*SOLD* Kay Upright Bass S-8

supersue441 · #1 08-02-2009, 06:33 PM

My husband was a bluegrass musician until he passed away in 2006. I am looking to sell his Kay Upright Bass. My husband's friend who owned a music store has viewed this instrument and has advised me that that it is probably in fair-to-good condition and that "the ribbing is good." It is an S-8 bearing Serial Number 32022. $3,250. If you have any interest, please contact me at supersue441@yahoo.com

We've done further research and, because we've been asked to provide a further description, here goes....

Not the best of photographers here but let me reassure you the color, consistency, seams, and lamination are all in good condition and intact. As far as all original parts, we are quite certain this is the case considering the dark inletted purfling, original nickled Kay Script on the tailpiece, plain steel plate tuners, true Ebony fingerboard with a flat on the E side, and hard maple neck with visible "Kay" embossed at the rear of the peghead. The inner tag is clearly visible with the word Kay in script and the K has a loop, and the serial number is on the tag also stamped on the wood inside back. Bass bar and soundpost seem fine and solid. There is also an Ebony horseshoe shaped into the rear of the neck base.

Bass Barrister · #2 08-02-2009, 10:25 PM

The Kay S-8 Model was one of Kay's top line basses and was made from 1938-1954. Assuming the accuracy of the serial number you provided, your bass was made some time between 1953 and 1954.

I own an S-8 from 1939 - it's a great bass. These basses can sell for $3k-$4.5k depending on condition.

You really neeed to provide a much better description, preferably iwth some good photos. I suggest having the bass checked out by a professional bass luthier, not some general music store.

You will also want to state the current location of the instrument, your asking price, and to complete your TB profile. (You will hear from a moderator about this soon). The TBDB Classifieds can be a great way to sell a bass butthe more we know about the bass and the seller, themore likely you will make a faster connection with a potential buyer.

supersue441 · #3 08-03-2009, 07:53 AM

Thank you so much for all this information! I probably should have noted in my first forum posting that I am a total novice. It was my husband who was the bluegrass musician; I simply attended gigs and bluegrass festivals with him to enjoy the comraderie and the music. It is my intention to take photographs of the Bass this evening (I am at work as I write this) and to thereafter post them. But I do want you to know how much I appreciate your suggestions.

Bass Barrister · #4 08-03-2009, 10:14 AM

Our condolences on the passing of your husband. While we respect your wish for some privacy, it might be helpful to tell us his name as there are many 'grassers here on TB and all of us, regardless of genre, respect good bass players.

Pics of the bass will help a lot.

Molly Kay,. . are you tuned in ??? Maybe you can help this lady out. (Molly Kay and her husband, in SE PA, are two of our Kay BAss specialists).

MollyKay · #5 08-03-2009, 11:57 AM

Thanks Bass Barrister for the vote of confidence…we do love the vintage plywood basses!

I have been in touch with Sue and will help her out any way possible. As you know a Kay S-8 is one of the basses I have lusted after for a few years…there is always room for one more in the family.

There must be something strange in the water in Buffalo, NY we have had some really great basses come out of this part of the country…we are getting to know the drive (and the local BBQ joint, The One Eyed Jack) really well.

supersue441 · #6 08-04-2009, 06:16 AM

I will be happy to have my Kay S-8 checked out by a Bass Luthier so that I can place a value on this bass. Can anyone tell me how to go about finding such an individual?

Jake deVilliers · #7 08-04-2009, 09:45 AM

Hey Sue, I'm sorry to hear of your loss.

Bob Gollihur has a great Luthier List here: http://www.gollihurmusic.com/luthiers.cfm

Very pretty bass too!

Gearhead43 · #8 08-04-2009, 11:54 AM

+1 that is a gorgeous Kay you have there.

supersue441 · #9 08-04-2009, 09:38 PM

Francoise.......thanks to you for straightening out and arranging my photos in such a fine way! It's difficult being so computer-unsavvy. Is that even a word?? Hehehe

And to Jake.....thanks for the directory of luthiers. As it turns out, there IS a luthier about 90 miles from my house. Now I just gotta figger out how one transports an upright bass....Do luthiers make housecalls? Sheesh......I can't even imagine what that would cost!!! Hehehehe

And to Bass Barrister.......thank you again for all your helpful insights.

And to Mollykay.....well, girlfriend, you were my first contact from Talk Bass and you have been such a great help to me. You are just special!! Did my husband send you to me????

And to Gearhead....thanks for saying nice things!

In the two days that I have been on this site, I have to tell all of you what a wonderful experience it is been for me. Each and every one of you has gone out of your way to help me and I am grateful. You have all been warm, friendly and helpful. Would it be okay if I remain a member even if I am bass-less? I feel like I've made some lifelong friends here!

And as for the asking price for my S-8, I'm still working on it and am actively continuing to do so. I've learned that the cost of uprights runs the gamut....I'm not looking to send my daughter to college with the proceeds of the sale of the Kay S-8, but I do feel that I must at least obtain an amount close to it's value. So I'm real close to determining what that value is and hope that you will all just bear with me for a short time longer....

supersue441 · #10 08-04-2009, 09:49 PM

Ummm, Jake, would you and your entire extended family like to come over for dinner???? I'll make lobsters. Then I can show you an S-8 Kay Bass. I can play "happy birthday" on it. And you can take a look at the bass..........hehehehehe!! Just kidding......

