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1959 King Moretone Blonde (3844)
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A strong voiced example of one of the rare
Blonde ("limed" or "pickled") finish examples made in the
late 1950s. Maple ply back and sides, Spruce ply top, Maple
neck, Original halfplate tuners, Original red hardwood nut
and fingerboard, Original black painted hardwood
tailpiece with "King Moretone" decal, New Gotz aluminum
shaft endpin, Recent Maple bridge with adjusters added as
part of a complete setup, "King Moretone" decal in button
area of the back, Original "Blonde" finish. A neck reset and
slight repair of the button area give this bass a healthy
solidity for every day gigging use. With Superflexible
strings, this bass responds with a strong, insistent voice
with plenty of cut. With cover. |
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1960 Kay M-1 (42946) |
An exceptionally good
sounding example with a recent comprehensive setup by Gael
McKeon. Ply top, back and sides, Maple neck, Original Kluson
tuners, Brazilian Rosewood nut, fingerboard, tailpiece, and
tailpiece saddle, New Maple bridge with adjusters by Gael
McKeon, Carbon fiber endpin. The condition is quite good
with light signs of play. Strung with Spirocore strings,
this bass has a meaty voice with lots of volume. With cover. |
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1948 Kay O-1 (17679) |
A good sounding postwar gamba
shaped Kay in fine condition. Flame Maple laminate top,
back, and sides, Maple neck, Black finish Kluson tuners,
Brazilian Rosewood nut, original painted Maple fingerboard,
New Despiau bridge fitted with adjusters, Original black
painted tailpiece with "Kay" decal and original steel rod
type wire, Wooden endpin, probably original to this bass,
Dark sunburst finish. The edges are in fine shape, the neck
has a well repaired crack through the heel. At standard
setup height, the bridge stands 6 1/4" tall. Balanced voice
and stronger low end than Kays from this era typically have.
With cover. |
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1952 King Moretone (2120)
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A rich sounding instrument
with a few specification upgrades for better sound and
playability. Maple ply back and sides, Spruce ply top, Maple
neck, Original halfplate tuners, Ebony nut, Painted hardwood
tailpiece saddle, Replacement Ebony fingerboard installed by
Mike Olivola many years ago, Epiphone Maple tailpiece with
braided cable attachment, Carbon Graphite endpin, Maple
bridge without adjusters made by A.C. Muller, Leather side
bumpers, Original dark brown lacquer finish. Dimensions are:
Top length 42 5/8", Upper bout width 19", Middle bout width
13 7/8", Lower bout width 25 1/8", Depth at tail 8", Depth
at upper bout bend 8", Depth at neck 6 1/4", String length
43 1/2". In fine general condition, this bass responds to
Spirocore weich strings with a clear, cutting voice or to
Innovation strings with a warm, penetrating voice with
plenty of "thump". With cover. |
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1940 Kay Orchestra, O-100 (7935)
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Kay's prewar fancier version
of a C-1. Spruce ply top, Maple ply back and sides, Maple
neck with the fuller profile used on most Orchestra models,
Chrome Kluson tuners, Replacement nut, Replacement ebony
fingeboard, Nicely cut replacement bridge, Replacement
tailpiece, Replacement endpin, Original shaded "flame"
figure in back and sides, Double painted purfling lines.
Nicely repaired clean volute crack. Overall nice condition
and very little edge wear. This bass has a solid voice with
good projection. With cover. |
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1940 King Moretone (886) |
| A fine sounding example with the
upgrade improvements that really make a difference.
Flame figure Maple ply back and sides, Spruce ply
top, Flame figure Maple neck, Replacement Rubner
tuners, Replacement Ebony fingerboard, High quality
Maple bridge with adjusters, Dyed Maple tailpiece,
Replacement Gotz endpin, some finish work. Jeff Sahs
reworked the fingerboard and bridge to a jazz pizz
configuration that plays very easily. Strong, even
voice with a penetrating quality that is great for
playing in a jazz group. With TKL cover.
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1962 American Standard (2757)
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This is the famous (or infamous) "Bruce Lee"
American Standard that Mike Olivola has retrofit with an old
Czech or German neck from the 1920s. Maple ply top, back,
and sides, Old maple neck, halfplate hatpeg tuners, New
ebony nut and fingerboard, Maple Epiphone tailpiece, new
maple bridge and soundpost, Gotz endpin, original body
finish except for red and black "Bruce Lee" painting on
back, standard body dimensions, new shorter string length of
42 1/2". All work done by Mike Olivola. With significantly
better overstand and projection than with an original neck,
this is one powerhouse plywood doublebass. Played pizz with
Spirocore weich strings, the responsive is absolutely
amazing. With cover.
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| 1960 Kay M-3 1/2 size (42258) |
A healthy 1/2 size Kay with a beautiful
Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard and tailpiece. Black Kluson
tuners, Brazilian Rosewood nut, Maple bridge with no
adjusters, Original tailpiece hardware and endpin.
