Kalamazoo KB would not stay tuned

[klyph]

Heh, the two basses the op mentions were also my first two, but in the early eighties. The Kalamazoo cost 60$, my '67 Coronado cost 150$ 2 or 3 years later. I can't really say whether their problems were due to my abuse, that of a prior owner, or defects in manufacture. Both are long gone...

 

[ejaggers]

Heh, the two basses the op mentions were also my first two, but in the early eighties. The Kalamazoo cost 60$, my '67 Coronado cost 150$ 2 or 3 years later. I can't really say whether their problems were due to my abuse, that of a prior owner, or defects in manufacture. Both are long gone...

What was wrong with the Coronado?

 

[klyph]

I think the frets had been dressed way too much before I got it, and eventually popped out. The pickups were microphonic, and the bizarre bridge design precluded using anything but heavy guage strings. It was the cheapest bass in the store, which is why my father got it for me. None of these things prevented me from loving it and playing it for hours on end, every day.

 

[ejaggers]

I think the frets had been dressed way too much before I got it, and eventually popped out. The pickups were microphonic, and the bizarre bridge design precluded using anything but heavy guage strings. It was the cheapest bass in the store, which is why my father got it for me. None of these things prevented me from loving it and playing it for hours on end, every day.

My bridge PUP went out years later and I had Lindy Fralin rewind it, I still have the original neck PUP.
I've only used long scale strings because of the bridge and tailpiece, but never used heavy gauge so I'm not sure what you mean.

As for the bridge, The rubber saddles are long gone so I had a guy make me some out of either ebony or mahogany,
I can't remember which, but other than that, I've had no problems.

Oh yeah, I just remembered, I let a guy talk me into refretting years ago, and while that bass has seen many, many gigs,
I not convinced now that it really needed it. But you live and learn.

 

[GretschWretch]

The red one is precisely my first bass. I can tell you with 100% certainty there were no set screws.

I had one like the one in post #17 but I sold it to a friend so long ago I frankly don't recall if it had set screws or not. But unless you have one of these KBs now, the point is academic. No point in pursuing it.

 

[bucephylus]

I had one like the one in post #17 but I sold it to a friend so long ago I frankly don't recall if it had set screws or not. But unless you have one of these KBs now, the point is academic. No point in pursuing it.

Not only that; but, I don't get all hung up on internet disagreements. I just mentioned what I recall as a point of interest.

When my headstock snapped off, I kept the body and the bridge at my parents house for about 20 years afterwards. In fact, they were my last belongings to exit their house. So, I have a particularly clear recollection of that bridge, because it hung around for so long. LOL

 

[klyph]

My bridge PUP went out years later and I had Lindy Fralin rewind it, I still have the original neck PUP.
I've only used long scale strings because of the bridge and tailpiece, but never used heavy gauge so I'm not sure what you mean.

As for the bridge, The rubber saddles are long gone so I had a guy make me some out of either ebony or mahogany,
I can't remember which, but other than that, I've had no problems.

Oh yeah, I just remembered, I let a guy talk me into refretting years ago, and while that bass has seen many, many gigs,
I not convinced now that it really needed it. But you live and learn.

So... You had "no problems" except for the ones I mentioned, except for the last instance, where a knowledgeable professional provided you with the necessary prophylaxis to avoid another problem, which you doubt you actually needed. Got it.
Yours may not have needed a refret, but my neck had too much relief, which led a previous owner to dress the frets down too much. That can be (and was) problematic, but not necessarily the fault of CBS musical products.
The pickup thing, well.. that happens to old pickups, especially DeArmonds.
Hard rubber inserts on a 1.5 lb., Completely floating bridge. Such a great design! I can see why it's so popular 50 years later.
I loved mine... But I wasn't blind to it's faults. Had I not been a clueless, broke teenager, I might have been able to address the shortcomings in a sensible way, and might have held onto it. But...
These didn't survive for very good reasons, none of which had anything to do with Leo. They were ill-concieved instruments that aren't in the same league as a eb-2 or a Starfire from the same era.
They are much lighter, for what it's worth, and I had a ton of fun getting notes to feed back a la Hendrix, when I got a big ol' Peavey amp a couple of years later. The 'burst finish on mine is still one of the prettiest finishes I've ever seen.
I'm sure yours is very nice, and she never has to know what some big bad meany said about her brethren on the internet.