Bill Black's Bass

[truckplayer]

I love the early Elvis songs with Bill Black on bass. What kind of bass did he own? What color was the bass and the binding/trim?

thanks

[Jake deVilliers]

It was a bronze-powder gold Kay TV-1 with white painted edges.

See Paul McCartney play it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uzC5KC_260&fmt=18

[truckplayer]

thanks for the information. Any idea on the kinds of strings Bill used?

[Jake deVilliers]

Guts - they look like Artone's in the colour photo of Bill's album cover but I'm not an expert on vintage gut strings!

See for your self: http://www.scottymoore.net/kaymaestro.html

[pie_man_25]

the binding was originally white electric/hockey-tape, he just put it on to protect the edges and make it not look dirty.

[superman]

From the color Lp cover he has a red O ray G,,plain gut D, and the A&E might be Artones,,or old Goldtones,,you must remember that on the LP the image is flipped,so the strings are reversed,,also it looks like before 57 he played another M mdl Kay that was sunburst,,not the gold TV,,and I have also seen a photo of him playing a Kay painted Blue,,with the Blue moon boys painted on it,,Kent

[Stick_Player]

I love the early Elvis songs with Bill Black on bass.

Sam Phillips has been quoted as saying that "Bill Black was one of the worst bass players in the world, technically, but man, could he slap that thing!"

[bassistkll]

Anybody notice that Sir Paul keeps the bass strung right-handed (E-A-D-G) but plays it left-handed? Kinda cool.