Description
This ca. 1970s John Juzek 3/4 carved back bass was owned by a bass major who graduated from Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. After graduation, his interests turned to music recording and production, so this instrument has been in safe storage in the San Francisco Bay Area for the last 10 years. Most likely made by E. Wilfer, the instrument features medium grain German spruce of medium stiffness. The back and sides are unfigured German maple of moderate density. The slightly flame figured German maple neck is of medium density and is outfitted with a standard brass half plate setup of tuningnmachines. The nut, fingerboard, tailpiece, and tailpiece saddle are made from African ebony. The Despiau bridge is fit with 1/4″ x 20 adjusters. The ebony collar 10 mm adjustable endpin is in fine condition. The varnish finish is a medium brown. The current strings are Pirastro Obligato, though many jazz players may be more familiar with a Spirocore orchestra gauge set. The dimensions are: Top length 42 1/4″, Upper bout width 19 1/4″, Middle bout width 14 1/4″, Lower bout width 25 1/2″, Rib depth at tail 8″, Rib depth at upper bout crease 7 3/4″, Rib depth at neck 6 1/4″, String length 42″. These “shop size” 3/4 John Juzek have been a standard for jazz gigging bassists for many decades now. My ex-wife got her used 1950s John Juzek 3/4 carved back in high school in 1969 and it is the only bass that she has ever owned. The dry winters in Massachusetts caused a seam separation in the top’s belly, which was professionally glued and cleated many decades ago. Another short hairline top seam separation extending from the neck mortise was recently glued with hide glue. I had Jeff Sahs clean up the top finish for a better presentation. The voice of this instrument is quite balanced. With cover.
