About Upton Bass String Instrument Co

About Us

Business Hours: 10 AM—6PM Tuesday thru Saturday. Closed Sundays and Mondays.

Upton Bass String Instrument Corporation is a retailer and wholesale manufacturer of quality products tailored to the double bassist.  Our products and services have been met with critical acclaim world wide.

Come meet us!  Our staff consists of some of the most highly skilled luthiers in the double bass world.

As an aspiring double bassist, Gary founded Upton Bass String Instrument Co. after being disappointed with the quality of the products and services he could find for the double bass in New England. Today with Gary's supervision and an ever growing staff, Upton Bass String Instrument Co. has established itself as one of the world's premier double bass specialty shops.

Gary's repair work is second to none and he always stands proudly behind every aspect of the business. An integral part of the Upton Bass String Instrument Co. Gary oversees and participates in every aspect of Upton Bass. Nothing leaves the shop without his approval.

Jack began a career as a double bass luthier studying with Eric, but also took the opportunity to study with Vladimir Zirinski (Cremona) and Marek Olma (Poland).  Today Jack can be found knee deep in ebony and maple shavings as our Setup Workshop Manager.  Every bass that is sold goes through Jacks able hands.

Most Rock A Billy fans will know Jack from his days with the Amazing Crowns, one of the premier Rock a Billy acts of it's day.  Jack is a very talented bassist and very well rounded in all styles of play...but stand back when he gets slapping!  We would put Jack up against ANY slap bassist.  He has taken what most consider a "technique" or "stage trick" and elevated it to a level of art not seen since the days of the late great Milt "the Judge" Hinton.

Eric has an interesting and diverse background in the industry:  Violinmaker, restorer, inventor and musician.

Eric began his violinmaking studies at an early age.  At the urging of his High School's symphony directors he enrolled in the North Bennet Street School's violinmaking program located in Boston, MA.  There he studied under some of the trades most respected names, including:  Marilyn Wallin, David Wiebe, Rodney Mohr and many, many others.

Eric worked for over 10 years as an importer of violin family instruments and accessories and played a major role in the development and success of products such as the Eurosonic Bass Strings.  He leant technical advisement in the early days of Coda Bows and has been thinking of new an innovative products on a daily basis.

Noah Kaser grew up around musical instruments as his father is a Harpsicord maker.  Noah has made a number of unique instruments combining artistic sculpture and traditional forms.  He has recently began building his first acoustic violin, and has been formulating plans for several different instruments as well.   Noah began work with Upton Bass in an apprentice role and quickly progressed into a permanent figure in our workshop.  Today Noah can be found in either our Setup Workshop or our Repair & Restoration Workshop.

Joshua Dubert began at Upton Bass as a setup luthier and was soon promoted to sales. Joshua is the guy you speak with to discuss UB basses and all other double basses. Today, you can find him at the Mystic Repair & Restoration workshop, which he manages, taking sales calls and repairing/rehairing bows.

Johnny is our varnishing guy. He hand-applies our linseed oil-based secret recipe varnish to each and every Upton Bass. Be it the traditional brown finish of our UB Laminates, UB Hybrids, and UB Professors or the natural finish of our UB SuperSwing double basses, Johnny painstakingly brushes each bass under the watchful eye of Gary. Johnny is also a fantastic slap bass player who plays with several different groups locally and regionally.