John Juzek Strad Model Violin Pre-WW II

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In the early 20th century, a talented Czech luthier name Jan Juzek worked in Prague and began to make his mark on the stringed instrument world. Juzek was an extremely prolific maker who had a keen eye, entrepreneurial business sense, and possessed excellent attention to detail. Before WWII his instruments were made in Prague. From 1920 throughout the 1970s, the craftsmen were from the Bohemia region on both sides of the German-Czechoslovak border. The business grew big time when his brother Robert Juzek immigrated to New York and started Metropolitan Music, first in New York City and then later near my hometown in Springfield, New Jersey. Juzek instruments gained a worldwide audience for their violins, violas, celli, and basses. As demand for string instruments in North America increased John Juzek commissioned instruments to be made from other craftsmen, mostly from Schönbach.

The violin has a straight even-width grain spruce top, and Bosnian maple for the back and ribs. The instrument has crisp edgework, tight accurate purfling and Strad arching which leads to a more powerful sound. The back is two-piece highly flamed maple. The ribs, neck, and scroll match the flame of the back plate. The varnish is in very good condition; a reddish amber/brown on an amber ground, antiqued and shaded. Ebony fittings and a German Wittner tailpiece complete the set up. We have also carved a new B grade Despiau bridge and a new sound post. The instrument is in very good condition and has some slight visible playing wear in the top plate varnish.

Corpus 354.0 mm, Major Width 206.0 mm, Minor Width 166.5 mm., Rib Height 29.0 – 30.0 mm.

The sound of the violin jumps with a deep and powerful bass side. The violin is slightly covered in its tone which helps to hold back the brightness of the sound. The violin has been sitting in a collection here at the shop for two decades. The instrument just needs to be played in a few months, I think this violin will sound tremendous once played for a few months. The treble strings are full of life and energy. The violin does not hold back. The violin has it all. A little age, beautiful look, and a very good sound. A nice European selection.