On-site and live sales: The Sound of Marcel Bourdon - professional instruments and sound equipment
You didn't know Marcel Bourdon? Go to the internet, type in Marcel Bourdon Rhodes. You will learn that, since 1970, he has repaired and tuned more than 1000 Fender Rhodes Piano. Even Bob Marley came to see him, in person, in his workshop in Puteaux, during his tour in France in 1977. In fact, the neighbours remember him because the artist's tourbus blocked the street, causing a traffic jam!
François, who worked with Marcel Bourdon for many years, will tell you that he did even more for the Rhodes. Indeed, something was a bit "wrong" with these keyboards when they came out, and it was Marcel who found the solution that Fender used on all its instruments. But Marcel was not only Mr. Rhodes. Before that he had been the guitarist of the Fingers. The group formed in 1962 and sponsored by Line Renaud was awarded the Charles Cros prize and the Grand Prix du Public. They released twelve records and accompanied Line Renaud. They will separate in 1964.
Marcel Bourdon will continue all his life to devote to music and musicians. He opened a shop-workshop selling and renting instruments in Puteaux. Many musicians know the place. There was always an excuse to drop by and talk music. Among his last and very faithful visitors and admirers, we could count Hervé Salters of the band General Elektriks. Hervé had some nice words in his post on facebook on the day of Marcel's death. Let me quote him here: "Thank you Marcel for the wonderful sounds you made come out of any instrument you touched, and for all those wonderful visits in your shop/Alibaba's cave".
Many also, without knowing him, played his instruments. Indeed, for almost fifty years Marcel Bourdon rented his instruments to television stations and Radio France. The studios of the Maison Ronde had no secrets for him. How many times did he adjust his keyboards before concerts. He was particularly appreciated by the sound engineers, including Pascal Besnard, who is presenting this collection to us today.
Already last July, during a conversation with Marcel, he had told us his wish to auction some of his instruments. Then Marcel Bourdon left us on July 18. When his wife Jeannine and his daughter Isabelle (both sopranos, always music around Marcel!), invited us to come to Puteaux, we had the privilege to visit a temple! Nothing had moved for many years. Of course, the activity of the house had never stopped, and some amps or keyboards were ready for a next delivery; others were to come back. But just imagine: dozens of amps, pianos, drums, guitars, pedals, brass instruments, etc. In short, there were so many that you couldn't get into some rooms. Some instruments had not seen the light for ten years! So, of course, we had to sort through them to arrive at the selection we are presenting: the treasures of Marcel Bourdon's Alibaba cave!
You who do not know, you will discover this universe as it has remained for fifty years, just a little more tidy, for you who knew him, you will find your friend through these dear instruments.
Lots marked with an asterisk (*) do not belong to the Marcel Bourdon group.
Auctioneer:
Patrick Deburaux
Exhibitions:
140, rue de Verdun - 92800 Puteaux
from 29 November to 10 December 2021
By appointment - 01 42 24 80 76
Sale:
To participate in the sale four possibilities:
- Internet : register on www.drouot.com. Please note that you must do so before 12 noon on Saturday 11 December. Intermediation fees of 1.8% VAT included will be added to the sale fees (25% + 1.8% = 26.80% VAT included).
- Buying order: we substitute ourselves to you during the sale. Send us your purchase order by e-mail (contact@art-richelieu.fr) specifying: name, first name, address, bank details, lot number, short description, maximum bid amount excluding costs (25% VAT).
Please note that your order must reach us by 10am on Saturday 11 December at the latest!
- Telephone: you bid yourself during the sale. Send us your telephone bidding request by e-mail (contact@art-richelieu.fr), specifying: surname, first name, address, bank details, lot number. Please note that your request must reach us by 10 a.m. on Saturday 11 December at the latest! We will call you during the auction: remember to keep your phone close to you...
-On site - 51 rue Decamps - 75116 Paris. According to the current rules, any person over 16 years old will have to bring his health pass attesting a vaccination, a negative result to a virological screening test or a full recovery. We will have to verify this before the sale. Thank you for registering, limited space available.
Delivery:
If you require delivery, you can request a quote from the following companies:
The Packengers - hello@thepackengers.com
Transpart - contact@transpart.fr
Enchères Service - contact@encheres-service.fr
MBE Montrouge - mbe001@mbefrance.fr