Gear

1121: In-depth with Gary Upton – The Craftsmanship Behind Upton Bass

In this episode, Gary Upton, the founder of Upton Bass, joins us for an in-depth conversation about the craftsmanship, innovation, and business of building double basses.

We explore a wide range of topics including the growing popularity of 5/8-sized basses, the development of Kay-inspired plywood models, the economics of bass-making, and Upton’s ventures into creating strings, amplifiers, and rosin specifically designed for double bass players.

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Upton Bass – From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like Max Zeugner of the New York Philharmonic, each Upton Bass is crafted with precision in Connecticut, USA, and built to last for generations. Discover your perfect bass with Upton Bass today!

Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio is a valued part of an innovative fine arts community in a top research university. Students receive weekly private lessons and solo classes with Micah Howard, and Peter Guild teaches weekly Orchestral Literature and Repertoire. They encourage students to seek lessons and guidance from local bassists. Members of the Symphony, the Opera, and the Ballet provide annual classes and individual attention. Visit Micah’s website to sign up for a free online trial lesson here.

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1095: Kostas Patsiotis on gear

Kostas Patsiotis has an upcoming solo bass album “Childhood Heroes” and recently released “This Moment,” his first instrumental single from it.

We talk about his use of looping, various technical setups to perform live, his desire to incorporate more Mediterranean sounds, and much more. Be sure to follow along with Kostas on his website, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, and check out his past podcast appearance here.

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Upton Bass – From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like ME Max Zeugner of the New York Philharmonic, each Upton Bass is crafted with precision in Connecticut, USA, and built to last for generations. Discover your perfect bass with Upton Bass today!

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1069: Exploring Music and Innovation with Petru Iuga

In this conversation, Petru Iuga, a renowned Romanian double bassist, discusses his experiences during the pandemic, his contributions to the ToneBase platform, and the development of the ErgoBass, a product designed to enhance bass playing ergonomics.

He reflects on his musical journey, incorporating elements of martial arts into his musical practice, and the impact of physics and mindfulness in bass playing. P

etru also shares insights about his recently released album, which features a mix of familiar and less-known compositions, including works by Weinberg, Hindemith, and Schubert, emphasizing the music’s emotional and artistic depth.

Enjoy, and check out this video covering Petru’s innovative invention ErgoBass!

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1059: Exploring the Rich Soundscape of Gut Strings with Ernst Glerum

Today’s episode dives into the multifaceted career of bassist and pianist Ernst Glerum, focusing on his recent piano-bass album Détaché.

We delve into Ernst’s use of gut strings on his mid-19th-century English bass and his shift to a mix including Pirastro Olive strings. Ernst shares his compositional process, the technical challenges and expressive nuances of playing with gut strings versus steel strings, particularly the influence of rosin type on sound quality.

Ernst speaks fondly about his admiration for iconic musicians and his future plans for composing new music, encapsulating the essence of his artistic explorations.

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1041: Peter Doubrovsky and Brandino on 5-string double basses

Peter Doubrovsky and Brandino are both renowned musicians and fans of the 5-string double bass.

Peter Doubrovsky, aside from his work with the Pasadena Symphony and POPS orchestra, is a highly sought-after recording musician. His illustrious career spans over twenty years, during which he has recorded for countless feature film soundtracks. Some notable works include Coco (2017), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), Star Trek (2009), and Conspiracy Theory (1997).

Brandino’s success is marked by his collaborations with many of the world’s top recording artists and entertainers. His extensive involvement encompasses the music, entertainment, television, multimedia, web designing, and film industries.

In 2007, his musicianship was recognized with double Grammys for his participation in the 2007 Grammy Nominated “Album of the Year” and “Best Pop Vocal Album” Justin Timberlake’s “FutureSex/LoveSounds,” Mary J Blige’s “Breakthrough” which won 2006 Best R&B Album of the Year, Beyonce and Stevie Wonder’s “So Amazing” single in 2005, and “OUTKAST” which bagged the 2004 Grammy Album Of The Year and Best Rap Album.

Thanks to both Peter and Brandino for their insightful conversation on this episode. For further inquiries or to connect with Peter, he can be reached directly at pdoubrosky@hotmail.com.

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