Upton Karr Bass ...?

[Ben Wilkie]

Hi guys,

I've just found the video from the ISB of the Karr bass by Upton - it looks great, but I can't find any information on it, really.

What does it sound like? In what quantities will it be made? Price range?

It seems like it might be a great bass, and I'd really love to hear one. Being in Australia, I'll never be able to play one unless they make their way over here somehow Did anyone get a chance to play it at the ISB?

Cheers!
Ben

[Gary Lynch]

Email Upton for info.

[Kaden]

I had a chance to play the Karr bass while i was at the ISB and i have to say i was VERY impressed! As soon as i put the bow to the string I was struck by the responsiveness and the big, boomy, mature, sound that came from the bass. This model is a lot slimmer and has more severely sloped shoulders than the regular gamba model making it a good candidate for a solo instrument ( I guess thats the point when you work with a soloist to make an instrument!).
The Karr bass that they had at the ISB convention was a fully carved model and was expected to sell for around $20,000 but i think they are also planning on a hybrid version that will be a lot cheaper. I hope i have been able to answer some of your questions!

[Eric Rene Roy]

Thanks for the kind words Kaden!

Yeah...the bass you played was the one I made for the makers competition.

OK Ben Wilkie, wheels that don't squeak are often left alone...so, without further adieu, I just got them on the site today.

The official Karr model was in the auction room for most of the week (actually it was prototype #2, Gary Karr has prototype #1) but it was REALLY tucked into a corner and only available for about an hour per day. That bass is in our show room now though...but it is owned by the ISB and we will auction it off on eBay soon with ALL the proceeds of the sale going to the ISB for scholarships. Perhaps if the mods say it's OK I can post a link to it when it's up so more people can have a chance to bid on it since it is for the ISB???

After working with Gary Karr and getting valuable feedback on the prototypes...coupled with some new "tricks" I have that I applied to the Karr inspired bass that I made for the competition, the "official" new Karr Upton Bass is on the site with LOTS of work still needed in the text department...but the bones are there.

No black ops or funny stuff about why it hasn't made a grander entrance on our site...just chalk it up to a small staff of instrument builders with a boat load of work to do since getting back from the ISB and trying to keep bass orders rolling out the door in a somewhat timely fashion!

[Ben Wilkie]

Thanks Kaden, that's what I wanted to hear! And eroy, that's what I couldn't find on the Upton site before

Cheers!