Kay Double Bass?

[crjenkins]

Ok, so I was in the office of my church and I noticed in one of the back rooms there was a Kay upright bass...upon further inspection it has taken a LOT of abuse...it's dinged up the neck is seperated from the body and it looks like it's just been heavily used and not taken care of...I know absolutely nothing about Uprights, but the church said they'd let me have it cheap...it's called a Viol on the inside tag, and the model number is M31 1/h, and serial number is 55369...I was just wondering if this is worth it to fix...or if it's even fixable? I'll try to put pics up later

[Phil Rowan]

Take it to a luthier.

[MT Spaces]

Originally Posted by crjenkins

.... the model number is M31 1/h, and serial number is 55369...I was just wondering if this is worth it to fix...or if it's even fixable? I'll try to put pics up later

Hello CR Pix would be useful for sure .... I have played, owned, and seen plenty of Kays (for better or worse ). Check out the Kay Bass web-site put together by Roger Stowers ... http://www.kaybass.com/ .

I believe all that number-krap you typed in leads to a Kay M-1 / Serial # 55369 / Built in 1967 ..... Not but a couple years before Kay Croaked in '69.

Yep .... See a luthier that doesn't know what Gorilla Glue is (or learn to be one on the sly by asking a bazillion questions here on TalkBass) .... Repairing a busted neck on a Kay .... Paying Big Money to a luthier .... Well ... It just may not be worth it. BTW ... I love old Kays.

EDIT ... Holy Smokes ... Yer in Nashville, TN ? You can probably walk right out on the nearest street corner and get someone that knows about Kays to give you an opinion ! If that fails .... There are some Fine Luthiers down there that know their stuff !

[Tejano Bass]

Nashville, George Chestnut
615-889-6454
Repairs, setup, etc.


Nashville, Jim Ferguson Double Bass Shop
fax: 615-463-8747 jim@jimfergusonmusic.com
Setup, repair work, sells strings and accessories. Part-time


Nashville, Dustin Art Williams
615-429-2927 http://www.WilliamsFineViolins.com
Dustin@WilliamsFineViolins.com
Bass Maker, repairs, sales, bow rehairs, grad of Violin Making School

[crjenkins]

Thanks guys!

[Jeremy Darrow]

You're best bet will be Dustin's shop. As you might imagine, they work on plenty of Kays and they do good work. Dustin runs a top notch shop.

[crjenkins]

I contacted Dustin's shop and the said 400-500 bucks for a repair...I'm going to take it over there next Tuesday. It's sweet cause I'm at Belmont University right up the street from his shop, so it'll be easy...Thanks for your help guys, I'll let you know how it turns out

[Phil Rowan]

Share some pics of it before and after if possible.