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05-15-2009, 08:03 PM
|  | Registered User
Endorsing artist: Musicman basses, Hipshot products | | Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: New York City | | | Questions about a used Kay
A friend of mine who knows little to nothing about uprights wants to get himself a 1/4 bass. He's got an opportunity to get a mid 50s Kay at a pretty decent price, but it needs some work. Can you tell anything from these pictures, be able to advise in any way, and perhaps tell the going rate. Thanks.
Damage is in 2nd shot.
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05-15-2009, 08:48 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Central Indiana | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe Nerve  A friend of mine who knows little to nothing about uprights wants to get himself a 1/4 bass. He's got an opportunity to get a mid 50s Kay at a pretty decent price, but it needs some work. Can you tell anything from these pictures, be able to advise in any way, and perhaps tell the going rate. Thanks.
Damage is in 2nd shot. | I don't pose to be an expert or know the answer to every situation...however. I would not buy that Bass until I had a good Luthier examine it and see what it cost to get it is good playing condition. A friend of mine recent got an old Kay worked on and he spent 650.00
You don't want to buy it and then spend more on it, getting fixed than you wanted to put into it from the beginning.
You made the reference to "pretty decent price"... how much are you talking about? |
05-15-2009, 09:25 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland | | | I'd make sure, first of all, that he really wants a 1/4 bass. That's awfully small. If that's what he really wants, then I'd recommnend a trip to a luthier to check it out. |
05-15-2009, 09:34 PM
|  | Oracle, Ancient Order of Rass Hattur | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Connecticut | | Quote:
Originally Posted by wineaux I'd make sure, first of all, that he really wants a 1/4 bass. That's awfully small. | +1. I can think of very few circumstances under which a 1/4-size would be appropriate. Now, would someone please move that bridge down where it belongs?! 
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Famous last words: And with that- Im gone. You will probably read in the paper soon about a deranged kid who burns his bass in front of a luthier. |
05-15-2009, 09:46 PM
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Endorsing artist: Musicman basses, Hipshot products | | Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: New York City | | | Yeah, he's pretty certain about the 1/4 size. I lectured him with the very little I know regarding that but he want's to be able to play it sitting down and he wants what he wants.
The price is a negotiable $900. |
05-15-2009, 09:59 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Seattle, WA | | | Joe,
Tell your friend there is very limited resale value for a 1/4 bass. A bass that small is intended for a child. Also, the price is too high. The neccessary repair could cost upwards of $500.00. I'm not an expert, but take a pass I say.
RD
Last edited by RD : 05-15-2009 at 10:05 PM.
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05-15-2009, 11:11 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2006 Location: Knoxville, TN | | | Pass. Even if he wants a 1/4, he doesn't really want a 1/4.
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"Neglect your art for one day and it will neglect you for two!" - Ed Blackwell 1937 Kay for sale |
05-16-2009, 12:12 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Western Canada | | | I play a 3/4 sitting down, everyday |
05-16-2009, 01:20 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Seattle, WA | | | +1 |
05-16-2009, 04:43 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Maui | | | Maybe he wants to play it while sitting on the toilet.
It's always amazing how some people know exactly what they want to shell out their hard earned bucks for, without actually knowing anything about the object they're buying.
Last edited by Marcus Johnson : 05-16-2009 at 04:46 AM.
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05-16-2009, 06:55 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Toronto | | | Please tell your friend that a 1/4 bass is great for a 9 year old to start learning on, but not nearly as good for an adult to perform on. Also, $900 seems very steep - it might be worth that if it were in great shape (which it isn't)...
Paul (Eh_train) |
05-16-2009, 07:21 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Central Indiana | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson Maybe he wants to play it while sitting on the toilet.
It's always amazing how some people know exactly what they want to shell out their hard earned bucks for, without actually knowing anything about the object they're buying. | My uncle who was a very successful salesman once said, "people will buy anything!" |
05-16-2009, 08:29 AM
| | Oracle, Ancient Order of Rass Hattur | | Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Connecticut | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson Maybe he wants to play it while sitting on the toilet.
It's always amazing how some people know exactly what they want to shell out their hard earned bucks for, without actually knowing anything about the object they're buying. | Marcus, you've done it again! A gold star for this post. Funny as hell and right to the point. +1!
Joe-- maybe you could have your friend look at this thread. He might gain a whole new perspective from folks who actually play the instrument, collectively have decades of experience, and collectively have bought and sold a fair number of these instruments.
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Famous last words: And with that- Im gone. You will probably read in the paper soon about a deranged kid who burns his bass in front of a luthier.
Last edited by drurb : 05-16-2009 at 08:33 AM.
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05-17-2009, 05:09 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Western North Carolina | | | Joe....the bass you show in the photos looks like a Kay S9 Swingmaster best I can tell and was their top of the line which is very desirable for many. If you had the chance to take it to a Luthier for an estimate on repairs and this cost was in the $500-$650 range as posted earlier and you could purchase the bass for somewhere under $900, that might be a very good buy. |
05-17-2009, 11:15 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Marysville, WA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by joeyd Joe....the bass you show in the photos looks like a Kay S9 Swingmaster best I can tell and was their top of the line which is very desirable for many. If you had the chance to take it to a Luthier for an estimate on repairs and this cost was in the $500-$650 range as posted earlier and you could purchase the bass for somewhere under $900, that might be a very good buy. | Respectfully disagree... if it is a 1/4 size it still won't have nearly the resale value of a 3/4 when repaired and it also won't have the sound of a larger bass. If you have to put $1400-1500 into it why not just buy a brand new Englehardt ? It's only a good buy if it's really the best bass for the OP.
OP, your friend needs to play some basses so there is a basis for comparison. Hear what a 1/4 size sounds like next to a 3/4. Play basses other than Kay/Engles to see how they sound and feel. Read the newbie links at the top of this forum then go shopping. Don't be in a rush to buy the first thing that looks like a double bass you can afford.
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Jeff
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05-17-2009, 12:18 PM
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AFM International Representative | | Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Boulder Creek, CA | | | I have a Kay M3 1/4 size and really enjoy playing it. I only play it amplified and use the Turner UB-1 pickup. I believe some would be surprised at the sound I get from it with the proper EQ. I bought this bass around the beginning of the century but really started playing it on a daily basis the last eight months after having a little bit of work done on it by Matt Bohn who has his shop in the area I live.
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