a treat for Wilbur Ware fans (and all other jazz bass players)

[MR PC]

Originally Posted by Mark Carlsen

Looks like a Kay.....

Looks like the neck has been set further out on the Kay.

[Mark Carlsen]

Originally Posted by MR PC

Looks like the neck has been set further out on the Kay.

Very possible... I have seen a few original Kay neck sets that the angle is not that bad. Remember, Wilbur as many of NY's best hung out at Kolstien's shop which was in Manhattan in the early 60's and its for sure he was getting good work done.
I'm looking at the cut of the back of the neck in the heel area, the Kay curve or loop which is very distinctive. He must have picked a ggod one because it seems that he used it a lot... It's also possible he had a different neck from another bass, you always see basses even plywoods without the original neck.

[MR PC]

It looks like the heel and the button have some space between, like the neck has been move forward on the block. Maybe a bad repair or ?

[Mark Carlsen]

There could be a different piece of wood scabbed in at the button to push the neck out.... A common repair on Kays. At any rate I guess my whole point is that Wilbur got his sound even if was a Kay or what ever. He had the Mitts....

[MR PC]

Wilbur did get a great sound as far as I know, no matter what the circumstances!

But that neck pushed forward on the block, that's very interesting solution for some of the old Kay basses that came from the factory with low neck angles.

"Think Wilbur Ware" that's one of my bass sound mantras from time to time.

[Mark Carlsen]

Originally Posted by MR PC

Wilbur did get a great sound as far as I know, no matter what the circumstances!

But that neck pushed forward on the block, that's very interesting solution for some of the old Kay basses that came from the factory with low neck angles.

"Think Wilbur Ware" that's one of my bass sound mantras from time to time.

Thats a good mantra to have. I have had good success w. pushing out Kay necks to more modern standards and I am currently doing that very repair on a 45' M-1. We also are re-gluing a bad repair on the neck heel and my hopes is this will be a killin Kay when finished.

[JBHittle]

I had this procedure done on my King Moretone when we reset the neck. It is a great solution.

[olivieraleman]

Hi all
Check out Grant Greens "Standards". Nice trio date with Wilbur. Oops, I see thats been posted already. In that case, +1. John

[Mark Carlsen]

Just a progress report on that 45 Kay.... The neck set went well and a preliminary set up shows that this is going to be a sweet bass. Lots of punch, big sound and great low end. The client is going to be Happy....