Periods and Styles of French Basses

[Phil Maneri]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Here's a sneak preview of a beautiful Vuillaume School Bass..

Click here.

Against my better judgment business-wise, I am posting this link for an early viewing. The Bass should be kept under wraps for a year or two until it is fully restored but for Historical purposes I thought it was more important to share.

Outstanding!


Outstanding!


What a great bass find.

[Eric Swanson]

Thanks for posting these. Gives a person something to be inspired by...

So very lovely...

[Dave Whitla]

My main bass was made by Francois Lejeune. There is a very splotchy label inside that looks like the date says 176_. I got it about 13 years ago from Mike Leiter. It has definitely been cut down from its original size around the top shoulders, possibly when it was damaged- the scroll has been grafted at least twice (!) and the neck has been broken at least two or three times (once by an airline since I have owned it ). Not sure if the scroll is original, but I'm told it is from the same time period. Neck probably isn't. It's a beautiful scroll, carved through the back with additional carving on the sides and front. The two shoulder ribs and one 'C' rib have been replaced but I have no idea when. I could post some older photos, but the bass is now quite different. I had an extension put on, but more importantly it is now undergoing a fairly major restoration to the top (cleats from previous repairs/restoration were causing new cracks and the arch was 'collapsing' into more of a 'B' shape around the bridge).

It won't be done for a few more months, probably. Shall I wait until then to post photos, or would you like to see what it looked like about 5 years ago?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Dave Whitla

My main bass was made by Francois Lejeune. There is a very splotchy label inside that looks like the date says 176_. I got it about 13 years ago from Mike Leiter. It has definitely been cut down from its original size around the top shoulders, possibly when it was damaged- the scroll has been grafted at least twice (!) and the neck has been broken at least two or three times (once by an airline since I have owned it ). Not sure if the scroll is original, but I'm told it is from the same time period. Neck probably isn't. It's a beautiful scroll, carved through the back with additional carving on the sides and front. The two shoulder ribs and one 'C' rib have been replaced but I have no idea when. I could post some older photos, but the bass is now quite different. I had an extension put on, but more importantly it is now undergoing a fairly major restoration to the top (cleats from previous repairs/restoration were causing new cracks and the arch was 'collapsing' into more of a 'B' shape around the bridge).

It won't be done for a few more months, probably. Shall I wait until then to post photos, or would you like to see what it looked like about 5 years ago?

Sure. Before and After pics are great to have and compare from.

[Dave Whitla]

As it turns out, I have pictures of my Lejeunne bass with the extension. One photo here- of the back of the scroll- predates the extension. On my computer the resolution isn't great; hopefully it won't be too bad here (unless they end up too small to be of use...)

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Dave Whitla

As it turns out, I have pictures of my Lejeunne bass with the extension. One photo here- of the back of the scroll- predates the extension. On my computer the resolution isn't great; hopefully it won't be too bad here (unless they end up too small to be of use...)

Is that the KC extension? Love the back of that scroll just as it is. Real evidence of the old French Viol school. And pics of the back or ribs we could see?

[Dave Whitla]

Yes, that's the KC extension. I chose it for the lack of drilling the scroll, and no torque to the scroll. I'm really happy with it, although it is kind of heavy.

I'll dig around for photos of the back and ribs. In the meantime, here is before and after shots of the arching of the top. Not from the same angle, but you can still see the change.