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Originally Posted by Norbie  Hi~ I just bought an old Kay bass that needs a tailpiece. The luthier from the shop said that we could make one, but I would love to find an original. I think we will make one in the meantime, just so I can start playing it. But I didn't have any luck on e-bay looking for such a part. Does anyone know where I might find such a thing? .... |
Hello Norbie ..... I think the quickest way to get your Kay "up and running" would be to get an Englehardt tailpiece. Englehardt-Link Company bought the original Kay Bass production facilities so I think the tailpieces would be very similar to the vintage one. You may have a hard time finding an original rosewood (or ebony) 1930's Kay tailpiece. You could "antique / distress" the Englehardt tailpiece to make it look vintage I guess.
Roger Stower's Kay Bass website
www.kaybass.com also has Kay tailpiece emblems for sale but they are too shiney to be appropriate for an older Kay and are more from the '50's / 60's Kay era than the '30s / '40s. My 1940 Kay O-1 was missing the stick-on Kay emblem (although I could see the adhesive residue where it was supposed to be). I decided to just steel wool, clean up, and Watco oil the nice rosewood and blow off worrying about the emblem if I couldn't find the "right era" design.
Check out your serial and model number (looking through the f-hole) and then consult the website. Report back what year and model Kay you have. I'm always curious about the Kay plywood beaters
. I also have a '64 Kay S-1. Hope you get 'er put back together and have some fun! Good Luck.
