Upton Bass String Instrument Company

Recently Made Uptons - A Gallery of Notable UB Builds

Upton Bohemian Hybrid 7/8ths, Opus 804

This large-pattern Bohemian Deluxe double bass glows with an amber varnish and delivers a big powerful note. It’s a hybrid build with outer veneers on the back and sides of finely figured Northeastern Sugar Maple. Nicely flamed Northeast Maple accents the neck and scroll. Other than the German Spruce top, it’s a showcase of regional…

Selmer Kay Bass Gallery, S-10 Thin Body, 1937

Here’s studio pictures of the restored Selmer Kay Bass Viol, the thin-ribbed deluxe S-10 model from the dawn of Kay Bass! We set out to not over-restore or “candy coat” this historic example, leaving its cool checked patina while returning structural health and playability to as-new. Learn more about this Selmer Kay bass restoration HERE…

Alcoa Aluminum Bass c1930, #92

This big crazy Alcoa has been hanging at the shop, now fully sorted with a fresh setup and for sale on our vintage page! Shiny underneath, with weathered paint. Very few come through in original condition – it’s pretty cool! Many have been stripped and polished to hot rod chrome, they definitely have a cult…

“Tutu” Spalted Maple Concord Double Bass, Opus 220

Dramatic flame shimmers through the back and sides of this special Spalted Maple Concord (2202022). We bought the entire tree of this lightning-struck Bigleaf Maple from the Pacific Northwest. It’s already resulted in some amazing instruments and this two-piece back sets that bar just a bit higher. Travel neck and a rare last set of…

“Jazz Foundation of America” Concord Model Double Bass

The Jazz Foundation of America was created to bring assistance to musicians needing emergency medical, housing and disaster relief. Additionally, the organization creates dignified paid work opportunities for artists to perform with free concerts at schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. Each year they produce almost 1,000 concerts in 17 states and reach more than 80,000…

Concord Model Double Bass, Opus 219

It’s getting chilly and leaves are turning, how about a nice New England-style Concord Upton Bass, made with our hats tipped to the luthier Abraham Prescott, and his school of double bass making…with maple?

Nicest left-handed Upton bass yet?

Standing back to admire this Brescian model, Eric remarked, “This has gotta be one of the nicest left-handed basses we’ve ever built!” This fully carved flatback will be our current benchmark for sure – not only for its lefty orientation, but as a varnish color reference. Chris amazes again with this beautiful warm amber requested…

Oreste Martini Double Bass, 1925 Gallery

Here’s a gallery of the fully restored Oreste Martini double bass – one of the most thorough projects to date! There are so many elegant and stylish details on this instrument, not a line out of place. Eric has a great post below on all the steps involved in getting this damaged historic instrument to…

Featured Bass: Concord Model Opus 213, 2021

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…