Upton Bass String Instrument Company

Recently Made Uptons - A Gallery of Notable UB Builds

“Cataldi” Brescian Model Double Bass

Fully carved Brescian with rippling figured maple back and sides. Deep reddish amber varnish brings out the historic cues on this bass, and the stunning wood continues to the top of the scroll. Custom brass scroll plates complete the bass along with edge bumpers. Pics don’t really do it justice!  A very special instrument with…

Gary Karr Special ISB 50th Anniversary Upton Double Bass

In 1967, Gary Karr started what has become the International Society of Bassists, and the 2017 ISB Convention in Ithaca, New York marked its 50th anniversary with a very special performance by its founder. Gary wrote to us several months before the convention to let us know what a joy it was to perform a…

“Karr Camp” Karr Model Upton Double Bass

This bass represents the heart and soul of our Karr Model, from it’s remarkable origins a decade ago.  A fixed neck flatback hybrid with deluxe carved top, this instrument represents the most affordable version of the Karr. Our sustained collaboration with Gary Karr has resulted in a unique double bass for the soloist with great…

“Limey” Karr Model Upton Double Bass

Fully carved round back Karr double bass with fixed neck. Poplar back and sides. Came out especially nice with the warm varnish and standout purfling. Customized with mother of pearl dot inlays, antiqued tuners, rib bumpers, set up with Evah Pirazzis and a Rev Solo. Ready for it’s performance career!

“Hunter” 5/8ths Bohemian Upton Double Bass

5/8 Bohemian Model Upton Double Bass This pearl of a bass was built for a high school, a flat back hybrid with a 40″ scale length. Puts out tons of sound and ridiculously easy to play – only 20 pounds!!! We built a new form and reconsidered all of the dimensions for this 5/8ths double…

“USAF” Mittenwald Model Upton Double Bass

Off we go, into the wild blue yonder!  We’ve nicknamed this “Air Force One” although it’s really our third bass for the US Air Force Band.  Ironically, we are now providing fully-carved Mittenwalds to this stalwart musical force, having replaced a famous Mittenwald maker as their supplier of double basses.  Round back, fixed neck, no…

“Griffin” Cavani Model Upton Double Bass

Here’s another stunner in this emerging star of our Custom Commissions category – This Cavani design, with it’s pinched, classic Italian shape and terrific fingerboard access is both aesthetically pleasing and a soloists’ dream. This is our first fixed-neck 3/4 size Cavani (note the Guttierez & Roy 7/8ths version competition model) and was built with…

“Spalted” Concord Model Upton Double Bass

This may be the wildest Concord yet!  This unique log has gone into several incredible basses, and for our Head Luthier Eric Roy, this Concord revisits a special log not used since the 2011 & 2013 ISB competition basses, resulting in one of the most stunning instruments ever built by Upton Bass. We got to watch Eric build…

“Greckel” Matthias Klotz Double Bass Copy

We keep getting requests for our Klotz Double Bass copy! This tidy design is the most popular of our Custom Commission instruments, which began with a 2012 project to build a copy of a 1700s Matthias Klotz contrabass from a complete set of tracings.  With its wide and rounded features, almost symmetric upper and lower bouts, this compact…