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Man
Senior Member
Username: Manwong
Post Number: 252
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 12:08 am: | |
Thanks yet again, Uncle Jim and Curtis, for the additional info and clarification. It's definitely great (and fun and exciting) to have all this help w/ the pursuit of some nice (and interesting) instruments even though all of this has only been done online thus far.  Can't wait to get my hands on the actual violin -- and I might not be quite done on eBay just yet. 
_Man_
Just another amateur learning to paint w/ "the light of the world".
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StringDad
Senior Member
Username: Stringdad
Post Number: 145
Registered: 02-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 05:12 pm: | |
I've not been to too many places in NYC. I've had positive experiences with David Segal. Same thing for Strings and Other Things around the corner from my daughter's school on Broadway (that's the shop that's linked up with Christophe Landon). Visseltear and Young -- I spoke with them a few weeks ago, and all he's doing now is building new instruments, no repairs/restoration.
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Cellopop
Senior Member
Username: Curtis
Post Number: 1444
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 05:46 pm: | |
SD.
ou think Landon would do repairs of a Juzek?
I thought maybe they just handle the really rare vintage/classics. |
Man
Senior Member
Username: Manwong
Post Number: 255
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - 06:18 pm: | |
Thanks for the additional suggestion, StringDad.
I took another shot at another Juzek Prague violin on eBay since the bidding was still too low to ignore, but this time the final bids really shot up, and I wasn't prepared to go that high after winning the other one. This one looks like it wouldn't need much work at all to get set up and ready for playing -- though the sound post will likely still need a luthier to re-adjust, etc.
I didn't see quite this much eBay interest in these non-Master-Art Juzeks in the recent list of completed auctions, but maybe the trend is starting to change?  OTOH, I wonder if those 2 in-need-of-repair bows are worth anything.
_Man_
Just another amateur learning to paint w/ "the light of the world".
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Man
Senior Member
Username: Manwong
Post Number: 259
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 01, 2006 - 09:46 am: | |
While waiting for that in-need-of-work Juzek violin to show up, I won myself a lightly used SW Maestro cello off eBay. It's no Juzek, but maybe it'll one day become just like one as Uncle Jim suggests. And it seemed like too good a deal to pass up even though I'm not ready to start learning the cello yet. At least it won't depreciate quickly like my cameras do while it sits around waiting for someone to play it.   
_Man_
Just another amateur learning to paint w/ "the light of the world".
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StringDad
Senior Member
Username: Stringdad
Post Number: 146
Registered: 02-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 01, 2006 - 02:29 pm: | |
Good point, Curtis. I'm not sure. They're nice folks, though. Could be worth a phone call.}
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Cellopop
Senior Member
Username: Curtis
Post Number: 1458
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 04, 2006 - 05:22 am: | |
I hope that didn't sound too snooty on Landons behalf (even thugh I'm sure it did)as I don't have a clue if they would work on the Juzek or not. Certainly worth the phone call for sure. |
Man
Senior Member
Username: Manwong
Post Number: 281
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 06, 2006 - 01:37 pm: | |
I think I'm officially obsessed. I just spotted a 1926 Prague-made Juzek Master Art violin w/ 2 misc wood bows on eBay for a good price and just couldn't pass it up. The violin looks to be in very good shape -- much better shape than the non-MA Juzek I recently bought for ~$310 -- w/ no obvious need of restoration work. It even has this "ivory shield" at the top of the back, which I hadn't seen in a few other MA Juzeks so far. Can't wait to get my hands on it.
Meanwhile, I await the arrivals of the used SW Maestro cello and a good looking 1994 MA Juzek 16" viola outfit w/ decent looking pernambuco bow, etc. that I won the other day. Should probably receive both by end of the week. And still need to figure out where to get the other non-MA Juzek violin restored of course...
_Man_
Just another amateur learning to paint w/ "the light of the world".
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Jim Crawford
Senior Member
Username: Seanseamus
Post Number: 481
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 07, 2006 - 04:50 am: | |
Man, EVERY instrument needs friends to keep the company when you are not around - just make sure that you set aside the rent money before you goo too far though  !
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Man
Senior Member
Username: Manwong
Post Number: 288
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 07, 2006 - 10:16 am: | |
... not to mention the new baby's college fund! Well, at least these instruments will some day get plenty of company from the kids as they grow up (and vice versa) ... that is, if they can survive being around our soon-to-be-3 little rascals.
