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Double Bass NBD: 1964 Kay M1 But I got a question.....

Mktrat

Mktrat

Seriously, are we not doing phrasing anymore?
Apr 9, 2013
1,175
4,200
The Mitten
#1
Ok, no pics = no bass so.....

1964%20Kay_zpsdez3pfa6.jpg



The issue is impossible to photograph. You can see daylight ever so slightly between the fingerboard and the neck from about G on the E string till about B or C. it seems stable enough, is this a major issue? Both ends seem very solid and this doesn't appear to be causing any problems.

Thoughts? I'm a total noob here, previous to this all I have owned are EB's and an Ergo EUB.

Thanks in advance, and be gentle, I'm really lost here.

Edit: Thanks Mr. deVilliers for the awesome stand plans!!! Easy as pie to throw together and perfection in its most simplistic form!
 
#2
This is a big deal. The gap between the fingerboard and the neck is robbing some tone, but it is a major structural consideration as well. The neck could develop some localized warping that will be impossible to remedy without significant work. Get yourself to the nearest professional bass luthier as soon as you can. Good luck and let us know how it turns out!
 
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#3
It's the beginning of a separation at the glue joint. This is not unique to your bass, but if not addressed it could expand until the fingerboard just drops off. There are cheap DIY fixes available, but they usually bring their own set of consequences. Better to take the bass to someone who has the tools and experience to address the problem.
 
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#5
So you guys are saying I need to get this looked at? :smug:

Thanks for the explanations. Anybody want to suggest a Bass Guru near 48072?
Ever dealt with Guarneri House/Aaron's Instruments in Grand Rapids? Not around the corner but not ridiculous either.


Edit: If the fingerboard were to "drop off" would it possibly snap the neck?
 
#8
Depending on how much bread you want to drop, now might be a good time to consider putting an ebony fingerboard on, in addition to/instead of the carbon fiber rod. Kays have notoriously thin necks and putting on a thick ebony board can take care of the stability issue, improve tone AND help your left hand.

Just a thought.
 
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#14
Depending on how much bread you want to drop, now might be a good time to consider putting an ebony fingerboard on, in addition to/instead of the carbon fiber rod. Kays have notoriously thin necks and putting on a thick ebony board can take care of the stability issue, improve tone AND help your left hand.

Just a thought.
Click to expand...

I understand the structural aspects of ebony. Especially a thick piece to help the skinny neck.
I'm just not getting how a new ebony fingerboard would help my left hand?
 
#16
Mktrat said:
I understand the structural aspects of ebony. Especially a thick piece to help the skinny neck.
I'm just not getting how a new ebony fingerboard would help my left hand?
Click to expand...

Because Kay's have tiny necks and a thicker finger board would increase the total dimension front to back - essentially giving you a thicker neck (as far as your hands are concerned). The thicker neck will make it easier to develop good left hand technique, whereas many players complain about the tiny Kay necks leading to hand cramping over time. Mileage may vary.
 
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#17
sevenyearsdown speaks the truth. As I've posted before:
drurb said:
...For many players, as pointed out here, those skinny necks lead to left-hand fatigue because they inhibit maintenance of the left-hand claw and proper spacing of the fingers. Try this out-- fold your left hand about half way down and stretch your fingers apart as far as you can. Now, fold your hand down further and try to maintain that finger spacing. It can't be done. It's just a matter of the mechanics of the hand.
Click to expand...
 
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#19
I'm not against replacing the FB, but argue that just a CF inlay and re-glue might be a wiser choice. I imagine that that is the cheaper option, and you can always replace the FB in future. Our friend in Asheville would be a better person to comment, but I'm thinking that a Kay is a Kay, and someone who wants to own one maybe wants that thin-neck feel, and might prefer to have the original board with inlay over a nice thick ebony board.
 
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