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Double Bass Took the Plunge.

Red Planet

Red Planet

Inactive
May 29, 2005
6,487
2,152
Atlanta
Disclosures
I'm cranky in my old age.
#1
Well picked up my first Upright today.

I think maybe it's an old Kay but I can not tell. It's definately been around the block. The guy I got it from says it's a Kay but it has no label.

Anyway it works and I can play it so I'm happy. :)

It could use some setup I can tell but it functions and I can scroll through stuff like Route 66 pretty easy. Action is a touch high.

Upright.gif
 
#2
Cool looking bass. A little set up attention from a luthier might work wonders--it did on my old Epiphone. They are a lot more fun when the strings are a little lower. I have come to believe that basses are actually more influenced by the set up than the artistry of the original construction. To my (untrained) eye, it does look like an old Kay.
 
#3
Congrats!

Some close up pics of the details such as the tuners, scroll, tailpiece, neck heel and button, f-holes, etc., might help the peanut gallery take a crack at ID'ing your bass. On my Kay, in addition to the paper label, there is a 5 digit serial number stamped in black ink inside the bass.
 
#4
Yes…more pictures please. :) At first blush I do not think this is a Kay bass. The scroll, tuners and shape of the neck where it meets the body do not look Kay’ish. With more pictures I can make a positive ID.

Best wishes, play it and enjoy no matter what its pedigree. :cool:
 
#5
I will take some more pics when I get a chance. There is no telling what it could be. I think the tailpuiece has been changed. The fret board appears to be rosewood.
 
#7
Congrats on your new bass!

I think Molly's right (no surprise :)). Sure don't look like Kluson tuners. They could have been changed but the other features Molly mentioned don't look like Kay either. Please post more pics.
 
#8
Congratulations!

Now that you are in the bull fiddle fraternity, you might as well learn the language:

Action = String height
Fretboard = Fingerboard
Headstock = Pegbox/Scroll

That'll make getting your point across on this side of the board much easier!

Oh, and please don't refer to it as "bull fiddle." I was being ironic.
:p
 
#9
MollyKay said:
Yes…more pictures please. :) At first blush I do not think this is a Kay bass. The scroll, tuners and shape of the neck where it meets the body do not look Kay’ish. With more pictures I can make a positive ID.

Best wishes, play it and enjoy no matter what its pedigree. :cool:
Click to expand...

I should say I would not know a Kay or other if it bit me in the potooty. :D

After looking it over inside with a flashlight I can see no evidence of what it might be. It appears pretty old or had one heck of a beating. I expect this bass to at least get me started playing, while I refine my knowledge. I have read these pages a plenty but it all has not soaked in yet.

Perhaps you folks can tell what it is?

I do not expect this to be more than it is. :bassist:

Uploading pics now.
 
#11
Good Pictures…not a Kay for sure…but I don’t know what it is. :confused: I am out of my element if it is not vintage American made plywood. With big gear tuners and the flower engraving my guess would be a German/Czech bass and not too old…maybe 1970’s.

That is really a WAG…but not a Kay for sure.

Enjoy the bass…ya gotta start somewhere. :)
 
#12
My German bass from the late 60s has similar tuners. If you use a dental mirror and small light, you might be able to locate penciled-in info near the shoulders. I think a setup would help your sound a lot. The bridge seems higher up the body than it should be, and the soundpost appears to be set based on where the bridge should be.

Good luck!
 
#13
wineaux said:
My German bass from the late 60s has similar tuners. If you use a dental mirror and small light, you might be able to locate penciled-in info near the shoulders. I think a setup would help your sound a lot. The bridge seems higher up the body than it should be, and the soundpost appears to be set based on where the bridge should be.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Agreed.

Just by what little I know so far I could tell the thing is out of whack. I actually moved the sound post myself as it was not anywhere close to where it should be but have not had a chance to work with the bridge any. It was a pain but I finally got it close. The bridge has been where it is for some time, will have to try to relocate it.

As I understand it the sounpost should be directly under the trebile end of the bridge?
 
#16
What the heck did someone do to the bridge?? Is that PAINT?
Good grief. Did a guitar player own this before you?
Get this to a shop and see what they say. Other than a bunch of minor stuff, it looks as if it could be made into a player.
 
#18
Andrew McGregor said:
Bridge should be right between the inner notches in the f-holes, and the soundpost should be about 2/3 the thickness of the bridge away from the lower side of the bridge... NOT right underneath the bridge.
Click to expand...

position of soundpost looks fine to me, it's not straight underneath the bridge....

edit: but yeah, if you'd put the bridge in the right place, the soundpost would be in the wrong place (I reacted too quickly)
 
#19
wdnewman said:
What the heck did someone do to the bridge?? Is that PAINT?
Good grief. Did a guitar player own this before you?
Get this to a shop and see what they say. Other than a bunch of minor stuff, it looks as if it could be made into a player.
Click to expand...

Someone Shellaced the whole bass including the bridge. At some point I'll sand it off or get another bridge.
 
#20
Andrew McGregor said:
Bridge should be right between the inner notches in the f-holes, and the soundpost should be about 2/3 the thickness of the bridge away from the lower side of the bridge... NOT right underneath the bridge.
Click to expand...

Thank you.

I will get her in the right spot.

I should mention the soundpost had duct tape around each end with string. Guy said that made it easier to move. I removed said duct tape and gunk yesterday. I scooted the bridge back some but wasn't quite sure where to go.
 

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