Kay bass prices

[Hammertime3]

Anyone have any idea what new Kay basses were selling for in the fifties and sixties...about the time I think they ceased production. List is OK, or if you bought one about that time, what did you pay?

[Hammertime3]

I just realized that the majority of viewers probably weren't even around in the fifties and sixties. But if there are any oldies out there, or you happen to know what your Dad payed, I'd like to know.

[Bass Barrister]

You might want to direct that question to Roger Stowers at www.kaybass.com. He's the expert on most things Kay and could probably pull list prices from old catalogs, of which he has many. Kay stopped bass production in 1969.

[skipper]

My mother purchased my Kay M-1B new in 1965 for $375.

[alavakian]

Kay basses were selling for $175.00 during the '50's and up to $300 during the '60's.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by Hammertime3

I just realized that the majority of viewers probably weren't even around in the fifties and sixties. But if there are any oldies out there, or you happen to know what your Dad payed, I'd like to know.

Oldie?

I remember when my 1967 Kay arrived new. IIRC, my dad paid between $200-300.

[Cyrus Pansch]

Originally Posted by drurb

Oldie?

I remember when my 1967 Kay arrived new. IIRC, my dad paid between $200-300.

Granted in 1967 Minimum Wage was only $2.50/hr and gas was only $.27 cents a gallon...

+ dime bag only cost a dime (Willie Nelson)

[Ike Harris]

Minimum wage in 1967 was 1.40 an hour. I was there, bagging groceries.

[ctxbass]

Here are the Kay bass prices from the 1952 William Lewis & Son catalog:

S-8 $330
S-9 $330
M-1 $275
C-1 $250
H-10 (1/4 size) $220
S-51 (five string Chubby Jackson model) $440
M-5 (five string) $330

These prices included set up at the Lewis & Son shop.

By comparison, their carved Mittenwald swell back model (similar to Juzeks) was $400.
You could get plenty of deutschmarks for a dollar in those days!

[Tejano Bass]

F Y I - Kay ended production in Oct, 1969.

[zeytoun]

See post 3

[Hammertime3]

Thanks guys (and gals). I knew someone would have all the answers. I had a nice Kay bass back around 65-66 that I paid $100 for and sold it for the same price. Wasn't into bass history or values back then, so I don't know how old it was. Looks like we both got a good deal.

[Tejano Bass]

woulda - coulda - shoulda . . .

[Gearhead43]

If I only had a time machine.........just big enough for me and one, maybe two basses.