Prescott spinoff from Hawkes thread

[MDEbass]

not to change the subject or anything, but has anyone played the Abraham Prescott at Upton's Boston location?

[RobinBetton]

played it the other day. sounds good. ha.

[Sam Sherry]

Originally Posted by MDEbass

not to change the subject or anything, but has anyone played the Abraham Prescott at Upton's Boston location?

Yep.

I have never played a better-sounding bass. It is truly remarkable. I would buy it in a heartbeat if I had the money. I don't.

- - - -

Disclaimer: I am the Uptons' lawyer. Don't believe anything I say about the Uptons or their inventory. Don't buy the Prescott. Don't buy the Prescott. Don't buy the Prescott.

[Uncletoad]

I'm pretty sure I played that Yankee Bass too on my journey to buy a bass.

It was one of my finalists. At the time with the setup it had my comments were;

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

The other contender was in Yonkers with Geoff Morrow at the Bass Garden.

It's a Yankee Bass of some sort, rebuilt from sticks by Jeff Bollbach. It's another heavy vibe elderly bass. It's got that Scotty Prescott look too but smaller and more manageable. The E string KILLS. The G sings sweet. I didn't buy that one mostly because it was hard for me to get back to and also I was afraid of shaking it apart. It seemed like it wasn't as solid a bass as the one I bought and I was afraid of it. Weird but there you have it.

So somebody who lives near there should go buy this bass cause it's a stone cold killer too. If you play Jazz and are reasonable carefull with your stuff (not like me) this would be a lifer bass for somebody. If I can find more money I'd go buy it too.

Here's me playing the Bass Garden Yankee Bass.

I can only imagine with some different setup work the middle range of the instrument would have tightened up and been more balanced and the tone across the room would be more clear.

Having said that, I thought the bass I bought was a touch better...albeit without any pedigree.

[MR PC]

Yes, I imagine "Louie Louie" sounded real good on that THING!

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

We need one for this page...

[Uncletoad]

Dig the scroll on that bitch.

Fantastic.

[Paul Warburton]

I'm a bold scroll whore. Most Pressy's I've known aren't that bold looking from the out view. From the playing side I love them....the volutes are all rich looking. That one, from the front is the most bold one I've seen, except for Scotties little rare 3/4.

[Ed Fuqua]

There are uniforms?

[MR PC]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

I'm a bold scroll whore.

Whoa! You said bald...no wait I see, my bad, you said bold Beautiful instrument. Not sure why, but me thinks she deserves a new FB.

[bribass]

"I'm pretty sure I played that Yankee Bass too on my journey to buy a bass.
It was one of my finalists. At the time with the setup it had my comments were;
I can only imagine with some different setup work the middle range of the instrument would have tightened up and been more balanced and the tone across the room would be more clear.
Having said that, I thought the bass I bought was a touch better...albeit without any pedigree"

'Twas nice! I took that pic. Bass sounded great and had some of my Prescott's vibe, but I'd have to say I'd take my Yankee over that one. Although this one may be by some other Yankee builder. Definitely a great bass and I really like the scroll too.

Phil, is the Hawkes in this thread the one we played there?

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by bribass

Phil, is the Hawkes in this thread the one we played there?

Yes it is. We played both the Hawkes and this Yank bass when we were there.

Yer Prescott was more to my liking than this one. I also think it a better bass than the Arvil Shaw yank bass we played that trip as well. Having said that it was tough not to buy it. I really really liked it.

[MR PC]

I'm beginning to understand all of this high end bass thing. I guess if you are anywhere near working class, that after popping the better part of 30,000 bucks for an instrument it could be hard to stop talking about the experience for quite awhile.

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by MR PC

I'm beginning to understand all of this high end bass thing. I guess if you are anywhere near working class, that after popping the better part of 30,000 bucks for an instrument it could be hard to stop talking about the experience for quite awhile.

For a bass playing musician It's a major life change thing. Up there with buying and selling homes, getting married, having kids...not to that degree but up there in that league. Not like buying and selling transportation kind of cars in my estimation. There is an emotional attachment that goes way beyond tools.

When people buy and sell these things over short periods of time, trading them like cars or something it's very weird to me. It was the hardest check I've ever written and I used to moving money around as a small business guy.

I honestly think it's easier to sell a house than an old bass. Gives you pause when you plunk down the $$$.

I'm amazed that people even go into that business at all.

[Pete G]

I've had more luck establishing long-term relationships with basses than with wives. (Though there's hope for my current wife. )

As for other big financial decisions... Cars? They start deteriorating the minute you drive them off the lot. Basses should hold their value or appreciate. But we used to say that about houses too...

[bribass]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

For a bass playing musician It's a major life change thing. Up there with buying and selling homes, getting married, having kids...not to that degree but up there in that league. Not like buying and selling transportation kind of cars in my estimation. There is an emotional attachment that goes way beyond tools.

When people buy and sell these things over short periods of time, trading them like cars or something it's very weird to me. It was the hardest check I've ever written and I used to moving money around as a small business guy.

I honestly think it's easier to sell a house than an old bass. Gives you pause when you plunk down the $$$.

I'm amazed that people even go into that business at all.

Originally Posted by Pete G

I've had more luck establishing long-term relationships with basses than with wives. (Though there's hope for my current wife. )

As for other big financial decisions... Cars? They start deteriorating the minute you drive them off the lot. Basses should hold their value or appreciate. But we used to say that about houses too...

"Well, marriage is a big commitment, ya know...it's 5 or 6 yrs. outta your life."

But it did change your life. I know buying my Prescott changed mine!

I'm deffinatly a buy and hold guy. Besides being an obviously pedigreed type antique it has been an incredibly solid workhorse for me as well that I make most of my living on. It's had alot of work done to it before I owned it so potentially there could have been much that could open up or shake loose, but in the 7 yrs. I've had it not one seam, cleat or crack issue (knock on wood ) Arnold S. or Jeff B. have checked it out regularly and rarely have had to even move the sound post. I really lucked out w/it especially at the price point I got it at. Prolly up 10K since then. I think I'll own it at least until I'm too old to lift it anymore. To quote Jeff B. "The best Jazz bass ever, this is it"

[Uncletoad]

Originally Posted by bribass

But it did change your life. I know buying my Prescott changed mine!

That goddamn prescott of yours changed mine as well.

I coulda added a wing on my house if it wasn't for that thing.

[MR PC]

Originally Posted by Uncletoad

For a bass playing musician It's a major life change thing.

Excellent! I imagine that passing on your dream bass in lieu of a new wing on the house could of caused some personal problems. In the that case you may of ended up building what became your own doghouse!

Originally Posted by Pete G

As for other big financial decisions... Cars? They start deteriorating the minute you drive them off the lot. Basses should hold their value or appreciate. But we used to say that about houses too...

[Jason Sypher]

I played that bass for a few days while Geoff played mine. I liked the bass, it was easy to play and had a nice sound. There was some trade talk but I didn't like it more than my bass in the end. In fairness, Geoff didn't really like mine either! He found mine to be too tight feeling (my bass can get tight in very humid summer conditions) which makes a lot of sense because his bass felt really loose to me. It is a very nice instrument to be sure and somebody is going to absolutely love it. I think the price is very fair for what it is. Personally I didn't feel it was a true Prescott (the ff's, the size, the overall vibe of the instrument). That said, it represents a GREAT value. Someone should snap this bass up, it's a beauty.

[salcott]

"I honestly think it's easier to sell a house than an old bass."
You got that right, Phil.

Regarding the label vs. country of origin "controversy" on the Hawkes, I personally had zero difficulty differentiating between the two.