Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob Thompson
A few other basses there of questionable origin? You are perhaps referring to this? |
"made in 1825 in Concord, New Hampshire by Abraham Prescott."
Oh? Prescott moved to Concord in 1831. So if it was made in Concord, who made it?.. lol
This looks like no other Prescott I know, real Prescott's. Look at that Scroll in the Video which was lost in the car accident. Not a Prescott Scroll either. A new one, a Prescott-like copy Scroll was made when it was restored. I was told by Jeff Bollbach who worked on the restoration that the Scroll was made by Mike Shank who was working at Kolstein's with Jeff at that time.
I am not trying to point fingers here but knowing who made every bass where and when is just a bit hard to swallow. I have seen the supposed Grancino which is attributed I believe. The LaFaro bass I assume is attributed as well. There are many Yankee basses attributed to Prescott that look nothing like his other basses. I have seen the earliest ones made as 4/4 Cellos, a blow up of his Church Basses and several in-between up until the last ones made in Concord I believe. There were several other Yankee makers from which all the basses have vanished into thin air. Oh, they are NOW Prescott's.. lol
Recently, I inquired about an English maker who worked for and assisted Vincenzo Panormo named William Taylor who was famed for his basses, made in the style of Panormo. Most of the books written in the late 19th and early 20th century mention him. When calling around recently, NO ONE has EVER seen a William Taylor Double bass. Probably once they hit a shop for sale, they become a Panormo. Just a guess..
The Bass ID business is a funny one. Some dealers keep things to themselves until THEY have it in their hands and ownership to sell. Then the real name or whatever name they can attach is announced. When you own it beforehand, you may not know what it's future name will be. I am talking from experience.
I have a bass in restoration now that I will just about bet my house is German. Sloped shoulders, Purfling running around the top and back LIKE a French bass, roundback, Gamba shaped, long string length, 100+ years old or a little more and has
outer Rib linings. The Ribs are flatsawn, not quartered. I also have 2 appraisals that were written for the bass from a very famous shop, possibly where it was bought about 10 years ago that says it's a French Bass from Mirecourt c.1860 and describes the outer rib linings. NO French Bass to my knowledge was EVER made with outer Linings. If not for the outer linings I think the appraisal has some merit of speculation. With them, it doesn't hold a candle to the truth. Just my opinion.
Boy, have we gone off topic or what? Who's in charge here?
..
Oh, me..
sorry..
