1946 Blonde Kay

Alec Valentine · #1 04-25-2006, 01:49 AM

Hello all, I'm fairly new here so if anyone can offer some advice I would appreciate it.

I've been thinking of getting a second bass, and today out of the blue this guy said he wants to sell his 1946 Kay. The original finish has been removed, and it sounds like a major repair was done to the dovetail joint in the neck. He couldn't remember the model # off hand, but he said the serial number has been verified ant it is definately a 46.

He's asking around $1000 CAD ($879 USD) which is about all I can afford at the moment, and I need the durability of a laminate.

Can anyone advise me of what to look for when I check it out next week. Or is it just a expensive project in the making.

Thanks

RD · #2 04-25-2006, 02:44 AM

Alec,
I'd say that you should have a luthier check it out. If the seller resists that idea in anyway, I'd walk away. It might be stolen. It would be a good deal at that price, if it gets a clean bill of health and is not hot.
Read up on Kays at :http://www.kaybass.com/
good luck,
RD

Standalone · #3 04-28-2006, 07:09 PM

I have a 1941 kay, a beat up 'orchestra' ply model (the least expensive one.) It has had a refin and a bad neck break, and the repair has started to move a little.

a full neck replacement is in the lower $1000s usd. I'm torn about what to do with mine, but if I had another bass, I think it would still make a great beater back up bass.