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Coming Soon: 1940 American Standard

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.