1964 Kay C-1

Grizzly700 · #1 06-21-2009, 10:08 PM

Hello everyone. I was just wondering if this would be a good bass to start out on. I will be playing bluegrass 90% of the time. Is this a good price and does it look structurally sound? Does anybody know and good luthiers in East, TN that could check it out for me? And, can you recommend a good pickup system.

http://knoxville.craigslist.org/msg/1230071759.html

Thanks

tomshepp · #2 06-22-2009, 05:42 AM

That looks like it could be a very good deal. Kays that are in good playing condition can and do, sell for that asking price. The seller will include the bag, pickup and an amp. This bass could potentially be a good one to start out on and keep for future playing. Kay basses are the choice of many bluegrass players. Do your research on Kays. Some folks love em' and some........ not so much. Check out Jerry Fretwell's site.

You must agree with the seller to have the bass inspected/evaluated by a respected luthier. That way you know what you're getting, what the bass may need, and how you should negotiate a final price. Seems like the seller may be willing to talk. Look around in setup and repair here on TB. You'll find some recommendations for a luthier. Also check out Bob Golliur's site. He maintains a list of luthiers. Good luck with the purchase.

Kirkowitz · #3 06-22-2009, 06:04 AM

Hello,
That seems like a very good deal, if the bass checks out. The revolution solo pickup that comes on the bass is a good pickup. I actually used the same amp/pickup setup for a while, sounds very solid. That amp is pretty heavy, but it rocks back like a monitor wedge. Cool for small stages.
You could get the preamp a guy here on Talkbass sells, his name is Fdeck for around $50 to complete the setup. Not really necessary right away, but would improve the tone and give you a variable pass filter to help with feedback.
Sorry, don't know any luthiers in E. TN.

drurb · #4 06-22-2009, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kirkowitz

...You could get the preamp a guy here on Talkbass sells, his name is Fdeck for around $50 to complete the setup. Not really necessary right away, but would improve the tone and give you a variable pass filter to help with feedback.

I'm a big fan of fdeck's pre-amp/high-pass filter. The variable high-pass filter is particularly good for preventing the pickup from passing infrasonics to the amplifier/speaker and for reducing some "boominess." It will not do much for taming feedback. What will help with feedback in many cases is the phase-inversion switch included on that device. One of the most important functions of fdeck's little gem is that the pre-amp will load the Rev Solo with 10 Mohms. That pickup, like about any other piezo, likes to "see" at least 1 Mohm. I'm not sure what is the input impedance of the Ampeg in the ad. Even the owner's manual doesn't specify it. If it is lower than 1 Mohm, then the Rev Solo might sound "honky" and "nasally" with little low-end response. If the Ampeg has too low an input impedance, then an outboard pre-amp will essentially be a necessity from the get-go.

You can find much more about all of this in the Amps, Pickups forum.

Kirkowitz · #5 06-22-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drurb

I'm a big fan of fdeck's pre-amp/high-pass filter. The variable high-pass filter is particularly good for preventing the pickup from passing infrasonics to the amplifier/speaker and for reducing some "boominess." It will not do much for taming feedback. What will help with feedback in many cases is the phase-inversion switch included on that device. One of the most important functions of fdeck's little gem is that the pre-amp will load the Rev Solo with 10 Mohms. That pickup, like about any other piezo, likes to "see" at least 1 Mohm. I'm not sure what is the input impedance of the Ampeg in the ad. Even the owner's manual doesn't specify it. If it is lower than 1 Mohm, then the Rev Solo might sound "honky" and "nasally" with little low-end response. If the Ampeg has too low an input impedance, then an outboard pre-amp will essentially be a necessity from the get-go.

You can find much more about all of this in the Amps, Pickups forum.

Thanks for the clarification. I've got to watch posting before coffee.

I've not used Fdecks box, but the reviews I've read are always positive, and for the price........

catty · #6 06-22-2009, 09:25 AM

My first bass was a 60s C-1. I really liked the neck on it.

drurb · #7 06-22-2009, 11:03 AM

My first bass was a 60s C-1. I really disliked the neck on it. Too skinny for me.

tomshepp · #8 06-22-2009, 12:13 PM

Like I said, some folks love em' and some, not so much.

catty · #9 06-22-2009, 01:00 PM

My present bass has a big fat neck on it. As a player of all the other strings, I could never figure out what to do with all that extra wood. It sounds good, but from an ergonomic perspective it's cumbersome.

drurb · #10 06-22-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catty

My present bass has a big fat neck on it. As a player of all the other strings, I could never figure out what to do with all that extra wood. It sounds good, but from an ergonomic perspective it's cumbersome.

Well, for sure, there are individual differences but for many, many players, it is the thin necks that are the ergonomic problem. They cause substantial left-hand fatigue when trying to maintain that "claw" over extended playing periods. Many times, in such cases, you see players revert to the "baseball bat" hold. It's also the case that many new players, on first holding a DB neck, judge the thinner neck profiles to be easier to play until they gain some experience. This is not universal. As I mentioned, there are players who have smaller hands, different shaped hands, whatever, who simply do prefer thinner neck profiles. There's no one bass for everyone. You go with what works for you.

catty · #11 06-22-2009, 02:24 PM

For me, there was always a progression toward increasingly thinner "jazz" guitar necks -- the thinner the better...so I have a predisposition, of sorts..

RandyMolson · #12 06-22-2009, 09:55 PM

Yah Grizzly, I would say pull the trigger based on the description. I have an early Kay and I enjoy it. IMO, if it has survived all these years w/out somebody dropping it and snapping the neck, the Kay is worth the $1.8k asking price. A mojoed Kay will score you points in bluegrass circles too.

I enjoyed the side discussion about neck widths, BTW.