Description
This John Juzek Double Bass (c1920) was owned professionally and local to Upton Bass. These highly sought-after instruments are often imitated and faked, but this Juzek is the genuine article. It is a fully carved Gamba design that couldn’t be more ready to play. It just had a complete restoration by the UB luthiers, including a new hand-carved spruce top. Since we had the top off this instrument, we felt that we needed to go the extra mile with it. Our luthiers have gone over every inch of this Juzek with a fine tooth comb. Several pre-existing back and rib cracks were cleated and repaired, and the ribs were leveled for a less tensioned instrument. It received the full “Upton Bass Setup” with a new ebony fingerboard, nut, and saddle. It was fitted with a new adjustable bridge and D’Addario Kaplan strings.
This restored Juzek double bass is the perfect marriage of old and new—with vintage aesthetics and a beautiful tone. The finish on sides and back were left as is to show the history and age of this double bass, but the new top and setup make it feel and play like a modern instrument.
This Juzek upright bass bears its original, hand-signed label. Juzek labels were imprinted with the location of the Juzek shop, this one is stamped “Made in Czechoslovakia.” Jan Juzek was a violin maker in Prague who bought instruments from various craftsmen in the Bohemia region under his own name for import into the United States. The instrument also bears the label of the Frank Di Leone repair shop in New Haven, CT. The date “1978” is handwritten on the label, as it may have had some repair or general maintenance work done at that time.
Measurements:
- Upper Bout – 20”
- Center Bout – 14 3/8”
- Lower Bout – 25 3/8”
- Ribs – 5 7/8” – 7 7/8”
- Body Length – 42 7/8”
- String Length – 41 1/2”
Upton Bass String Instrument Co. specializes in building award-winning custom double basses and offers accessories for the double bass. Upton Bass also services all instruments and bows of the violin family with world-class restoration and repair, to view our online restoration portfolio visit stringrepair.com
Upton Bass is ready to offer advice and answer any questions regarding double basses or related bass topics. Please contact UB at sales@uptonbass.com or call the shop at +1 (860) 535-9399. Hours of operation Tuesday through Saturday 10am – 6pm. The Workshop (The Barn) and showroom are located in Mystic, Connecticut conveniently between Boston and NYC.
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