Kay for me?

eviered · #1 07-12-2010, 04:48 PM

I am new to double bass, (have been an electric Fender Jazz player since 1983) -- I do play professionally, mostly jazz, 50s type dance stuff & blues in some trios and quartets-- I recently got hooked on double bass when I was loaned a Kay from the guitar player in one of my bands. Now I want to play DB **ALL the TIME**! So, it is time I found myself an instrument. I have an opportunity to put a down payment on a 1949 C1 that is currently being restored by a luthier -- I was able to play two other Kays that he had restored and they sound great! I can have him hold this bass for me that is in restoration with a down payment.

The neck was intact -- had never been broken, however the body needed work and he had it taken apart so I could not play it to see how it sounds. The sound board was also intact. (I think it is called the sound board -- piece of wood inside??)

What should I expect to pay for a fully restored instrument? Anything I should watch out for? He was very nice and very upfront about the work he was doing to it.

I absolutely love the way the neck of a Kay feels in my hand, coming from playing a Jazz. I've played numerous other basses in my price range, a Kohr (ick -- did not like it at all) a Shen that was okay -- and another Kay that was in great condition, had been refinished but not restored -- that last one was going for $3K which I thought was rather steep. The Shen guy said he could plane the Shen neck down to match the Kay if I want. That bass all setup with a pickup and all would cost me about $2K.

Any suggestions for me? I really have my heart set on an older Kay -- would it be best to get a fully restored one like the one I talk about above? What should I expect to pay for it? I am located in Wyoming, so pickings are a little slim out here! :-)
Thanks for any and all feedback/advice!
--Lisa

Tejano Bass · #2 07-13-2010, 05:53 AM

eviered / Lisa - check your PM!

wdnewman · #3 07-13-2010, 08:14 AM

Kays are fine old plywood basses, and there are a ton of them out there. They are highly favored by bluegrass and rockabilly players for some reason. They are very good for the type of music you are playing, but there are modern, new plywoods that are very good also. Some Kays are good, some are not. Some have been taken care of, many have not. Some have been restored and/or repaired correctly, some have been butchered. The same goes for all old, out of production basses.
I would do a google search on Kay basses. There are quite a few experts on this forum, so search the forum for information on Kays.
Play all the basses you can get your hands on. Ignore most everything on Ebay and Craigs List unless you can get your hands on them. Try Epiphones, try Shens, try Kings, Try Clevelands. Kays are everywhere. Good luck on your search, and welcome to the dark side.

Steve Swan · #4 07-13-2010, 09:37 AM

One thing to be careful about with Kay basses is that the extremely small neck profile can promote very bad guitar-like left hand technique. I wrecked my left hand when I started out on a Kay using electric bass guitar technique. A few technique lessons with a teacher will help you avoid damage, but be careful if you end up using a Kay as your first doublebass. Have fun!

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #5 07-13-2010, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Swan

One thing to be careful about with Kay basses is that the extremely small neck profile can promote very bad guitar-like left hand technique. I wrecked my left hand when I started out on a Kay using electric bass guitar technique. A few technique lessons with a teacher will help you avoid damage, but be careful if you end up using a Kay as your first doublebass. Have fun!

+1

DB and BG technique are different animals. The thinner neck of a BG and the shorter scale and far less tension make it possible to produce stops by squeezing between the the thumb and the playing finger in the LH. On DB, this is not an advisable approach, and many players (and most teachers, IME) recommend a thicker neck profile to help keep the hand shape open and dissuade beginners from trying to squeeze with the thumb. I've only ever known two people to have had luthiers thin out their necks for them, and both regretted it later.

mkandolf · #6 07-13-2010, 11:03 AM

Hello Lisa,

Just want to let you know Englehardt took over the Kay line some years ago and now makes some very good basses from those original Kay molds. My Gollihur Classic model (from Gollihurmusic.com) that I bought a couple years ago is a fine example. Brand new and with a luthier setup and a great set of K&K pickups and preamp, I'm only into it at about $2300 total. I've had nothing but compliments on the sound and quality of it everywhere I've played it so far.

Don't know where you are at, but check around with a few luthiers to see what they have. A luthier in the Metro Detroit are normally has a used bass or two in the $2K range and CL has a couple DB's in this area right now too at that price point.

Mike