'54 Kay M1b

loend68 · #1 03-12-2011, 04:59 PM

A friend of mine gave me his grandfather's bass because he didn't have room for it and wanted it to go to someone who would appreciate it and use it. It definitely needed some work but is in great overall shape. I met today with TB's Mark Carlsen of The Setup Shop in Tewksbury Ma. Great guy and even before the work has been done I would recommend him to everyone. the neck is a little loose so he's going to start with a neck reset and also add a little overstand. Then he'll either reuse the bridge or fit a new one. There are also some seams he'll be fixing and some new strings on the way.

Guess I'll have to start some lessons to learn how to play this thing for real!

(sorry for the low quality pics)

KUNGfuSHERIFF · #2 03-12-2011, 06:08 PM

Beautiful. Please be sure to update when the work is done. What kind of strings did you choose?

tomshepp · #3 03-12-2011, 09:09 PM

That's some friend you have! Congrats on your new bass

Heirphoto · #4 03-13-2011, 09:20 AM

It's gonna be a beauty. I have the same model but mine is a 1953 M-1B. Nice color and really thumpy with Clef guts on her.

Welcome to the Kay Club

Enjoy,

Tony

drurb · #5 03-13-2011, 09:35 AM

Wow! Indeed, that is some friend! Congrats, I'll bet you'll have a blast with that bass. Where did you take your friend for dinner?

loend68 · #6 03-13-2011, 12:23 PM

I already hooked him up with an electric bass for his kids to play, but I still definitely owe him!!

Haven't decided on strings. I have some time while the neck reset is done and was going to do some research. I really have nothing to go on since I'm just learning....

drurb · #7 03-13-2011, 05:19 PM

My old Kay seemed to prefer strings of somewhat lower tension than, say, Spirocores. Evah Pirazzi weichs will often really wake up a ply bass. I'm hope others will chime in with their thoughts.

abaguer · #8 03-14-2011, 12:31 AM

I got my blonde kay back in early 80s from keyboard player who wanted to get a DX7. He had the bass sitting in the living room with only two strings on it, one gut, one steel. Bought it for 400 dollars, repaired the loose neck and a few years and many gigs later had David Gage replace the thin rosewood board with nice thick ebony one. I have a carved and hybrid as well and my Kay is still the loudest and punchiest. Congrats.

pgolliher · #9 03-14-2011, 01:03 AM

While broke in college I found an 1954 M1B for $175. I called the number on the ad thinking it was a typo and I talked to a woman who was selling it. It was her husband's, he had it since he was a kid and they had just retired to a condo and didn't have room for it. I shined it up with 'fiddle bright' and some brass cleaner, had it adjusted and put some spirocores on it. It look a lot like your bass, and cleaned up almost as nice as Heirphoto's pic above. I ended up selling it to fund a touring rig for a band that broke up after the tour. One of my biggest gear regrets. Congrads, I am sure that bass will bring you lots of joy.

loend68 · #10 03-16-2011, 09:58 PM

Any other suggestions for strings? I probably will probably be playing it mostly pizzacato (sp?)

dukeorock · #11 03-16-2011, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loend68

Any other suggestions for strings? I probably will probably be playing it mostly pizzacato (sp?)

Most will say Spirocores, and they are very nice strings...had a set on my very first bass...loud too. I was learning slap and pizz, so the tension was just way too high for me...been a gut user ever since. I'm sure someone could tell you if Spiros come in different guages...I'm currently using Pirastro Oliv's for my E&A and Gotz raw gut D&G...I have a '51 Kay and a newer King Doublebass...I should speak too much on steel strings...I like gut wrapped in steel...but my personal favorite steel I've play in awhile is Jargars.

best of luck...that is such a beautiful bass! reminds me of my very first Kay.

Heirphoto · #12 03-18-2011, 11:03 AM

When I bought mine it had Spirocores on it, light gauge. The previous owner got them as a gift 13 years ago and wanted the extra lights instead but played the lights for 13 years before selling the bass to me. He was a career musician and teacher all those years so must have been pretty happy if he never switched strings all those years. seems like guys here change strings weekly dearching for the perfect match!

I just like the sound of the guts myself and only play pizz.

The sound on my Kay was so much louder and deeper than my cheap Palantino Chinese bass. Funny thing is I was very happy with the palantino till I heard the Kay.

Tony

Tony

pedro · #13 03-18-2011, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomshepp

That's some friend you have! Congrats on your new bass

Ditto. (pedro wishing somebody would give him a bass.)

loend68 · #14 04-07-2011, 02:44 PM

Got word yesterday that the neck set is complete. He's going to put an adjustable bridge on it and do a set up once he glues up the separating seams. Decided to go with a set of Spiro Weichs on it after digging around for info. Hopefully I'll have some neck set pictures soon...

loend68 · #15 04-19-2011, 12:02 PM

....just waiting to be picked up!

jazzbill · #16 04-19-2011, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loend68

....just waiting to be picked up!

Time to find a teacher now.

anonymous02282011 · #17 04-19-2011, 12:51 PM

Mark Carlsen does great work. He'll have the bass playing and sounding its best. Keep us posted!

Marcus Johnson · #18 04-19-2011, 12:57 PM

Excellent score! Beautiful blonde. My tendency is to wanna put guts on there (big surprise

), but the Spiros will serve you well forever, with less hassles. Put 'em on and forget about them.