Juzek question

[Eric Hochberg]

I was at Rutman's Violin Shop in Boston last week and they had a nice sounding Flatback bass they said was a Juzek, from the 30's, I think. I didn't look to see the label. You might want to contact them with questions.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

I was at Rutman's Violin Shop in Boston last week and they had a nice sounding Flatback bass they said was a Juzek, from the 30's, I think. I didn't look to see the label. You might want to contact them with questions.

Who are you suggesting to contact Rutman's and for what reason?

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Who are you suggesting to contact Rutman's and for what reason?

Didn't get the fellow's name but I got the feeling he was an owner. Why contact them? Just to get some info or pics to compare the two "Juzek" basses.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

Didn't get the fellow's name but I got the feeling he was an owner. Why contact them? Just to get some info or pics to compare the two "Juzek" basses.

The one listed above is a plywood model by the Lang firm most likely or similar. Wilfer made most of the carved basses for Juzek but I do not doubt for a minute that they may have or actually did contract other individual workers or shops to supply other models as needed to fill export orders. Not every Bass bearing a Juzek label actually went thru the Juzek warehouse in NY. Dealers often have put Juzek labels on other Germanic type Basses just to give it a name. Still, NONE of these are actually made by Juzek. At best, most of them were purchased and imported by them and Labeled here in USA before they sold them.

I have heard of several Flatback Juzeks that might date before or after wwII sometime but have not personally seen one. It does sound logical that they might have bought some to fill lower budgeted orders and as I stated here as well, the label could have been put in a flatback just to have something to call it or inflate the price if one would believe it helps at all money-wise.

[Brian Glassman]

Originally Posted by Eric Hochberg

I was at Rutman's Violin Shop in Boston last week and they had a nice sounding Flatback bass they said was a Juzek, from the 30's, I think. I didn't look to see the label. You might want to contact them with questions.

My Juzek ply is a roundback, BTW. It may not look that way from the pix.
It has a really nice punchy sound w/surprisingly mature sustain for a plywood bass. My guess is that it's from the 1950's or 1940's perhaps. Ofcourse it's not close to my Prescott or even my German carved, but it's way better than most any newer plwood or hybrid basses I've tried and is very pleasing to bow as well. It has served me well over the years. Now I mostly use it for outdoor gigs or other potentially risky environs. I'm considering a foray into trying out more gut-like synthetic strings w/ it. It has a neck reset and beautiful bridge set up by Arnold that makes it easy to play and it sounds louder and more even than it ever was before.

What would be the range that a comparable instrument would sell for these days?

BG