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08-31-2010, 07:30 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: western MA | | | Today I played a Prescott
First of all I am a total beginner at DB. I just got my own 1940's Czech plywood bass up and playing after installing a new fingerboard, strings, bridge, tailpiece and glued down the top and back plates that had lifted. I was feeling really good about all this effort into my bass - it plays and sounds pretty good for a first DIY repair/set up if I do say so myself. Then today I met The Prescott. a 7/8 Gamba just like this one http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/prescott/
It is an ancient relic: thick, dark, cracked, worn, repaired, restored. It has been played for more hours than I will ever live. It had a deep, rich sound that vibrated the floor right into my feet. The open A sounded like a subwoofer in a car. I felt this strange feeling stirring inside of me. Kinda like falling in love, like I wanted to know more about this mysterious ancient thing - learn to coax out of it the gorgeous rich tones it possessed. I've read some of the posts you guys write about these beautiful old basses and I didn't get it. Today I got it. I don't think I will be the same
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09-01-2010, 05:24 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Denver, Co. | |
Uh, oh. You may be in deep ****.
That's how it starts.
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Oh, no.....have we gone OT yet again?
"The opportunity was there...but it never presented itself." Phil Urso, 1980. :atoz: |
09-01-2010, 11:14 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA | | | |
09-01-2010, 11:57 AM
| | | | That's what happened to me. That was a very expensive experience. |
09-01-2010, 09:27 PM
| | proprietor, Condino's String Shop | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: asheville, nc | | | If you think that hit hard, you better hope and pray that the voice inside never tells you, " Build your own bass....everything will be different...."
j.
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kaybassrepair.com
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09-02-2010, 01:57 AM
|  | Velvet Strings Customer Service | | Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: SWITZERLAND | | Welcome, you are officially infected.. and sorry  , theres no cure, or maybe there is.... http://www.contrabass.co.uk/cstopquality.htm
sorry if posting the link broke any rules, for me, it breaks my heart cause i cant afford them 
Nuno |
09-02-2010, 04:19 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: western MA | | | James, how did you know? I am scheming how I can make my own. I'm looking for wood like an addict, trying to convince myself I can build one in a reasonable amount of time. At the very least I may take measurements and make some templates of the Prescott. What really interests me about this bass is that the owner rarely uses amplification playing jazz. That's pretty cool |
09-02-2010, 07:35 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City area | | | That is one gorgeous bass.
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You forget sometimes that you are playing music, not just playing jazz. ....Charlie Haden
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09-02-2010, 10:13 AM
|  | 'Woodworker - Witch Doctor - Luthier'
Owner/The Bass Spa, String Repairman/L & M Vancouver | | Join Date: May 2006 Location: Crescent Beach, BC | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncletoad  | Oh man! The back of that bass is just perfect - and they won't even tell us the price... |
09-02-2010, 10:57 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NYC | | |
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"It takes a pretty great drummer to be better than no drummer" -Chet Baker
BECAUSE AWESOME CAT IS AWESOME!!!!!
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09-02-2010, 11:30 AM
| | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by powerbass;9643846 Then today I met The Prescott. a 7/8 Gamba just like this one [url http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/prescott/[/url] | The more you play old handmade basses, the more you will realize that there is no such thing as "just like this one". |
09-02-2010, 11:47 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: western MA | | | "For illustration purposes only, actual bass may vary" |
09-02-2010, 12:19 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA | | | When I was in London two summers ago, I played both the Brock "Maggini" and the Briggs (and also a "squat" Hawkes that they had at the time)
The Briggs was 30K UKL (about $50K) and the Brock was 50K UKL @ $80K. The Brock was just stunning; floor-shaking; etc etc
Louis
PS Tony is a very gracious host, even if the prices are out of your (my!) league
Louis |  | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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