Prescott Church Basses

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Nathan Levine

What is a church bass in excellent shape worth these days? Any ideas?

I have seen one actual Cello and several Church Basses which are slightly larger. Actually, the Cello is large as well.

As far as excellent condition goes, this I would like to see. Usually they are a mess. Value wise maybe a bass player can play bass-cello stuff on it tuned in 4ths like the old Kay that Ray Brown, Percy Heath and Sam Jones played on if Sam used a Kay, not sure. If so, it has some value but to hang on the wall, less. I have the Prescott sales records (a copy) from 1809 - 1829. They went then starting at around $10 and gradually increased to about $20.. Double Basses were selling I think for about double that price. These do NOT have the Value of a DB or a Cello for that matter as the size is just too big or too small.

Show us the instrument, detailed pictures and I will tell you in my opinion where it will place between $200 and $2000.