Any comments on this bass?

drumsnbass · #1 11-07-2006, 04:55 PM

It looks amazingly clean for a 55 year old instrument.

KAY VINTAGE UPRIGHT DOUBLE BASS VIOLIN FIDDLE

http://cgi.ebay.com/KAY-VINTAGE-UPRI...QQcmdZViewItem

Thinking of it for a first upright.

Dan

Standalone · #2 11-07-2006, 05:36 PM

you're pretty far away from STL, MO...

Looks nice, and if it is as described, that sounds like a fair enough deal. There are websites that lay out the serial numbers and model years for ya, so i imagine that the lister is on target w/the date.

My bass is a Kay from 1942, and it has been a great first bass.

Kay values are pretty much directly proportional to their condition as far as I have heard.

There are all kinds of quite good beginner plywood basses (that kay is ply, I think) *new* for the same $$$.

Silversorcerer · #3 11-07-2006, 06:04 PM

Looks in great condition. It's getting hard to fine Kays that look that good and don't need a ton of work.

TheSuzie · #4 11-07-2006, 06:38 PM

The bass looks very nice but I would never buy such a bass without having it examined by a luthier that I trusted and also trying it out myself. When buying from someone like a pawn shop, you are going to have few options if you find hidden problems after the purchase. Remember that something like a bassbar or endpin block can be very expensive to fix. I've been through this with the endpin block on an old Kay, back when luthiers charged a lot less than they do now and it was not cheap even then. Also if something does not sound good or feel right when playing any particular bass it can be a pain and also expensive to set right. I'm becoming more and more of a try before you buy person these days.

That said, if you happen to be in that area for some reason, it may be worth a look.

Peace,
S

mesmithnm · #5 11-07-2006, 06:46 PM

I've got S/N 30741 (1952) that is in comparable shape - I gave $1800 bucks about four years ago (included a practically new Moradian bag). The one I got also had a terrific set-up that was done at Robertson's in Albuquerque. I figured that price wasn't bad since a good plywood Shen or Upton or such would cost about the same - although you do get ebony fingerboards and such with the better plywood imports. All-in-all, an old Kay has a good vibe, but if they start to get too expensive - like the one in the classifieds for $3k - I'd take my money somewhere else. $3k can get you into a decent used carved bass if you shop around.

Mark