Vitali Bass???

Elionjamz · #1 03-01-2011, 02:28 AM

I just picked up a German made "Vitali" 5/8 bass. Does anyone know anything about these? I got it from a guy who doesn't seem to know a whole lot about the bass, so hoping someone has some info about this instrument, where it came from, how much it might be worth, etc!

Thanks

LouisF · #2 03-01-2011, 11:53 AM

Is it a modern Chinese or Eastern European student level bass? It might have come from them (below) here in SoCal.

Louis

http://www.vitaliimport.net/cart/

Elionjamz · #3 03-01-2011, 12:05 PM

The bass has "made in Germany" written on a tag on the inside of the bass. I checked out Vitali Imports as well, however, I think they may be separate entities. Although trying to figure that out. I'll try and post some pics

LouisF · #4 03-01-2011, 12:23 PM

There's something in the back of my head about Vitali basses being German shop basses (like Juzeks/Morelli etc) that were brought into NYC, but I don't know if I can track it down. Good luck.

Louis

PS: I'm REALLY glad it's not a 5/8 Chinese student bass, by the way!

Elionjamz · #5 03-01-2011, 12:28 PM

Yea, me too! It's most certainly not a chinese bass... It's got an Ebony board and tailpeice and seems like a pretty solid instrument. Would love to know more about it/shop that it came from though!

Blaine · #6 03-06-2011, 11:54 PM

i have a vitali/juzek. vitali is an import house that's been around for a long time. i think they bought juzeks and put their label on them. i've only seen them on the west coast, which is where i got mine.

Elionjamz · #7 03-06-2011, 11:58 PM

Interesting, so it's actually a Juzek?

sound of bass · #8 03-06-2011, 11:59 PM

How does it play / sound?

Elionjamz · #9 03-07-2011, 12:02 AM

It plays well, much thinner sound than a lot of 3/4s I've played, but it's a great bass.

Blaine · #10 03-07-2011, 12:09 AM

Yes. I call it a juzek. Every luthier who's worked on it has also.

Elionjamz · #11 03-07-2011, 12:12 AM

Any idea how much these are worth?

Blaine · #12 03-07-2011, 06:32 PM

5/8 juzeks that I've seen seem to go for a bit under 2k I think but I'm not really sure. There have been a couple for sale here. You can try to search the classifieds here. Now those were non plywood ones.

TroyK · #13 03-07-2011, 08:09 PM

WAIT! I know this one.

I'm going to look for the research I did on these some years ago, but as I recall, it is a Hofner. I was looking at one several years ago and I found someone to email. You might try here: http://www.vitaliimport.com/cart/

I recall getting a very long email or two from a nice lady who was very happy to share. As I remember, she worked for Mr. Vitali for several years. He was not Italian, as I assumed, but something else like...maybe Polish or something. He imported instruments, bows and a few other things. They had several sources for most things, but Hofner was their only source for double basses. She had specific dates that they were imported and stories about the business and Mr. Vitali...but someone called from New York and had the bass's owner in Seattle play it through the phone and bought it sight unseen....so I didn't get to bring it home.

The one I was looking at needed some work, but I liked it a lot and I think with some love it would have been a great instrument.

Elionjamz · #14 03-07-2011, 10:08 PM

That's wild, man. Thanks for chiming in!

The guy I got it from bought it from a lady who purchased it in Seattle from Hammond Ashley. The bass has had some work, but I think is a great instrument. I've been really happy with. So it's actually a hofner? Interesting... Any other info?

Eric Hochberg · #15 03-07-2011, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blaine

i have a vitali/juzek. vitali is an import house that's been around for a long time. i think they bought juzeks and put their label on them. i've only seen them on the west coast, which is where i got mine.

Most Juzek labeled carved basses were made by Wilfer. They were imported into NYC and labeled Juzek by Metropolitan Music.

TroyK · #16 03-07-2011, 11:37 PM

I was active at the time in a doublebass maillist that I'm not sure exists anymore. It was way more toxic than Talkbass at its worst and when I found TB, I switched and never went back. But, I remember documenting the whole conversation and everything I learned there, but I don't know how to find it or if it even exists anymore. I'll search my oldest hard drive and see if I have a copy there, but otherwise it's just my failing memory.

But, I remember that the lady was really friendly and anxious to talk about it, so send a note to that url I gave you and see if you get a similar response.

There was a date range and, i want to say it was about 8 years in the 60s with basses and then she said they were just too big to deal with and they refocused on smaller instruments. She was there working at the time and remembered the basses and had all kinds of things to say about them and Mr. Vitali.

JPetram · #17 11-02-2011, 04:47 PM

I am way late to this discussion, but was searching on Vitali and here I am.

I have a Vitali 3/4 bass that I have owned for around 40 years. It was purchased in Seattle at the time and my parents had it appraised by H.O. Bischofberger. His appraisal of it was that it was made "by the German School, Bubenreuth, ca. 1960 period." I don't think this necessarily specifies the manufacturer, only the style in which it is built, but I don't really know. He does mention that Vitali was an importer in Los Angeles.

Edit - Just looked up the Juzek that everyone referenced above and it is undoubtedly a Juzek. Saw one that had sold on the Upton Bass site that is my bass's twin. Identical in size shape and color. Scroll work on the back below the neck is identical as well and the one on the Upton site was stated to be ca. 1960, the same as mine.

The tone is not nearly as deep and rich as some basses I have heard and played, but still a pleasant tone. Very bright sound.

Estimated value in 1980 was $1,800. Not certain how much that has changed over the years.

Ike Harris · #18 11-02-2011, 07:54 PM

The 2xbasslist? It's still around. A pretty good handful of people on it including myself. Vitalis must have been centered in the west or northwest. I saw one for sale a long time ago at the Bass Church, which I think was out that way somewhere.

Ike

bssist · #19 11-02-2011, 10:17 PM

My father had a vitali for 40 or so years. He said it was made in Germany. He gigged it 6 nights a week for at least 25 of the 40 years, here in St. Louis, and never humidified it but it never had problems. It sounded excellent. When he sold it he got over $7,000 and sold it at below what it was said to be worth at the time because the student he sold it to was rumored to be "heading high" and he wanted the bass to keep seeing regular use by someone who would love it. He was told recently that the bottom of the line now sells for over $25k. I don't really know the facts, this has come to me third hand..

Kirk Bryant · #20 04-11-2012, 09:15 PM

I have a Vitali with the "made in Germany " sticker and it says Vitaly #3-69 on the sticker. I bought it from the Hammond Ashley shop in Seattle in 1970. I played about 10 basses in my price range and this one just stood out as being better sounding.
At the time he was doing these recarving of the tops by taking them off running a sound through the top with sand on it and as I recall the places where the sand piled up were the dead areas he recarved to improve. My bass had this treatment. I was told by Hammond that it was made in Germany. It was a student model yes but a very good sounding one.
I have used this bass as my only upright for all this time. When I first had it appraised 20 yrs ago they said it was worth about 2K, 10 yrs ago was told it was worth 3-4K.
I had a friend with a Juzek that I didn't like as much as mine.

peace Kirk