Well, the Maestro cello arrived -- and it's a beauty to be sure -- but I'm not sure where to put it now...
_Man_
Just another amateur learning to paint w/ "the light of the world".
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Man
Senior Member
Username: Manwong
Post Number: 322
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 06:39 pm: | |
Well, I am officially majorly disappointed and depressed now. Just got really bad news on the 1926 Juzek Master Art violin I bought... It arrived w/ one long, nasty crack stretching from the top of the f-hole to the bottom end of the violin under the chin rest.  What a huge disappointment to say the least. Seems that the seller didn't do a good job of protecting the violin itself from inside the very old, hard violin case, and that was probably part of the problem. The outside was fairly well protected in a good size box w/ lots of crumpled newspaper for cushion, but they neglected to wrap the violin itself inside the case. 
I guess I couldn't win them all after getting good-to-great deals on a 1994 Juzek Master Art viola outfit, a SW Maestro cello and an undated Prague-made Juzek violin that needs a bit of restoration work.
What a huge disappointment even if I have no trouble recovering the $$$ I paid for it. If only I could've received the violin in person rather than via UPS (and relying on the packaging/shipping job of a less-than-knowledgeable seller).
Sigh...
_Man_
Just another amateur learning to paint w/ "the light of the world".
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Jim Crawford
Senior Member
Username: Seanseamus
Post Number: 489
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 04:50 am: | |
Man. repairing that kind of crack is not at all that expensive, and can be done by a good Luthier in a week or less (generally). Since you were going to have to take the instrument to the Luthier anyway (for inspection, any changes to the set-up that might be required, an estimated appraisal, etc), you should just go ahead and have the crack repaired now. For all the work that might have to be done, you are probably looking at less than $200.00, and if you include rehairing the bow, $250.00. It would also give you a chance to discuss the restoration work on the other Juzek violin while you are there. These instruments are too good to let the languish because of something like a crack in the lower bout, and remember that Master Arts violins have recently sold for as much as $30,000.00, so a $200.00 investment is not all that much, all things considered.
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Man
Senior Member
Username: Manwong
Post Number: 327
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 10:14 am: | |
Uncle Jim,
You may well be right, and I may just be a bit too disappointed to see the reality of this situation. I doubt I can get it fixed for just ~$200 here in NYC though. Our teacher suggested that I could maybe take it to her luthier to see what he can do -- and whether he can repair it at a decent discount.
If I can be reasonably sure that it can still be restored to excellent performing condition for a moderate repair cost, I'd definitely do it (and won't mind the big drop in resale value). Part of the problem is also that this crack runs right next to and/or along the bass bar, which probably complicates matter quite a bit -- and I don't know if the bass bar didn't crack either.
Maybe I can negotiate for a refund of 1/2 what I paid to help pay for the repair cost, if it really looks like a loss cause trying to make the insurance claim against UPS. As I mentioned in the other threads, I'm starting to think it's really not UPS's fault, but the seller didn't do an adequate enough job at packing the violin well.
http://www.stringworks.com/cgi-bin/discussion/show.cgi?tpc=2&post=32913#POST3291 3
_Man_
Just another amateur learning to paint w/ "the light of the world".
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Jim Crawford
Senior Member
Username: Seanseamus
Post Number: 490
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 10:36 am: | |
Man, this is one of the resons that the bass bar (in most cases has been (for about the last 80 to 90 years) made as a separate item), rather than actually carved from the top blank; although you describe the crack in the lower left bout (looking at the instrument), and the bass bar would be located in the upper right. Your crack should not even impact the sound post location, so it should not require any kind of special patching to support the soundpost. The bass bar, even if it is involved and cracked can simply be removed and a new one fitted to the top. As far as the resale value falling, if the repair is properly doen, it will have absolutely no impact on the value of the instrument, as it is the sound of the istrument, not its appearence that is the selling factor. As I have said before, the top oc my Juzek cello was smashed (like someone actually stepped on it just to one side of the bridge location), and it still has an appraised value of over $23,000.00 - and it is not a Master Arts! As far as cost, even if it is more expensive than my estimate, will be a significantly small percentage of the instrument's resale value (approxomately $5,000.00 to $30,000.00, and should have no real impact on that price. I would just ask the Luthier to document his repairs so that you can keep this document with the instrument. This way, you can provide a complete history of repair work (from the time that the instrument came into your hands) should you ever decide to sell it. Such documentation can also (sometimes) increace the value of the instrument to serious collectors. Just a thought.
