OK, so recently, I purchased a 1960s Kent hollowbody -- one of those EB-2 copies. According to the seller, it was found in the back of a pawn shop that had gone out of business. It's missing the bridge pickup, the bridge, two pots, two knobs, and the nut. I plan on restoring it (new wiring, new pickups, new pots and knobs, new nut, new bridge, etc.) since this is one of the three basses that I've ALWAYS wanted to have. BUT... it has that black/red/yellow sunburst finish, which I think is hideous, so I'm almost definitely going to refinish it... but what color??
Pictures? I happen to like those period sunbursts, so I'd leave it unless the finish is trashed. Barring that, I voted natural - I'd probably use a Gibson red stain either on the wood or just in the finish - that works if you shoot it with clear acrylic lacquer tinted red. It took four tinted coats over a silver undercoat to get that color on this solid-body...but the undercoat could be left out:
Just imagine how that would look over woodgrain with no silver or gold undercoat. Yummy!!!!!!
I don't have the bass YET (it's on it's way), so all I can show are the pictures from the ad. If only the finish were two-tone sunburst... I'd probably have a heart attack. As you can see, there are some nicks and scratches, but also those nasty cracks (looks like they're in the wood) around the jack and neck pocket.
Unless you can repair the neck pocket area that bass is toast.
Yeah, I was afraid that would be the case. I've built and repaired a handful of instruments, so I'm confident in my overall abilities, but I've never had to deal, specifically, with a cracked a neck pocket like that. At $80, I definitely paid more than it's currently worth, but if I can restore it, then it's worth it.
Good luck. Insulin syringes will help get glue into small cracks, but you have to press real hard to get it to come out. Most of the MIJ hollow bodies that I've seen in person and in photos with bad neck pockets crack away from the top edge binding instead of in the middle like yours. You might be able to get it back where it should be, then after that's nice and sturdy you could add some bracing so it doesn't try to fold up under string tension..
There was a recent thread showing tiny needle injection of glue - I think those cracks are repairable, but you sure will need to get plenty of glue in there and clamp firmly and carefully, as you absolutely want to get it right the first time.
I'm wondering if that neck took a shot from falling and those cracks resulted.
Overall I don't think the finish looks too bad, but given the questionable quality of the photos it may have some finish problems when it arrives. Also, if you really are going to refin, then you can get into those cracks and really go after them...since the refin will cover the work you have to do.
I'm wondering if that neck took a shot from falling and those cracks resulted.
I think you're on to something. It looks like it wasn't the typical break from string tension. The way I read it is as if it was set across the arms of a chair face down and someone sat on it. IOW, it looks like it broke when the head was being forced back instead of forward (as with string tension). That would explain where the cracks are.
IOW, it looks like it broke when the head was being forced back instead of forward (as with string tension). That would explain where the cracks are.
Makes sense... String tension would cause a different kind of break, wouldn't it -- at a different point, from a different direction? This looks like the head and body went one way while something caused the mid-section to go another. Perhaps it was in some sort of jig (or across the arms of a chair) and something else fell on it, (causing the damage to the back side/edge seen in photo #2).
I voted natural. With some new chrome or gold hardware, that thing would be a beauty. For pickups, those look like standard guitar-size humbuckers. I think EMG makes a pickup that will fit that, so let me look... Not sure how vintage you wanted to keep this.
String tension would cause a different kind of break, wouldn't it -- at a different point, from a different direction? .
Yes, you can see them on ebay all the time on MIJ Epi EA-260s and similar models with a different brand. There's no kerfling (sp?) where the sides meet the top and bottom. There's also just a little block where the neck gets attached. What usually happens is excessive string tension pulls the head towards the bridge. They usually give away where the top is glued to the sides inside the cutaways at the neck pocket. The binding stays glued to the top, but the top of the sides break loose from the string tension. That is, the binding will be where it should be, but the tops of the sides are closer to the bridge than they should be. The neck and little neck pocket block sort of pivot from the pressure. Often these have the neck shimmed a lot.
