, because that’s how involved the restoration often has to be. A lot of people see an old Juzek for sale at $10–12k and think it’s automatically a deal. But you need to be careful. Not all Juzeks are made equal, and more importantly: not all repairs are equal. Make sure to see what’s really going on inside, and to work with a capable luthier. https://youtu.be/ZIONYoA2s3k We just started working on a Juzek for a client. It came in looking, let’s say rough. Sunken arching,…
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If you’ve been in the market for smaller bass, you might have noticed that the options for quality instruments are a bit limited. The double bass world tends to equate “small” with “student”. We are changing that. While in some circumstances there might be no substitute for cubic inches, a 4/4 Prescott is not for everyone. Perhaps ease of travel is a priority of yours, or you need the ergonomics of a smaller bass. Our goal is to maximize what you can get out of a 5/8 double bass. We recently finished a 5/8 version of our trusty, gamba cornered Bohemian model.…
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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…
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