Description
This ca. 1835 Abraham Prescott gamba 3/4 flatback has a very large and full orchestral section voice. It underwent a complete restoration about 30 years ago and has received regular maintenance since then. The spruce top plate features very evenly spaced medium grain. The tap tones are deep and dark. The F-holes remain connected, as they were from the original build. The maple ribs and back plate are medium density, with darker resonant tap tones. The tuning machines feature gears the turn backwards from standard. The E position tuning machine was added in the conversion to 4 strings. The adjustable endpin features a rosewood endpin post. The maple bridge has wooden adjusters from Pat McCarthy. The various crack repairs were closed again and cleated during the restoration. The varnish ha also had repairs to the worn areas.Dimensions are: Top length 43 1/8″ (109.5 cm), Upper bout width 21″ (53.3 cm), Middle bout width 14 1/2″ (36.8 cm), Lower bout width 26 1/8″ (66.4 cm), Rib depth at tail 8 1/2″ (21.6 cm), Rib depth at upper bout crease 8 1/4″ (21.0 cm), Rib depth at neck joint 6 1/4″ (15.9 cm), Length of back including button 44 3/4″ (113.7 cm), String length 42 1/2″ (108.0 cm). The voice with the Pirastro Evah Pirazzi orchestra gauge is floor shaking. This bass is a marvelous section instrument, with a large, dark presence.
