Viols after Nicolas Bertrand

Lütgendorff in his Comprehensive Dictionary of Violin & Lute Makers does not seem to think much of Bertrand's work, yet he has become a most important maker for anyone interested in the history of the viola da gamba. He worked in Paris at the turn of the 17^th to the 18^th century and produced a number of viols, which are still in more or less original condition. His work is crude at times, viewed from the point of view of a craftsman, however his instruments are still valued for their sound and projection.

7 - string bass »big« model:

A big 7 - string bass with a string length of about 71 cm . The original belongs to Wieland Kuijken, and I have based my copies on this instrument after having carefully examined and measured it. The head I use is after an original treble found in the instrument collection at the Paris Conservatoire. The body is about 70cm long, with the greatest width being almost 42 cm resulting in a rather substantial sound box, which creates a beautiful, rich French sound.