Yes. It is a midrange nasal sound I am combating. It's one reason I'm using gut strings. Just trying to get it warmer.
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Double Bass KAY double bass
- Thread starter web824
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- double double bass kay review
When I had a Kay (1949 M-1) I found that Pirastro Obligatos worked great for jazz pizzicato. They also bow very well, but are certainly not the best choice for slapping.
- Steve
- Steve
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Ah yes advice on strings and tone and etc... Of course everything offered is relative and will suit each individual's tastes but i might as well chime in on this one since I have a Kay as well. I put a set of D'Addario Zyex Light Tension on my Kay. I am mostly Americana, and Bluegrass pizzicato style playing. However, these strings, for me, seem to be in the middle for either pizzicato or arco use. I don't bow much so I primarily use these strings for pizzicato and for my bass, they are warm enough for me. They were a bit bright because they were new but they have settled down. Just my two cents.
I had a really old C-1, maybe '30's? that had a pretty big, open sound, but I sold it to pay the rent when I was 19 or 20. Had a '54 M-1 that sound thin, nasally, and was not much fun to play. Finally ended up with a plywood Hofner-built Anton Schroetter a few years ago that plays and sounds great. That's all.
I have a 1947 M-1. It was my first double bass and I still play it today. I picked it up for $500. A screaming deal. However, make note that some Kays have issues with the neck lifting out of the neck pocket. I experienced this issue but was lucky enough to have a friend reset the neck for me and reprofile the fingerboard. It is a fantastic bass now and has a pretty cool growl. I have played other basses but really fall back to the Kay. I suppose I am used to it and it fits my tastes.
Kays are not for everyone and they can have a nasally sound. I use a Fishman Full Circle and an LR Baggs Para DI when amplified. That combo with my Kay gets whatever sound I am looking for plugged in. Unplugged, there are better sounding basses IMO but I mostly play plugged in.
Best of luck in your search.
Kays are not for everyone and they can have a nasally sound. I use a Fishman Full Circle and an LR Baggs Para DI when amplified. That combo with my Kay gets whatever sound I am looking for plugged in. Unplugged, there are better sounding basses IMO but I mostly play plugged in.
Best of luck in your search.
Amplified gigs= always bring my '47 Kay (or polished ALCOA!)
Unamplified gigs= always bring my American Standard or nice carved bass; only the Kay if it is guaranteed bad weather or a LOT of rowdy drunks...
I've put strings on close to 500 different old Kays and to my ear, nothing matches the consistent power and low end that a set of broken in Spirocore mittels will give you for the E and A strings...
Unamplified gigs= always bring my American Standard or nice carved bass; only the Kay if it is guaranteed bad weather or a LOT of rowdy drunks...
I've put strings on close to 500 different old Kays and to my ear, nothing matches the consistent power and low end that a set of broken in Spirocore mittels will give you for the E and A strings...
I went with evah slaps e and a with gotz gut d and g. Pretty happy so far with this set up.
Joe
Joe
That's a nice combination. I had Evah Slaps with a Lenzner gut D & G and I liked it. Wish I'd kept that set up.
- Steve
This is an old thread, but I just found it and have to say, I’ve not heard Scott Colley sound better, in a YouTube video anyway. Or Donny McCaslin. Those guys play at an amazingly high level every time!
Anyway, my Kay is an unmarked 1951-C-1. I keep thinking of visiting Condino’s shop in NC to have a thick ebony board on it, but the ebonized whatever is straight as an arrow, never damaged, so I will wait for the inevitable.
I agree, a lot of the appeal is the Americana mojo angle, they they are really good for putting on guts for a really percussive style, and they will sing with spirocires if you aren’t afraid of bowing the neck. My Shen is a better instrument in a lot of ways, but I play the Kay more and it amplifies well with guts and a lifeline.
Yes they are wonderful musicians.
About the keyboard i'm very satisfied of the original (rosewood if i'm right) keyboard.
Ebony is a very good wood, robust strong and steady on time but it's not sounding like other woods. The original keypad of the kay (dark brown-red color) have a nice sound. if you tap the keyboard you can feel his sound personality vs ebony, a brilliant 'tic tic toc ' sound.
And you know, the final sound of an instrument is mostly due to the string type and the sum of any small (or big) details , sound post, bridge, tailpiece, setup and so on.
Maybe i'm crazy but when i focus myself to really hear and understand each component of the final sound i can hear the character of my keyboard vs the ebony keyboards.
it's not a lot it's not so important but i like it....
and i'm in the same position as you i'm consuming the keyboard and waiting for the catastrophic day (or maybe it's my bass that is thinking the same to me hahah ha).
Ciao thanks enjoy
I have a '39 Kay I purchased a few months ago and a newer Krutz hybrid I purchased a few years ago. Unamplified, the Kay sounds ok but not loud or thumpy and I know it needs a good setup. I recently installed a Realist Copperhead pickup on it and when played through my Ten2 it sounds AMAZING! I took it to a big band gig Saturday night and received quite a few compliments on how great it sounded. I'm using Zyex lights on it as well. The Krutz is very loud unamplified but it is a hybrid and the strings are a bit higher than the Kay but due to the huge neck on it, it's a bit more challenging to play for long periods of time.
IMHO you can't go wrong with a Kay and a good setup!
IMHO you can't go wrong with a Kay and a good setup!
