Happy New Year from all of us at Upton Bass As we step into the new year, we wanted to take a moment to look back at what’s been happening here in the shop and share a few things we’re genuinely excited about moving forward. One of the shifts this past year has been our renewed commitment to communication. These weekly newsletters are now a regular part of what we do, with shop updates, videos, and ideas that reflect how we think about basses, sound, and how it’s all made. You’ll also start seeing more of this content carried over…
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We just released a new video on an often-debated topic: bass neck size. Using the 1995 Albert Jakstadt (which is currently available in the shop), Gary walks through how we evaluate neck dimensions, why numbers matter, and what makes a neck comfortable and easy to play. A lot of players ask, “What’s the neck size like on this bass?” Words like small, big, or dainty only get you so far. So in the video, we break things down the way we do here in the shop: real measurements, taken at practical reference points. Fingerboard widths at the nut and heel, thickness at first position,…
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https://youtu.be/JRfbq1HSDRg We recently welcomed New York Philharmonic Assistant Principal Bassist Blake Hinson for a conversation about the lifelong process of honing a double bass. Honing is an involved practice, encompassing everything from the decisions that go into building the instrument, to setting it up for a player’s specific needs, choosing the right strings, and finally learning and accepting the instrument’s idiosyncrasies. It’s the fine tweaks that make an instrument begins to respond as if it truly belongs to the player. Blake takes this process very seriously, and the conversation between Gary and Blake, combining the luthier’s and musician’s perspectives, gives a lot of…
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Hi friends,On July 16th, 2025, we lost someone truly extraordinary: Gary Karr.Gary was a central figure in the double bass community – a mentor, a force of nature, a boundary-breaker, and a dear friend. His passing leaves a tremendous void, but also a legacy that resonates through every note we play and every bass we build.Our relationship with Gary goes back to the mid-2000s, and from our first conversations, he showed unwavering support for what we were doing here at Upton Bass. That support wasn’t something he gave lightly. He never endorsed brands. He never accepted a free bass—even when…
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