Kay Bass question

mainefiddle · #1 02-10-2008, 07:20 PM

Hello all you bass players. I am a violinist, so you would know more about this one than me. Tell me your thoughts on this bass for sale in Maine. I was thinking of buying it, but open it too the floor.
Thanks,

Zach Ovington

Year: 1949 (Circa)
ManufacturerName Kay
ModelName M-1 Bass c.1949
Case: None
Color: Natural
Condition: Good
Price: $1,899.00
Description: Laminated bass from 1949. Back has been off to reglue loose bass bar. Lamination chips around edges of back. Facial distortion @ F-hole on treble side, but structurally sound. Applied scroll pieces are missing.

tomshepp · #2 02-10-2008, 08:48 PM

Don't be afraid to shop around. Kay basses can be nice or not so nice. The price seems fair. But you should be clear that if any work is needed, that should be negotiated in the price. Look on this forum for comparable prices. I paid $1500. for mine. It needed about $200. to get it into playing shape. The good thing about kay basses is you can take em' anywhere and play em' under any conditions with no worries.

envika · #3 02-10-2008, 08:51 PM

I'd go for it, that's about as cheap as you'll get any bass that isn't a CCB

mainefiddle · #4 02-10-2008, 10:06 PM

Thanks for the info! You bass guys are lucky. There is no violin out there that would be half decent for pro. use except for maybe some Chinese ones.

mainefiddle · #5 02-10-2008, 10:07 PM

I forgot to add "for less than 4,000 bucks" to my comment

alanbarnosky · #6 02-11-2008, 08:16 AM

I love my Kay -- however I found it for $600 and it needed another $600 put into it... 1200 to get it into playable condition sounds good to me. It sounds great and perfect for what I'm using it for.

Gufenov · #7 02-11-2008, 10:26 AM

You don't mention what style of music you'll be playing. If you play much arco, you might not be happy with the plywood top. You can get a hybrid or even a cheaper carved bass for the same money or not much more. Your profile says you already have an Upton Hawkes, so what would you expect this bass to do that the Upton doesn't?

I'd be concerned about the "facial distortion" and the missing volutes on the scroll, as an indicator that the instrument might not have been very well cared-for. It may be worth the price, especially with what Kays go for these days, but I'd check it out thoroughly. Take an experienced player or your teacher, if you have one, along.

mapleleaf4evr · #8 02-11-2008, 05:43 PM

That's a reasonable price if the instrument doesn't need much work. Kay's sometimes have issues with cracked necks. You also may need to get the fingerboard dressed. One thing with a Kay, it will hold it's value so you should easily get your money back. This is a good site for Kay information. http://www.kaybass.com/history.htm
I've owned and played one for about 4 years and been quite happy with it.

Steve Boisen · #9 02-11-2008, 07:09 PM

The missing scroll volutes are no biggie. They get knocked off all of the time and you can buy new ones (they are glued on). The distortion on the top is not uncommon either. My 1949 Kay M-1 has the volutes intact but there is a bit of top disctortion around the f-holes. It's a great bass but I've found that not all Kays are created equal.

- Steve

Bass Barrister · #10 02-11-2008, 08:17 PM

Good luck in finding a good one one at a reasonable price.

I just got sniped on one that was up on fleabay. It was a nice looking S-9 from 1951.

If it was one of you all that got it, for $2650 I might add, all I got to say is . . . [looks for emoticon with extended middle finger]. . . just kidding, C'est la guerre.

MollyKay · #11 02-11-2008, 08:45 PM

Fleabay…LOL…never heard it called that before. I see a guitar dealer in Texas sniped it. Don’t despair there is always another one. Kay made approximately 38,000 basses. There is enough vintage mojo out there for everyone.

To the OP…if you can, go see the bass, touch it, play it and see if you have a connection to it (kinda like a first date). I agree not all Kay basses are the same but for the most part they are better then an entry level CCB…IMHO.

mainefiddle · #12 02-14-2008, 09:34 AM

I don't have the Upton bass. I sold it on Talkbass actually. I play mostly swing and jazz gigs with the occasinally rockabilly gig, so the kay is perfect. I thought about buying the Kay becuase it would be worth more if I sell it. I had to take less for the Upton when I sold it. Great bass though.

Slam Stewart used a Kay didn't he, and he bowed all the time. He had kind of an edgy tone thought with the plywood and gut strings.

mainefiddle · #13 02-14-2008, 09:35 AM

OH yeah, and what is top distortion?

drurb · #14 02-14-2008, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mainefiddle

OH yeah, and what is top distortion?

Sinking/warping of the top around the f-hole.

drurb · #15 02-14-2008, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mainefiddle

Slam Stewart used a Kay didn't he, and he bowed all the time.

That's the report although when he handed me his bass during our little chat, I'm not sure it was a Kay. I assume he had more than one.

mainefiddle · #16 02-14-2008, 09:48 AM

What is the potential issue with the facial distortion?

bpclark · #17 02-14-2008, 10:52 AM

On my Kay C1, I believe it contributed to a crack over the sound post. I don't know if it goes clear through or is just the outer layer. I haven't had a chance to get it my friendly neighborhood luthier yet to check it out. Also, my bridge has tendency over the course of time to slide down into the "valley"

pedullabass · #18 02-14-2008, 07:57 PM

this is a very intersting thread .. I commented to a 1950 Kay M1 tomorrow needs nothing.

Monkey · #19 02-14-2008, 09:50 PM

I have a 1945 Kay with some distortion around the f-holes (slightly more on the treble side). I had some work done from a good bass-specific luthier recently, and asked him about the top distortion. He said he had seen it on Kays before, and since it had been stable for so many years, he didn't think it was a big problem.

Since having some work done, my bass plays and sounds great now. I'm happy with the arco tone, as well.

jbalou02 · #20 03-29-2010, 09:49 AM

Hi, I have a 1964 Kay C-1, I really love it but I'm quite busy with other bass guitar gigs. I can play it decently and I'd love to get better, but just don't have the skill or chops to play through an entire night on it at the moment, or the time to commit to building up my endurance and technique. So I'm thinking about selling or trading, but I really don't have any idea what the value is on it.

If you could take a look at the pics below, I'd appreciate any info I can get from you smart TB DB folks. To me it plays and sounds very nice, but I have no experience to base that opinion on. The neck has been repaired some time prior to me getting it - there is a wooden peg in the back of the neck where it meets the body, but it is very solid and doesnt rattle or anything funky like that. It has a pickup on it, which I have no idea on either, there is no brand stamped on it anywhere. I have a nylon bag (in duct tape condition) for it and the stand that is pictured.