Double Bass Help? Kay Bass?

[Jimmy Bones]

Hey guys.

So, I managed to find someone who has a Kay bass for sale, $1000. He says, and I quote, "It needs fret work." I don't notice any frets, honestly, so not sure what he means.

Anywho, I'd like to know what you guys think of Kay Basses, and this one in particular - whether or not I ought to try to make an offer on it or forget about it.

Attached are the photos he sent me. I want your opinions before I go see it physically.

 

[Jimmy Bones]

Actually, couldn't attach them all, too big. Gimme a few to get them on photobucket.

 

[Jimmy Bones]

Ok, here we go:

 

[TPugh]

If you do a search for Kay's, your gonna get a truckload of opinions. I'll give you mine on this particular bass.

Unless I'm seeing it wrong, it appears to have a neck repair that is pretty common with old Kay's. Have someone who is experienced with these instruments check it over real good. Have them look at that repair and the fingerboard that was referenced (I think). If they give you the thumbs up and if you like how it plays and sounds, then $1000 for an old Kay ain't too bad a deal at all IMO. Heck, for that matter, offer him less. Long term, if you don't want to keep it, you'll likely get your money back and then some.

Also, that bass has plain gut strings on it. Keep in mind that it would likely sound different with a different type of strings. I'm not saying in a good or bad way. Just different. You may prefer plain guts.

Check the label on the inside and make note of the serial number. Someone on here can date it for you. I had one that looked similar that was made in 1940. I sold it for much more than $1000. At the time, I thought I was nearly giving it away.

Good luck,
TPugh

 

[Jimmy Bones]

Thanks a lot. I know literally nothing about double basses, so anythin you have to say on the matter is my basis of knowledge.

 

[Gearhead43]

Is that a blonde "Orchestra" model? Not too many blonde gamba Kays out there.

Honestly, it's worth the grand even if it needs work, IMO. Just figure that it'll need a fingerboard planing and be ready to pay for that also.

I am hoping some day to find a nice Kay that I can actually afford. I missed one last year being practically given away ($300!) and am still bummed out.

With prices on good to excellent Kays running well into the $3000s nowdays, if you can get a good deal on one in good shape with no major issues I would snatch it.

 

[TPugh]

FWIW, the one I had was labeled a C-1. Number 6620. It was almost the same shade as this one, maybe a tad darker. Mine didn't have purfling either. I miss that bass.

TPugh

 

[Jeremy Darrow]

Even if it needs work, it's probably a good deal. I imagine that there are fewer Kays to be found in Hawaii than you might find elsewhere. That could make it a better deal yet. As another poster mentioned, even if you don't keep it, you'll have little trouble selling it for more if you get any issues taken care of. Get it checked out for sure, but if you think you want it jump on it. Best of luck with it if you do.

 

[tomersg]

check this site
Invalid Link Removed
lot of info and serial/date
this blond finish look awesome!
i have 63 Kay myself. i bought it for much less then 1000$..
nice bass but i'm not playing upright professionally. i have spirocores on it. i wonder how it would sound with guts.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

He says, and I quote, "It needs fret work." I don't notice any frets, honestly, so not sure what he means.

He means that he's an idiot.

Looks like a nice C-1.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

That looks pretty nice, Jimmy... see if you can lowball him.... right before his rent comes due.

 

[Phil Rowan]

I have an '38 Orchestral Model Kay.. good ol' gamba blonde, sn 3033. Mine was in worse shape when I got it (neck had to be replaced). Like the others said, have it looked over by a quality luthier (specializing in basses, of course). Fingerboard planing, a new bridge and basic set up would run you some extra bread, but you'd still be getting a good deal.

 

[Jimmy Bones]

Well, we'll see what happens. I don't have an extra grand lying about just yet, so I'm gonna have to figure out what I can pawn off to pull it together.

 

[ctregan]

The bass looks like it was in a time capsule. Original stand, tailpiece, and the old gut strings. Good deal at $1000.

 

[Jazzcat]

The bass looks like it was in a time capsule. Original stand, tailpiece, and the old gut strings. Good deal at $1000.

I agree. That looks like a heck of a deal for $1k. The only thing unusual about it is the fingerboard was changed out, and why they didn't use ebony is anybody's guess. What is that, ash?

 

[Ed Fuqua]

I had a Kay M-1 that had a rosewood fingerboard, most of'em did. What makes you say the fingerboard was "changed out"?

 

[Bass]

Buy it.

 

[Jazzcat]

I had a Kay M-1 that had a rosewood fingerboard, most of'em did. What makes you say the fingerboard was "changed out"?

I said it just because the FB is not ebony. I guess I haven't seen enough Kays in my life. I didn't realize they made em with rosewood FBs.

 

[Dynacord]

I said it just because the FB is not ebony. I guess I haven't seen enough Kays in my life. I didn't realize they made em with rosewood FBs.

I had an O-100 with a rosewood board but it was darker than the one pictured - much the same as the Brazilian rosewood being almost black on many of the pre-CBS Fender slabs - if one had oiled it, it could probably fool people into thinking it was ebony.

 

[interp]

Buy it.