Ken's Corner (Bass Forums Sponsored By KSB)

Go Back   Ken's Corner (Bass Forums Sponsored By KSB) > Double Basses > This New Bass > German/Czech Shop Basses

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-16-2021, 12:58 AM
charlie whitten charlie whitten is offline
Junior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 06-13-2021
Location: United States
Posts: 3
charlie whitten is on a distinguished road
Default Is this a Juzek,Wilfer,Lang or ?

I'm probably going to buy this bass if the bass shop repairs are "reasonable"..
Any help identifying it would be deeply appreciated.We believe it to be German but we're not really sure about that either.
Thank You !
Charlie in San Diego
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	image000000.jpg
Views:	456
Size:	32.2 KB
ID:	3946  Click image for larger version

Name:	image000001.jpg
Views:	422
Size:	52.2 KB
ID:	3947  Click image for larger version

Name:	image000002.jpg
Views:	434
Size:	26.1 KB
ID:	3948  Click image for larger version

Name:	image000003.jpg
Views:	452
Size:	45.5 KB
ID:	3949  Click image for larger version

Name:	image000004.jpg
Views:	432
Size:	52.8 KB
ID:	3950  

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-16-2021, 09:11 AM
Ken Smith's Avatar
Ken Smith Ken Smith is offline
Bassist, Luthier & Admin
 
Join Date: 01-18-2007
Location: Perkasie, PA
Posts: 4,851
Ken Smith is on a distinguished road
Cool is it...

Quote:
Originally Posted by charlie whitten View Post
I'm probably going to buy this bass if the bass shop repairs are "reasonable"..
Any help identifying it would be deeply appreciated.We believe it to be German but we're not really sure about that either.
Thank You !
Charlie in San Diego
Ok, first off, Juzek is an import brand, not a shop or maker as far as basses are concerned. second, Juzek 'brand' basses were NEVER made in Prague, which was the birth place of the Juzek brothers, 3 of them that I know about. I knew one of then, Robert, John/Jan's brother, who ran the business in NY. I knew them well since I was 15 and know/knew his son Bobby and now 'his' son, Robbie. So, I know quite a bit about this brand.

This page here on the Forum is where you want this and I can move it for you.. http://www.smithbassforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=17

This looks possibly like a pre-war bass from the German border town of Schonbach/Luby by the varnish but if it is later, then it would be from 1950-1960 made in Bubenreuth Germany IF made by Wilfer. Also, Lang in Mittenwald.

The early basses imported by Juzek came from at least two main shops, Benedict Lang I and Anton Wilfer. The Gamba shaped plainer type basses such as this one could have come from either shop or even another, folowwing the design of Juzek. Or, did Juzek just take a common shape that all the shops were making at that time? No one knows.

The condition of this bass is Poor. The old repairs are Poor. The varnish is part ruined and would be expensive to partially clean it up but the damage is done. Never re-finish an old bass. That lowers the value even more. Beareful buying an old bass. If it is available for a long time,. that is not a good sign. This bass can easily cost more to fix 'properly' tat it could be worth.

Who made this bass is less important than is it worth getting involved with.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-16-2021, 09:44 AM
charlie whitten charlie whitten is offline
Junior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 06-13-2021
Location: United States
Posts: 3
charlie whitten is on a distinguished road
Default juzek bass?

Thank you for your informative reply. Please move this thread to the other location as you suggested. I don't know how to do that.
I will be having a bass shop go through this bass and give me a verbal appraisal before I continue. I understand it has poor repairs and varnish condition. Having a shop assess it is the only thing I can think of right now.
I guess this is it as far as determining it's origins. Thank you for the amount of detail you provided me on this bass.
Charlie in San Diego
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-22-2021, 12:34 AM
charlie whitten charlie whitten is offline
Junior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 06-13-2021
Location: United States
Posts: 3
charlie whitten is on a distinguished road
Default juzek bass?

I'm not sure if there is a policy on this..
What should I be paying for this bass? Is there a ballpark number?
Sometime this week I should be getting an estimate on the necessary repairs.
i hope I'm not out of line asking you this.
Thanks
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-22-2021, 07:27 PM
Ken Smith's Avatar
Ken Smith Ken Smith is offline
Bassist, Luthier & Admin
 
Join Date: 01-18-2007
Location: Perkasie, PA
Posts: 4,851
Ken Smith is on a distinguished road
Exclamation value..

In the 1960s, these plain-jane import basses were $200 new. About the same as a Kay bass was, maybe slightly more. The repairs there are terrible and to correct and be less visible are expensive. I can't see a good repair being less than $4000-$6000 and upwards. The scars from the old repairs which are ugly will not go away. A re-finish hurts the value of an old bass so, maybe my idea of value for this is not what others think.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:11 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2007 - Ken Smith Basses, LTD. (All Rights Reserved)