Double Bass Prescott bass?

[eh_train]

Hi all,

I just noticed this auction:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-182...599?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c889134a7

I have absolutely no connection to the seller, but am interested in the provenance of this bass.
Although my experience with Prescott basses is still pretty limited, I have seen a few at Oberlin, and quite a few pics on TB. This isn't looking much, at all, like the ones I've seen. Comments?

Cheers,

Paul (eh_train)

 

[bassmastan]

It's definitely looks Prescott era, and the label is right.

Prescott did make gamba basses, and this one has seen better days. The price looks like he wants a quick sell, and cannot tell if the cracks are open or not. Back looks like it's in okay shape.

I'd be cautious, something smells fishy

 

[Eric Hochberg]

The scroll isn't Prescott, and no outer linings like I've seen on Prescott basses.
Also 42" string length is short unless it's been altered from original. Doesn't look like a Prescott to me. Looks more like an old German/Czech shop bass.

 

[PCprincipalbass]

Prescott

 

[LouisF]

This is my old teacher's Prescott gamba for sale at Upton:
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This might be a Franken-Prescott (the F holes look real to me etc), with all kinds of repairs and "restorations" done over the years. It could be a great steal (for a player, not resale) or it could be junk. Real Prescotts are going for 4 to 5 times his price. But if it's a Prescott top (cut down etc), non-authentic neck or scroll etc, you could get a Prescott sound at a bargain price... or firewood. Have it checked out first if interested.
Louis

 

[PaulCannon]

I have no idea if it's really a Prescott, but I wouldn't dismiss the idea based on price. $12,000 is about what somebody would have paid for a Prescott 25 years ago. It's entirely possible the seller doesn't know the market price, or doesn't care.

I bought my Toenniges ten years ago from a retired symphony player who wanted to sell it for what he paid. It's not always about money.

 

[eh_train]

Looks more like an old German/Czech shop bass.

That's pretty much what I was thinking...

One person commented "the label looks right". I only realized after posting that this is the same seller, from Texas, who sells many vintage basses and they all have labels. That's kind of curious.

Louis, I'm not thinking of buying, just wanting a healthy discussion.

Any other thoughts on this? Luthiers, in particular?

CHeers,

Paul

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

I'm not a luthier by any means, but I don't see one single thing about that bass that doesn't scream "turn-of-the-century Germanic shop bass."

 

[calypsocoral302]

Scroll looks entirely wrong, as do the FF-holes, and it's a roundback-- I don't know of any roundback Prescotts. The body profile actually looks a lot closer to a Juzek than a Prescott.

I'd definitely pass.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Here are some pretty good shots of a Prescott a friend of mine had. This particular bass had a scroll graft and the machines had been monkeyed with, but was otherwise original.

http://www.theluthier.us/theluthier.us/Basses_in_restoration/Pages/Abraham_Prescott_1840.html

Nahrmann has a nice collection of Prescotts that are documented on his site.

 

[drurb]

Just curious-- would you not expect to see outside linings on a Germanic shop bass?

 

[eh_train]

Hi Calypso,

Again, I'm not planning to bid, but just wanted some discussion.

It seems odd that someone would create a rather obvious fake and try to sell it on Ebay. Also, given that they make a habit of doing this (they sold, or tried to sell, a similar bass as a "Gemunder" some time back).

Cheers,

Paul

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Just curious-- would you not expect to see outside linings on a Germanic shop bass?

I would, maybe more likely Czech. But, anything is possible...

 

[bassmastan]

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In comparison the shape is all wrong. Also on the back of the mystery bass, there is something up on the back near the neck joint, looks like it might be a flower or something, I know for some instruments the style of purfiling can help determine age and location.

Here is another example: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[lcdck]

If you take a look at the sellers feedback on ebay, you will note more than one instance where an instrument was described as something it turned out not to be. One buyer claims a cello had fake label, discovered after an appraisal. If this looked like a Prescott, it might be believable, but all things considered, I'm skeptical.

 

[Jake deVilliers]

Just curious-- would you not expect to see outside linings on a Germanic shop bass?

It depends on the age and by what you mean by 'Germanic'. Lots of these basses were built when Bavaria, Saxony, etc. were still separate republics/kingdoms.

The Sudetenlands have been variously Saxon and Bohemian as recently as WWI, and the Bohemian and Czech basses tend not to have external linings, though the Saxon ones do. What I'm trying to get at is its not an exact science like, say, the molecular weight of lead!

 

[eh_train]

Lcdck,

Thanks for the lead on this seller's Ebay feedback. Although it shows as 100% positive, the comments tell a different story: "Suspicious of Cello's authenticity", "Not French", and "antiqued cello with fake label" jump out.

As I mentioned before, it's also amazing [read: unbelievable] how many of this sellers instruments have attributions: "Bass by Barth, Cello by Tononi, Viola by Carletti, Viola by Apparut", etc.

I know this has been going on for hundreds of years, and buyer beware, etc., but the crudeness and blatancy of this rankles me.