Abraham Prescott (1789–1858) holds a special place in our New England hearts. The New Hampshire luthier built his first double bass in 1820, followed by around 200 more. Right now, we have several Prescott-related projects underway.
A beautiful example of New England lutherie
When a Prescott bass arrives, it’s always a special day. This one, acquired from a trusted colleague, is in remarkable condition—almost entirely original. While some previous repairs need to be reversed, the instrument’s integrity is intact.
This restoration is about preserving the bass’s essence. We’ll address past repairs, correct some bad varnish work, and carefully go through the ribs, back, and neck. The neck will be re-set, with a slightly adjusted angle. A longer fingerboard will be fitted, and the overstand increased, all within the bounds of a historically mindful restoration.
This double bass is priced at $60,000. We welcome buyers to be involved in the restoration process. Want to check it out? Come play it as it is now.
This bass showcases Prescott’s craftsmanship: edgework, sugar maple ribs, and his signature outside linings remain intact. The f-holes, typical for Prescott, are unaltered—thankfully, no one has re-carved them. Its resonance and power are unmistakable. This is a section bass, built to command attention on stage. It’s an outstanding example of early American bass making.
A Prescott Copy in the Works
Beyond this restoration, we’re making two copies of this Prescott. Among our models, the Concord has long been inspired by Prescott, but these copies will be note for note replicas of the full-sized, Busetto-cornered Prescott—the one that comes to mind when people think of the maker.
For these builds, we’re using sapele –sometimes called African mahogany – for the back and sides, with spruce for the top. Even the neck is sapele. Though it may seem foreign to Prescott’s New England roots, he himself often used mahogany. The finish will be simple, highlighting the wood’s natural beauty, with a white spruce top varnished to match.
One of the two copies is already spoken for—thank you, Greg, for collaborating with us on this long-awaited project! As the initiator of this build, he gets first pick, but that means one will still be available.
The Gamba-Cornered Prescott
We also have another Prescott, fully restored by us – one of the most comprehensive we’ve taken on. This gamba-cornered model has a 41.5-inch string length and a 44-inch back. It features a flat back, original purfling, and original varnish. The neck has been grafted, and the original scroll carefully preserved. We installed vintage Sloane tuners with aluminum shanks to keep things light. This is a bass that’s both tonally and visually exceptional.
This Prescott could be set up as a jazz beast with Spirocore strings or tailored for orchestral playing. Prescott double basses are found in the very top level symphony orchestras around the world, and hold their own next to Italian instruments worth $300,000. From that perspective Prescotts must be seen as an incredible deal, currently priced between $50,000 and $60,000. This particular one is listed at $55,000. Given that contemporary makers charge similar prices for new instruments, it’s remarkable that an original Prescott isn’t valued higher.
Right now, we have three Prescotts in the shop, with one already spoken for. If you’re serious about owning a piece of American bass-making history, now is the time to visit, play them, and hear for yourself. Whether you’re drawn to a Prescott or one of our own models, this is a rare chance to own something truly special.
