Upton Bass String
Instrument Corporation is a retailer and wholesale manufacturer of quality
products tailored to the double bassist. With locations at 1108
Boylston Street Boston MA and 44 Taugwonk Spur Stonington CT
Click here for hours and
directions
1-617-236-7706 - 1-860-535-9399
Gary founded Upton Bass String Instrument Co. in 1999. He started the business as a small one-man shop specializing in the sales of unique instruments and offering setup and repair to local Connecticut clientele. A formally-trained and highly accomplished double bass player in his own right, Gary’s overriding concern was to place into the hands of his customers the best instruments possible within the limits of their budgets. 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 and as one of America's only double bass production facilities.
Gary stands proudly behind every aspect and product of Upton Bass String Instrument Co.
Eric,
Vice President of Upton Bass and shop foreman 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.
In June of 2009 Eric was awarded
a Silver Medal for Tone
with no conditions
by the International Society of Bassists Instrument Makers Competition for
an instrument he made based on the Gary Karr model!
Kate, is our
office manager and internet order guru...need a set of bass strings NEXT DAY? Kate's
got it. 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!
Aubrey,
Gary's wife, is our bookkeeper and keeps the often overlooked behind the scenes
parts of the business running smoothly. Numbers, billing, contracts, you
name it... if it goes through Upton Bass, Aubrey knows where, how much and why!
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!
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.
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.
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!
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