My new Juzek, this time with pics!

Standalone · #1 10-30-2007, 08:41 PM

My Kay has been a great backup already for cruise boat deck Fall FOliage Jazz Cruise gigs, but the action has just gotten way too high on it. The Juzek justging by the added label was a rental out of the Kolstein Shop and was purchased from there and according to the sellers info is of '70s vintage. I think that light colored fb is ebony, even though it's pretty much the same color as my Kay's Rosewood. I think the Kay is 42", and the Juzek is 41.5"-- the bridge is warped, though, so not an accurate measurement.

The sound is punchy, with far less mud than my Kay. I can now hear so many of my intonation problems just because the tone is so much cleaner and defined. I can really hear myself. The Kay is larger overall, and is loud, but the Juzek really has more volume, so much so that I have this silly fear that if I have someone replace the warped bridge or change any little thing about it, that I will lose its great too-loud-for-its-size tone.

Found it on Craigs list just across town from me, and jumped right on it after having been in the hunt for my perfect bass for a solid year. There was some seam splitting, and I had it in to Upton to get it giggable. Not the greatest photos, but I hope the side by sides are edifying for y'all. Enjoy.

Standalone · #2 10-30-2007, 08:52 PM

http://talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=366706

the earlier thread on it, complete with corny Hamlet reference

jimmyduded · #3 10-31-2007, 03:08 PM

strangely enough I have the same exact bass in 5/8ths, just bought it for 1800, how much did you pay for yours, if you dont mind saying. Mine was from the ny school system and has a number 7 carved in the top haha, strangely enough I have the same pickup too, small world eh?

Standalone · #4 11-01-2007, 09:58 AM

1700, with nice thick bag, tuner, two beat up bows (french and german). I still think it's a good deal-- Upton had a Juzek up f/s for $5000, though I'm sure it was a nicer one. The p/u was on my Kay. It'll go back on the Kay when I get a new bridge for the Juzek.

jmpiwonka · #5 11-01-2007, 10:18 AM

is it all laminated?

MingusAmongUs · #6 11-01-2007, 10:24 AM

Juzek, from what I've heard, is one of those labels that gets put on a lot of basses from different factories/makers. I've seen them carved, hybrid, ply, in prices ranging from < $1K to > $10K.

Standalone · #7 11-01-2007, 05:44 PM

All laminated. Yes-- John Juzek was a violin maker and never was involved in bass manufacture, from what I've read. I'm no Juzek expert, but I know that the label was stuck on droves of imported basses. I'm not too worried about its provenance or value-- I think I got a pretty decent deal and it's certainly the right bass for me at this point.

It has gotten nice comments on gigs from audience members-- and since my little jazz combo is hired as much for the atmosphere it provides visually as our sound, well, it's good to have a nice vintage ("relic'd," as they say over in Electric Talkbassland) bass.

I was really saving towards a Cleveland, but the big thump that this thing gets sold me on it right away. Love at first pluck.

Standalone · #8 11-01-2007, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyduded

strangely enough I have the same exact bass in 5/8ths, just bought it for 1800, how much did you pay for yours, if you dont mind saying. Mine was from the ny school system and has a number 7 carved in the top haha, strangely enough I have the same pickup too, small world eh?

I'm pretty sure this is 3/4, but it is smaller than my Kay overall, even though the top bout has a wider proportion. The kay's shoulders slope more immediately-- I do like its proportions better-- but happy with the new one's looks, too.

Anyway, I wonder if yous is maybe the same as mine? Are you sure it's 5/8ths?

glivanos · #9 11-01-2007, 07:17 PM

I picked up a carved 5/8's Juzek over the summer that I'm having a neck reset and set-up done on.

I'm sure that it is also a school bass. I picked it up from a guy in Brooklyn.

I'll post some pics when I get it back.

MingusAmongUs · #10 11-02-2007, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Standalone

I'm no Juzek expert, but I know that the label was stuck on droves of imported basses. I'm not too worried about its provenance or value-- I think I got a pretty decent deal and it's certainly the right bass for me at this point.

For sure. Didn't mean to suggest anything other than to say that the one you saw for $5K was a different instrument than the one you got for 1700. Apples and oranges. What's in a name?

Anyway, congrats. She's a beaut. Enjoy.

PS: I am digging some of the backgound in those pics -- the vibes, the tubes on the shelf, even some of your books. Little did you know how much pictures of your bass would reveal about you.

Standalone · #11 11-02-2007, 01:57 PM

That's my studio-- it's a dream come true--- there was this unfinished bare-stud 20'x30' room above this detatched 2 car garage behind my house. We moved in 3.5 years ago, and I had to get it built in time for baby number two to move into the spare room last year. So my wife was 100% behind it! I think that I've got myself a first edition To Kill a Mockingbird (not first printing, though) behind the basses there.

You should get a load of all the LPs... there are a bunch more pics in the post your studio section, and over on homerecording.com/bbs. Over there I'm "Obi-Wan zenabI."

Anyhow, you're welcome to stop by anytime-- especially if you have that gorgeous NS in tow!

MingusAmongUs · #12 11-02-2007, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Standalone

That's my studio-- it's a dream come true--- there was this unfinished bare-stud 20'x30' room above this detatched 2 car garage behind my house. We moved in 3.5 years ago, and I had to get it built in time for baby number two to move into the spare room last year. So my wife was 100% behind it! I think that I've got myself a first edition To Kill a Mockingbird (not first printing, though) behind the basses there.

You should get a load of all the LPs... there are a bunch more pics in the post your studio section, and over on homerecording.com/bbs. Over there I'm "Obi-Wan zenabI."

Anyhow, you're welcome to stop by anytime-- especially if you have that gorgeous NS in tow!

Oh yea, the LPs too. I also have a pile of those that I can't bear to get rid of, in spite of the fact that trying to find a surround sound receiver with a phono jack == headaches and extra expense. But I did find one. Anyway, I'm in trouble now, I just went and signed up over the homerecording. I've also got a baby on the way, and have recently started to obsess about wall coverings and whatnot, having been thoroughly unsatisfied with the sound of this room.... I think I'm putting the horse before the cart though, since this room is only 8'x8'.

Anyhow, I may just take you up on that, if for no other reason than to show off the bass and to pick your brain on studio ideas...

I too have the Presonus box.

Standalone · #13 11-02-2007, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MingusAmongUs

started to obsess about wall coverings and whatnot, having been thoroughly unsatisfied with the sound of this room.... I think I'm putting the horse before the cart though, since this room is only 8'x8'.

Little rooms need the most treatment--especially square ones since the frequencies accentuated by one 8' dimension will only be extra accentuated by the other. You can see the homemade 2" and 4" covered panels of condensed fiberglass (Certainteed from SPI in Stratford)

Sorry to get OT, folks

MingusAmongUs · #14 11-02-2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Standalone

Little rooms need the most treatment--especially square ones since the frequencies accentuated by one 8' dimension will only be extra accentuated by the other. You can see the homemade 2" and 4" covered panels of condensed fiberglass (Certainteed from SPI in Stratford)

Yep, saw that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Standalone

Sorry to get OT, folks

You can always count on me for that. Sorry. I'll take it "offline"

Standalone · #15 11-02-2007, 07:14 PM

Not a problem-- there is nothing earth shatteringly interesting about some unschooled slacker DBer like me getting a beat up old ply.

Except to the slacker himself.

It's telling that my dusty old books proved more interesting...

Even though I don't really record anyone excepting my band, I should probably get a web page or two together for my studio. You can her some rough demo stuff on the website in my sig. Go to "songs..."