I wonder if anyone can tell me about this bass with Juzek label. It has a nice tone for pizz. Flat back. Fairly thin wood. Several patched cracks, but overall is pretty healthy. I am aware it was imported (not built) by Juzek family. Pre-WW2?
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Double Bass Juzek label
- Thread starter Garnett Davis
- Start date
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- Tags
- juzek bass
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Welcome to TB/DB, Garnett. It's an honor to respond to your first post.
A thorough search here will find lots of information about the history of the Wilfer craftshops, their American importers, the Juzek family and the Juzeks' business Metropolitan Music in NYC and then later in Vermont.
It's been a long time since I followed this stuff but IMR the "in Prague" label meant pre-1950s, so it's 70+ years old. It's been through the wringer but many basses of that age come out of the wringer sounding fine and ready for decades of use.
Your instrument appears to be a student-level piece based on 1) some, but not boatloads, of flame on the back and 2) no decorative purfling fleur de lis on the back. That's no insult; those basses usually sound fine and sometimes sound awesome (when operated in an awesome-sounding manner, of course). I guess that your bass was refinished when all those cracks were repaired.
The short word is that your bass is as good as the quality of the repairs done to it. If the repairs are tight you're set for a long while. If not there is expensive work directly ahead.
I hope this helps.
A thorough search here will find lots of information about the history of the Wilfer craftshops, their American importers, the Juzek family and the Juzeks' business Metropolitan Music in NYC and then later in Vermont.
It's been a long time since I followed this stuff but IMR the "in Prague" label meant pre-1950s, so it's 70+ years old. It's been through the wringer but many basses of that age come out of the wringer sounding fine and ready for decades of use.
Your instrument appears to be a student-level piece based on 1) some, but not boatloads, of flame on the back and 2) no decorative purfling fleur de lis on the back. That's no insult; those basses usually sound fine and sometimes sound awesome (when operated in an awesome-sounding manner, of course). I guess that your bass was refinished when all those cracks were repaired.
The short word is that your bass is as good as the quality of the repairs done to it. If the repairs are tight you're set for a long while. If not there is expensive work directly ahead.
I hope this helps.
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