Bass Barrister · #11 08-04-2009, 10:13 PM

Ya know Sue . . .

You COULD hold on to the beast a 'larn how to play it yourself. . . then you would not have to be bass-less and hanging with the rest of us crzies on TB would be more fun.

just a thought. . .

Jake deVilliers · #12 08-05-2009, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supersue441

Ummm, Jake, would you and your entire extended family like to come over for dinner???? I'll make lobsters. Then I can show you an S-8 Kay Bass. I can play "happy birthday" on it. And you can take a look at the bass..........hehehehehe!! Just kidding......

If you had asked that a week ago you'd have had a house full, as we were in Toronto for my mom's funeral.

Now its just a little too far to go...

RUMPOLE has a great idea though - get some lessons and build on 'Happy Birthday', then you can hang with us and talk strings and afterlengths and trash too!

Seeya, Jake

supersue441 · #13 08-05-2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass Barrister

Ya know Sue . . .

You COULD hold on to the beast a 'larn how to play it yourself. . . then you would not have to be bass-less and hanging with the rest of us crzies on TB would be more fun.

just a thought. . .

Hold on to the beast??????? Yer kidding, right? Sheesh........I can barely lift it!! But, Bass Barrister, in your honor, I'm gonna "larn" how to play "Mary Had a Little Lamb". After I've mastered it, I'm going to set up a conference telephone call so all my newly-found TB friends can be amazed at my musical prowess. Hell, I might even sing the words.

By any chance, BassBarrister, are you a Barrister as in Attorney??? I've worked for a New Yawk State Supreme Court Judge for a real long time.....longer than I care to admit.......

supersue441 · #14 08-05-2009, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

If you had asked that a week ago you'd have had a house full, as we were in Toronto for my mom's funeral.

Now its just a little too far to go...

RUMPOLE has a great idea though - get some lessons and build on 'Happy Birthday', then you can hang with us and talk strings and afterlengths and trash too!

Seeya, Jake

Jake, I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your mom. A death of any family member is painful, but especially one's mom. My advice - after my husband died leaving me with a 13 y/o daughter - say lotsa prayers and give lotsa hugs to the other members of your family who are also hurting.

Toronto is truly just a stone's throw from me. But that's how it goes for me......I'm always a day late and a dollar short. It sucks to be me. Hehehe!

I know you might find this hard to believe, but I've been educating myself on upright basses. I'm sure that at some point in the very near future, y'all are going to be seeking MY expert opinion on basses. Be forewarned though.......it's gonna cost you.

MT Spaces · #15 08-05-2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supersue441

... I know you might find this hard to believe, but I've been educating myself on upright basses. I'm sure that at some point in the very near future, y'all are going to be seeking MY expert opinion on basses. Be forewarned though.......it's gonna cost you.

Go Sue Go

! Ya know .... Barrister has a good point about keeping that sweet Kay and larn'nin' to play it. Your husband would be mighty-proud of you. You will be moving from playing "Happy Birthday" to "Jerusalem Ridge" in no-time.

If you do sell it, don't let it go too-cheap. 1953 S-8's don't fall from the sky every day

. I had a "beater" 1964 S-1 (close relative of the S-8) and it was a real-good workhorse of a bass. I sold it .... didn't have enough room for 3 basses.

Around here in our bluegrass circles, the gal-bassers outnumber the guys by maybe two-to-one. Get a bass-buggy or modify an old folding golf-club cart to haul your bass around. Last weekend at our big annual Summer Fiddlers Picnic, we had 6 gal-players in the various jams (most of them on old Kays)

.

P.S. If you want a clue as to "retail" pricing of Kays ..... Look at the "Sold Basses" gallery at the Fretwell Bass website. Pricing is sometimes shown in the side bout pictures. Not everyone believes that Kays should sell for those kinda prices but I know that Jerry Fretwell has sold a bunch of Kays. You can also get clues about selling prices by looking at other classified ads for Kays here at TalkBass. I'm not saying you can sell your S-8 for those kinds of prices where you live but at least don't give it away (except to me

). My "handle" at Blue Grass Bass Place is "Buffalo Bob"

.

wineaux · #16 08-05-2009, 03:38 PM

Dear Sue,

Love the attitude. You'd fit right in with this crowd! In fact, you already know more than some of the folks who wander in here from the "other" side of the bass world.

supersue441 · #17 08-06-2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wineaux

Dear Sue,

Love the attitude. You'd fit right in with this crowd! In fact, you already know more than some of the folks who wander in here from the "other" side of the bass world.

Awwww, geez, thank you, wineaux. You got me blushing here . . . for the first time in my life! Hehehehe

supersue441 · #18 08-06-2009, 05:52 PM

Holy cow!! I just realized that when my music-store-owner-friend to me that my "ribbing was good," he wasn't talking about my fine physical anatomy. No wonder he gave me weird looks when I profusely thanked him after he told me that.

wineaux · #19 08-06-2009, 07:03 PM

Judging from your comments here, SuperSue, I'd say your ribbing is quite good. You seem to give as good as you get!

Oh, wait, you meant ...

Now I'm blushing.

wineaux · #20 08-06-2009, 07:17 PM

SuperSue,

I sent you a private message.

No, not about your ribbing!!!