here is an interesting site I found of a church in Massachusetts. They have an old Prescott bass that has been part of that church since the early 1800's. It is still in its 3 string state. take a look.
http://homepage.mac.com/charlesfrean/FP/PhotoAlbum40.html

Very cool. Do all Prescott basses have F holes that look like that? I find it strange that they have ovbiously had work done on the bass (shim on the fingerboard), but never converted it to a four string.

Thanks for sharing the link. That Prescott has a beautiful varnish and I bet it sounds fantastic as a three string. There is some lucking bass player at that church. Just wonder how it fits in to the praise and worship setting that is so popular today.... :rolleyes:

Volker Nahrmann has a number of Prescotts - there are pictures on his site (http://www.nahrmannbass.com/basses/basses.html) - including an 3-string 1820 Prescott Busetto (http://www.nahrmannbass.com/basses/Prescott3String1820/index.html).

- Wil

Very cool. Do all Prescott basses have F holes that look like that? I find it strange that they have ovbiously had work done on the bass (shim on the fingerboard), but never converted it to a four string.
No they don't......some really fun reading on Abe. Do a search, and our links here on TBDB. Three models: This Busetto, gamba and violin that looks exactly like a violin including shoulders.

You think its being played or is it just a museum piece there? The action looks very high if you check out a close up.

Its not really being played. It needs to be fixed bofore u can tune up the strings. I played it a few years ago. It sounds as good as it looks...could be better.

Count me in, I'll drive!

So I say we get a few TBers and make a heist. We can share the bass, everyone gets a few months at a time with it, kind of like a timeshare. Who's in?[/QUOTE]

Steal the bass from the church? Sounds like you'd go straight to hell before you got the bow on the string. :spit:

We'll just play it pizz then. :D

Was (is?) there a standard tuning for a 3 string?

They settled on A D G, after trying many variants. Same as now, just no E.

We have a guy in Philly that has 3 0r 4 Prescott Church basses...

We have a guy in Philly that has 3 0r 4 Prescott Church basses...

HeHeHe....The Lord prefers Prescotts. :bassist:

Actual church basses, smaller basses (somewhat inbetween a cello and a bass) or actual basses that are kept in a church so noone can play them? Are any for sale?


Actual Church Basses.. For Sale... ONe currently has duct tape holding the scroll on...

I wonder if a Church bass would be a good candidate for conversion to a piccolo bass of some kind of chamber bass with with higher tuning. It seems like they would be better than a Jazz cello. I see them from time to time on ebay. If memory serves me, they are usually fairly cheap.

these basses where made for churches that had no organs. They would tune the 3 stringers to match the hymn they where singing. They most likely just played the open strings which might have been tunined to I/IV/V....AAAAAHHHMEN.