FS: 1950's Kay "Howlin' Wolf" Bass

tsarter · #1 10-06-2011, 10:45 PM

Breaks my hear to sell this, but I'm afraid I have to so I can make it through the month.

Aside from a neck repair up towards the headstock which was professionally repaired (and quite well I might add) this old Kay is in remarkable shape. Nothing plays and sounds quite like these old Kays. Getting harder and harder to come by and they now go in the $2500 plus range. Much lower price to compensate for the repair - $1600 shipped in the continental US. Comes in a very nice Kay reissue HSC.

Full pics can be seen here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/tsarter...eat=directlink

Brad Johnson · #2 10-06-2011, 11:58 PM

Gave mine away a few years back. Last truly stupid instument move I made. GLWS.

tsarter · #3 10-07-2011, 07:33 AM

While I'm not giving this away, I know that's how I'll feel when I sell this.

tsarter · #4 10-08-2011, 10:32 AM

Bumpity bump!

tsarter · #5 10-09-2011, 12:25 PM

And another bump. I used this bass at a gig yesterday. That was a mistake. I will probably pull it off the market today but I thought I'd check a final time to see what interest there is.

TNCreature · #6 10-09-2011, 01:01 PM

I owned one of these as well - your is in much better shape!
The neck was like a baseball bat, but I loved it!

EduardoK · #7 10-09-2011, 01:48 PM

Wish I could take this bass from your hands man!!!
Free bump for a cool guy with some cool basses and the coolest avatar.
How would you compare the neck's shape/feel to, say, a Hofner, a JJ, or other shortscales Tim?

tsarter · #8 10-09-2011, 03:36 PM

Hey Ed!

The width of the neck is very narrow, much like a Hofner or JJ, but it has a deep V profile, much like the Kay upright's from the same era. Describing as a baseball bat is not entirely inaccurate. Cool bass. Has a really lovely rich, warm tone.

Brad Johnson · #9 10-09-2011, 11:03 PM

Yeah, that's how I'd describe the neck too. Definitely not a baseball bat.

tsarter · #10 10-11-2011, 10:34 PM

Decided not to sell. I'd call it "coming to my senses" actually. Whew... my gutters can wait

KUNGfuSHERIFF · #11 10-12-2011, 10:24 AM

GUTTERS? If my arms were longer I'd reach out and slap you...good on you for keeping it. These basses are awesome.

tsarter · #12 10-12-2011, 12:08 PM

Yeah, I know. It's difficult though when I'm so f'ing broke and I have all these beautiful basses in my studio. I've already had to sell a a couple.

jbossolo · #13 10-12-2011, 12:24 PM

WOW. That's quite the collection there. I want to be like you when I grow up.

tsarter · #14 10-12-2011, 01:16 PM

It's the end result of years worth of buying and selling. The Modulus, four string Rev, and the Boogie Bodies are no longer with me.

roadrunner · #15 10-12-2011, 02:23 PM

Man, I wouldn't mind having that JJ Singlecut back. Nice basses Tim.

tsarter · #16 10-12-2011, 03:01 PM

Was that you I bought it from? Got it through Bassgear.com so I don't know what talkbass name was associated with it.

That bass has been getting a lot of playing time lately. Traveled to Cedar Rapids with me for a festival a couple of weeks back.

roadrunner · #17 10-12-2011, 04:33 PM

I sold it to the guy you bought it from. That bass is definitely one of a kind.

**Ukiah Bass** · #18 10-12-2011, 04:37 PM

The P and J basses in the back right corner look sweet. And old. Hope you don't have to sell those!!

bluesblaster · #19 10-12-2011, 06:21 PM

nice old Guild M85, do you prefer the Kay to the Guild?

basspro · #20 10-12-2011, 08:49 PM

Dang, and i was gonna say if you ever put up the Modulus shoot me a PM.
GL.