Selling this venerable beast that I acquired here from Nathan Parker in 2013. I realize that I’ll never put the work into it to progress beyond the bare minimum of competency, and that I’d be better off spending my time becoming better on the electric bass. Oh, and it’s taking up a sizable chunk of my living room. Records indicate a 1953 manufacture date, so she’s a year older than me. Let’s say we’ve both lived life fully, and have the dings and scrapes to show for it. Someone else should be giving it the love she deserves.
Since Nathan can actually play, I’ll borrow his description:
I've referred to this bass as the Falcon. She's not much to look at, but she's got it where it counts. There's not much subtlety or refinement to the tone, but it is even, consistent and projects like nobody's business. It has been my main use bass for about 6 months, and I've never had any issues with it, save my own. The fingerboard looks to be original, and is still plenty thick. Could probably stand to be planed if you're going to lower the string height, but as it is setup now, it plays fine. The bridge and soundpost are about 6 months old, and the bridge has adjusters.
It has a fair amount of wear, especially around the edges. I'd say it's all fairly typical for a workin' girl. The previous owner disclosed that the neck was off refitted at one point, done by Hammond Ashley Violins in Seattle. Never broken though, just appears to be reglued.
< 50's Kay M1B $1750 >
After the purchase, I took it to Les White (former Hammond Ashley tech) at Honeytone Bass Clinic for some work; he thinned and re-shaped the bridge, shimmed and recut the nut, glued and varnished various bits of delamntation around the edges, re-glued the heel of the neck and the saddle. You can see that there's a chunk out of one of the scroll pieces, this would be a relatively easy fix if one were so inclined. I’ve added a Golihur bag, wheel, bow quiver, and Realist Full Circle pickup. I replaced the strings with Corelli’s (probably 370s) which have relatively little use on them. It comes with the standard adjustable steel endpin, and Ooo-La-La; a swanky Johnny Atomic turned maple endpin which *most definitely* sounds better and ought to fit nicely if you happen to be around 5’10” tall. : )
Obviously prefer a local sale, but I’d be willing to discuss shipping.
I do also have a good no-name carbon fiber bow purchased from Hammond Ashley, available separately.
Since Nathan can actually play, I’ll borrow his description:
I've referred to this bass as the Falcon. She's not much to look at, but she's got it where it counts. There's not much subtlety or refinement to the tone, but it is even, consistent and projects like nobody's business. It has been my main use bass for about 6 months, and I've never had any issues with it, save my own. The fingerboard looks to be original, and is still plenty thick. Could probably stand to be planed if you're going to lower the string height, but as it is setup now, it plays fine. The bridge and soundpost are about 6 months old, and the bridge has adjusters.
It has a fair amount of wear, especially around the edges. I'd say it's all fairly typical for a workin' girl. The previous owner disclosed that the neck was off refitted at one point, done by Hammond Ashley Violins in Seattle. Never broken though, just appears to be reglued.
< 50's Kay M1B $1750 >
After the purchase, I took it to Les White (former Hammond Ashley tech) at Honeytone Bass Clinic for some work; he thinned and re-shaped the bridge, shimmed and recut the nut, glued and varnished various bits of delamntation around the edges, re-glued the heel of the neck and the saddle. You can see that there's a chunk out of one of the scroll pieces, this would be a relatively easy fix if one were so inclined. I’ve added a Golihur bag, wheel, bow quiver, and Realist Full Circle pickup. I replaced the strings with Corelli’s (probably 370s) which have relatively little use on them. It comes with the standard adjustable steel endpin, and Ooo-La-La; a swanky Johnny Atomic turned maple endpin which *most definitely* sounds better and ought to fit nicely if you happen to be around 5’10” tall. : )
Obviously prefer a local sale, but I’d be willing to discuss shipping.
I do also have a good no-name carbon fiber bow purchased from Hammond Ashley, available separately.
