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…
Recently Made Uptons - A Gallery of Notable UB Builds
Upton Brescian Hybrid Double Bass, Opus 769, 2021
This Upton Brescian Hybrid double bass, one of the first of the new year, is built with sugar maple veneers on the back and sides with matching neck. German spruce top. Upgraded tuners and “micro-dot” inlays. Spirocores and a Rev Solo pickup for reinforcement and recording. Somebody’s new gigging partner – what a great list…
“Camp” Brescian Model Double Bass
Yet another amazing Brescian build completed! The “Camp” Brescian double bass features deeply figured Big Leaf Maple and a very special back. One centered piece of this select tonewood makes up the vast majority of the carved back, including nearly all of the arching. Gary thoughts on the Camp Brescian: “This really reminds me of…
Upton Bass Ergo Double Bass by AES
Introducing a new generation of The Ergo double bass! This modern contrabass is a joint collaboration between Upton Bass and Arnold E. Schnitzer, developing his unique Ergonomic Contrabass for production here at Upton Bass. At Upton Bass, we’re always trying to apply tabula rasa, or “clean slate” thinking. That’s exactly what drove our colleague Arnold…
“Bullet” Brescian Model Double Bass
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…
“Hull” Brescian Model Double Bass
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,…
“Watts” Mittenwald Model Double Bass
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…
“Corbett” Brescian Model Double Bass
A mighty, well-mannered Brescian Model, built with some mild outline adaptations as we continue our pursuit of the ultimate double bass! 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 collision with…
“Kirchner” Bohemian Model Double Bass
This is a pretty glorious Bohemian Hybrid Deluxe round back double bass, built as a 7/8ths! This moderately priced new Upton (came in under $6K) was built with some great upgrades: Deluxe top, Solo Extension fingerboard, upgraded Rubner tuners, edge bumpers and mother of pearl fingerboard markers. A big full-throated jazz cannon – very fun…
“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…