Check out these archives from our posts, blogs, and pages. You can find a lot of great content, both old and new, right here.
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…
View Full PostWe 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,…
View Full Posthttps://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…
View Full Posthttps://youtu.be/xzMqHo8lW3Y Being a small shop in a red barn in New England, we at Upton Bass have always felt a special connection to Abraham Prescott. He was one of the few renowned American bass makers of the 19th century, and his instruments have found their place alongside Italian classics in major symphony orchestras. We love his basses. Bold, busetto-cornered giants with the sound to match. So it’s only natural that we would carry on the legacy and create our own interpretation. Chris recently completed a stunning new Prescott-inspired build, and we are very proud of it. This bass placed in…
View Full Post