Juzek Basses...(aka Lang or Wilfer or?)

[Mark Stefaniw]

Hi Ken, I recently came across a 1956 juzek MA violin cornered 41.5" that needs top-off repairs and I'm trying to get a sense for its value in its current condition. Here are some pix.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JJViumQHieJUWp797

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Mark Stefaniw

Hi Ken, I recently came across a 1956 juzek MA violin cornered 41.5" that needs top-off repairs and I'm trying to get a sense for its value in its current condition. Here are some pix.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JJViumQHieJUWp797

First off, I don't think it is a MA model. The 'Copy of' and the 905' are Violin #s and Label. Often seen in basses. The Basses never had 'copy of' and were 405 (I can check the old Catalog next week) for a MA bass IF it was labelled as Juzek as usually they left the Wilfer label in. Also, the MA model did Not have plate tuners but individual chrome french style Rubners. Here is a pic of my MA model with only the Wilfer label and the owner after me and still as I sold it in 1974/75 to him.The label torn off has a faint 4 at the end. Probably was your correct label. Also, your sound post repair needs to be done again with a proper post patch inlaid, feathered in, not cleats. So, depending on who does the work, you are looking at $2000 and up. So maybe $8-12k repaired, possibly more if the sound is killer. Rough estimate but it is not a MA model, but close. So many Juzeks are mis-labled and are far far off from a MA model and not even a Wilfer, who made them.

[Ken Smith]

That label made in where? Is not correct with that date. After WWII, all instruments came from Bubenreuth/Wilfer and Mittenwald/Lang on the basses from my understanding. The made in Czech. area pre-war was walking distance to Germany. Prague was only Juzeks birth place, Nothing they ever sold in basses came from Prague, nothing. Prague-made basses look nothing like these German style basses. It's amazing how much mis-information is used to sell Juzek-'BRAND' basses.

[Ken Smith]

The maker of that bass by the way is Wenzle B. Wilfer. Juzek was not their only customer,