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05-19-2010, 09:28 AM
| | | | Tuning machine copies?
I can't find out anything about this anywhere here..
I have a Prescott bass: classic, large, busetto corners, joined f-holes, label, which has crappy 20th Century tuners.
I am hoping to find someone who could make or sell me tuners that are copies of the originals.
I have looked many places, and nothing I have found available comes close in appearance-- I have quite a collection of pictures of the real thing, as well as a Tewksbury with machines that were probably made by the same person as the Prescott ones. The ones on the the Tewks work very well-- they (at least 3 of them) would 166 years old.
Any ideas?
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05-19-2010, 10:07 AM
| | Registered User
bass luthier, johnson string inst. | | Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: waltham, mass. | | | volker nahrmann in bilerica, ma. might be able to help you out. his web site makes it look as though he is hoarding prescotts...
edit: just visited his site again, i think he has changed it since my last visit, but he doesnt have inventory listed like he used to. but i know they are there
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Last edited by kurt ratering : 05-19-2010 at 10:12 AM.
Reason: additional info
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05-19-2010, 10:54 AM
| | AES Fine Instruments | | Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Brewster, NY, USA | | | Robert McIntosh in Cambridge, NY has a close friend (Josh____) who is a terrific machinist. He can make those for you, no sweat. Expect to pay a couple grand... |
05-19-2010, 11:43 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago | | Quote:
Originally Posted by kurt ratering  volker nahrmann in bilerica, ma. might be able to help you out. his web site makes it look as though he is hoarding prescotts...
edit: just visited his site again, i think he has changed it since my last visit, but he doesnt have inventory listed like he used to. but i know they are there | No, the inventory is still there, just another step or two than before to get to it. |
05-19-2010, 11:55 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Denver, Co. | |
Just wanted to take the time to compliment Provbass1 on
not settling for less than the best machines for a bass of this historic value.
I saw a Prescott recently with some new, less expensive machines added. They looked, at best, outlandish although i'm sure they work fine.
I'd take Arnold's suggestion and do it right.
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"The opportunity was there...but it never presented itself." Phil Urso, 1980. :atoz: |
05-19-2010, 12:18 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago | | | This is interesting...The Prescotts on Nahrmann's page all have full brass plates with various tuners. Very attractive, to me. Two of the Prescotts on the Basscellar.com site have the full plates and one has cheesy looking single plates. Ken Smith's had maple plates made to replace the brass "originals" and work with French gears when converted to four strings, possibly by the Prescott shop. Check his site for details. Maybe some nice gears of your choice with custom brass plates would do the trick?
Last edited by Eric Hochberg : 05-19-2010 at 12:21 PM.
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05-19-2010, 12:53 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Denver, Co. | |
Most Busetto Prescott's I've seen have those carvings up below the volutes where the original plates were supposed to line up with. That's mostly why I would look into customs. Also, shiny new brass plates just don't do it for me on an old one like that.
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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: |
05-19-2010, 01:07 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Chicago | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul Warburton Also, shiny new brass plates just don't do it for me on an old one like that. | I know what you mean, although sometimes I like the contract of old and new... You can have brass antiqued, maybe that would work for the plates. http://www.whitechapel-ltd.com/ganti.html |
05-19-2010, 01:15 PM
| | | | Prescott and Tewks pics
this is what I'm taking about:
(if I manage to get them uploaded) |
05-19-2010, 01:16 PM
| | | | Tewks on left, Prescott on right
Yes, low Bs |
05-19-2010, 04:37 PM
|  | Registered User
Maker of HPF-Pre upright bass preamp | | Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Madison WI | | | I wonder if a machinist could repair the originals rather than replacing them outright, depending on what is wrong with them. |
05-19-2010, 06:34 PM
| | | | Prescott machines
fdeck No theyre not original-- theyre just not as good as the 1840s version which are on the bass at left-- the old ones work just fine-- amazing well, actually.
What I looking to do is copy the the old ones.
Prescotts were usually made with 3 strings, so I think when they were converted a newer set of machines was often installed. |
05-19-2010, 08:29 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Provbass1 fdeck No theyre not original-- theyre just not as good as the 1840s version which are on the bass at left-- the old ones work just fine-- amazing well, actually.
What I looking to do is copy the the old ones.
Prescotts were usually made with 3 strings, so I think when they were converted a newer set of machines was often installed. | They also run in the reverse direction of tuners that I'm normally used to seeing - worm behind the gear, not in front - was that typical on the 3-stringers? I installed my old hatpegs (from Paul - thanks again Paul!) like that, without even thinking about it. Works for me.
George |
05-20-2010, 08:31 AM
| | Registered User
Private Inventor - Bass Capos | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Cologne/Göttingen, Germany | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Provbass1 this is what I'm taking about:
(if I manage to get them uploaded) | 
Hey, you appear to have a very early version of my BassCapos. Do you know who did the extension? I'll ship you some more screws if you want them to all match up. No charge! 
PM me.
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05-20-2010, 09:11 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland | | Quote:
Originally Posted by robobass I'll ship you some more screws if you want them to all match up. No charge!
PM me. | Is it the non-historic phillips thing?  
George |
05-20-2010, 12:01 PM
| | Registered User
Private Inventor - Bass Capos | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Cologne/Göttingen, Germany | | Quote:
Originally Posted by George700DL Is it the non-historic phillips thing? George | Yeah, good point. There were certainly only straight slots in Prescott days. I wonder what screws looked like then, quality, and how expensive they were? I hate straight slots personally. I can't prove it, but I think even the Romans had 'em. Even Phillips are primitive by today's standards, but the truss-head screw I need for my Capos only comes in Phillips.
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Robobass
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05-20-2010, 12:40 PM
|  | Oracle, Ancient Order of Rass Hattur | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Connecticut | | Quote:
Originally Posted by robobass Yeah, good point. There were certainly only straight slots in Prescott days. I wonder what screws looked like then, quality, and how expensive they were? I hate straight slots personally. I can't prove it, but I think even the Romans had 'em. Even Phillips are primitive by today's standards, but the truss-head screw I need for my Capos only comes in Phillips. | Click here--- a fascinating and entertaining read.
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05-20-2010, 01:01 PM
| | Registered User
Private Inventor - Bass Capos | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Cologne/Göttingen, Germany | | Quote:
Originally Posted by drurb Click here--- a fascinating and entertaining read. | just clicked it onto my Amazon wishlist!
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05-20-2010, 01:19 PM
|  | '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 drurb Click here--- a fascinating and entertaining read. | You beat me to it!  A terrific book indeed.
I tend to think of it as "One Good Screw"...  |
05-20-2010, 03:45 PM
| | Registered User
Private Inventor - Bass Capos | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Cologne/Göttingen, Germany | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers You beat me to it! A terrific book indeed.
I tend to think of it as "One Good Screw"... | I already ordered it. What a bunch of geeks we are. Note to young single bassists: Delete all TB from your browser history before you go out on a date. More important even than gathering up dirty socks and underwear.
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