Freddy Le Cragg Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 I got this thing here a few months ago and never did do a NBD. I originally wanted a cheapo Precision type to keep in the rehearsal space and initially bought a Satellite P Bass which had a proper knackered neck. I salvaged the bits and sold the body for thirty notes. I then got this for thirty off eBay. The initial pic.. I peeled the Gibson sticker off, scraped the finger poo and the grime, popped new strings on and plugged it in. No sound. Off comes the pickguard and one slap of a soldering iron later, it were roaring. I also scraped the black emulsion of the chrome ashtray, dowelled the holes and re-attached it as it was a touch loose and rattly. The only provenance I have on it was that the seller was given it by his Dad who bought it (and used it) from the mid to late Seventies. No idea if its lawsuit or Woolies. A six bolt plate holds the neck on. It is wood, not ply and weighs a ton. But on a strap its nicely balanced. The head stock is the standard Fender shape but painted black, as is the back of the neck. I now use it regularly at rehearsals and its a vastly difference beast to my Jazz. Baseball bat neck and a thud that can shift earth, The tone pot has a very wide sweep and the action, whilst quite lofty, is manageable and is excellent exercise for the digits. I am proper happy with it. THE PICS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Result! BTW is your band playing anywhere between Oxford and Swindon in the near future? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddy Le Cragg Posted December 22, 2013 Author Share Posted December 22, 2013 No more gigs until Feb at the earliest. I have just taken over as singer as well as bassist so I need to work out how the hell you are supposed to do both at once! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bh2 Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Interesting looking bass... love the cracks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddy Le Cragg Posted December 22, 2013 Author Share Posted December 22, 2013 It looks like a homemade black paint finish to me. Its cracking nicely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bh2 Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Yes... I think the term is 'checking'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andydye Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Classy vintage bargain thingy mate ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 Judging from the 6-bolt neckplate and the fretboard - the only un-repainted bit of it - it's an old Kay KB-24 P copy, and would've looked like this: I've had a couple of these - very solid, very heavy, not exactly sophisticated but perfectly useable & playable P clones. And both of mine sounded great and were very loud! Strip off the rattlecan spray job and there's probably a bit of nice-looking wood underneath. The necks are odd - ply laminate made from hundreds of thin mahogany strips. Quite common on 60s Japanese guitars (although these Kays are early 70s Taiwanese) and make for a very stiff neck. That's a good vintage plank for £30! Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamfist Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 I like that knackered black look. Very cool ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddy Le Cragg Posted December 23, 2013 Author Share Posted December 23, 2013 I think it has a rather nice Thin Lizzy vibe. I don't think I could get through an hour long gig with it round me neck, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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