Double Bass Setup with Gary Upton: String Heights, Feel & Playability

Gary from Upton Bass does a deep dive on numbers and feel — using a pencil and business card to demonstrate ideal string heights at the bridge (roughly 8mm under the E, tapering to around 5mm under the G), and explaining why a well-rounded fingerboard is essential for clean bow isolation on every string. He also covers neck relief, why slamming your action too low can kill your tone and expressiveness, and what a great 50/50 jazz and orchestra setup actually looks and feels like in practice. This video is part of our How to Buy a Double Bass course, designed to prepare you for the conversation you'll have with us when buying a bass — covering everything from tonewoods and ergonomics to traveling with your instrument. Full course available on the Upton Bass Community app or at courses.uptonbass.com #doublebass #doublebasssetup #uptonbass #stringheights #jazzbase #orchestrabass #howtobuyadoublebass