Auguste Sebastian Bernadel, 1858 ?

[Martin Henkel]

Hello Ken,
thank you for answering to my question. Photos from the upper bottom of the bass will be made in short. Up to this moment I didn`t saw any Bernardel bass
in gamba shape too, but I`m no specialist in the manner of his way to built basses. A few weeks ago I asked Jan Knooren, bassmaker in the netherlands, what he thinks about the bass. His suggestion is, that the body is original, but he doesn`t think the scroll fits to the bass. It`s difficult to get photos of basses made by Auguste Bernardel to compare. I`m open to every suggestion belonging that bass. Martin

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Martin Henkel

Hello Ken,
thank you for answering to my question. Photos from the upper bottom of the bass will be made in short. Up to this moment I didn`t saw any Bernardel bass
in gamba shape too, but I`m no specialist in the manner of his way to built basses. A few weeks ago I asked Jan Knooren, bassmaker in the netherlands, what he thinks about the bass. His suggestion is, that the body is original, but he doesn`t think the scroll fits to the bass. It`s difficult to get photos of basses made by Auguste Bernardel to compare. I`m open to every suggestion belonging that bass. Martin

There are two Basses in the Elgar Book attributed to Augeste Bernadel (aka Bernardel Pere') that look early French to me. I don't know 100% if those are Bernadel or not but they look very possible but one of them looks slightly German to me. I have started a new Thread here to address this German/French confusion so have a look when you can.

[Anselm Hauke]

i know martins bass well. (guess who made the pics...)

my opinions/thougts:

- i´m not sure about the scroll

- i have seen some mirecourt basses with hat peg tuners, but i think these ar not original

- i have never seen such a beautiful redwine-coloured varnish with a golden coat of varnish beneath on a german bass. you can´t see that on this pics, but maybe martin can post some more

- the bass is imho very fine and delicate made, that i´ve seldom seen in german basses of this age

- somewhere in the internet iirc i´ve seen a gamba-bernadel, but i can´t find the pic again

- aside from the label, i think this could be a french bass

Ken: could you please post the bernadel-pics from the elgar-book?

thanks alot

anselm hauke

[Ken Smith]

Well, I agree that this Bass is a little mystery but the C-bouts do not look French to me at all. Either German or Bohemian actually. On the Varnish, how do you know the varnish is actually original? What if someone 20, 40, 60 or 80 years ago refinished it. Would you be able to tell? Also, not all Red over Gold = French! Have a look at my Martini and tell me if that doesn't look similar in color as well.

The Bass is a nice looking Bass whatever it is and the Scroll is not easy to tell in Pics. I would need to have it here with a UV light and check the Varnish as compared to the Back to see if it matches. If the head is older than the possible re-finish, then it might match if it was completely stripped. If the Varnish on the Bass is original or if the Head's varnish is different under UV, then we know for sure it has been replaced. Many Basses have led a rough and tough life. Many of the types or Repairs and butchery that we have seen on some older Basses are not done much in todays world but there are some who just don't know any better so beware when having your Bass fixed by anyone other than a top class Bass luthier.

On the Elgar Pics, I can't post them for you sorry. On this Bass, I still want to see the back Button area and Purfling close-up if possible.

[Anselm Hauke]

ken,
don´t you see any affinity between martins bass and the derazey i posted here?
thank you
anselm

[Ken Smith]

That's a Derazey Bass above? The one I have seen looks like a Vuillaume except for the Varnish which is a greenish brown (for lack of a better description). It is a full 7/8 with Violin corners, Cello shape and button.

That Bass you posted does look French but is it supposed to be Justin or Honore' Derazey? What exactly does the Label say?

[Anselm Hauke]

i found it here:
http://www.paris-contrebasses.com/pages/actualite2.htm

there a two "derazeys" on the page. scroll down to the second one

[ChrisTurner]

Originally Posted by Anselm Hauke

ken,
don´t you see any affinity between martins bass and the derazey i posted here?
thank you
anselm

Hi i was wondering if you could post a picture of the other side of the scroll it looks like your tunining machine for the d string is on backwards - like mine in the xavier jacquet section

[Anselm Hauke]

Originally Posted by ChrisTurner

Hi i was wondering if you could post a picture of the other side of the scroll it looks like your tunining machine for the d string is on backwards - like mine in the xavier jacquet section

do you mean martins bass or the derazey?