Luthier's notes from Eric: "Most amazing Brescian yet! Deep ribs (almost 9"!) spalted big leaf Maple that kept ruining blades as it had a bullet in it!" We imagined several stories - was the tree outside Elvis's window? Was the lumber in the trunk of Steve McQueen's Mustang? The depth in the wood and pathless imbedding as the tree grew suggests a much older story. The new owner agreed the bullet was such an interesting feature of the "spalting" that it should remain! Highly flamed Maple was selected for the neck and scroll. The Brescian was completed with high-gloss dark…
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Upton Bass Brescian Model Double Bass, 2020, Opus 203 This new Brescian was particularly rewarding to make, it's a state-of-the-art fully carved version with exceptional wood - figured Spruce top and rippling Big Leaf Maple back and sides cut from the same board. The new owner knew he wanted a premium bass from the start, but began by ordering a UB Standard Laminate to see if we "lived up to the hype." He loves that bass so much, he ordered this one and had us match the string length so he can bounce back and forth! This contrabass features our…
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This beautiful Mittenwald model Upton double bass was built as a big flatback five-string hybrid. The Mittenwald is a great gamba pattern for the low B, with plenty of depth and air volume. A classic build kept the straight fingerboard and antiqued hat pegs, plus rib bumpers and a custom angled endpin block. What really gave it the extra wow factor is the dark amber (maple syrup?) toned varnish that radiates golden highlights! We wanted to make sure this bass got its close-up as a color reference for anybody plotting a build. "Watt" Mittenwald Model Upton 5-String Double Bass
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A mighty, well-mannered Brescian Model, built with some mild outline adaptations as we continue our pursuit of the ultimate double bass! Opus#716 may look "ordinary" to most, but this Bresscian is very important as it was #1 in a model upgrade succession (V3) that began with Gary's very own Brescian in 2010! The upper bouts stayed largely the same, but with just a bit more slope to the shoulders to aid access into thumb position. The longer C-bouts bring the lower corners further from a collision with the bow during exciting passages, and a fuller, rounder lower bout adds more…
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