Kay M-3

[kai_ski]

Cheap basses don't come up for sale very often in my neck of the woods, which is all I really deserve to play, but I thought I would ask for some input on this one. To my eye, it looks to be in pretty rough shape, but I haven't played it.

I usually end up amplifying my DB when I have one, playing in indie and folk groups, with the occasional bluegrass jam. Will this smaller size bass have a lesser tendency to feedback than my full size Engelhardt did (which was very hard to keep under control at times)? Will its acoustic volume be MUCH quieter than a full size bass?

Thanks for your input.

Kay Upright Bass with Bow, Stand 1/2 1/4 - $499 (Murray)

Just so you know - the price is FIRM. Selling this for a relative and she won't take less. This is a genuine Kay upright bass. Model is M-3. Serial is 48741. Plays nicely. Bridge is good. I think the fingerboard is rosewood? The kay bass website says this is a 1/4 to 1/2 sized bass. The bass measures 5 foot 3 inches from the bottom of the body to the top of the head. the big part of the body measure 22.5 inches across. Strings are recent and the pegs keep them in tune. Bow is newer, too. The stand is metal and is very nice - that alone cost nearly 100 bucks a few years back. For the past 10 years the bass has seen very little play and she only recently restrung it. Has a little wear on the edges like a lot of basses do - this one is from 1966.

http://saltlakecity.craigslist.org/msg/1692175286.html

[Jake deVilliers]

Its cheap because there is very little demand for 1/4 size basses. Unless you are under four feet, I wouldn't recommend it!

[MR PC]

For 499 bucks......you can't go wrong giving it a shot and deciding for yourself if it fits your needs. These little Kay basses bark quite well in sessions, and amplify well too. Looks like it has a nice beefy fingerboard, always a plus.

[LeslieD]

No, I'm with Jake on this one. 1/4 and 1/2-size basses are for kids, and only if they are really young & small. Stick with a 3/4s bass (even your Englehardt) and save your $499.

[MR PC]

Well, I play one of these little Kay basses on occasion, and find it to have a real good even sound. I'm a grown man..... Of course it isn't the sound of a 3/4 bass! It 's got the sound of a 1/4 size bass. And it is a very usable sound, IMO. Not limited to children, by any means.

[drurb]

Another vote with Jake. I'd pass.

[kai_ski]

Thanks for the input.

I took an opportunity to sell my Engelhardt before I moved from SF in December. I never really liked it much... it was really really big, hard to get around on small stages, feedback was horrendous, and unless it was amplified, even playing with 1 guitar and 1 banjo/mandolin, I couldn't hear it at all. I suppose you could say I left my "Engelhardt" in San Francisco . Since then, I've started getting some new projects together, and think I could use a DB for small coffee shop type gigs sans drums, but don't really want to spend a lot.

Are the reasons against this bass, just its size? Or is the sound undesirable?

PC - What kind of situations do you find yourself playing one of these smaller basses? Did you make any modifications to yours that made it more playable?

[MR PC]

Originally Posted by kai_ski

Thanks for the input.

PC - What kind of situations do you find yourself playing one of these smaller basses? Did you make any modifications to yours that made it more playable?

I don't own the bass, I just play it on occasion. I talked the owner into having it set up with a new bridge, and 1/4 size Spirocore strings. That made a big difference, the previous strings were from a full size bass, and quite floppy.

I play it in casual acoustic string band music jams. It sings with it's own voice, and is quite audible in that situation. The E string is strong,and balanced with the rest of the instrument. The arco tone and feel is real nice. It is what it is, a 1/4 size bass. I like it. I'm always happy to play it.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a good one for 499 bucks, for more reasons than one. As a matter of fact, I'd be surprised if someone else hasn't already bought it.

There is a very good classical bassist in my area who has one he uses for amplified string band gigs. It sounds great that way, loud, deep, and proud. And you can't beat the portability!

EDIT: BTW, the bass does look like it has some cosmetic rough spots. I've seen much worse. That doesn't bother me, ( I actually like it) and that can be addressed a few different ways if need be.

Most importantly though, it looks like the neck has never been broken, and it's intact in the body of the bass.

BTW, you could probably sell the tailpiece with the Kay logo for a large part of the purchase price. Some Kay geeks are tweeked on making their axes original as possible.......same goes with the tuners, the tuners on the 1/4 size are the same as those used on the larger Kays.

