Juzek question

[Jake deVilliers]

Have you tried contacting Metropolitan Music?
Their catalogue has a short history of the Juzek name.

www.metmusic.com

Jake

[mojoluthier]

My search didn't find anything useful either.

[Pneuman2]

I didn't think that Juzek made any flatback basses?

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by ;114734

You may also find this quoted message from Barrie Kolstein of interest:

From: BKolstein@aol.com Date: Sat, 16 Nov 1996 Subject: Juzek

The second question of when Juzek made the move into Germany is as follows :The original Juzek company was located in Prague, Czeckoslovakia. After the end of World War II and the occupation of Czeckoslovakia by the Soviet Union,a great deal of people exited the country quite quickly. The Juzek company was one . They literally picked up all but the physical factory building andmoved into what was then U.S. Occupied Germany..soon to become West Germany and now Unified Germany. They are still there in Germany.

It should benoted that the Prague Juzeks were made in several models ..that being their "Professor Model" a 3/4 gamba shaped flatback model with usually plainfigured maple back wood and their least expensive model. Next came their round back gamba shaped model, with a bit more figured maple backs. Then their Master Art series in larger 3/4 and 7/8 sizes. These model are violin cornered, roundback models with spectacular flamed maple and a characteristic ebony diamond inlay in the back below the neck block button. Finally Juzek made a few copies of a Gasparo DaSalo model, which was the Master Art model bass with a DaSalo scroll in the 3/4 size. These are quite rare, as I have only seen two in my career and owned one for a bit.

Once Juzek moved to German the instruments became much more commercialized , as did the varnish which was a beautiful brownish amber color when in Prague and a Redish nitrous cellulous laquer finish on their student model 3/4 gamba shaped roundback model Basses and a brownish amber laquer finish on their 3/4 and 7/8 violinciornered roundback model upper grade basses. To my knowledge, the German Juzek Co. never made any flatback model basses. The Prague Juzeks are held in much higher value and esteem than the German counterparts. However; the flatback models from prague, often required a bit of restorative work including new crossbarring etc. Also the early period right after the war, when Juzek produced their first basses from Germany, were the best German examples as they were what I consider "Transitional" Juzeks, whereby much of the old wood supply and workers from the Prague factory were incorporated into these produced basses.

Do an advanced search with Juzek in the title, there's lots of info.

[joel kelsey]

Originally Posted by ehochberg

Do an advanced search with Juzek in the title, there's lots of info.

I suck at searching. I did not find aything this useful, so I thank you. Since my bass is a flatback, it was really made in Prague? Very interesting......So I would guess that it is pre WW2 then. Very interesting indeed. I wish there were a way to tell when it was actually made. Oh well, it is a nice bass regardless. I still wonder about the finish though. Thanks again
Joel

[mojoluthier]

A lot of the Bohemian basses I've seen have been flatbacks, so why not yours?

[joel kelsey]

Originally Posted by mojoluthier

A lot of the Bohemian basses I've seen have been flatbacks, so why not yours?

exactly. First I thoughtt itwas made in Prague because of the label. Then I thought it was German because it was supposed to be post WW2.

[mojoluthier]

Both CZ and Germany have territory in "Bohemia". So Prague and Bohemia are not a contadiction, nor is Germany! The musical instrument making areas of both countries are just a few kilometers apart.

[joel kelsey]

Originally Posted by mojoluthier

Both CZ and Germany have territory in "Bohemia". So Prague and Bohemia are not a contadiction, nor is Germany! The musical instrument making areas of both countries are just a few kilometers apart.

Thanks for the clarification Bruce. As usual, I find myself humbled by my own lack of knowledge......