1826 Prescott Doublebass

[Richard Korn]

I believe the long strip and 6 cross strips are original as they all very similar and the Prescott label is on top if it. The neck block is new but you can see where the original block or bottom of the neck was. I would think that there wasn't a real block but rather like a guitar with the sides slotted into the neck root.the top and sides were definitely built that way like the church basses. Do you know of any other dated and numbered Prescotts?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Korn

I believe the long strip and 6 cross strips are original as they all very similar and the Prescott label is on top if it. The neck block is new but you can see where the original block or bottom of the neck was. I would think that there wasn't a real block but rather like a guitar with the sides slotted into the neck root.the top and sides were definitely built that way like the church basses. Do you know of any other dated and numbered Prescotts?

I have seen some Prescott pictures of the tuner plates with a date and or number stamped in. I think with most of them being converted to 4-string with non-original gears, some of those dates or numbers we lost as well. Labels also disappear during repairs sometimes.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Korn

I believe the long strip and 6 cross strips are original as they all very similar and the Prescott label is on top if it. The neck block is new but you can see where the original block or bottom of the neck was. I would think that there wasn't a real block but rather like a guitar with the sides slotted into the neck root.the top and sides were definitely built that way like the church basses. Do you know of any other dated and numbered Prescotts?

Beautiful mid-evil type axe handle gears.

Can we see the other side or the peg-box/gears?

[Richard Korn]

Mid evil type axe handle....lol..My first thought was early American so maybe Indian arrow head influence!

[Adam Linz]

Um, this looks like a really special bass. Those gears are sick! Cough, cough, hey Ken why don't you make all of us some Ken Smith upright gears, cough, cough. Hahaha I'd love to hear your thoughts on designs. But this bass, really different from most Prescotts? Stunning., thanks.

[Adam Linz]

Can we see some pictures of that back? Ribs? Please. Please again. Thanks

[Richard Korn]

Adam,
here is picture of the back. Post # 2 above shows the inside of the back and you see it is a round back bass so no braces, just the one for the sound post to sit on. This is the earliest model of Prescott basses, almost identical to the early church bass and probably only made in Deerfield til ca. early 1830's, the more typical bass with busetto corners is a later model.

[Richard Korn]

Here is my scroll getting a new volute which had been broken off and lost.what was on there when I got it didn't look right at all so I had a new one made with photos and measurements from the bass in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
Can't seem to upload 2 pictures at once!