Ronald Prentice

[Paul Dwyer]

From Taunton, Somerset (where I was born), Ronald set up my first bass when I was 17 though I never tried one of his basses.
I'm not sure if He is still alive so if anyone knows anything or owns a bass by this maker I'd love to hear about it.
A couple of examples:
http://www.contrabass.co.uk/2715.htm
http://www.gallerystrings.com/instruments/

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Interesting that the Contrabass Shop states that Prentice used Sitka Spruce from Germany...

[Martin Sheridan]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

Interesting that the Contrabass Shop states that Prentice used Sitka Spruce from Germany...

I'm not sure why but Arnold that reminds me of a story I read in one of the violin magazines back in the late 70s. It was about a shop in New York City and it's resident expert. Like all shops they received calls every week from people who wanted to have their Stradivaris authenticated. The expert had only one rule: they had to bring the violin to the shop, put it on a table and open the case for him to examine it...and...they could not ask questions.

A woman had traveled all the way from Arizona, the expert came out from his workroom, looked down at the violin and said, "no" and walked back out.

I thought that was a bit over the top but like every one in the business it seemed like I had from one to four people a week come in with Strads or Guarnneri's that grandfather had brought over from the old country. One fella came in the shop one day with the violin in a old suit case, looked around furtively and said, "is there someplace private we can talk?" I knew instantly that he had one of the thousands upon thousands of German violins with facimile labels.

[William Stephens]

I conversed with Mr. Prentice by email about 2 years ago regarding the design of Mechanical C extension he inherited from George Fawcett. (Now fitted by Tom Martin.)

He was definitely alive then!

He apparently retired from The craft around 1999.

I believe the outgoing principal of the WNO orchestra owns a prentice bass

[Paul Dwyer]

Thanks William.
Tom Martin put me in touch with Ronald earlier this year.
In his email he writes "I was a professional double bass player and then trained in Mittenwald to make and restore instruments. I retired from instrument making/restoring eight years ago".

I'd hoped to visit England this year and check out his Joseph Hill bass which he is selling (may already be sold) but haven't been able to make that trip yet.
I would love to go just to meet Ronald, not least since he played on the sound track to Dr. No! and to play this bass which looks like the same bass on Gallery Strings' web-site just below Ronald's own bass. Tom Martin has also confirmed it Joseph Hill, London circa 1750.

Cheers,
Paul

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Paul Dwyer

Thanks William.
Tom Martin put me in touch with Ronald earlier this year.
In his email he writes "I was a professional double bass player and then trained in Mittenwald to make and restore instruments. I retired from instrument making/restoring eight years ago".

I'd hoped to visit England this year and check out his Joseph Hill bass which he is selling (may already be sold) but haven't been able to make that trip yet.
I would love to go just to meet Ronald, not least since he played on the sound track to Dr. No! and to play this bass which looks like the same bass on Gallery Strings' web-site just below Ronald's own bass. Tom Martin has also confirmed it Joseph Hill, London circa 1750.

Cheers,
Paul

I haven't seen in Person a Joseph yet but had a Lockey Hill here not long ago. It was sweet but no where near the power of the Gilkes or Hart. Also, the English Gamba I have is sort of Hill'ish in some ways and is a powerhouse. More Italian sounding than English to my ear. If in the market, stop by to see it. It's getting a C-Extension as we speak and will be back next week. I will have it fully loaded at the ISB as well.