Total number of Vuillaume doublebasses?

[Steve Swan]

Do we have any reasonable guesstimates on the total number of Vuillaume doublebasses produced?

[Ken Smith]

Do we have any reasonable guesstimates on the total number of Vuillaume doublebasses produced?

Vuillaume basses for the most part were built by other workers/makers. I don't know if there is a single bass built BY JB Vuillaume himself. Most of the makers that I have heard of that made basses for him, also made for themselves as well. So, would it be a Vuillaume bass if it had a another label it it but an exact example of one from a maker that built the same exact model for Vuillaume?

George Gemunder, Honore Derazey, Nicolas Francois Vuillaume and possibly Ludwig Neuner made basses for Vuillaume as well as possibly one bass by Jack Lott that to me looks 100% English in its pattern. Georges Mougenot, who took over the shop of NF Vuillaume may have also been involved in bass making for JB as the Mougenot I have is pretty much a Vuillaume in its modelling and F-holes.

[Steve Swan]

Ken,

Thanks. Maybe it would it be better to ask "How many Vuillaume school basses were made? What are our best guesstimate ranges?"

[Ken Smith]

Ken,

Thanks. Maybe it would it be better to ask "How many Vuillaume school basses were made? What are our best guesstimate ranges?"

I have no idea as most cello-violin models are considered Vuillaume models regardless of how close they were copied. Also, copied from which maker that made for Vuillaume? I don't know who would have that 'guestimate' of authentic 'labeled' Vuillaume bass.

Is there a reason why you are asking this other than a slow Friday afternoon?

[Steve Swan]

Ken,

I'm really asking a pretty simple question here. Any estimates based on however wide the definition goes for any of the guesstimators would be welcome. Would that be dozens? Hundreds? What do you all think?

[Matthew Tucker]

Ken,

I'm really asking a pretty simple question here.

I don't think it's a simple question, either.

Unless you're happy with a simple "No" to the first question!

[Ken Smith]

Ken,

I'm really asking a pretty simple question here. Any estimates based on however wide the definition goes for any of the guesstimators would be welcome. Would that be dozens? Hundreds? What do you all think?

Vuillaume school basses, 1,000's of them. Any of the Cello models with the false button would fall under that group. Period would be from the mid 1800s thru the early 20th century.

Makers include the Bernardel's, the Gand's, the Barbe's, the Jacquet's, the J.T. Lamy factory, the Claudot's, and other makers of the period that made that model including those that either worked directly for or supplied Vuillaume that may have also made basses of the same model under their own label.

Not every bass from the makers listed above were on that model but I think most Violin cornered basses were. I have personally seen basses from every one of those makers as well so this is not guess work or a quote from some book!