Double Bass Does anyone know what bass this is (brand/maker)...?

Rodi Aravena

Rodi Aravena

Dec 30, 2021
22
10
856
52
Zürich, Switzerland
www.rodrigoaravena.com
#1
Hi everyone,

I have owned this German bass for over 20 years. In all that time, I have never known who the maker of this bass is (or what year exactly it is from).

Anyone with a similar bass, or who might know something about it and thus, who might be able to shed some light on my quarter-of-a-century-long bass mystery, your help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you
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#2
Laminate or carved? I have a German factory ply that looks just like that with no label inside to ID it.

There were some dried up scraps from a German newspaper inside it when I got it used in 1981 and a small sticker that read "Made in W. Germany". US custom laws distinguished between East and West Germany until finally it was decided anything from East Germany could not use the word Germany, only GDR (acronym for German Democratic Republic) in the labeling. So using "W. Germany" on the label would date my bass to the 1950s.
 
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#5
Could be a Juzek... They were/are only an importer (not an actual maker) that used mostly Wilfer and Lang as suppliers, I believe. Could also be a Hofner... Bear in mind that I'm not a luthier. Hopefully someone that knows more will chime in...
 
#6
Carved Juzeks were generally Wilfers but in a pinch they’d order from whoever had basses to sell, which accounts for some of the variations among basses labeled Juzek. Ply Juzeks were generally Langs according to Ken Smith, who knew the Juzek family personally.

The OP’s bass could be just about anything. That style of blume was widely used.
 
#8
It's one among thousands of German carved shop basses made in the 20th century. The more pedestrian basses often weren't signed because it didn't add value and they were all "cut from the same cloth".

Some of them have a quite tall and thin button - RA yours is kind of like this - and I've seen a few of these labelled as Hofners.

As far as U.S. importers go, as well as Juzek there was Lewis and Sons, based in Chicago. The reddish top varnish on your bass looks a lot like like the last carved "Lewis" bass that came through my shop. German shop bass, all the way.
 
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