Dimensions are: Top length 36 3/4", Upper bout width 17",
Middle bout width 12 3/8", Lower bout width 22", Depth at
neck 6 1/8", Depth at upper bout bend 6 7/8", Depth at tail
7 3/8", String length 35 1/4". Strung with Spirocore mittel
strings, this bass works well for small people or intimate
livingroom play. With original canvas cover. |
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1967 Kay C-1 (55820)
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A near mint example of Kay's most popular
doublebass model. Ply top, back, and sides, Black Kluson
tuners, Rosewood nut, fingerboard, tailpiece, and tailpiece
saddle, Original endpin, Handsome looking Panpi bridge with
adjusters made by a San Jose luthier, Medium brown finish,
Outfitted with a mixed set of Helicore and Spirocore
strings. Dimensions are: Top length 43 1/2", Upper bout
width 20 1/4", Center bout width 14 3/4", Lower bout width
26 1/2", Depth at neck 6 5/8", Depth at upper bout bend 7
5/8", Depth at tail 8", String length 41 1/2". Surprisingly
rich voice for an instrument that has been played so little
in the last 43 years. With cover. |
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1939 American Standard 500
(year unknown, no serial number) |
This model is consistently my favorite
vintage American plywood bass. They are hard to find and
have gotten very popular in the last few years. This bass
came to me in rough shape, having been a rockabilly
instrument and then a knockaround dixieland bass for
several years. Dimensions are: Top length 44", Upper bout
width 21", Center bout width 15 5/8", Lower bout width 25
5/8", Depth at tail 7 7/8", Depth at upper bout bend 7
7/8", Depth at neck 6 5/8", String length 43 1/4". The
body and neck had been refinished a translucent black, the
fingebaord had been planed down to almost nothing, and the
top plate and neck block were coming unglued. The original
tuners are straight and work quite well. I had Matt Bohn
work his magic on it, installing a new ebony fingerboard,
making a new adjustable bridge, installing a used Gotz
endpin, and regluing all of the loose parts. The ebony
fingerboard gives the bass a very solid sound as well as a
little more width and more depth to the neck profile. This
is a magnificent sounding example. With cover.
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1961 King Moretone 3/4 (4325) |
An extremely clean example that came
from the second owner. All laminated body construction,
Outer Spruce ply on top, Maple neck, Gold color engraved
H.N. white tuners, Black painted mystery wood fingerboard,
Bridge adjusters added, Black painted Maple tailpiece with
"King" decal, Added Gotz endpin, "King" decal on upper
back just below the button. Dimensions are: Top length 43
5/8", Upper bout width 19", Middle bout width 14 1/4",
Lower bout width 25 1/8", Depth at tail 8", Depth at upper
bout bend 7 7/8", Depth at neck 6 1/2", String length 43
1/4". The only repair was to the button area. It looks
like the bass once fell sideways in its cover a long time
ago and knocked the neck joint loose and tore the button
area a little. The old repair was done very cleanly and
the neck is as solid as it can be. This bass came in
strung with Spirocore orchestra guage strings and the
bridge adjuster wound up pretty high for arco work. I like
it set somewhat lower and strung with Obligato strings.
With the long string length, this bass would also be a
good gut-strung instrument for vintage jazz, blues,
country, etc. Balanced voice with a really comfortable
neck profile. This is certainly the cleanest King Moretone
bass that I've ever seen in person and in terms of volume
and tone it eats every Kay that I've ever played for
breakfast. With cover.
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Late 1942 Kay Orhcestra Model (0-100
10376)
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The Orchestra model was a gamba shaped
upgrade from the C-1 with nicer finish and a thicker
Brazilian Rosewood board. All-plywood top, back and sides,
maple neck with original Kluson tuners, No scroll breaks,
One well-repaired heel break, Flame painted on the back of
the neck is so realistic that I was fooled until I looked
at the worn part, bridge with Matt Bohn installed
adjusters, replacement german endpin that really works,
original Kay tailpiece had an ugly output jack hole, so I
replaced with a beautiful Brazilian Rosewood example from
the 1950s that is missing the "Kay" badge, Braided
tailpiece wire replaces the stupid metal tailpiece rod
with cap nuts. I had Jeff Sahs install the endpin, plane
the fingerboard, reshape the bridge top, and install the
tailgut wire. All of the expected top and back dings and
scuffs with all of the usual edge wear. What a big,
authoritative sound! I've had it strung with Pfitzner gut
strings, Eurosonic Ultra Lights, but Helicore Hybrids made
this bass the king of the bluegrass jam session last
night. With cover. Just in time for bluegrass festival
season.
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1938 Kay C-1 (2153) |
From the 2nd year of Kay's
manufacturing of basses, this instrument is remarkable in
having had not scroll or neck breaks ever! All plywood
construction, Chrome plated Kluson tuners, Brazilian
Rosewood fingerboard, Brazilian Rosewood tailpiece with
braided cable replacing the awful original threaded solid
steel wire, German replacement endpin, New bridge with
adjusters by Matt Bohn. Matt Bohn reglued the loose
fingerboard and gave it a good dressing. There were a few
loose places in the top and back plates that Matt reglued.
