Juzek NY ?

[Tanglehead]

Hey all.

I've got an appointment to look at a bass tomorrow that's described by the seller (from Craigslist) as a ca. 1900 Juzek made in New York. This information was based on inscirptions inside the instrument, but I have not personally verified this. The seller also erroneously (I hope) continues to describe this bass as a 'Jasek', but when I responded 'Juzek' didn't correct me.

Looking through the threads yielded by a search for Juzek, this attribution to NY doesn't seem to make sense - or am I missing something?

The seller is asking $3000, but mentioned a willingness to negotiate, based on the fingerboard starting to separate from the neck. If I like the way it sounds and plays, I'm seriously considering buying this and having it repaired - only my third purchase in the last 20 years. I've played a few other basses recently for comparison, so I have an idea of what I'm looking for sound-wise, but I feel like I'm going into this decision under-qualified from an investment standpoint.

Investment-wise, I'm also concerned about re-sale value. Basically, I have a policy of investing in instruments instead of keeping thousands of dollars in savings for a rainy day fund. I don't really NEED another bass, but I have about $3000 available that isn't earning significant interest that I can spend.

Any thoughts on what I should look for when checking out this bass in person or in terms of what level Juzek it is?

Any thoughts would be appreciated, and most effective before Thursday evening, PST.

- Tanglehead

[philip sirois]

you might want to bring this over to the ken smith board. He has some very strong ideas about the whole juzek thing. If I remember from his many rants on the subject
a Juzek made in 1900 in New York would be wrong on two counts: Juzeks weren't made in new york, and they weren't being made in 1900 anywhere. But don't take my word for it.

[mojoluthier]

On the other hand, a good sounding solid wood bass with the only meaningful problem being a loose fingerboard (that can mean other problems) is unlikely to be robbery. Especially if it has history going for it.

[Tanglehead]

So I checked out this bass tonight - there's a Juzek label in it for sure, with the J that has the horizontal line through it like a reverse F. I could barely make out the letters, so no chance of seeing a date.

Carved and all that, but WELL USED, to put it nicely. The scroll had been broken off and screwed back on at some point, but the angle doesn't look right. (Can you say Frankenstein?) Many cracks and cleats - well done as far as I can tell, but there's something in the body that vibrates sympathetically with pitches around the open D and adds a good rattle to an otherwise nice sounding bass. The fingerboard is WAY separating from the neck, the the extent that you can see light between the two of you look at the right angle. The seller admitted getting an estimate of $2K to repair it to decent condition, but my limited knowledge tells me that might not be enough.

I'm pretty concerned about all that, but I'll hold final judgement until I talk to a luthier who's seen it. FWIW it did feel really good to me, and the sound minus the rattle in the body and neck we clear with nice response and a balanced timbre.

Just thought I'd update this thread.

Tanglehead

[glivanos]

If its a 3/4 size Juzek, its worth buying and repairing.

5/8's size Juzeks are going for about $4K, but 3/4 size are going for at least $6-8K depending on condition.

I'm looking at a 5/8's size for about $4500 right now that is undergoing a fingerboard replacement.