Juzek question

joel kelsey · #1 02-12-2007, 11:19 PM

Hi all,

I was wondering if all Juzeks had markings on the button. I have a bass that is labeled a Juzek with no markings on the button. The reason why I am asking is because my former teacher saw my bass and asked me about it. I am pretty sure this bass was refinished, but could the back have been replaced as well? Here are some photos. I apologize in advance for my lack of picture taking skills.
Thanks

joel kelsey · #2 02-12-2007, 11:22 PM

here are some more

joel kelsey · #3 02-12-2007, 11:25 PM

and some more. Any advice on taking better pictures might help too...........

Jake deVilliers · #4 02-13-2007, 11:41 AM

Hi Joel.

Try holding a piece of paper up near/in front of the flash as a reflector/diffuser. It can help spread out the light and make it more even.

Nice bass.

Jake

Bob Gollihur · #5 02-13-2007, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joel kelsey

Hi all,

I was wondering if all Juzeks had markings on the button. I have a bass that is labeled a Juzek with no markings on the button. The reason why I am asking is because my former teacher saw my bass and asked me about it. I am pretty sure this bass was refinished, but could the back have been replaced as well? Here are some photos. I apologize in advance for my lack of picture taking skills.
Thanks

Mine does not, but it has the MasterArt diamond on the upper back.

glivanos · #6 02-18-2007, 12:29 PM

I noticed your Juzek does not have viiolin corners.

I believe the high end Juzeks ($10K and above) have the master art purfling at the neck joint in the back and the violin corners.

mcnaire2004 · #7 02-18-2007, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glivanos

I noticed your Juzek does not have viiolin corners.

I believe the high end Juzeks ($10K and above) have the master art purfling at the neck joint in the back and the violin corners.

Mine has the art but no violin corners. I've never seen a Juzek with the violin corner before.

mrpc · #8 02-18-2007, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnaire2004

Mine has the art but no violin corners. I've never seen a Juzek with the violin corner before.

Here is one.
http://www.sonksenstrings.com/current.html

mojoluthier · #9 02-18-2007, 03:50 PM

I have had 3 labeled Juzeks, and they couldn't be more different from each other. I slod one last year that had violin corners but nothing unusaual about the markings, looked like any 50 year old Bohemian bass to me. Nothing special about the sound, but it was completely undamaged and reliable looking. The one I have now is the best I've owned by far, sound-wise. It is signed "John Juzek", unlike the others which were merely labled, and dated 1930. I believe it is the original finish, and do not see any button markings, though I am embarrassed to admit I don't know what is being referred to. The slight missalignments in the back centerseam and heel you may observe are all stablized with hide glue, and the bridge geometry is close to perfect at just over 6" high.

joel kelsey · #10 02-18-2007, 09:38 PM

thanks for the replies! Upon further inspection, the bass is labeled and signed John Juzek. The bass was made in Prague according to the label. I was told by the person I bought the bass from that it was made around 1950, though I cannot see a date on the label. There is no art on the back or button, but this is definitely a "high end" model. It truly sounds and plays great! It is loud and projects a beautiful tone with low action. This bass actually sounds just as good arco as it does pizz, with spirocores! It was really expensive (10k) but I was assured by three different luthiers that it was in great shape, worth the price, and that the seller was a good honest dude (he would not budge on the price at all). This Juzek was A LOT better than the other 10k basses I tried, and I tried a good amount. In fact, it was the first 10k bass I played that sounded a lot better for pizz playing than my beloved old Kay. Everyone who hasn't heard the bass says I payed too much. However, I bought the bass because of its sound, playability, and the great condition it is in. I don't really care what brand it is, but maybe I should. Here are some more questions. Why were some Juzeks signed and others not? Does the signature mean anything? Why did some have the artwork while others did not? Can you guys tell if it has been refinished? I know my pics suck, but I have some others that may more accurately show the finish. Thanks again, and the more input/criticism the better!

drurb · #11 02-19-2007, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joel kelsey

In fact, it was the first 10k bass I played that sounded a lot better for pizz playing than my beloved old Kay.

Hmm. This suggests to me that your preferences differ from mine and perhaps they differ from the majority of jazz DBers. Just about any quality hybrid (not to mention fully carved) bass I have played leaves in the dust any Kay I have played. It certainly doesn't take $10k to do that! It seems that what you consider to be a great sounding bass is not what I would consider to be a great sounding bass. To each his own.

joel kelsey · #12 02-19-2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

Just about any quality hybrid (not to mention fully carved) bass I have played leaves in the dust any Kay I have played.