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Man
Senior Member
Username: Manwong
Post Number: 332
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 15, 2006 - 09:19 pm: | |
Thanks for the additional info and suggestion, Uncle Jim. I will see what can be done. Does your friend(?) in Virginia still handle restoration work on Juzek instruments? Maybe I should give him a call. If I do that, should I mention you as a reference?
BTW, I posted a few quick snapshots of the crack in a new post over on the Instrument Questions section:
http://www.stringworks.com/discussion/messages/2/7551.html?1166227582
Probably good to follow up in that thread instead so as not to clutter up this review thread more than I already did.
And thanks again for your great help.
_Man_
Just another amateur learning to paint w/ "the light of the world".
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Christa
Senior Member
Username: Diefremdeseele
Post Number: 116
Registered: 02-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 08:19 pm: | |
Well... Even though the crack apperas to run on top of the bass bar, I'm guessing that it's not cracked because the bass bar is a separate piece of wood and is thicker (from the end-button point of view) that the top. But that's just my guess. You should definitely take it to a luthier as soon as possible before the crack gets worse, and s/he would be able to tell you the extent of the damage. |
Jim Crawford
Senior Member
Username: Seanseamus
Post Number: 494
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 17, 2006 - 02:06 pm: | |
Christa, in instruments (up until the late 40's and early 50's), it was not uncommon for the bass bar to be carved as part of the top plate while the instrument was being made. This meant that the bass bar was an integral part of the top. At the approximate time period mentioned, it became more common (and eventually standard) for the bass bar to be made as a separtate component, and then attached to the top for two basic reasons. One, it allowed the violin maker to start with a thinner blank for the top; and two, it allowed the bass bar to be positioned for optimal sound production. I am not sure whether Man's Juzek would have a carved or a separate bass bar, but in either case, a reapir involving the bass bar would not present too many problems. If it has a separate bass bar, it is unlikely that it would have suffered any damage itself, and the crack in the top place would simply be repaire. If it has an integral bass bar, and that has suffered any damage from the crack in the top plate, then the restorer would remove the instrument top, regraduate the top (removing the existing bass bar, and install a new, separate one. This all depends on how the instrument was made, and one of the reasons that I have suggest to Man that he seek the services of an experienced, quality restorer.
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Andy Barber
Member
Username: Andyb
Post Number: 26
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 12, 2007 - 08:47 am: | |
I see there's a John Juzek cello on, of all places, the Goodwill website. I had to place a couple of bids, based on Jim's reviews, but it quickly went higher than what I've got available in spare cash at the moment!
Andy |
Man
Senior Member
Username: Manwong
Post Number: 504
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 08, 2007 - 08:33 am: | |
Well, hmmm, it looks like good Juzeks are not limited to the pre-60's era as this 1969 Juzek cello just got listed on eBay w/ a starting price of ~$17K(!) -- and the seller doesn't even say it's a Master Art edition. His cello comes w/ a 1992 appraisal letter for a then-$7.5K appraisal w/ added comment that it should probably appreciate at ~10%(!) per year.
Hmmm... At that rate of appreciation, maybe I should go invest more into Juzek instruments so I can eventually sell them to pay for the kids' college education and still be able to enjoy them while I own them. Hmmm... I wonder how well my newly acquired, similarly excellent condition 1966 Juzek Master Art violin would actually appraise since it seems to be similar vintage to that cello. And I still need to get my cracked 1926 one repaired/restored...
_Man_
Just another amateur learning to paint w/ "the light of the world".
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Todd Homer
New member
Username: Todd
Post Number: 1
Registered: 09-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, September 10, 2007 - 10:28 am: | |
I noticed this on ebay yesterday. What potential might be here!?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270162461583&ssPageName= STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=017 |
Daniel Burton
Senior Member
Username: Daniel
Post Number: 340
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 16, 2007 - 11:00 am: | |
I just checked Ebay, and the Juzek went to somebody for $26 plus $40 shipping. From what I could see in the pictures, potential is exactly what the auction winner got, and very little else.
