Double Bass Charlie Haden's Vuillaume

[smythe5]

I'm curious how Haden acquired it and I'm not quite sure when he started playing it. I've read the interview where he talks about taking the Greyhound to LA with his Kay strapped to the top of the bus! Classic. I am currently devouring any interviews I can with Charlie, as I find him endlessly fascinating. And, of course, he is my favorite bassist.

But I find it a bit mysterious how a jazz musician who most likely did not always have a ton of money was able to acquire such a priceless instrument. Did someone give it to him? Somehow I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[Stinkoman20xx]

I know nothing about Charlie Haden but I'm familiar with Vuillaume in violin circles and is extremely highly regarded. I would also be curious on how he might acquired something like that if he wasn't highly payed.

 

[Jeremy Darrow]

But I find it a bit mysterious how a jazz musician who most likely did not always have a ton of money was able to acquire such a priceless instrument. Did someone give it to him? Somehow I wouldn't be surprised.

I don't know anything about Charlie's finances, but I wouldn't assume that Charlie has not done well for himself.

 

[Jon Stefaniak]

I don't know about this particular bass, but it is not "priceless". It has a price, and is likely not as expensive as many much older Italian basses. 19th century french basses simply don't fetch the same prices as the 18th century Italian masters. I am sure it is expensive if he were to sell it today, but it was probably not impossibly priced when he bought it. (just speculating)
There are some pics of a Vuillaume bass in the book "Looking at the Double Bass"

I assume this is Haden's bass in this video :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSUkl0SJ5Zk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Massive violin shaped shoulders and THAT TONE. Anyway, quite a find.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

When he bought it, he paid "around $4000" for it. He didn't talk about it like it was a big scuffle for the bread. I'm sure he paid much more for the Auray.
As far as where the bread came from, sure Charlie was using when he was playing with Ornette, but this was at a time when the first words out of Ornette's mouth (when he was contacted to do a concert) were "$10,000"....

 

[Jon Stefaniak]

There are some pics of a Vuillaume bass in the book "Looking at the Double Bass"

 

[JAUQO III-X]

this was at a time when the first words out of Ornette's mouth (when he was contacted to do a concert) were "$10,000"....

When Ornette first burst on the scene they were not making that kind of money.

 

[damonsmith]

Most of us spent around that or more on our basses. I don't think pay has increased for musicians much since then and the amount of work we can get has decreased.
He could have got it after a tour of Europe or something.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

I always thought it was interesting that Charlie's bass has the original cello shape. Most basses like this have had the shoulders cut down.

- Steve

 

[Ed Fuqua]

When Ornette first burst on the scene they were not making that kind of money.

I didn't say that's what they were making, but that's what he was asking.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

I didn't say that's what they were making, but that's what he was asking.

Thanks Ed and I wasn't being sarcastic in my original post(above).

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Me either.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Me either.

I didn't think you were.

 

[MR PC]

Charlie has a wonderful and supportive family. I'd really doubt that the instrument will ever leave the circle of family and friends when he is done with it.

 

[smythe5]

When he bought it, he paid "around $4000" for it. He didn't talk about it like it was a big scuffle for the bread. I'm sure he paid much more for the Auray.
As far as where the bread came from, sure Charlie was using when he was playing with Ornette, but this was at a time when the first words out of Ornette's mouth (when he was contacted to do a concert) were "$10,000"....

You got me Ed. I didn't really want to spell it out, but you know, playing at the 5 spot with Ornette and using hard drugs isn't the greatest recipe for buying expensive basses. But I figured it was just perhaps not as valuable back in the day, or maybe there was some cool story about some old cat laying it on him for practically nothing...

And no, I have no question in my mind of how rich Charlie is NOW! Too bad about his health though

 

[MR PC]

Charlie probably had a patron, don't you think? People like Leonard Bernstein were going to Ornette's shows early on. Some deep old money pockets there.

 

[gerry grable]

Charlie probably had a patron, don't you think? People like Leonard Bernstein were going to Ornette's shows early on. Some deep old money pockets there.

Possibly? But remember they didn't have Antique Road Show in those days and people didn't know the value of basses and string instruments, especially if they were "old looking" with repaired cracks and varnish that wasn't mirror-like. My father bought me my first good bass (1962) for $25. It cost less than $200 to fix it up. Luthiers didn't charge as much in those days. I later had it appraised by Earsel Atchley in KC at "at least $500 on todays market" (1965). My dad also gave me the bass I play today. He got it from a friend of his who owned a bar--for nothing! "Your kid plays bass fiddle? Take it, it's just gathering dust."
So I was lucky, but there were lots of bargains out there at the time. In hindsight, oh well, forget it

 

[Jon Stefaniak]

people didn't know the value of basses and string instruments

Yes, but the instruments were also much less expensive. The market for fine instruments is constantly inflated by collectors and dealers. Players used to buy their instruments from other players and often for the same price the seller originally paid. Now the best instruments are priced comparably with houses. My guess is that Haden could probably sell his bass for 15 times what he originally payed. Besides inflation, I don't think the instrument is 10-15 times better than it was or that the seller wasn't aware of the value.

 

[bassmanbrent]

I know it's already been said here, but the price of basses was not that high in those days. I don't think it would have been too big a stretch for Charlie Haden to get the money needed to buy his bass. Maybe a loan from his parents or family, but I highly doubt he had a patron help him out. As for it's value now, my guess is that it's worth 40 to 50 times what he paid for it, depending on condition etc. Some of the luthiers that chime in here from time to time surely know better than I... Thanks for the interesting read everyone!

 

[bassmanbrent]

Also, Charlie Haden was not the only player in that era to have a fine pedigree instrument. Ray Brown, Percy Heath and Richard Davis ( I think?) are a few that come to mind that owned really great basses that would be extremely expensive in today's market. I guess my only point here, other than bass geeking , is that it was not at all impossible for jazz bassist to own really, really fine instruments at that time.