If you can get it like it should be, and after that's fixed it would be a good idea to add some reinforcing around the sides of the neck pocket. It might be fairly straight forward.
I had a late 60's red burst Mosrite Celebrity bass. It was a deep red (not burgundy) with a black border and white binding. It looked sweet. Haven't seen another one since I sold it back in 1974. The would look nice on your Kent.
__________________
"Rockin' in Puna Hawaii"
-Proud Member of the IOC -
-MIM Fender Club- #9
-Effects Addict Member-(No number yet!)
I'm realizing that parts for archtop basses are REALLY hard to find. I've been scouring the web for replacement parts, but all I can find are aftermarket Gibson pickups and Hofner saddles and tailpieces. Not even eBay has anything. I did, however, find some affordable Gretsch Filtertron bass pickups that look like they could fit (plus, I like the "toaster" look), but I read some reviews and none were good.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawaii Islander
I had a late 60's red burst Mosrite Celebrity bass. It was a deep red (not burgundy) with a black border and white binding. It looked sweet. Haven't seen another one since I sold it back in 1974. The would look nice on your Kent.
I'm kind of leaning toward a transparent red or blue finish. I may have to start phoning companies like Jay Turser and others that make EB-2 and 500/1 clones, inquiring about "replacement" parts.
EDIT: An internet search for audio or video of a Gretsch Broadkaster in action has put down those bad Filtertron reviews I read. Wouldn't you know it, someone (a TB'er, no doubt) posted a video on YouTube of the Bowlus GTG, where a Broadkaster was taken for a spin.
Slap isn't my thing, but still... sounds absolutely killer. The vid gave me a good idea of just what can be done, so FilterTrons it is!
There are two kinds (I believe) of current Filtertrons. Those that say Gretsch and might have been designed by TV Jones, and those that say TV Jones and were made by TV Jones. If the ones you're looking at are the second type you could safely disregard all negative reviews.
I have a Lyle hollowbody that I've been planning to refurb for a while. It's a single pickup style and needs all the electronics and a nut.
I settled on a Gretsch soapbar pickup (solid chrome body) which was a take-out from a lower end Gretsch bass. I've also looked at the TV Jones and Darkstar and I think either one would work great, but I don't want to put $100-$150 into a pickup. With the right mounting plate and a tad bit of trimming on one side of the pickup hole, I can make the Gretsch PU work.
It also needed a floating bridge and tailpiece, but after scanning Ebay for a few months I managed to come up with Univox originals for both, and Univox is the same as Lyle. Patience in assembling parts can go a long way.
One more note - if you need to replace the output jack, check the thickness of the body on the side where it mounts. Chances are that you'll need a long shaft style 1/4" jack that will accommodate a 1/4" thick panel. Standard jacks won't work with a panel that thick.
I just went to the Gretsch site. They say the Broadcaster uses the Gretsch pickup and the other four basses use TV Jones ThunderTrons. I wouldn't let that sway you from the Gretsch pickups. The video is of a Broadcaster and it sounds great. I only mentioned it before because a lot of internet opinions are just echoes of another's opinion or come from people who don't know what they're talking about.
Speaking of not knowing what they're talking about, I need to edit the Epi model number, it's EA-260 instead of ET-260.
Hmmm, that's interesting. The Thundertrons don't look like what I have - the cover on it is a solid chrome rectangle. But it's at least 2 or 3 years old and they may have changed the pickup they're using.
I did a quick search on Ebay and the Gretsch Electromatic bass of a few years ago has the pickup I plan to install. Looks like Gretsch isn't producing this model at present. I'm not familiar with it, but if I don't like it (unlikely) I'll simply try something different. http://cgi.ebay.com/gretsch-electrom...QQcmdZViewItem
Help decide the fate of this 60s Kent hollowbody! 
Now, if it were black or tortoise shell binding....
FilterTrons it is! 
