Environmentally Responsible Instrument Making

Upton Basses are made with love...and care.

Music is beautiful, and as musicians it is our passion, our love and often our outlet for emotion or escape from the heavier elements of life. In making music you need an instrument; be it your voice or a instrument you play like a double bass, your instrument is your tool. At Upton Bass we hand make the tools you perform with, but an instrument is more than just a tool.  Many of us feel our instruments are an extension of our bodies and have just as much a soul as any other living being.  Instruments must be made with passion, care and love. 

How sad it is to imagine your instrument may have been made with complete disregard for the environment or just as bad if not worse, complete disregard for the people crafting the instrument.   

When purchasing and playing an Upton Bass you can feel good about your decision on every level including the environmental impact of the manufacturing techniques used to craft your instrument. 

How many other instrument makers can even give you this option...EVEN if they wanted to? 

You can be assured that the instrument you make your music with was made and constructed by happy employees working in good working conditions and by a company that understands its position as a manufacturer and minimizing its impact on the environment.  Can you say the same about most other workshops around the world?  Not even for a second. The regulations in most every other country where "economical labor" is available are almost non-existent, even their laws all are far behind the US.  On that note, it is furthermore unfortunate that other US based companies lack in their compliance and care of the environment.  They simply cannot afford to care...simply put WILL NOT afford to care.   

It's up to you, the customer, to require environmental responsibility from companies you patronize.

How can you know?  Its simple...JUST ASK and buy from those that take steps to preserve the world we live in! 

Examples of irresponsible (instrument) manufacturing around the world

*Chemical substitutes and fast manufacturing methods employing fancy fortified glues and bonding agents, accelerated lacquers etc. and the improper disposal and controls of such materials. 

*Unhealthy work conditions for those making the product.

*Low paid "slave labor" of those who do not even have a decision of what line of work they are in, these people cannot be passed off as master craftsmen. 

*Possibly the biggest in China:  The lack of regulations requiring the proper disposal of  manufacturing by-product and fair treatment of workers.

*Materials being taken from un-managed, and un-renewable sources.  

Text sited below from www.tqnyc.org

China is one of the most environmentally unsound nations in the world. Deforestation in China is a major problem and one that is being foolishly disregarded.

A major cause of deforestation in China is the production of commercial lumber; as with the Heilongjiang province which produced 465 million meters3 from 1949 to 1986. Another contributor is slash-and-burn agriculture. This type of farming destroys 62,000 ha. Another 6,000 ha. were cleared for the cultivation of silkworms and mushrooms. Additionally, 125,000 ha. were cut down for railroads, highways, and high voltage lines. Lastly, 47,000 ha. burned down in forest fires.

Understanding that we make large wooden musical instruments that are composed mainly of wood from trees we believe that wherever possible it is our responsibility to compensate for our impact on the Environment.

At Upton Bass String Instrument Co. we believe we are the "Greenest" string instrument manufacturer in the world.  We go to great lengths FAR beyond the requirements of the law to ensure that our products are made in an environmentally responsible manner.  We believe in a safe working environment for our employees and furthermore implement manufacturing techniques that minimize our impact on the environment both inside and outside of our facility. Some of the ways in which we minimize our impact:

*100 PERCENT!!! of our energy consumption is provided for by the CT Clean Energy Options program.  What does this mean?  The very energy that we use to power our workshop and make out basses with is produced using 50 percent NEW WIND ENERGY and 50 percent HYDROELECTRIC POWER  NOT oil, NOT Natural gas,  NOT Nuclear and "Other" sources.   TRULY renewable "free" energy from the earth! 

*Where possible, the use of FSC certified wood and wood from other sustainable sources. 

*Even though our energy is produced in a Green manner we still go to great lengths to be frugal in its use.  We use Energy Star rated lighting, office equipment, appliances and tools where possible. 

*Purchasing from suppliers that believe in our vision of caring for the earth and share our outlook on environmental preservation.

*The use of Recycled paper and office products. 

*Where possible the re-use of packaging materials from incoming shipments.

*Recycling packaging, paper and any other applicable waste paper products.

*Outside of these many tangible ways in which we make efforts to be green, the biggest is on a day to day basis; watching what we use, how we use it, and then the not only the resulting product but also the by-product of what we have made.  We are always growing and learning which leaves us VERY open to any suggestions of thoughts, you our customer, may have in the ways in which we can be even greener.  Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or comments.