Old website for reference String Instrument Company

The Inspiration Driving Upton Bass

This year we’re taking a little time to reflect on where we’ve come since Upton Bass started as a specialist shop in 1999. Here’s a first in a series of videos where we take a look at where we’ve been and where we are headed!

Updated – Martin English Basses in Abundance

Our collection of set up new (and used) Thomas and George Martin double basses keeps growing here at Upton Bass. Freshly set up: a 2018 4/4 Model with a newly fitted, fully gated, bespoke Upton Bass C-extension. Our extensions are handmade and custom fitted, developed to be both comfortably playable and to work with zero…

Holiday Bass Notes

So many basses! Basses being played, basses being tuned, basses restrung, hot-rodded, in for a polish, leaving the building, basses in giant crates being expertly whisked off to worldwide destinations…  Sometimes our Vintage section can’t keep up – if you are looking for something in particular, better to just call! Come to think of it,…

Holiday Kay Bass Sale!

We’ve dropped the price on two of the rarest vintage Kays you can find – by 500 bucks!  If you’ve been very good this year, tell Santa and leave out the milk and cookies. Or just snag one for yourself before he gets to them! 

“Rector” Bohemian Model Double Bass

There’s bells and whistles, then there’s purity of form. And an amber varnish really brings out that form. This Upton Bohemian model double bass features a flat back, with a deluxe top. That’s it – BOOM. And some dot markers. And a Rev Solo – okay, one bell, one whistle. DONE – commence playing!

Are You Social?

Or maybe not? Either way, you can follow our social media! Some people still aren’t on Facebook. Or they were, and they bailed. Maybe you want to keep the virtual maelstrom at arms length to help your bass playing. Reminded of an interview with Keith Moon – “Why do you need so many Rolls Royces…

Happy Thanksgiving! UB Open this Weekend

Hope everybody has a wonderful holiday, surrounded by great people, great food and great music. We will be closed Thanksgiving Day, but the shop will be open our normal hours this Friday and Saturday. Stop by! Thanks for being part of our family – from the whole Upton Bass crew!

Upton Bass Holiday Giveaway: Emile Kuehnl Double Bass Bow

This is a finely crafted Emile Kuehnl double bass bow, French grip, valued at $1,200. FREE to one promising bass player! Upton Bass has been entrusted by a generous donor to find this bow’s next home. Our intention is to find a student double bassist who deserves an excellent world-class handmade wooden bow!  Click Here…

Tewkesbury and Prescott – A Tale of Moses and Abraham

(…Set in New Hampshire) We are listing again an 1844 Moses Tewkesbury double bass, an instrument clearly akin to our 1845 Abraham Prescott. Beautifully restored with a low B-extension, this bass also has the low pipe-organ authority that has made Prescott basses famous.  By the mid 1840’s Abraham Prescott had a thriving shop in Concord,…