Quote:
Originally Posted by gennaevelyn  Juzek half-sized . . . I was able to identify it as obviously a laminate . . . , but other than that I don't know much about it . . . I can't tell what a good luthier COULD do with the bass and whether it'd be a step up from the bass I have now which is a very nicely set up Engelhardt EC-1. |
Genna --
What a clear post; nice going.
DIGRESSION: Arnold has forgotten more than I will ever know about basses. That said and meant, had you not said it was a plywood bass I would have guessed plywood based on a) lack of cracks; b) apparent slab-grain in close-up of f-hole, although the pics aren't crystal-clear on the point; c) apparent edge-chipping shown in the full-view pic; d) apparent lack of center-seams, although the pics aren't crystal-clear on the point; and e) blackened f-hole (although the last is the least-definitive). So somebody would probably have asked for more pics before making a final conclusion. Point being, yah, the pics show a high likelihood of plywood.
Back on point. Your question is whether a 50s/60s half-sized plywood bass is a step up from a very-nicely set-up modern three-quarter plywood bass. My ignorant, wordy answer is:
a) Does it sound better?
1) Is that because you like the strings better?
2) Is that because you like the feel better?
b) Sound aside -- and sound is everything -- generally, the Juzek label indicates a sturdy, fundamentally-sound instrument and the Englehardt label inspires a lower degree of confidence. Of course, there are winners and losers in both piles.
c) As Arnold noted many folks avoid half-size basses like measles. Even if you are not one of them that reality affects your ability to sell the bass later.
d) Most of the time the step up from a plywood bass would be a solid-top or solid-wood bass. Again, there are exceptions in both piles.
There! What a windbag I am!
