Double Bass Please don't hate me.

[Axtman]

Well if you must.....

I just bought a 1958 Kay M-1 bass for $400.

It was probably and school orchestral instrument because it has lots of "love". At one point it had a neck repair and needs some work, tuning key repair and new bridge. Next week I will take it to David Goad Violins in Seattle for some freshening up. Even with crappy old strings and "Denver" action it plays and sound nice.

 

[Keith Rawlings]

Pics?

 

[thabassmon]

Cool, no hate just wish I could hear it

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

A grasser paid me cash to drag away their ‘51 C-1.

Of course, the neck was the only part of it that was intact, but other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?

 

[dan1952]

Ya done good, Grasshopper!

 

[Ed S]

Cool - starting to see some of those not-legendary post-holiday steals!

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

No pics, no 1958 Kay M-1.

 

[GretschWretch]

No pics, no 1958 Kay M-1.

If I take the pic but cannot upload it to my computer, does that count?

 

[Axtman]

Pictures ?! You mean you guys don't just take my word for it? You don't trust me?! Wow! I have NEVER been so insulted in all my life! ;-)

 

[marcox]

Jeez, did it have two neck/heel breaks?

Congrats, nonetheless!

 

[twinjet]

Jealous, man...

 

[birgebass]

Man, I too was lucky to buy a super cool old bass for cheap. I got a '39 American Standard for $500 a few years ago. Sometimes we get lucky! Congrats!

 

[groooooove]

score... love it. enjoy!!

 

[Axtman]

It's going to have a checkup with the bass doctor tomorrow. Hopefully I did not buy expensive firewood.

 

[Axtman]

Yesterday I took the bass is at David Goad Violins ([Invalid or Expired Link Removed]m) in Seattle for some work. David and I reviewed issues with the bass decided on a battle plan.

The bass will get a new adjustable bridge and strings. The current bridge does not fit well and the action is high "Denver Action" (Mile High).

While the strings are off the bass will be vacuumed out because there is stuff rattling around inside. The sound post will be inspected and positioned correctly.

The neck break is stable but the epoxy patch fill has a chip and is cracked. This patch will be filled and sanded in lieu of a ebony plug or new fingerboard. The fingerboard will be lightly sanded and oiled.

David will inspect the bass body for delaminations, cracks., loose bracings. I don't hear any so I think it is fine.

The A string tuning post is rattling and the cloverleaf is loose from the post. David will clean and possibly lightly epoxy it or maybe lightly solder it. Then he will lubricate the tuning machines.

Hopefully with all this work I will not have to sell a kidney! ;-)

 

[Axtman]

The bass came with a workable but inexpensive French bow. I told David to donate it to a school orchestra director. David repairs instruments for the middle/high schools around town.

I will also ask David to do the same with the gig bag when I buy a new bag.