Obsessed with tone? Like a big, fat crunchy sound from your guitar? How about super-thumping, high-watt bass? Well Owensboro, there’s a new player on the block – at 2500 Frederica Street, to be exact.

            Open since October, Jerry Douglas’ Upper Room Music caters to the discriminating sound hound. Specializing in tube amps, custom effects, quality guitars and basses and instruction, Upper Room offers something for both the experienced shredder or strummer as well as to the beginning young Eddie Van Halens out there.

            Upper Room is the exclusive dealer for one of the finest British exports, Orange Amplifiers. Anyone who’s plugged into one of these distinctive-looking, awesome-sounding amps knows the Orange to be a serious compliment to a rig. In addition to Orange, Douglas at Upper Room has a line of Vox amps. Vox is famous for its vintage tones and the illustrious names Brian May, The Edge, Thom Yorke, George Harrison and John Lennon are attached to this other (originally) British amplifier.         

            Gallien-Krueger amps are available at Upper Room for bassists who want to pound out stomping sounds. Favored by the likes of Flea, Tool’s Justin Chancellor and Duff McKagan (G’NR, Velvet Revolver), G-K amps can accommodate any style, be it funk, rock, country, classical or jazz.

            Owner Jerry Douglas has been playing since he was ten years old, and he didn’t say how old he is, but he did say he quit his regular job of over 30 years to pursue his dream of having his own shop. So it’s safe to say he’s got a lot of experience. Douglas puts that knowledge into offering plenty of awesome custom work, including hard-wired pedal boards, cables, effects pedals and more. He can also expertly set up your guitar for you, make any repair – on instruments and accessories alike.

             Live sound is another aspect Upper Room can handle. They have PAs, mixers (Mackie, etc.), power amps, mics and more of the things you need to be heard. Upper Room even offers rentals, so you don’t have to go poor, even if you want to put on a show.

            Not everything at Upper Room is plug-in-able. They have an acoustic room, where they offer a wide variety of guitars for more quiet times.

            An array of every accessory for guitar, bass and sound are available, too. Top-names in strings, cases, straps, picks, effects, capos and all the various gadgets and gizmos you need to be a complete player are here.

            Lessons are also available, for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players. So whether you’re just starting out or need to move up to the next level, Upper Room can help you out.

            The Holiday season is the perfect time to check out some new stuff, give a gift or upgrade your old gear for new. Stop in for yourself or someone you know (Upper Room has gift certificates available) and heighten your musicianship at Upper Room. You can reach them by phone at 683-7575 – on the web at urguitars.com. Tell Jerry that Dylan from News 4U sent you.