About Upton Bass String Instrument Co

Jack, a partner at Upton Bass, began his career as a double bass luthier studying with Eric Roy. Jack also took the opportunity to study with Vladimir Zirinski (Cremona) and the Olmas (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 Jack’s 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 its day. Jack is a very talented bassist and very well-rounded in all styles of play...but stand back when he gets slapping! 

Eric, Vice President of Upton Bass began his violinmaking studies at an early age. At the urging of his high school's symphony directors, Eric started his lutherie career in the early 1990s in Boston by enrolling at the North Bennet Street School's violinmaking program. There, he studied under some of the trade’s most respected names including:  Marilyn Wallin, David Wiebe, Rodney Mohr, and many others. To date, Eric has made a few dozen violins and violas and hundreds of double basses! That’s no exaggeration!
 
Eric runs the production workshop at Upton Bass String Instrument Co., overseeing the production of every instrument that bears the Upton Bass name.

Noah is the front-man for bass restoration at Upton Bass. He is also the strong guy that does all the finish carving on every UB Bass’s scroll, including the joining of the fingerboard to the neck. Noah has made a number of unique instruments combining artistic sculpture and traditional forms. He has recently finished 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 in 2005 and quickly progressed into a permanent figure in our workshop.  

Aubrey is our bookkeeper and keeps us all in line by sorting out the numbers, billing, contracts, you name it... if it goes through Upton Bass, Aubrey knows where, how much and why! Oh, and she is also Gary's wife!

Kristin, Eric's wife, is our Revolution SOLO Bass Pickup maker.  With the help of Eric she ensures that every pickup is crafted to function flawlessly and uphold the well earned reputation of the Revolution SOLO Pickup.

Mark makes all UB rib assemblies to exacting tolerances making sure that all Upton Basses start with a solid foundation. He does the fitting of corner blocks, neck blocks, endpin blocks, linings and more. Mark assists Eric with the building of Upton Basses; gluing on tops and much, much more.

Chris G is our varnishing guy and started at Upton Bass in April of 2008, coming from a finishing background in the auto industry. 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, UB Professors, and the UB Concert Carved Basses, or the natural finish of our UB SuperSwing double basses, Chris G painstakingly varnishes each bass under the watchful eye of Gary and Eric.

Our basses have never looked better!

Vicky started with Upton Bass early in 2008. She takes care of making nearly all the rough parts for Upton Basses. Vicky also assists in bass-assembly with elements such as: joining tops, prepping neck blocks, cutting inside blocks, turning sound posts, as well as being our laminated press technician. You could say every bass starts its life in Vicky's able hands!

Kate, is our internet order guru...need a set of bass strings NEXT DAY? Kate's your gal. Need a new bass bow shipped to your hotel in London? Kate's got you covered. Kate takes care of all bass order logistics, sending Upton Basses all over the world and making sure they get there on time and as promised. As a classically trained violinist looking for an appraisal on her violin, Kate came to Upton Bass as a customer and is now an employee!