This bass is very healthy and was played for over 35 years
in Dixieland jazz bands by its last owner. I have it
strung with Helicore Hybrid strings for versatility. With
cover.
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1953 Kay C-1 (29585) |
The former owner had the neck repaired
after a heel break by increasing the angle that it
presents to the body and having a maple shim installed
under the replacement ebony fingerboard. The formerly
skinny standard Kay neck profile has been modified to a
slightly deeper and a wider configuration that is more
conventional to European basses. I really like the feel of
it. The scroll is unbroken and the body is in good shape.
The original black Kluson tuners work well, though there
is a little rust on the plates.The replacement endpin
comes from Eastman, the tailpiece is a Wittner, and the
bridge is a tall, slim example made by Dominic Zuchowicz.
The neck was profiled by Alex Friedman and the final setup
performed by Matt Bohn. This bass has a big, penetrating
sound. With cover.
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Ca. 1952 American Standard 7/8 (swell back) Orchestral
Model |
All Plywood construction. 43 1/2" body
length. Gamba corners, brass halfplate tuners, slim neck
profile. 43 1/4" string length. Brazillian Rosewood
fingerboard painted black (original). Dyed maple
tailpiece. Adjustable bridge. Dowel type endpin. Upper
bout width 21". C bout width 15 1/2". Lower bout width 25
3/4". Side depth is 8" at tail, 7 3/4" at upper bout
crease and 6 1/4" at neck. Currently strung with gut
strings for vintage sound. Wide C bout and upper bout
allow for big low end tone. Excellent overall condition,
this is the cleanest example that I've seen. This is the
same model played by Brian Bagdonas of the Portland,
Oregon oldtime group The Foghorn String Band. With free
cover.
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Used
Epiphone
B4 3/4 Swellback
Ca. 1940s
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Swellback gamba shape plywood body,
Brass halfplate tuners, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard,
Flame maple tailpiece, 41" string length, 43" body length,
Upper bout 19-1/2", C bout 14-1/2", Lower bout 25-1/2",
Body depth at tail 7-5/8", Body depth at upper bout
7-1/4", Body depth at neck 6-1/2". Repaired top at bass
leg of bridge, repaired neck joint. Big vintage Kay-style
sound. Strung with Helicore Hybrids. With padded cover.
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1943 Kay M-1 (11167) |
Plywood body, Maple neck, Original
Kluson tuners, Original Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard,
Original bonized tailpiece with Kay decal, Original
sunburst lacquer finish. dimensions are: Top length: 44",
Upper bout width 19 3/4", Center bout width 15", Lower
bout width 26 1/2", Depth at tail: 7 7/8", Depth at upper
bout bend: 7 1/2", Depth at neck: 6 7/8". The finish
condition is quite good and chip-free for a longtime
gigging bass. The tailpiece has had a flexible tailwire
installed. The fingerboard was planed a few years ago. A
new bridge with adjusters has been fit as the old bridge
had warped beyond redemption. The one cosmetic flaw is a
radial drying check in the bass side of the neck that runs
the length of the Maple neck blank. The owner reports that
the neck check has been completely stable in the 12 years
that he has owned this bass. The bass plays easily and the
response is quick. With blue center zip Glaesel canvas
cover. On consignment.
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| 1965 Kay C-1 (51964) |
All laminate body construction, Black
Kluson halfplate tuners, Rosewood fingerboard. Upgrades
and changes include: Adjustable bridge, Rosewood
tailpiece, New German endpin. Dimensionsare: String
loength 41 1/2", Body length 43 1/2", Upper bout width 20
1/4", Center bout width 14 3/4", Lower bout width 26 1/2",
Tail depth 8", Depth at upper bout bend 7 5/8", Depth at
neck 6 5/8". Jeff Sahs performed the refurbishing of loose
plates, finish nicks, strengthened the old neck joint
repair, planed the fingerboard, and added adjusters and
recontoured the 5 year old bridge. The bass is responsive
and has a good arco response as well as the usual Kay pizz
sound. With free cover.
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| 1950s Epiphone B-4 |
Blonde Finish Beautiful flame figured
Maple plywood back and sides, Close grained Spruce plywood
top, Two-piece Maple neck, Gold plated Kluson halfplate
tuners, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard, Flame Maple
tailpiece with Epiphone emblem badge, Wooden dowel type
original endpin (3 differnet dowels), Adjustable bridge,
Side dots added to fingerboard, Inlaid purfling on top and
back. Dimensions are: Top length 44", Lower bout width 25
3/4", Center bout width 15", Upper bout width 19 7/8",
Depth at tail 7 3/4", Depth at upper bout bend 7 5/8",
Depth at neck 6 1/2", String length 41 3/4". Some rough
edges and top areas from 5 decades of playing. No dowels,
neck heel crack or scroll breaks at nut. The top of the
scroll was broken off and reglued at some point. The voice
is rich and full. This bass is very easy to play. It has
spent the last several years playing jazz and it has a
very pleasing tone. With cover.
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