Mirecourt

Dave Irwin · #1 04-18-2011, 05:00 PM

One for the wealthy among us (or broke because all the $ is in basses).
I ran into a really nice sounding old French bass, approx 150yrs old. The label says Gand but the luthier is sure it's not a Gand but likely a bass out of a shop in Mirecourt France.
Question is, what is a reasonable value range for such a bass?

Thanks,
Dave

Marcus Johnson · #2 04-18-2011, 05:01 PM

Prolly "Minecourt"

massimo · #3 04-19-2011, 01:07 PM

"Mirecourt" is too generic, the value of those instruments can greatly differ, depending on quality of construction , quality of wood, varnish, sound, if it needs repairs... Here in France you can find Mirecourt basses ranging from 4K to 25K Euro (a normal good quality Mirecourt should be around of 10-12K Euro) It's impossible be more precise than this without seeing the bass...hope this helps

Dave Irwin · #4 04-19-2011, 02:38 PM

It does help. Thank you!

Jason Sypher · #5 04-19-2011, 02:39 PM

Photos would help immensely

LouisF · #6 04-19-2011, 02:45 PM

Also info here:

Jerome Thiboville-Lamy

Louis

Dave Irwin · #7 04-19-2011, 03:32 PM

The pics aren't that great and it's a flash site so I cant link directly but its at
Classic Contrabass: Double Bass Sales, Repairs, Rentals, Luthier Services then goto carved basses, purported mirecourt bass.

Its at Classic Contrabass in Wheeling IL. It's a fairly small bass but had a pretty big/rich sound.
It was my favorite among the basses there.

Dave

LouisF · #8 04-19-2011, 03:50 PM

Well, Michelle is great, so you'd be in good hands.

Louis

mdcbass · #9 04-19-2011, 07:53 PM

I have been in touch with Michelle because of the button carving on both basses. Arnold recently restored mine and among other things, removed the polyurethane that came in between the original (left picture) and applied a warm, brown varnish shown on the right.

mdcbass · #10 04-19-2011, 08:04 PM

Two more pictures of my bass

Dave Irwin · #11 04-20-2011, 04:10 PM

mdcbass, thanks for posting. After reading your other posts on your bass, I'm more intrigued than ever. Unfortunately, my wife, not so much. Did Arnold have an opinion on it's origin? I see there were opinions from the other posts that it might not be french at all.

mdcbass · #12 04-20-2011, 06:45 PM

Hi Dave,
I'm not really sure where mine was made. There is no label and I have been looking for another bass with that button carving and then I was pointed toward the one you are admiring. Arnold thought it looked German late 19th century. I think it was the linings and something about the f holes that said German to him. The scroll looks French but somethimes they exported them for use elsewhere.

It is a very good quality instrument wherever it was made.

KJPbop · #13 04-25-2011, 06:45 AM

Greetings Dave! Mind sharing with us how much the seller wants for the instrument?
Regards, KJPbop

isolated · #14 04-25-2011, 03:28 PM

The proportions (upper, lower, and 'C' bouts) look to be more German than French to me, as do the 'F' holes. But the lack of outside linings is a very French thing to do, as is the double purfling on the back. So yeah, who can say? Hell, if it sounds good, is healthy and isn't ridiculously expensive, provenance would be a lesser concern, at least for me.