Plywood porn - 1938 Kay M-2

[PaulKing]

Only for the eyes of us plywood fans. But I'm pleased with the latest addition. Brought back to life by luthier Steve Laws (Essex).

Here she is:



Weird pegbox:



Nice tuning plates:









The ever changing family:

[Marcus Johnson]

That's frickin' lurvely. Very nice. And the strings are correct to boot.

[Sahm]

Beauty! And great sig too. I don't know how many times I've said the same thing. I mean c'mon folks, how many cellos do you see in a band!

[Phil Rowan]

Wow.. that's a beauty right there. I just have a '38 Kay Orchestral model.. woopdie friggin doo for me

[MollyKay]

Yikes that is a purdy bass with some special features…tell me more.

What makes it’s an M-2? The tuners are engraved like my 1937 Blonde M-4 but mine does not say Kay Swing master. And the open peg box, do you think that is original to the bass? I’m full of questions as I have never seen a Kay quite like this one. I love the color too…how does it sound and play? I know you like the gold TV-1 bass but I like the looks of this one too. Nice save!!!

One plywood lover to another…very nice!

[PaulKing]

Hi Molly - knew you'd spot it sooner or later!
The label says M-2, simple as that. #2806. Nice early label, Kay with a loop, pencil #no on wood and on label.

Roger seems to think M-2s were mainly half size, available as 3/4 by request. This is def a 3/4. Also mentions a military link - which might explain why this bass, and another (almost identical, same year, owned by Rene Ruhland in Holland) are still this side of the water.

The neck's a replacement - was brutally done, probably a longgggg time ago, maybe re-fitted more than once. Wonky as hell when I got it, with PVA plastered everwhere. I had it removed, cleaned up and realigned, joint rebuilt, filet of ebony lining the rough join. Maybe it came from another Kay, as it's the right shape .. thin and everything. But that open peg-box..no idea. It's not a DIY modification because the carved volutes follow the shape perfectly. Mystery.

The plates - well yes I've seen the similar picture on Roger's site, but not with the name engraved. And 'Swingmaster' too, when it's labelled as an 'M-2'. Maybe the plates were from another bass? Rene's identical M-2 has plain steel plates, that's for sure.

Original tailpiece with remnants of decal still visible.

The colour - it's sweet isn't it? The veneer is battered to bits in places, after decades in an unsympathetic and blissfully unaware youth orchestra (it was presumed lost, then recalled from a thieving college student, rejected and sold off as dead on ebay .. starting price 99pence )
I gave the finish a lift with some furniture restoring oil to conceal some of the damage, but otherwise its the original finish and colour.

I had new board and bridge fitted, lovely set up, it plays very nicely, tho tension seems a tad higher than the S-9 (maybe cos luthier succeeded in raising the overstand by leaving plenty of thickness on the board.)

Sounds really powerful, a bit more edgy and 'noisy' than the S-9, which is very pure, controlled, a bit subdued in comparison. But BOOM. It likes SilverSlaps a lot, really even and strong sustain while tone and click are almost indistinguishable from the gut D+G. But I may succumb to an authentic all-gut sound at the cost of that nice sustain .. we'll see. It rocks.


Rescued. I'm keeping this one...

[tomshepp]

Nice! Makes me want to do some work on my old Kay.

[MollyKay]

Originally Posted by PaulKing

Hi Molly - knew you'd spot it sooner or later!...Rescued. I'm keeping this one...

Nice...VERY nice!!!

[kmanley_29649]

Dang Paul, that's sick! Are those the Psycho Slap E and A?

[ronniequeue]

That's the hottest Kay I've seen. Mmm, tasty.

[PaulKing]

Originally Posted by kmanley_29649

Dang Paul, that's sick! Are those the Psycho Slap E and A?

Yup indeedy. Pretty good match for gut D/G, tone is spot on, click is just a little harsher acoustic, but hoping amplified it'll be perfect (only fitted the Underwood last night).

[PaulKing]

Originally Posted by ronniequeue

That's the hottest Kay I've seen. Mmm, tasty.

Really? Cool... cheers.
It looked a dog on ebay:










I lucked out! Took some dosh though

[Samuel Liu]

I am always curious about the extra inch that they put in between the top plate and rib.

Is it affecting the overall tone? Or just extra protection?

[WinterBass]

Originally Posted by PaulKing

The colour - it's sweet isn't it? The veneer is battered to bits in places, after decades in an unsympathetic and blissfully unaware youth orchestra (it was presumed lost, then recalled from a thieving college student, rejected and sold off as dead on ebay .. starting price 99pence )
I gave the finish a lift with some furniture restoring oil to conceal some of the damage, but otherwise its the original finish and colour.

Great Bass,

Can you tell me the name of the furniture restoring oil you used? Maybe it's available here in the USA. I have a similar issue with one of my Kays and would like to help it along a little.

Thanks,
Eric

Thanks

[PaulKing]

Originally Posted by Samuel Liu

I am always curious about the extra inch that they put in between the top plate and rib.

Is it affecting the overall tone? Or just extra protection?

They're called linings, all basses have them, just some have them on the inside, some outside, some in an out. External or external linings.
They're there to help keep the ribs attached to the font and back.
No tone difference, just structural.

[PaulKing]

Originally Posted by WinterBass

Great Bass,

Can you tell me the name of the furniture restoring oil you used? Maybe it's available here in the USA. I have a similar issue with one of my Kays and would like to help it along a little.

Thanks,
Eric

Thanks

Elbow grease removed a lot of the black rubber marks etc.

Then I used a domestic scratch cover up. Topps Mr Sheen Scratch Cover (medium). This had most effect I think, it's an oily stain. Paint it into fine scratches and they disappear. Wipe over surface and it just lifts the colour and adds an oily depth.

Then, as recommend, I used HG Meubelline, proper chemical restorer, designed to make water and alcohol marks disappear from varnished surfaces. I'm not sure it really did anything.

Last tip was from a friendly luthier, and is probably against all the rules. Big scratches and delaminations ... colour them in with a carefully chosen indelible marker.

Paul

[MT Spaces]

Originally Posted by WinterBass

Great Bass,

Can you tell me the name of the furniture restoring oil you used? Maybe it's available here in the USA. I have a similar issue with one of my Kays and would like to help it along a little.

Thanks,
Eric

Thanks

Just so y'all know where I stand ..... I Love Kay PlyWood Porn ... And Paul is giving me a (ply) Woody . I use "Old English" from WalMart on my '40 Kay O-1 ... Cheap-Arse Stuff ... Works-Good .... Does-The-Deed on scratches and doofus-ass crap .... Me-banging against the door-jams on-the-way-out of gigs or bluegrass-drunken-ness in the parkin' lot .

Being-as-how Paul is ...... From-Actual-England ... Maybe he uses "New English" . Sell Me Some.

(P.S. Paul .... Sweet Friggin' Kays You Got There Pal ) ..... I've seen more-than-a few ...Yers Are Sweet.

[Jason Sypher]

Nice.

[PaulKing]

hehe.
Before:

After:

I'll post over in classifieds, but this S-9 is for sale.

http://img193.imageshack.us/slidesho...d=dsc1429u.jpg

[Amo]

She's a beauty