Any information about this bass?

[hardtop]

Hey guys,
I've been casually hunting this old Kay bass for awhile, and I was wondering if anyone had model and year info that might help me in my quest. I know its probably not the most desirable thing out there but this is the bass my Dad had when I was a kid, and even though he was just tinkered with the 3 tunes he knew, it made a lasting impression on me. I've seen some variations, but the one pictured is almost exactly like his, except his was red and not sunburst. I've also come across a few of these SG style bases in Red but they often lack one or more of the details like the head-stock logo or the pick-guard "art". Anyway, I figured it'd be a nice little nostalgia piece I could grab for not a lot of money... just trying to narrow down the search.

 

[GretschWretch]

When Kay/Valco went bust around 1968, the Kay name was bought for Japanese product shipped into the states. One example is the Kay boat-anchor Precision Bass marketed by JC Penney (!). Your bass looks very much like a Kay 2B instrument, but a bit more fancy. Can't be more precise with the model number.

 

[hardtop]

When Kay/Valco went bust around 1968, the Kay name was bought for Japanese product shipped into the states. One example is the Kay boat-anchor Precision Bass marketed by JC Penney (!). Your bass looks very much like a Kay 2B instrument, but a bit more fancy. Can't be more precise with the model number.

Thanks so much. Yeah hard to pin down the fancy parts. I really appreciate the reply and the history. Ill keep an eye out I guess, only way I might stumble across one.

 

[hardtop]

Hey guys, just wanted to bump this in case anyone has more information about this bass, or, more importantly, knows where i can find one. I know it seems silly, but its a nostalgia thing. I'd like to have one.

 

[saabfender]

Good luck. That’s probably their fanciest model. The other difficulty is the Kay stuff was entry-level and not very substatial. This means not many were sold (the top end of a low level brand never sells well) and many fewer will have survived 50 years, most being beginner instruments and not treated very well.

 

[christpncher]

i sold one 2 yrs ago
1970's Kay K-2B Bass Sunburst | Bob's Gnarly Music Shop

One important thing to note about these models is that nearly everyone ive seen has either a misplaced bridge or poorly cut pocket so the strings nearly come off the board like this one:
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to get the strings to line up on the one i sold, i had to really pull on the neck and tighten it down til it was sitting in the pocket crooked