Exciting things are happening at Build Bass. Our first group of students is nearing completion on their basses, and we're proud to see the progress they’ve made. Over the past weeks and months, they have learned, problem-solved, and honed their craftsmanship, turning raw materials into beautiful, playable instruments. We got photos from Jon in Austin, TX, and his bass is now very close to ready. Each student has faced their own challenges, from working in small spaces to tackling woodworking techniques for the first time. Through determination and with support in weekly calls and nearly instant feedback in the Facebook…
View Full PostAs 2024 comes to a close, we at Upton Bass have been reflecting on what has been an incredible year for our team and our community. From new projects to exciting collaborations, this year has been a great one. Here are some highlights that made 2024 special. Collaborations and Craftsmanship We’ve had the honor of working with esteemed musicians and luthiers throughout the year. Highlights include refining our manufacturing process in collaboration with a master luthier. We have created bespoke instruments for top level musicians, such as the Gagliano copy for Blake Hinson, and the two copies of Max Zeugner’s…
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Finally a book for grade-schoolers that centers on the double bass! Do you know a young person who may be interested the largest member of the violin family? This new book from (UB's own!) author Antonia Aviles is both an introduction to the bass and a fun story about trying something different. There's a lot of factual information about the bass delivered with great illustrations for the musical kid in your life! Buy it directly from Upton Bass here! Also available on Amazon. Antonia Aviles, Author It is show-and-tell day at school and Catalina is nervous about sharing her knowledge…
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The Brescian Model Double Bass was being designed and prototyped at the same time we were raising our post-and-beam workshop in 2012. From the original Upton Hawkes pattern, our gravitational pull was always towards giant Italy-via-England contrabasses – violin patterns with broad proportions built enormous for lavish orchestra sections. The Upton Brescian Model was our new push to create a wide-ribbed bass in this classic style, while applying all of our invention in construction and ergonomics. When we think of a ‘Brescian’ style (from Northern Italy), we reference the masters such as Gasparo da Salo, Maggini, and Rogeri. Vincenzo Panormo…
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