Double Bass KAY double bass

[SteSte]

Now I am trying to fire up new old 61 kay S1 with at least g and d guts.

 

[Bigbassguy]

At that time in my life my bass was everything to me. If I couldn't run neither could they. Stale mate. This happened a couple of times. I still have the bass!

 

[Aaron Moseley]

I am an instrumental music teacher and recently had a student "inherit" an upright bass. Can anyone help me identify this Kay Bass from the pictures below? Any info would be helpful.

 

[Steven Ayres]

Can anyone help me identify this Kay Bass from the pictures below?

From the few details I can see, I can say this is a standard Kay S-9 (often called Swingmaster) built in 1947.

The S-9 was Kay's postwar top of the line, available from the beginning of bass production in 1937 through the company's dismantlement in '69, with something on the order of 3,000 to 5,000 made.

Engelhardt-Link continues to produce its ES-9 on the same tooling, although without purfling, rib lining and heel cap.

 

[krfoss]

I am an instrumental music teacher and recently had a student "inherit" an upright bass. Can anyone help me identify this Kay Bass from the pictures below? Any info would be helpful.

1947 Kay Swingmaster. If your student's looking to get rid of it, lemme know.

 

[Aaron Moseley]

1947 Kay Swingmaster. If your student's looking to get rid of it, lemme know.

Here is another picture. It is definitely not in prime condition, but what would something like this be worth?

 

[Steven Ayres]

Better get that bridge foot up on the bass bar ASAP, if the bar hasn't popped already. If you're completely new at bass, best to find a luthier and have it gone over. It looks neglected and frankly in peril.

Real market value is exactly what a given buyer is willing to pay for it at a given time and place, with location as the biggest variable. I see similar basses priced up to $4,500 and going for anywhere from 1,100 to 3,000 in playable condition.

I've added your bass to the Kay Bass and Cello Registry at Kaybass.com.

 

[Aaron Moseley]

Better get that bridge foot up on the bass bar ASAP, if the bar hasn't popped already. If you're completely new at bass, best to find a luthier and have it gone over. It looks neglected and frankly in peril.

Real market value is exactly what a given buyer is willing to pay for it at a given time and place, with location as the biggest variable. I see similar basses priced up to $4,500 and going for anywhere from 1,100 to 3,000 in playable condition.

I've added your bass to the Kay Bass and Cello Registry at Kaybass.com.

Thanks for the advice! I am definitely not a strings person. I do have some friends that are really good bass players but don't teach lessons. I'll have my student get it looked at.

 

[CryingBass]

We all start with Kay. And then end up with Kunis

 

[Bigbassguy]

I could use some advice. I have a 61 S1 kay and can't seem to get a real warm tone from. Im using gut g and d and rock a billy's for the e and a. The bass just doesn't warm up.
Suggestion appreciated
Thanks

 

[Josh Kneisel]

We all start with Kay. And then end up with Kunis

Or an Engelhardt...

 

[Steven Ayres]

I'm using gut g and d and rock a billy's for the e and a. The bass just doesn't warm up.

For starters I've never heard any useful tone from nylon strings, so that could be important. But I've got the best results from lower-tension strings (which you're doing) and moving the soundpost farther toward the endpin. Of course, your ideas of "warm" are probably not the same as mine, but it's worth a try.

 

[Josh Kneisel]

I could use some advice. I have a 61 S1 kay and can't seem to get a real warm tone from. Im using gut g and d and rock a billy's for the e and a. The bass just doesn't warm up.
Suggestion appreciated
Thanks

Have you had a luthier set it up? Could just be it needs some tlc on the soundpost placement and whatnot. FWIW I know I thought I liked the gut strings when I started, but the first time I played on a set of spiro mittels it was like a whole new animal.

 

[krfoss]

I could use some advice. I have a 61 S1 kay and can't seem to get a real warm tone from

It may just sound like that. I had cheap bass that sounded infinitely warmer than both an Engelahardt and my American Standard. The Engelhardt was very focused, but not a big and broad sound, though it probably mic'd just fine.

 

[Bigbassguy]

I think changing out my E and A might be an option. Any suggestions to match up to my g and d? I play mostly jazz tunes.
Thanks

 

[Steven Ayres]

I think changing out my E and A might be an option. Any suggestions to match up to my g and d? I play mostly jazz tunes.
Thanks

I love my Kolstein Heritage strings, and I combine them with a gut high C on the five-string.

 

[krfoss]

Kolstein Heritage strings

How do these compare to Rotosound strings, if you've had this experience?

 

[Steven Ayres]

I have a set of Rotosound RS4000 strings that I tried for about 15 minutes. They felt as useless to me as weed-whackers.

 

[Bigbassguy]

What about using innovation silvers slaps on my Kay? That would be mixing with my gut d and g.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I could use some advice. I have a 61 S1 kay and can't seem to get a real warm tone from. Im using gut g and d and rock a billy's for the e and a. The bass just doesn't warm up.
Suggestion appreciated
Thanks

I'll not weigh in on the strings. That's a personal choice.

In my experience, a standard Kay doesn't really have a warm tone when compared to a nice carved bass. The sound could be described as strong in the midrange, and somewhat nasal. It usually works well on a gig. I love my '67 but it's just a really good sounding plywood bass.

I'be fit a couple with maple soundposts made from 7/8" dowels. Going for a perfect fit and somewhat tight seemed to give a more even tone. Not sure why.

You might try a synthetic tailgut as well.