French Basses

[Tom Derthick]

Originally Posted by Anselm Hauke

hi tom,

do you have some pictures yet?

Just got the bass back from Pat McCarthy. Beautiful work. The bass is extraordinarily loud and resonant considering new bar, post patch, etc. Much brighter, lots of punch, more 'french' sounding than it was before--it used to be very dark, resonant with huge 'cushion'--but I suspect as it breaks in it should darken considerably, as it did when I bought it 10 years ago. (Prior to purchase the bass had not been played--other than prospective buyers trying it out--in 50 years.)

I have yet to photograph it since getting it back, but if I can figure it out I will attach some photos of the bass while still apart, taken about two weeks ago.

[Anselm Hauke]

hi tom
thank you!
very interesting pics, especially the signature and the label.
the two bernardels i ve seen had none of this.
i´m curios to see to bass from the outside

[Tom Derthick]

Originally Posted by Anselm Hauke

hi tom
thank you!
very interesting pics, especially the signature and the label.
the two bernardels i ve seen had none of this.
i´m curios to see to bass from the outside

Sorry I am not a very good photographer...these should give you some idea of this instrument. I can't wait to hear what it will sound like in a year!

[Anselm Hauke]

Originally Posted by Tom Derthick

Sorry I am not a very good photographer...

WOW, thank you tom.
you are a good photographer...and must be a lucky bass-owner!
very beautiful instrument!

[Ken Smith]

Tom, it looks like you have a clutter room there with all those Basses. Maybe the Bernardel can come and visit me here where there is more room to play, huh?..

By the way, your profile doesn't tell us where you are located in the world. Is this Bass still in France?

Would you mind posting all the usual measurements? It looks quite large from your photos.

[Tom Derthick]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Tom, it looks like you have a clutter room there with all those Basses. Maybe the Bernardel can come and visit me here where there is more room to play, huh?..

By the way, your profile doesn't tell us where you are located in the world. Is this Bass still in France?

Would you mind posting all the usual measurements? It looks quite large from your photos.

Pat McCarthy just did the very crazy detailed measurements for Duane Rosengard, who photographed this bass in May while still in pieces. I should have gotten a copy...here are the rough specs:

body length 44"
lower bout 26"
upper bout 20.5"
rib depth 8.75"
mensure 40.125" (1021 mm.) !!

The bass has been in California for about 100 years, in the Pasadena area till 1997, and in Sacramento with me since then. Don't worry, one of those basses in the background is a borrowed instrument being returned this week...the other is my 'picnic bass,' a mid 1800's Hungarian bass made of two instruments (top and rest of bass do not match), so no overcrowding here! Call me when I retire in 20 years or so! Of course, if you get tired of humid summers, you can always visit the bass in sunny California...most folks never leave. (36 million of us can't be wrong, right?)

[Anselm Hauke]

Originally Posted by Tom Derthick

(Prior to purchase the bass had not been played--other than prospective buyers trying it out--in 50 years.)

this must be a distintive feature from bernadel basses.
the one i saw in paris not long ago (and another one some weeks before) were also not played for many years.