Prescott School Bass?

[Greg Cordez]

Hi Ken and everyone,

Im in conversation with someone selling this bass. Its advertised as 'Prescott school' which looks about right to me.
Wanted to get any/all thoughts and opinions on it before i go over to Italy (from the UK) to check over it. Its had a bunch of work done on it by Mario Gallegati who seems a reputable luthier from what i can gather. Any thoughts on origin etc? I keep looking at the photos and cant quite decide if i think its beautiful or ugly as sin. Perhaps a bit of both..
Predicting that its loud and ballsy.

Thanks in advance for advice and thoughts.

[Greg Cordez]

Cut down shoulders?

[Ken Smith]

Cut down shoulders?

Not sure. I saw pictures of this bass here in the states when a dealer got it in several years ago. The back is replaced I know because I spoke with the current owner recently. This is a shape that the early American makers copied from the Germans but the shoulders were not sloped in those days on this model.

The bass what it is now so when you look at it, that is what you have to judge it by. Not what it was if it was cut and not any particular pedigree. I agree with the 'School of' Prescott as he was the most famous for this shape but maybe not the first to use it in USA. On that part, 'who did what first', I just don't know. Sound and condition is most important here and also playability and comfort. It's an old bass, possibly Yankee and it's been thru a lot and back. Now it needs to be played and loved as all old basses do. :cool: