Prescotts and other 1800s Yankee Basses - Page 2

Paul Warburton · #21 11-02-2005, 04:36 PM

Eight[/quote]
John, thanks so much for doing these links for me. I need alotta help trying to keep up with Kenny Boy...especially now that he's dabbling in Yankee Basses. (capitals are ALL mine. If you all have noticed Kenny Boy's bizarre use of same)
bejoyous, welcome to TBDB, and thanks for your link...Don Thomson told me about that tailpiece on the Prescott many years ago.
jmpi, thanks for noticing all the goodies on my Bohmann.
Ike, thanks again for joining in the fun again with the Senators Prescott....
I don't know why i'm thanking everybody, this was a great idea K.B.!

What's up with the 1999 Prescott of Don C., with that big piece of wood under the bridge? I guess it's a shim???
One last whinning question for you all....as much as I love Abraham's basses, the one thing I don't like is the front view of his scrolls...they look a bit skinny...or, I don't know, just need a bit more meat on 'em, IMHO.

KSB - Ken Smith · #22 11-02-2005, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

One last whinning question for you all....as much as I love Abraham's basses, the one thing I don't like is the front view of his scrolls...they look a bit skinny...or, I don't know, just need a bit more meat on 'em, IMHO.

I'll show you skinny; http://www.kensmithbasses.com/Double.../headfront.gif

Bassphil · #23 11-03-2005, 09:59 AM

Hello everyone, I guess I'll jump into the thread with my entry. I have a bass that was made in Springfield M.A. in 1842 by an apprentice of Prescott named J.B. Allen. Here's the link to a few pictures. (You have to scroll down to the bottom of the page.)

J.B.Allen Photos

Check out the repair stickers. I thought it was amazing that the bass made it that far out west back then. Hmmm, I wonder if it traveled via steam engine or stage coach...

Thanks to Paul and Ken for bringing me into the thread.

EDITION:
I forgot to mention that if anyone knows Tom Charlap (pianist Bill Charlap's brother), he has a J.B.Allen as well. He's a very nice guy, and he's done quite a bit of research into J.B.Allen's history.

Bassphil · #24 11-03-2005, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bejoyous

Thanks for starting this thread. Here is a beautiful Prescott owned by Rob Clutton in Toronto. He's an excellent jazz bassist. This bass is one of the biggest and heaviest insturments I've ever played. Check out the woman carved in relief on the tailpiece. It's original as far as I know.
http://www.zoilus.com/documents/robclutton.jpg

Hey, I'm pretty sure that I played that bass a few years ago! Actually, I guess it was around the fall of 2001. I was doing a piano trio gig with my wife somewhere in Toronto...

Anyway, that sure was a heavy bass! I remember the owner being very nice as well (that is, if it's the same guy).

KSB - Ken Smith · #25 11-03-2005, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassphil

Hello everyone, I guess I'll jump into the thread with my entry. I have a bass that was made in Springfield M.A. in 1842 by an apprentice of Prescott named J.B. Allen. Here's the link to a few pictures. (You have to scroll down to the bottom of the page.)

J.B.Allen Photos

Check out the repair stickers. I thought it was amazing that the bass made it that far out west back then. Hmmm, I wonder if it traveled via steam engine or stage coach...

Thanks to Paul and Ken for bringing me into the thread.

EDITION:
I forgot to mention that if anyone knows Tom Charlap (pianist Bill Charlap's brother), he has a J.B.Allen as well. He's a very nice guy, and he's done quite a bit of research into J.B.Allen's history.

Wow, great Bass. Arnold has an amazing Allen Bass at the shop now for sale. It was restored and looks a bit similar to yours. Here; http://www.aesbass.com/bassgallery.htm

When I saw your website with the Bussetto Corners and scratched Purfling, I swore it was a Prescott. By the way, those FF holes look similar to LaFaros' Bass; http://www.kolstein.com/instruments/...87/b1287_7.jpg

If his was attached and opened up it would explain the slight difference. His Bass in no was resembles Prescotts FF holes. Maybe it's a J.B.Allen as well.. Who knows?

We're gonna need a 'Yankee Bass Convention' one of these days.. No Germans, Czechs, Italians, French, English or anything other than 'Made in USA' Basses. Newer Handmade Basses would be welcomed as the 'New Yanks' on Bass!

Great Link Phil, and thanks for the contribution.

arnoldschnitzer · #26 11-03-2005, 10:28 AM

Phil--nice bass! I'd not heard of Allen being involved with Prescott before. Do you know any more about that? He was known as a "maker of scientific and musical instruments", and supposedly has a microscope in the Smithsonian museum.

Paul Warburton · #27 11-03-2005, 12:10 PM

Yeah Phil....beautiful man!
I'm known for having my bathroom filled with pictures of wonderful basses ( just a joke, of course ) so I can have some private viewing time, if you know what I mean. Just wanted you to know that your J.B. Allen made it in right away with no hesitation what so ever!

KSB - Ken Smith · #28 11-03-2005, 05:37 PM

I want to mention that I see two types of makers in Early America. First off, we have those that trained in Europe like George Gemunder and Bohmann who later settled in USA and then we have the makers living here that were either self taught or trained with other self taught makers including Prescott, Allen, Dearborn and all the other Yankee makers with no previous European training.

What are your thoughts or input on that ladies and gents?

KSB - Ken Smith · #29 11-03-2005, 05:52 PM

Here's a link to Massachusetts makers of the 19th century; http://www.easthamptonviolin.com/eas...lin/early.html

Not all made Basses. Many made just Church Basses and most made only Violins.

I have a fairly large book by Wenberg on American makers. Again, it's mostly Violins but there are 'mentions' only about some that made Basses. "The Violin Makers of the United States
by Thomas James Wenberg, Mount Hood Publishing Company, 1986."

Also this link is nice to read; http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadsh...s/violins.html

And don't miss this one either; http://www.vintage-instruments.com/navigate/catidx6.htm

Ike Harris · #30 11-06-2005, 06:54 AM

A couple more links to add. Here's a BIG Dearborn at Shank's:

http://www.shankstrings.com/inventory/10over/15.html

And several things on Nahrmann's page:

http://www.nahrmannbass.com/basses/basses.html

Enjoy,

Ike

Ashley Long · #31 11-06-2005, 09:49 AM

Hasn't Dominic Duval got a Prescott. I read somewhere that it was made in 1790 but I dont know Prescotts birth/death dates etc. I found a few black and white pics here but I ant find any good colour ones sorry.....

http://www.downtownmusic.net/pictures/showpicturerhtml/144294467401/default.htm

KSB - Ken Smith · #32 11-06-2005, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashley Long

Hasn't Dominic Duval got a Prescott. I read somewhere that it was made in 1790 but I dont know Prescotts birth/death dates etc. I found a few black and white pics here but I ant find any good colour ones sorry.....

http://www.downtownmusic.net/pictures/showpicturerhtml/144294467401/default.htm

Can't get that link up.

Also, I would love to see a confirmed Tewksbury Bass. I don't really know what it would look like. Some of these Prescott school Basses look so close. It would be good to be able to tell the 'little' things that make them different. From what I have seen in recent years, not all the Prescott 'named' Basses are actually Prescotts but Prescotts Scool from the other makers.

jmpiwonka · #33 11-06-2005, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith

Can't get that link up.

Also, I would love to see a confirmed Tewksbury Bass. I don't really know what it would look like. Some of these Prescott school Basses look so close. It would be good to be able to tell the 'little' things that make them different. From what I have seen in recent years, not all the Prescott 'named' Basses are actually Prescotts but Prescotts Scool from the other makers.

here try it now.
http://www.downtownmusic.net/picture...1/default.html

it was missing an "l" at the end

Kcorren · #34 11-06-2005, 07:31 PM

I found a place that has some old Prescotts
and others for sale.

Here's the Link:

The Nahrmann Bass Shop

Wil Davis · #35 11-06-2005, 07:40 PM

…but I don't think that one is for sale…

- Wil

KSB - Ken Smith · #36 11-07-2005, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wil Davis

…but I don't think that one is for sale…

- Wil

Yes Wil, that's correct but as I mentioned in my first post, he has several on the website. I counted 5 Prescotts there. This one does not have a Prescott Scroll. It looks a bit in-between my Batchelder and the JB Allen at AES. The shorter upper bout is different as well. I have also seen one like that at the Bass Cellar in Ohio but it's gone now. It looks a bit like Bassphils' JB Allen as well. His Bass looks similar to the Prescotts with the shorter upper bouts. I wonder if he made Basses with or for Prescott at one time. Too similar for my taste not to be connected in some way. Phils' is also branded inside the Bass so it can't be a false label.

As is with naming old Italian, French, English and German Basses there seems to be as much mystery with the Yankee Basses from different periods as their European counterparts.

Ken McKay · #37 11-08-2005, 05:26 AM

Ken,

What is the measurment of the scroll eye to eye? Also, are the blocks softwood or hardwood?

KSB - Ken Smith · #38 11-08-2005, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken McKay

Ken,

What is the measurment of the scroll eye to eye? Also, are the blocks softwood or hardwood?

I don't know.. Arnold has the Bass. Maybe he can measure it. I don't know what the blocks are either. I didn't look inside too much. The Bass is very healthy and is getting restored anyway. Arnold will start is soon after he finishes my Martini Extension.

The the Scroll width or Block material help to date it?

Ken McKay · #39 11-08-2005, 11:10 AM

I would like to know if all prescott scrolls are proportioned the same. From the side view they look right, but front on the second turn is too wide or the third is too narrow, I can't tell. If I had the measurement from eye to eye I could figure it out from the photo.

I have seen maple blocks and linings on a church bass before and wonder if early instruments had them.

KSB - Ken Smith · #40 11-08-2005, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken McKay

I would like to know if all prescott scrolls are proportioned the same. From the side view they look right, but front on the second turn is too wide or the third is too narrow, I can't tell. If I had the measurement from eye to eye I could figure it out from the photo.

I have seen maple blocks and linings on a church bass before and wonder if early instruments had them.

Well, one could imagine that the Deerfield Basses might differ from the Concord Basses if they had to re-tool after moving. Also, there are 3/4, 7/8, 4/4, and 5/4 sized Basses from Prescott. Size is a matter of opinion ofcourse. Mine was considered 4/4 but I call it a full 7/8. I think he made 2 larger ones than mine.

I will post this information as soon as I get it regarding the Scroll, Blocks and Linings. Thanks for the interest and your help. Please let me know if you can guess the period of my Prescott as it is a bit of a mystery to me.