King Double Basses

[dombass]

Hi All, just wondered what thoughts you may have of King Double Basses. If anyone has played one, if it was a favourable experience or not. I'm looking at getting my first DB (want to play R&R) & wanted some idea of what they're like, sound build quality etc. all input gratefully received.

[Rabbie]

King Moretone Basses are vintage pearls of the 50s.. They are no longer made and they have street cred +++++. You are not likely to find one easily.
King double basses were rockabilly basses made in the US a few years back. They are also no longer made but the guy who made them, Jason Burns, now makes Blast Cult basses, similar concept but improved design: excellent basses. Both options will be very expensive as well as very good. I think Blast Cults retail for around $4500 plus lot of dosh to import them from the US. If you find a used King (of either kind) buy it!... But it ain't gonna be cheap.

[keeponehandloose]

there was a King Slapking on fleabay just a couple of weeks ago , dont know if its gone or not

[dombass]

Thanks gents, much appreciated.

[sarah thomas]

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/King-Double-Bass-Slap-King-3-4-True-Blonde-Stand-Up-Bass-Rockabilly-/321247133119"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/King-Double-Bass-Slap-King-3-4-True-Blonde-Stand-Up-Bass-Rockabilly-/321247133119[/url]

and a gig bag with a furry leopard print interior! Please buy it to stop me.

[Clarky]

[quote name='sarah thomas' timestamp='1384943514' post='2282502']
[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/King-Double-Bass-Slap-King-3-4-True-Blonde-Stand-Up-Bass-Rockabilly-/321247133119"]http://www.ebay.co.u...y-/321247133119[/url]

and a gig bag with a furry leopard print interior! Please buy it to stop me.
[/quote]
Good job London is some distance away from Liverpool - that is a rather fabulous looking beastie!

[Rabbie]

Buy it. I would.

[paddy109]

Did any of,you guys buy it?

[dombass]

I tried, but got snipered with a second to go! :-(

[paddy109]

I was expecting it to go for more than it did.
I was banned from putting in a bid - couldn't help watching it though!

[Rabbie]

Good deal for whoever got it. The shiny finish and colour wouldn't be to my taste but the quality is great. I hope that whoever got it is going to put it to good use, might catch it round in the circuit hopefully.

[ubassman]

Rabbie whats the deal with the tailpiece? Looks to be an composite alloy that has been chromed?

[Rabbie]

I'm not sure actually but it may well be that. I think Blast Cult uses a new ebony substitute which is still hard wearing wood, but I don't know what King used to do. Looks way too shiny for me though.

[Happy Jack]

The advert mentioned that the seller had had the chromed tailpiece as some sort of upgrade, I think.

[ubassman]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1385110469' post='2284497']
The advert mentioned that the seller had had the chromed tailpiece as some sort of upgrade, I think.
[/quote]

...pimpin' da King !

[Bassman43]

Hi all
I bought the King slapking bass on ebay, have changed the steel strings for gut which has given it a much deeper tone. Gigging this weekend so will let you know how it goes. If you follow the rockabilly circuit you will see it with the Infernos.

[Rabbie]

Good for you mate, you got a great deal there! All the best with it and I hope to see you gigging around.

[fabbabass]

I was lucky enough to win a KDB Slap Bass a couple years ago. The guy who ordered it had a record deal and while they would give him a bass on endorsement, they did give the bass a custom midnight blue-burst finish, which was only available to special order, (it also had the upgraded chrome tailpiece. I ordered the Dolls Head pick-up and pre-amp and got caugth up in the King DoubleBass debarcle that finished the company and thought I had lost my money and the pre-amp........it didn't end there though....the fabulous bloke (Jason Burns, now of Blast Cult), took the reponsibility to build me the pre-amp that I had paid for and ship it to me many months later, even when KDB were dead and gone.

The basses are fabulous for the money as has been said. I put Silver Slaps on it and have been very happy. I go through the pre-amp sand into a DTar parametric then into my little EA 350 Combo or my Eden/QSC/Bag End rig. If you can find one buy with confidence, they are always well finished. Alternatively if you can raise the money and can get a Blast Cult I cannot recommend Jason Burns service highly enough (a REAL gentleman) and am certain that those basses will be superb.

[Rabbie]

+1 on what fabbabass says. I have bought stuff from Blast Cult from the UK and I too have found that both Jason and Miguel are great: deal with confidence there.

[ubassman]

Theres one on ebay at the mo - dont see them come up for sale that often http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/King-Double-Bass-Slap-King-Relic-KnK-Cordes-Lambert-Rockabilly-Country-Jazz-/261425332492?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Sting_Instruments&hash=item3cde2a010c