Kay Bass Info Request

MikeVB · #1 05-23-2006, 09:25 PM

Found an old Kay bass in a music store here in town. It is really beat up with edges broken off at the ribs in several places. The store owner has a new unfinished fingerboard, nut, bridge, and sound posts for it as it was missing these pieces. The finish is also horrid in that it appears that someone tried to sunburst this thing at one point. I say someone cause I don't think I've ever seen another bass with that finish and figured some dope did it.

I looked up the model (C-1) and serial number on the net and found it's a 1966. According to where I looked it up these things usually sell for $1200-2000 depending on condition and refinishing/repairs don't affect the value. Owner said he's asking $500 but make him an offer.

I always wanted an upright bass and having some interest in lutherie (built a Stew-Mac mando kit) I figured I might be able to put it back together.

If I could get it for substantially under what he's asking would this be a worthwhile purchase and project? Anyone else ever do this with an old Kay?

oleman · #2 05-23-2006, 11:14 PM

Sounds like a fun project to me. If you can put it back together, it will be worth a lot more than 5oo.
The tricky part will be the finger board.
The bass I rebuilt wasn't a Kay, but a CCB [cheap Chinese Bass]and I used all my guitar lutherie skills but some furniture rebuilding skills would have been useful as well. Good luck!!

mje · #3 05-24-2006, 06:49 AM

I got halfway through the restoration of an old Kay, and all the way through the restoration of an unknown old school bass that had been trashed and had large bits of the edges of the top and back ground off from dragging it around. Had a lot of fun doing it, too. The luthiers here are wonderfully helpful.

Jake deVilliers · #4 05-24-2006, 11:00 PM

Do it Mike! It will be a LOT of work, but you'll know a lot more about basses when you're done. Re-finishing most certainly affects the value, but you should be doing it for the bass, not the money. I should know, I'm trying to do it for a living! :-)

Where did he get the fingerboard? ie, make sure it is worth installing.

Get in touch if you have any questions.

Jake