All of the basses I played during my search were better for arco than my Kay by far. However, I found it difficult to find a good bass that sounded a lot better for jazz playing. Since I am mainly a jazz player, I did not want to pay 5-7k for a bass that only sounded a little better for pizz. I wanted to get something that was A LOT better. My Kay was a great bass. It was hard to replace. Is there anyone else on this forum who has owned a great Kay?

Marcus Johnson · #13 02-19-2007, 11:50 AM

I haven't owned one, but I've played a few that were very competent pizz basses. None was anywhere near the level of my hybrid New Standard, however. That's not to say that there aren't great Kays out there.

mesmithnm · #14 02-19-2007, 12:19 PM

Check this recent thread for comments from a couple of guys who really like their Kays

Kay Bass

Me, I'm kind of ambivalent on mine - sounds pretty good - probably as good as most other mass-produced laminates but nowhere near my carved german factory bass. I will say that Steve's bass (he has a link to a soundclip on the referenced thread) sounds good - better to me than my Kay

So I have to defer to those people that find Kays that really sound good. I do think there must be a few out there.

robgrow · #15 02-19-2007, 12:29 PM

I have owned a Kay in the past and have played several others (including recently), and I know some people really like them. However to me my Upton Hawkes hybrid is all around a much better bass, especially for arco, for around the same price that many Kays seem to go for. I have also played the Upton laminated Hawkes side by side with a Kay, and to me there was no comparison.

mojoluthier · #16 02-19-2007, 12:38 PM

Tastes vary, thank goodness! Mine tends toward solid wood basses, especially when a bow is involved. I have two Kays ('37 and '53) as well as a first year Engelhardt, argueably a relabeled Kay, and they are the three worst of the 17 I have at the moment, to my taste. A B'grasser probably wouldn't agree.

Interestingly, the 3 best sounding (1806 French/1930 Juzek/2004 Xuechang Sun) I have (IMO) are also the most expensive and have the most pedigree. I would hate to think I have fallen for the labeling etc., but it really does seem that sometimes you get what you pay for.

I am seriously hoping someone will tell me where to learn about the heel markings mentioned earlier. I looked in the 2 Juzek threads in TB and didn't see it.

drurb · #17 02-19-2007, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robgrow

I have also played the Upton laminated Hawkes side by side with a Kay, and to me there was no comparison.

+1

Eric Hochberg · #18 02-19-2007, 03:16 PM

There are (or were) some very informative Juzek threads here, so do a search if you haven't already. There is information on Juzek basses on Ken Smith's forum, He knows alot about their history. Also, Metropolitan Music. Juzek labeled basses post WW2 were made in Germany by Wilfer and other shops. I have a Juzek labeled bass from 1955, "made in Czech", but it most likely wasn't. It does not have the fancy purfling around the button area or ebony diamond and is squared off below the button as opposed to rounded as you see on many. I think Juzek labels were put in many German shop instruments with different design characteristics as Juzek was an import label, not an actual maker. Is your bass a flatback as it looks in the photo? From what I've learned, Metropolitan (Juzek) did not import flatbacks at that time and label them Juzek.

I can tell you that a 1960's Juzek Masterart with violin corners sold recently in Chicago for 13-14K. If your bass sounds as good as you say and is in good shape, you didn't pay too much, at least by large city standards. I can also tell you that in my recent bass search, midwest and east coast, I didn't play one bass in good condition under $15,000 that I liked better than my Juzek.

mcnaire2004 · #19 02-19-2007, 04:23 PM

While we are talking about Juzeks I was wondering how I could know how much mine is worth.

It has the little design on the back but no violin corners. I have heard people say it can be anywhere form $4-10,000. Some one on these boards offered me $1200 for it before I had it was repaired. I don't have a digital camera or anything to take pics. Though I do have some pics of it online.

Go to www.myspace.com/maxthecane and click on my pictures. I have a few pics of me playing it.

joel kelsey · #20 02-20-2007, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehochberg

There are (or were) some very informative Juzek threads here, so do a search if you haven't already. There is information on Juzek basses on Ken Smith's forum, He knows alot about their history. Also, Metropolitan Music. Juzek labeled basses post WW2 were made in Germany by Wilfer and other shops. I have a Juzek labeled bass from 1955, "made in Czech", but it most likely wasn't. It does not have the fancy purfling around the button area or ebony diamond and is squared off below the button as opposed to rounded as you see on many. I think Juzek labels were put in many German shop instruments with different design characteristics as Juzek was an import label, not an actual maker. Is your bass a flatback as it looks in the photo? From what I've learned, Metropolitan (Juzek) did not import flatbacks at that time and label them Juzek.

I searched around on this forum and I did not find that much info. Now I am more confused. Yes, this bass is a flatback, but has no date on the label. I was told it was from AROUND 1950, but I do not know. Are you saying Metropolitan did not import flatbacks post WW2?