Hawkes basses

[LukeS]

I'm interested in finding a bit more about Hawkes basses. I've heard that Paul Chambers played one. Does anyone know which players play Hawkes' and where to look for them?

[AMJBASS]

I don't recall Chambers ever playing a Hawkes. If I remember correctly he played primarily on an old German bass. Ben Wolfe plays one though.

As for Hawkes basses. They were made for the Boosey and Hawkes company(Hawkes and Son) around the turn of last century. If you keep your eyes out you can find them. They are usually in the 18,000 to 30,000 dollar range depending one where exactly they were made(England, France and Germany), and the quality of their tone. Do a search here on TB and you can find quite a bit of info on them.

[mjt0229]

Originally Posted by Adrian Juras

I don't recall Chambers ever playing a Hawkes. If I remember correctly he played primarily on an old German bass. Ben Wolfe plays one though.

As for Hawkes basses. They were made for the Boosey and Hawkes company around the turn of last century. If you keep your eyes out you can find them. They are usually in the 18,000 to 30,000 dollar range depending one where exactly they were made(England, France and Germany), and the quality of their tone. Do a search here on TB and you can find quite a bit of info on them.

There's a recent thread including a lot of gory details about a number of examples of them. I don't know any players famous for using them, though my former teacher had a bass whose form closely resembled a Hawkes.

[Ed Fuqua]

Jim Ferguson plays a Hawkes Panormo, as does Ralph Hamperian.

[AMJBASS]

Originally Posted by mjt0229

There's a recent thread including a lot of gory details about a number of examples of them. I don't know any players famous for using them, though my former teacher had a bass whose form closely resembled a Hawkes.

I don't know about a lot of gory details other than the instrument in that one thread. Maybe some of these basses have been mistreated. From my experience, and I briefly owned a German Hawkes Panormo(which I regret selling big time), they are well built instruments with a generally good tone.

[Ed Fuqua]

Doesn't Buster play a Hawkes Panormo?

[jallenbass]

I used to own one. Made in England. Real nice bass. Kinda wish I still had it.

[mjt0229]

Originally Posted by Adrian Juras

I don't know about a lot of gory details other than the instrument in that one thread. Maybe some of these basses have been mistreated. From my experience, and I briefly owned a German Hawkes Panormo(which I regret selling big time), they are well built instruments with a generally good tone.

Well, there were links to two other Hawkes that had passed through Ken's shop. Somewhere recently, a there were posted links to a bass shop in the UK that had 2 of them as well.

[LouisF]

I posted it on the earlier Upton/Hawkes thread... Maybe we can combine the two threads, please?

Here's how the Brits do it:

1) http://www.contrabass.co.uk/2738.htm

2) http://www.contrabass.co.uk/2720.htm


I played the (probably German made) "Squat" Hawkes (#1) at Tony's shoppe last summer - a fantastic instrument - priced at UKL 30K (@$50-60,000). The second (probably French made Concert model) is "only" UKL 20K = $30-$40,000.

And I don't think the "provenance" or history is any more certain.

L

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

Doesn't Buster play a Hawkes Panormo?

Yeth, he do.
It has a re-varnish and French polish me thunk.
EDIT: OT and sorry. Ed, remind me to tell you my Buster story.

An old guy from the 50's Rolly Bundock (Glenn Miller, Perry Como, Henry Mancini and tons of Hollywood sides) had one that killed.

[Paul Dwyer]

Buster's Panormo was a present from Sarah right? I think he said he got it in London when playing with her there.
Panormo description.

[Paul Warburton]

I really love them. They don't give the rib-depths in that site. (thanks, Paul) The rib-depths on those basses are like, huge.
Truly, a real mans bass.

EDIT: 9.47" according to Louis' link. Maybe the taper at the neck joint is what?....7" or so.

Hey, Ed...is Jim a tall guy? In that pic on the front of his album "Not Just Another Pretty Bass", The Hawkes looks a bit smaller than the true Panormo pattern.

[LouisF]

Paul,

The smaller Hawkes might be what Tony in London calls a "Squat" Hawkes
(link #1 above). It seems that a few of them were made.

Louis

[AMJBASS]

I have heard of those as well. Interesting stuff. By the way, it looks like my valuing of the Hawkes basses is a little on the low side. Ken says they are now selling in the $20K+ range up to $50K when in great shape. Should have kept mine...

[Paul Warburton]

If I could find one with my specific needs for $20K, I'd consider it a real deal.

[Ed Fuqua]

Originally Posted by Paul Warburton

I really love them. They don't give the rib-depths in that site. (thanks, Paul) The rib-depths on those basses are like, huge.
Truly, a real mans bass.

EDIT: 9.47" according to Louis' link. Maybe the taper at the neck joint is what?....7" or so.

Hey, Ed...is Jim a tall guy? In that pic on the front of his album "Not Just Another Pretty Bass", The Hawkes looks a bit smaller than the true Panormo pattern.

Tallish, prolly around six feet? We never measured

[Mike Arnopol]

I had a really nice Hawkes Panormo that I got from Tom Martin in the early 90's. (paid about $5k---maybe should have kept it) Set up as a 5 string. Great bass, but for me, the Hawkes basses are a bit like driving a truck. I'm not speaking about the dimensions. I'm comfortable on big basses. I was at Gage's shop one time when Ray Brown was there. We were both checking out a Hawkes Concert. I'm glad Ray said it because it was what I was thinking. He said "great bass, but I think it's too sluggish for walking at fast tempos" That being said, there are a lot of great bassists playing Hawkes basses, but for me, I'd like the power but a bit more romantism and lyricism. Actually, I think the flat back Professors are a bit quicker in response than the Panormos. The best Hawkes I've played was owned by the late Eldee Young. It was a Panormo, but Paul Toenneges had replaced the bass bar. Awesome bass.

[Paul Warburton]

Man, Paul Toenniges could do some great **** to basses.

[Paul Warburton]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

We never measured

[Ike Harris]

I think Jim told me his was a Concert model. Plays extremely easy.