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Double Bass Charlie Haden's Vuillaume

#22
bassmanbrent said:
Maybe a loan from his parents or family, but I highly doubt he had a patron help him out.
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Why not?

Charlie indicated in an early interview that he worked selling shoes to get himself and his Kay Bass a bus ticket to Los Angeles.

It isn't unusual FI for promising young gifted classical musicians to receive patronage in the form of endowment/loan of superior instruments as well money in the form of as grants/scholarships. I think it's possible that Haden made some good connections in LA and NY after Ornette's music was turning heads outside of the jazz genre.

The man must of had a lot of drive in those days, and the need for substances probably made him hustle even more when opportunity came knocking.

But who knows, maybe Charlie will get around to writing some memoirs.
 
#24
bassmanbrent said:
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.
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I know I may be wrong in my guessing, but if it was indeed $4000 back in the day, I think 40-50 times is too generous. I doubt a knowledgeable buyer would pay more than 80,000 for any french bass, no matter how great sounding. But 160,000-200,000... It isn't a Maggini or Testore. It isn't a Busan, Goffriller, or Gasparo da Salo. Being great sounding, and of interesting historical pedigree is no automatic guarantee that it is super expensive. It is likely now, as it was then, a great value over those older Italians that were floating around.
 
#25
Thedeadking said:
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.
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It's fine to be curious about things like that, but the direction this thread has taken smacks of disrespect to me. Would you ask a stranger how much money he has, or how he got that nice car or watch? I think not. Or perhaps I am just a curmudgeon living in the past when certain matters like a person's finances were strictly their own business. Sorry to single you out deadking, no disrespect intended.
 
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#26
arnoldschnitzer said:
It's fine to be curious about things like that, but the direction this thread has taken smacks of disrespect to me. Would you ask a stranger how much money he has, or how he got that nice car or watch? I think not. Or perhaps I am just a curmudgeon living in the past when certain matters like a person's finances were strictly their own business. Sorry to single you out deadking, no disrespect intended.
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Indeed.

I figured it would be better to dispel the notion that a Vuillaume bass would be considered priceless. Maybe if it was an octobass... ;)
 
#28
arnoldschnitzer said:
It's fine to be curious about things like that, but the direction this thread has taken smacks of disrespect to me. Would you ask a stranger how much money he has, or how he got that nice car or watch? I think not. Or perhaps I am just a curmudgeon living in the past when certain matters like a person's finances were strictly their own business. Sorry to single you out deadking, no disrespect intended.
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+1
 
#29
No disrespect intended on my part for bringing up personal finances. Such matters are none on my business, not to mention, I could care less how much money Charlie was making in 1959, or now, for that matter.

I have always been intrigued by Charlie's Vuillaume chiefly because of the incredibly distinct sound he gets on it. Of course, his sound is his own on any axe, but man, does he get a certain tone from that Vuillaume.

Indeed, there are other legendary bassist that I've heard of having expensive old basses of the same pedigree, but something about Charlie's sound sparked great curiosity in me, from the first time I ever heard him. That big dark growl, gut strings, an oddly ancient round bass (never cut down)... It's an iconic instrument in his hands.

Fascinating to read everyones thoughts!
 
#30
Hmm. Priceless no, but the market value of that instrument is impossible to determine due to its most famous owner. I haven't played it but have been next to it many times. It certainly looks and sounds as good as the finest Italian/English instruments. I know he had a beat up Prescott and I have played that one. I believe Charlie recorded a number of classic Ornette sides with it. It will be interesting what happens to the instrument in the future. Hate to see it stuck in a museum...
 
#35
Yeah, it was at that master class at Atlantic Center for the Arts. He had a Bisch bow that I dint try (because knew even less about what to do with it then). BIG warm sound, he had Spirocores E and A and Golden Spiral D and G, I was still playing Spirocore solo tunings then (switched to Golden Spirals as soon as I got home). This was 84 or 85, I had only been out of Berklee for 3 or so years, so wasn't in a great position to assess it. But I didn't feel like it was hard to get around on, shoulders didn't seem to be a concern.
Some years later I got to play the bass that Phil Maneri owns now, Steve LaSpina owned it then. There was a lot about how that bass sounded and felt that reminded me of Charlie's bass.
 
#38
Just having a look at this again. RIP Charlie, you are greatly missed and were a rare, genius artist. Reading the comments about Haden writing his memoirs in the original post, it's a real shame he wasn't able to write those down before he left us. thankfully, we have his music though!
 
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#39
Sean Riddle said:
I know I'm reviving a dead forum, but I'm going to be attending the school Charlie Haden taught at (CalArts). I'm sure one of the faculty members will know a bit of the history if that bass!
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it's possible- let us know!

vuillaume made some insane violins. doesn't hillary hahn play on his copy of paganini's own violin, that paganini supposedly couldn't tell apart from his own instrument..?

i'd be surprised if the story of his bass was anything other than he's a professional jazz musician who found a great instrument and purchased it...

i know guys who play $100 gigs twice a month that own basses valued around $16K+... not unrealistic that charlie paid a fair price (in that time) for a nice old french bass.
 

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