Hawkes & Son.. (The Official KSB Hawkes Bass Discussion Thread)

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

Came across this, Ken. Are you familiar with Bailey and any connection to R&H? English made?

http://www.sothebys.com/en/search.ht...=double%20bass

Never heard his name before. Perhaps he was hired to finish up or set-up the basses if supplied incomplete or un-finished in the white that was supplied by on of the French Firms. Also, British firms have been known to label or brand instruments that they only sell in their shop made by others, new and old.

I have seen pictured a few R & H basses and two in person that were claimed to be. One was false as the date was off by over 20 years and German/Bohemian made and the other was 100% a French bass that first was thought to be a Claudot or Jacquet. Only after the bass was opened for restoration was the label found hidden inside from R&H. The R&H firm/name was closed in 1889 and then the name of Hawkes & Son replaced it. I think they have to date 1880-1889 to be genuine regardless of the label used or the dealers opinion.

[Ken Smith]

I just recently bought an old/newish bass that was re-constructed around an old French Hawkes Top that was found in England with its original French Tuners. One way that I can personally confirm this is French is by the wood. It is the same wide and wavy grain often found on the Jacquet basses known as Silver Spruce. The Top was re-built around all for outer wings and also re-varnished in the process. Then, a fine Luthier in Hungary used Walnut that was cut into Back and Rib sets some 20 years ago re-made the bass modeled partially on the Hawkes pattern and even added the outer linings as found on the German-made Hawkes imports. The Neck with a short 3-string style British Peg-box was made new for the bass but he had an old Hungarian Head/Scroll lying around which he grafted to the top of the pegbox. Have a look;

[Anselm Hauke]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

a fine Luthier in Hungary

Was that maybe Barnabás Rácz ?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Anselm Hauke

Was that maybe Barnabás Rácz ?

No, I don't think it was him but I can ask to make sure. The Old Hungarian bass I have was restored by him but this was another maker who possibly apprenticed with him. There are a few good makers/restorers there now but Rácz is the top guy in Hungary and possibly Eastern Europe.

[John Cubbage]

Thank you for this very detailed information about Hawkes basses. What you've collected here is great.

My first experience with Hawkes Panormo basses was at Juilliard. While a student there I received one to use from the Juilliard instrument collection. It looked much like the one pictured in the first posting in this thread. It had dark varnish, external rib linings, flat back, and the large tuning gears. Some wood was spliced into the upper back of this bass, so no H or F was visible.

I worked with a bassist in the North Carolina Symphony who had two Hawkes Panormo basses: One had varnish that was orange in color, external rib linings, large tuning gears, and a round back. His other Hawkes Panormo did not have external rib linings, the varnish was light brown, round back, tuning gears were less large, and had very nice looking wood. The varnish and wood reminded me of a couple of instruments I'd seen from the Vuillaume shop. I do not recall an H or F on the upper backs of these basses.

My latest view of a Hawkes Panormo bass was in a video demonstration from Lemur that was online during this year. Lemur was selling a Hawkes Panormo which sounded quite good over the internet.

Hawkes basses are out there.

-Dr. C.