This contrabass was built for an English musician, inspired by a 19th Century French bass. It is built with some of our finest highly-figured big leaf maple in a lean new design. The bass features a large upper bout, violin corners, flat back, ff-holes from the French bass, 41″ string length (could modify for 42)…
Recently Made Uptons - A Gallery of Notable UB Builds
“Iwanicki” Cavani Upton Double Bass
This Cavani-inspired Custom Commission features an Italian shape with Karr-like fingerboard access. A straightforward build with a German spruce top and European Sycamore, a fixed neck, dark polish and rib bumpers. Apparently the older sister has the same bass in a Karr pattern, and as much as the younger sister wanted the bass sis had, she…
Karr Hybrid
UB Karr Hybrid Double Bass c2017 Opus 612
Old Meets New
With classic automobiles, you might call this a Retro Rod…vintage body with a new engine underneath. This early 20th Century Mittenwald double bass is ready for the next 100 thanks to some creative thinking and collaboration between its new owner and Upton Bass! Not long ago, this bass was cobbled together and overlooked, but had…
“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!
“Brock” Mittenwald Model Double Bass
This impressive Upton Mittenwald double bass was built as a hybrid with birch wood veneers on the back and sides. The birch upgrade lends a buttery undertone to the lighter varnish. Brass antiqued scroll plates and tuners and a Rev Solo pickup complete the package.
“Galperin” UB Standard Carved Double Bass
This “Galperin” UB Standard Carved Double Bass is another example of this remarkable value in a fully American built carved double bass. The UB Standard “rules” still apply in this sub-$5000 instrument, not much in the way of custom choices – other than darker or lighter in finish and antiqued tuners if you like. Regardless,…
“Patterson” Concord Model Double Bass
Just because Abraham Prescott didn’t make a fully carved bass, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t! This was a “first” for us. Now, don’t get us wrong…we’ve made plenty of fully carved basses over the years…almost 100 as of writing this blog post, but this is the first fully carved Concord model Upton Bass. Using the same stock…
“Spencer” Karr Model Double Bass
This Karr model double bass features stunning wood choices and an adjustable/removable neck. We were commissioned to make a copy of the Gary Karr Special ISB 50th Anniversary Upton Double Bass out of similarly flammed Big Leaf Maple from Gary Upton’s special stash of select woods. The bar was high here in the workshop as we all…
“Murphy” Bohemian Model Double Bass
This Upton Bohemian double bass was built for the pit! We’re referring to the substage area musicians working on Broadway and touring musicals work. Pit musicians need reliable instruments that can perform night after night for weeks on end without fuss. The instruments they use must play extremely well and sound phenomenal, all while being subjected to ever-changing…