King compared to other basses

[truckplayer]

Since King and American Standard where made by the same company, what are the differences between the two? (size, sound, etc). Are Kings valued like American Standard with professional players?

How does King compare to Kay or Epiphone?

thanks

[PaulKing]

www.americanstandardbass.com

That's about as much as anyone knows.
King = same string length as AS, same neck problems.
King = narrower bouts than AS.
King = same tuner style, purfling details etc.
King = typically known for deeper louder tone than a Kay.

Look at any clip of Willie Dixon on youtube ... he's playing a King Mortone.

Molly Kay is one of the few people who might comment on typical comparison between Epi, King, AS, Kay...

To collectors they all have value. I've got 2 Kays, one sold to fund my lusting for a King. Which has just arrived at an airport in London this morning.

[LeslieD]

Thanks for the comparison of these basses. Regarding string length, I think the Kings and the AS basses typically have longer string lengths than the Kays. Right?

Paul, please share photos of your King Moretone when you get it! You must be VERY excited!

[MollyKay]

It is difficult to make apples to apples comparison within a specific manufactures line of basses, much less across manufactures. There are slight variances on all the vintage manufactured basses. For example if you compare a 1937 Kay to a 1953 Kay there are differences in how the two basses were manufactured, the materials available, and the machinery and skill used during that decade. There are slight differences the shape and size of the scroll and neck. Difference in the wood used and the finish. For example if I look at my 1937 AS compared to a 1950 AS the scroll on the 1950 is much more narrow and puny. Same goes for an Epiphone, the early scrolls are more artistic and massive. The later models the Epi scrolls look less ornate and don’t have the flair in the turns.

The run down on string measure is:

King 43”
American Standard 43”
Kay 42”
Epiphone 42”

Of course there can be slight differences in string length as well because of years of modifications or accuracy of the set up.

When buying a bass I suggest you don’t buy a brand name but rather what feels and sounds good for your playing style. The 1935 King Bass that I own is very different in look and feel to any other later model King Bass I have ever played. It feels and sounds more like a carved bass then a plywood bass. It maybe an albatross among King Basses as it is a very early model and quite possibly imported from Germany…no one knows for sure.

It is no secret I love vintage American made plywood basses and have a passion to study the details. I could go on and on about the slight variations and my observations of my personal collection of basses. The best way is to study these basses is to see with your eyes, listen with your ears and play with your hands…only then can you make a true assessment of the differences and your likes and dis-likes. Also mentioned before, set up and string choice make a huge difference among basses. A beat up old Kay with a great set up can be a kick butt bass…or not.

[Jake deVilliers]

Also, King Moretones have violin corners, American Standards have gamba corners.

[jtlownds]

I have owned a King Moretone (late 30's), an American Standard, and several Kays. IMHO the King was by far the best of the bunch. More volume and better tone than any of the others. The string length on my King was 43.5"

[PaulKing]

I had a 1938 Kay M2, it sounded like ****. Then I had a luthier set it up properly and it transformed into one of the most powerful, rich sounding basses I've ever played... so things change.

Certainly I've heard enough opinions on 'that Kay sound' and 'that King sound' to know that there isn't really such a thing. They can all vary from pretty poor to very good, so there is no definite rule.

There does seem to be a trend though, I've heard more people say the King(s) they own sound fuller and louder than Kay(s) they've played or owned. Of course some people say the opposite. And of course it could all be explained purely by set up, strings, technique, age of bass... but I still bear it in mind as a rule of thumb.

My 2 Kays, built 30 years apart, sound and feel very different, each has qualities that I can tell will never be present in the other bass whoever sets them up. I'll be interested to see how my new King stands up against them both, and againt my European bass, which is every bit as good as the Kays... who knows?!

How many times do we say it .... no two basses are the same, so definite rules simply don't apply.