Dan
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May May
New member
Username: Yukon4
Post Number: 1
Registered: 11-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 30, 2007 - 10:39 am: | |
Just stumbled onto this post about Jon Juzek violins. I have one! It is a 3/4 sized one my dad bought in Europe back in the 1940s. It is in beautiful condition. My son used it when he was studying violin (before he switched to bass). I had no idea they were so valuable! Are there different models? This one has what looks like a Jon Juzek signature inside and says "Prague, etc". I would never sell it, simply because it was my dad's, but this is interesting to know!
Any good places to learn more about a particular Juzek violin? |
Cellopop
Senior Member
Username: Curtis
Post Number: 2233
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 30, 2007 - 12:21 pm: | |
This company is the descendents of John Juzek and still sells Juzed instruments, however, the ones labled Prague are supposedly of better quality and higher value.
www.metmusic.com |
Myles_H
Senior Member
Username: Great_mazinga
Post Number: 145
Registered: 08-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 30, 2007 - 03:12 pm: | |
Oh, no, where is Man, the one time you need him?! |
Man
Senior Member
Username: Manwong
Post Number: 939
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 02, 2007 - 09:11 pm: | |
Haha. Do a search on this site for Juzek, and you should find all there is to know from us, which isn't all *that* much to be honest. The Juzek info available on the net is probably as much myth as fact. In the end, it'll all come down to the actual quality of the individual instrument -- though it does seem like vintage Juzeks, particularly those from the earlier periods before the 1950's were quite good, perhaps kinda like the middle-to-higher end SW instruments, but w/ the advantage of age on their side.
In general, the Master Art series of Juzeks should be higher quality and more valuable -- and the label will tell you that along w/ the overall quality of the instruments. But I've heard that some regular, non-MA Juzeks, particularly from the early days in the 1920's, were also very good -- possibly better than some/many later period MA Juzeks.
Anyway, hard to know whether and how valuable your vintage 3/4 Juzek is. If it's a pre-German one, it might be worth something, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that. You won't really know its $$$ worth w/out getting an official appraisal from a reputable appraiser -- and then, perhaps, try to sell it. If it's indeed very good, maybe it'll be worth as much as $1500-2K, but again, I wouldn't hold my breath on that. A large part of the problem w/ its $$$ worth is how the market for 3/4 size violins perceives it. Even if it's actually as good as a real Strad or Del Gesu or whatever else, the Juzek name itself just won't sell nearly as well -- and the fact it's a 3/4 size can be a limiting factor also. Perception seems to be extremely important when it comes to the market value of old instruments. If the violin is good (or even if not), it's probably much more valuable to you and your family as a sort of cherished heirloom than to a collector in the open market. And perhaps the family story surrounding the instrument is also far more interesting than its actual origins as a workshop instrument.
I say just enjoy it for what it represents to your family and keep passing it down to the next promising young musician in the family. Maybe someday, it will even find itself in the hands of a great talent and prodigy in the family and then find itself in the spotlight and gets its due, if it's indeed up to the task... 
_Man_
Just another amateur learning to paint w/ "the light of the world".
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Carolyn
Senior Member
Username: Jczaryap
Post Number: 1001
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 03, 2007 - 05:53 am: | |
Well said, Man! |
richard Patchell
New member
Username: Rick
Post Number: 1
Registered: 12-2009
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 - 04:47 pm: | |
I have a cello that has been around for some time I have never played one before. I play a little guitar and piano. I decided to get this old cello out and get it in playing condition. IN Looking inside I have found that it is a John Juzek 1937 signed made in Prague. It has a crack in the top that I am sure can be repaired . Will having it repaired cause the antique value to be less. |
Cellopop
Senior Member
Username: Curtis
Post Number: 3187
Registered: 11-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 24, 2009 - 01:46 pm: | |
Not less than having a crack in it.
That's a real gem of a cello. Although still considered a student(advanced) cello, the vintage Juzeks are in demand and worth pretty much more than your average student cello. Definately have it repaired. It will still retain a good value. I couldn't tell you how much but enough. You would have to have it appraised.
How about posting us a pic? We LUVS pics around here. |
TK
Senior Member
Username: Lifeisgood
Post Number: 599
Registered: 07-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 27, 2009 - 08:36 pm: | |
Yes, please post photos of your Juzek cello. We're photo deprived around here for some time now. |
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