John Kallas Appreciation/Owners club

It started out being a black '85 medium scale precision. John first tried chemical strippers. The finished just giggled and got a little gooey. He had to sand the original finish off before spraying the burgundy. He said the grain was so tight, it was almost like it didn't have any. It's finished with a thin coat of poly:



He thought it was worthy of wearing its father's last name so: stripped the headstock, applied the appropriate decal, and covered it with clear nitro:



He cut and dyed (to bring out the red hue) a custom guard from the nitro blank I sent:



He fine tuned & polished the frets, installed a SPB-1, shielded the cavities, redid the electronics with solid-shaft CTS pots & NOS tone cap, drilled the stock knobs to fit, installed the bridge cover (not shown), and gave it a perfect setup. It doesn't say it on the headstock, but it's a Kallas, for sure:



Thanks again, John!

 

The only one I have on me now is a live pic playing a Kallas 66 Jazz. I'll post more full shots when I get back home this week.

 

This was a bass from a few years ago. I think it was a custom build for someone and it ended up going through a few buyers. For me, it was a gift from a very generous friend!

 

I don't own a John K bass but I am appreciative of the work I've seen displayed on this site and the amount of knowledge he shares with us.

 

I sent John a Jaguar Special HB (with an excellent neck!), pickguard blank, a couple of Thunderbuckers and he sent me back a ThunderJag:



I enjoyed going down Gibson memory lane with it for a while, but it rocked too hard for the praise music I do. Last I heard, it is living down in Florida with Carlo (Cataldo Basses) and the gators...

 

Subscribed!

 

Still in dirty lust with my Kallas 66 jazz... See below.. Its been on about 50-60 gigs and going strong..

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/nbd-john10_k-c-r-1966-jazz-bass-800213/

 

This thread is well deserved and long overdue!

I'm in with my 1966 Fender Jazz that John restored. I also hit John up to check out my amps crossover at one point too.

I will own a custom Kallas one of these days, but in the mean time here's my '66.

Before:


After


This is one of those basses by which all others are judged!

 

That 66 is amazing every time i see it! I have john doing almost exactly the same to my 64. I am really excited seeing your results. Mine was stripped like yours and abused a little along the way. Congrats on a having a bass most of us dream about.

 

Subscribed.

 

This was my '66 P before I sent it to John.




This is after his immaculate restoration.




Before:


After:


John is awesome!

 

Stuart
The color is amazing and it's incredible how well the routed hole for the j pup was filled. Congratulations.

 

Me too, either!

But John (and D Bopp!) has been very patient and gracious with my question and requests for advice over the years. I hope I am fortunate enough to have a "K-Bass" someday!!

 

Thanks man! Can't wait to see your 64, I'm sure it will be a beauty!

 

Don't have one;
totally admire his work.

 

This ^ . Subbed

 

Same here. I've also emailed him before and he always responds and is very courteous.