"Hi!"

Gary and I are back and other than some lingering jet lag, we are at the shop and ready to go.  If you tried to call or eMail last week and didn't get through, please give us a call 1-860-535-9399 or eMail us sales@uptonbass.com

The judging is complete, and the results are in.  Unfortunately the bass I made for the 2011 ISB makers competition did not receive any awards, BUT the week was a tremendous success in so many ways.

In 2009 I built a solid wood version of our newly developed Gary Karr model.  The "theme" was for me to personally build a bass utilizing the same wood and building specs as any Upton Bass we would build, and the results were a silver medal for tone.  My 2011 attempt's "theme" was to push the envelope...to make something most could not recognize as coming out of our workshop...I changed the model, I changed the varnish and I used wood most luthiers dream about (a one piece flamed maple back!).  Maybe I changed too much?  Maybe I pushed too far?  Maybe I deviated too far from what an Upton Bass is...something we know works?

I attended an exhibition where all the competition instruments were played by the tone judges.  I was hoping for an "ah ha" moment...but to my ear the bass sounded rich, round and very very dark.  My colleagues assured me they were hearing the same thing, and one of the medal winners even came to us after to let us know.  The closest I came to an "ah ha" moment was when two of the three judges followed up the event by playing their own instruments on the same stage.  Seeing and hearing those basses gave me a better indication of what they are looking for in tone, and my bass was not like theirs at all.  My bass had the most amazing, dark, blooming notes of the bunch...a truly great orchestral bass that can fill a hall...but my bass was not a sweet sounding laser cannon that rang in the upper register.  Additionally the string choices I made (and others as well!) didn't suit the players styles and they were quite open with all the makers about it.  I think had I made an IDENTICAL copy of the 2009 bass...I could have walked home with another medal.  Lesson learned!  Upton Bass has always done well by making instruments for the tastes and styles of the individual who is commissioning it from us.  I didn't want to pander to the judges with the choices I made...but next time I will view the judges as my clients and make a bass they want to play.

We have two years before the next competition to evaluate the results, make some test instruments and refine our craft.  The feedback from the judges will ultimately make me a better maker, and the results will trickle into every Upton Bass we make.

The crowning moment though was a once in a lifetime concert on Saturday night headlined by Gary Karr and featuring some of his amazing students.  During this performance Han Han Cho played our bass in a solo performance during the concert, and as she walked off the stage Gary Karr stopped her and performed a duet with her.  To see our bass played by Han Han in a duet with Gary Karr was simply amazing!

And I'm quite happy to say the bass now likes in the San Fransisco owner as it was purchased during the show!

Hanging out and talking shop with all of our bass luthier friends is always great, and the sharing of information and ideas adds a level of excitement to us, like recharging the batteries.  By the end of the week we were anxious to return to the shop and start new projects.

One of those projects is further refinements to the Gary Karr model bass.  Talking with Jim Ham, the maker of Gary Karr's personal instrument, as well as watching Gary play in rehearsals (just feet from him on stage!) immediately got us thinking about further changes needed to really meet the ergonomic and playability requirements of Gary and his students.

Amazing concerts, amazing artists and amazing friends.  I can't wait for the 2013 ISB convention in Rochester, New York!

Stay tuned...the best has yet to come...