Oreste Martini (1893-1957) learned his craft from the great Mantuan maker Stefano Scarampella. After his tutelage under master Stefano Scarampella, beginning at age 14, Martini was producing his own instruments by his early 20s. He began his career with a focus on double basses (reported to be a double bassist himself) but went on to craft many violins, violas, and cellos (He is credited with more than 300 violins, 10 violas, 50 cellos, and 45 basses). While other pupils copied Scarampella's works, Martini adopted his own artistic flair. He received medals for his work in Cremona, Padua, and Paris and…
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Mitch dropped us a line from Barrington Stage in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. Their new production puts him and his Upton in the center spotlight! "I bought my Standard Laminated Upton Bass back in 2014 when I was 15 years old. At the time it was quite an investment; paid for by many hours of carrying suitcases at the Red Lion Inn. Since then it's paid for itself many times over. The sound is fantastic and it's hard to beat the resiliency of laminate. Despite the abuse of various pits, street gigs, and constant transportation in my Toyota Camry,…
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Our Featured Bass is this new Concord Model, a fully-carved, flat back 3/4 size double bass directly inspired by the instruments of Abraham Prescott. Gary Upton and Eric Roy began plans for a Prescott-style double bass in the spring of 2012. Their central goal was to build a Prescott pattern with modern ergonomics from our finest stores of seasoned spruce and big leaf maple. The result was the Concord Model, with scores of custom versions built in its first decade. Our New England flagship! This latest example features sloping shoulders (the same upper bouts as our Gary Karr Model), Busetto corners,…
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This Upton Brescian Hybrid double bass, one of the first of the new year, is built with sugar maple veneers on the back and sides with matching neck. German spruce top. Upgraded tuners and "micro-dot" inlays. Spirocores and a Rev Solo pickup for reinforcement and recording. Somebody's new gigging partner - what a great list of choices! Brescian HybridGerman spruce topVermont Sugar Maple veneer for back & sides with matched neckGerman made "Lauren Pierce" tuners, antiquedSolo "Swoop" FingerboardMicro dot inlaysCold brown top coated varnish over intense yellow ground coats with building layers of ambers
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