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Old 08-08-2007, 07:16 PM
Jim Henderson Jim Henderson is offline
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Join Date: 07-02-2007
Location: Powhatan, VA
Posts: 2
Jim Henderson is on a distinguished road
Default Could be, but probably not.

Drake,
I don't think that it is the same bass since it was about three years ago, but it could have been. Reuben said that he had sold two or three and had listed them on Ebay for a while. Even now he occaisionally gets a Juzek and puts in on Ebay from time to time. When I was there there were two other Juzeks there, both previously the property of P.S. 235 and also in various states of drastic disrepair. Juzeks, down here, are fairly hard to come by, especially carved ones. They are a little more frequent around Washington, D.C., Baltimore and points north, but Kays and Englehardts are pretty much the order of the day down here with the exception of the orchestra boys that tote fairly mean axes (you know, like one of Kenny's killer basses). If you purchase a bass that you know students have abused for X number of years you should make your offer with repairs in mind. In my case, the value was not in the bass and the purchase price reflected it, rather it was in the expertise of the Jedi Master that I wished would bring it back to life. From what I have learned here and on the "other" bass forum, and in my humble opinion, there are only about a dozen luthiers worth working on a bass that is in need of serious repairs or rebuilding. Of that dozen there are only three that I would ask and one of them doesn't repair basses any longer. You, having seen the state of repair that Reuben's basses are in, know better than others, the level of expertise necessary to turn this mess of splinters, cracks and patches into one tight-assed little jazz box. Now please understand that the Juzek ain't no Cleveland and I know the difference. I have a Cleveland that is such a killer that it should have come with a warning label, but the little Juzek is what it is now only because Arnold and Jed have worked their magic on a previously unplayable instrument. If you are having problems with you instrument, don't give it to some hack that will take your money for poorly executed repairs with nominal or no improvement. Listen to the fellas on this and other forums, save your bucks and avail yourself of the services of one of the artisans they suggest and have your instruments sound as they were intended to sound. When it is returned to the sound that you were seeking it will be worth every dime you spent and then some.
A brief aside to Professor Arnold. I'm searching for a set of D.S. Freeman's "Lee's Lieutenants" for you. If you already have a set let me know. The dinner invite is still good when you are passing through this neck of the woods.
Jim
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