BASS ORDER UPGRADE: Preserve Double Bass Saddle

The concept is simple, and the result is traditional in appearance. Significantly reduce the likelihood of a saddle crack occurring in your UB Double Bass!

Seeing so many old and (even worse) new instruments with saddle cracks has given us pause to rethink one of the most overlooked areas of bowed instruments. The concept is simple, and the result is traditional in appearance. It is our intent to significantly reduce the likelihood of a saddle crack occurring in an instrument with this saddle installed. Traditional saddles have squared off, 90 degree edges. As the top shrinks (due to the nature of the wood) the shrinking plate meets resistance at the saddle area. Inevitably the stress results in a crack at one of the edges of the saddle. Our idea was to create a saddle that will not act as a wedge and thus split the top. The theory behind our saddle design is that as the plate shrinks, the saddle will be forced out of the mortise or will shift aside. At that point it is much easier (and less expensive) to refit the saddle than to repair a crack. We HIGHLY recommend you elect to have a Preserve saddle installed while your instrument is in our shop, even if it does not yet have a saddle crack. Consider it preventative maintenance! This upgrade is INCLUDED on all DELUXE level Upton Basses at no charge.