[LeslieD]

Originally Posted by kai_ski

Thanks for the input.

I took an opportunity to sell my Engelhardt before I moved from SF in December. I never really liked it much... it was really really big, hard to get around on small stages, feedback was horrendous, and unless it was amplified, even playing with 1 guitar and 1 banjo/mandolin, I couldn't hear it at all. I suppose you could say I left my "Engelhardt" in San Francisco . Since then, I've started getting some new projects together, and think I could use a DB for small coffee shop type gigs sans drums, but don't really want to spend a lot.

Are the reasons against this bass, just its size? Or is the sound undesirable?

I've only played a few Englehardts, but an ES-9 that I once played was pretty anemic. My cheap plywood Eberle had nearly twice the sound for whatever reason (sorry I can't tell you why). As far as it being "really, really big" that's just part of the whole package of playing a double bass. If you want an over-sized cello, then go for the 1/2 size bass. It's true that a few other people (adults) like them and swear by them, but that's NOT the typical experience or preference. I do know a great multi-instrumentalist folkie who has a really nice old 1/2 size bass that he picked up cheap for $300 or less. We played our basses side by side, and his had substantially less volume (again, it might have been his particular set up & bass).

Seriously though the smaller basses are starter student basses and to me it just looks funny to see adults play them. And that particular bass you're looking at seems to be pretty beat up to me. If you really want it, I'd offer the seller a few hundred less. Still...I bet you could find better things to spend $300 on.

[MR PC]

Originally Posted by LeslieD

Seriously though the smaller basses are starter student basses and to me it just looks funny to see adults play them.

Funny, that's all true. But for that very reason Tom Waits bought one that I worked on and decided not to buy for myself. It looks cool to some people on stage, for that larger than life Godzilla thing. 1300 bucks several years ago!

[LeslieD]

Originally Posted by MR PC

It looks cool to some people on stage, for that larger than life Godzilla thing.

I'm definitely not in the running for any coolness contests by playing German plys and hybrids in string band and bluegrass groups. But I think you could present arguments either way as to whether a 1/2 bass will get you coolness points or not!

Hmm, I'm trying to picture Godzilla playing the bass. Does he have enough toes?

[kai_ski]

well the CL post was deleted, so I guess it's probably gone. Thanks for the input, and I'll be back when I see something else in my price range!

[MR PC]

Originally Posted by LeslieD

Hmm, I'm trying to picture Godzilla playing the bass. Does he have enough toes?

Dunno, never got close enough to count.......but..... he does have big bottom!

[Gearhead43]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

Its cheap because there is very little demand for 1/4 size basses. Unless you are under four feet, I wouldn't recommend it!

+1

Don't bother with that thing. People think they are more valuable than they are, just because they are a Kay - and the 1/4 basses just aren't.

I have an absolutely gorgeous little Kay Cello I got at a thrift store - beautifull little cello, stunning Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard and tailpiece, immaculate shape. (I loves me some Rosewood)

Still not worth a ****, price wise. I keep it for a wall decoration. Might let me son play it if he takes an interest in cello later. He already has an Engelhardt Cello I turned into a "Mini-Bass" for him - so he can beat on that one for now.

[MR PC]

Originally Posted by Gearhead43

+1

Don't bother with that thing. People think they are more valuable than they are, just because they are a Kay - and the 1/4 basses just aren't.

I guess you didn't notice that bass isn't available anymore....so the OP doesn't have to bother with it, and we'll never know how he felt about it's playability. Worth getting your vote in anyway!

"Not being being worth the bother" is really a matter of the people you are referring to IMHO. In the case of my friend (an adult) with the 1/4 size Kay, it's perfect because of her physical stature. She loves it. People love listening to it. Everybody is happy with the sound there.

It isn't uncommon to tune these 1/4 size basses A D G C. Piccolo bass style. Also used for experimental chamber music, Irish/Euro Folk music, fiddle tunes, Conjunto, Salsa, ect. I've heard and seen it used these ways, by great players.

It gets used as prop too. But in truth, the double bass has been used that way much more.

I want one!

Edit: Since the OP asked about mods, I think these can be modded at bit to make an excellent alternative to the EUB. I remember a member her posting on that.