For Sale King Mortone Serial #3233 (Mid-60's?)

Hi Everyone,

I have a King Mortone for sale. I'm not incredibly familiar with the history but a quick internet search yielded the following information. What I do know is it is a cannon! This sucker is loud. I don't need to use an amp at times with this thing. Alas, it is too big for me. I think it is fairly priced. This is much better than any Shen I have played or any other plywood bass for that matter. It bows well but obviously without the depth and sophistication of a carved bass. I think this would make a great rockabilly, bluegrass, or old time (what I used it for) bass. FYI, this is up on Reverb as well but I've got it marked down $100 for TBer's. Thanks for taking a look.

• 1960's (?) King Mortone Upright bass.
• Serial Number 3323
• Will come with a unbranded carbon fiber German bow with white hair, and a gig bag.
• Neck has been repaired. Has American Standard Machine Tuners.
• New endpin.
• 43 1/4 inch scale length.
• D Neck
• Zyex E and A. Obligato G and D
• Local pickup only. (I may ship but 100% on your dime)

About King Basses:

In 1934 The H. N. White Company started making string instruments with the same attention to quality that was used to make brass instruments. The H. N. White Basses quickly gained a reputation for their superior tone but also for their unbelievable quality. The First sting instruments appear in White Way News Number 7 (1934) and were of the King brand only. In 1936 (White Way News Number 9) The American Standard string bass appears. The string basses fronts were made from the finest straight grain spruce with very close grain quality, while the rest of the instrument was made of curly maple. Each bass was equipped with an improved geared key mechanism, insuring rigidity and sensitive tuning. The H. N. White Company claimed that each "King string bass has a greater volume of tone, and carries the vibrations over a longer period of time, than any other string bass..." Production of both the King and American Standard versions were halted during the Second World War. Production resumed for the King string bass in 1946, and the American Standard Bass in 1949. The King Cello was introduced in 1940, a few months before the start of WW II. Production of the Cello did not restart right after the war, but did start in 1950. At this time I am not sure why there was such a delay in Cello production but my guess is that management wanted to focus on greater volume with less versions of instruments. Both brands continued in production until 1965.

After 1965 the string division of the company was sold off to the Kay Bass Company.

 

Thanks! I'm not super familiar with mortone history.