Carlene Hutchins and her New Violin Family of String Instruments

Carlene Hutchins and her New Violin Family of String Instruments

This beauty just came in to the shop - at first glance, a pancake bass? Turns out this 'Small Bass Violin' is part of an eight-instrument set made by the American stringmaking pioneer Carlene Hutchins (1911-2009). Carlene was born in New England and built string instruments in Montclair, New Jersey up until she left us at the age of 98! In the 1940s Carlene pursued the study of resonance acoustics with Harvard physicist Frederick Saunders, leading to fresh thinking on the violin family and this new ensemble of string instruments. This 'New Violin Family' includes a range of instruments each…

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Vintage Update: Affordable Excellence to the Exotic

Vintage Update: Affordable Excellence to the Exotic

A quick look at some great double basses new to our Vintage & Used page - a big, light and loud New Standard, a compact German classic and a large-voiced player from Patagonia! New Standard (Schnitzer/DeSola) with C-Extension, 2003 Emanuel Wilfer, 1997 Marcos Gabriel Martorelli, Argentina 1999 Nice to see the aging patina on this familiar New Standard (with that American Standard plywood shape) - this one's a great value for performing or student musician. The Wilfer is compact, very flexible, easy to live with and fully-carved. The big Martorelli is really fun to play and actually comes from the…

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Biggest Upton Yet – The 4/4 SuperKarr

Biggest Upton Yet – The 4/4 SuperKarr

This striking, amber 4/4 double bass just turned ten years old, conceived for clarity and playability it truly shines in the low ranges. With a 48" back, what seems like a half-acre of brilliantly tiger-striped Bigleaf Maple furnishes the generous back and sides. Fitted with a fully-gated Low B extension (yup, B not C) we even tinkered with a tailpiece drop-tuner to get to a low, low A at will... The ultimate workshop rafter shaker! An adjustable neck gives immediate setup flexibility between section and jazz. The Karr pattern was echoed with dropaway accessible upper bouts and large bass bin.…

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A New Era at Upton Bass

A New Era at Upton Bass

We are restructuring our entry-level UB Standard lineup at Upton Bass, please watch Gary's video for details! https://youtu.be/Fs_yccdK--8

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Upton Bass String Instrumental Co.

159 Packer Road Mystic, CT 06355

Hours: Tues. - Sat. 10AM - 6PM


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