60s Kay bass... Can't get the neck off!

5string5fingers · #1 10-28-2009, 02:13 PM

I recently inherited a 60s kay hollow body bass. It's got a 3 bolt,bolt on neck,and I want to take the neck off to check and see if theres a date on the neck or in the neck pocket so I know the actualy date or year of the bass. But for the life of me I cannot get one of the bolts out of the neck. 2 come out,1 will not. Any suggestions?

5string5fingers · #2 10-28-2009, 02:18 PM

Any specific type of oil?

RickenBoogie · #3 10-28-2009, 02:42 PM

Most hollow-bodied basses have "set necks". Since yours has screws, it's a little odd. Don't use too much force.

GlennW · #4 10-28-2009, 04:45 PM

Does the screw not turn, or does it turn and just stay there?

All you'll probably find in there is something like "N2" stamped...I have no idea what it means.

5string5fingers · #5 10-29-2009, 07:45 AM

I just doesn't turn. It almost seems like after over 40 years,sweat as gotten in there and caused some corrosion and its stuck.

5string5fingers · #6 10-29-2009, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Most hollow-bodied basses have "set necks". Since yours has screws, it's a little odd. Don't use too much force.

The whole bass is a little odd to me lol. It's also in dire need of a new nut and whole refret job which i know is going to cost a ton of money,that I dont have.

Pilgrim · #7 10-29-2009, 10:01 AM

Kay basses don't have date info on the neck. If it plays OK, leave it alone. If it needs frets, leave the neck removing to the luthier.

5string5fingers · #8 10-29-2009, 10:19 AM

So is there any way of me finding out how old the bass is?? Theres no serial number,nothin at all on the bass. There is almost no info on this bass on the internet. And I barely plays since the frets are so worn down it's almost a fretless.

GlennW · #9 10-30-2009, 12:08 PM

Got a pic?

5string5fingers · #10 10-30-2009, 12:46 PM

yea let me get an upload real quick here

EDIT: Here we go
Most of these are before I cleaned it up. You can see in how bad of shape the nut is and the how worn down the frets are.

FunkMetalBass · #11 10-30-2009, 01:00 PM

Try putting the other screws back in and undoing that stubborn one first.

Physics dictates that all of the neck force will be on that one bolt, so it's best to loosen them each one turn at a time, repeat a few turns, and then remove them.

5string5fingers · #12 10-30-2009, 01:04 PM

Ok I'll give that a try.

edit: Nope still didnt work.

JimmyM · #13 10-30-2009, 04:56 PM

Dude, forget about it...just enjoy the pure beauty of sound that can only come from paying a lot for a bass that used to cost $50 in 1970

And I say that with all respect because if I had it, I would make it a main player for my gigs, no matter what it costs.

IntrepidCellist · #14 10-30-2009, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Dude, forget about it...just enjoy the pure beauty of sound that can only come from paying a lot for a bass that used to cost $50 in 1970

And I say that with all respect because if I had it, I would make it a main player for my gigs, no matter what it costs.

He inherited it

5string5fingers · #15 10-30-2009, 05:36 PM

Yea it was free haha..it's got some damn nice tone. It's like a really organic p bass sound. The neck is probably thicker than a warwick's but since its so narrow it makes it manageable. But like I said, it definitely needs some work. Expensive work,any idea what a full refret job would cost?

tonebrulee · #16 10-30-2009, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5string5fingers

I recently inherited a 60s kay hollow body bass. It's got a 3 bolt,bolt on neck,and I want to take the neck off to check and see if theres a date on the neck or in the neck pocket so I know the actualy date or year of the bass. But for the life of me I cannot get one of the bolts out of the neck. 2 come out,1 will not. Any suggestions?

Pretty sure it's a Kay K-300 from 1962

GlennW · #17 10-30-2009, 06:56 PM

Those speed bump pickups sound good. There's one by the neck in my Hagenstein parts bass. Maybe you could find a short scale neck on ebay and trim it to fit the Kay neck pocket instead of refretting and putting a new nut on that neck. I dig the slotted screws.

Is it playable at all?

Seriously, I would just get a new nut and make a bridge from a piece of wood. It's not that hard. Leave the neck on for now and get it running.

I don't think that's a hollow body, btw.

JimmyM · #18 10-30-2009, 07:29 PM

Full refret is between $200-300. But a fret dressing usually goes for around $100 and may work well enough.

tonebrulee · #19 10-30-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlennW

I don't think that's a hollow body, btw.

Pretty sure they are - chambered with a cap.. like a Les Paul guitar.

GlennW · #20 10-30-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonebrulee

Pretty sure they are - chambered with a cap.. like a Les Paul guitar.

I think you're right. Those pickups need room to slide around in the body to get mounted; unless there's an access panel in the back, which there isn't. My bad.