BreadBin Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Just picked this up, does anyone have any idea what it is?! Any clues as to it's value other than not very much? It's an old Kay obviously given the logo on the pickplate and the body is plywood but other than that I have very little idea... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pea Turgh Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 My first bass was a Kay P-copy. Bloody awful thing! Weighed about as much as a car, and the neck was ply! That looks cool though - what does it play like/weigh/sound like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertbass Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 It is indeed a Kay, as sold by Woolworths in the 70s. Didn't cost a lot then worth even less now although some think they are worth a fortune and collectable. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted October 18, 2018 Author Share Posted October 18, 2018 Thanks for the info - it's clearly a budget instrument but it plays ok - the action is a bit high and the strings sound about 30 years old but it's actually not bad! Truss rod still works too. It's light, and I now know how old it is. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 (edited) Hey! Thanks for posting. Now we can see where @Marcoelwray's Elwray bass is too! For those who don't know what I'm talking about.... Congratulations on the new bass day! Edited October 18, 2018 by Grangur 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted October 18, 2018 Author Share Posted October 18, 2018 It's still here @Grangur! Didn't think it would be so difficult to pass on tbh... In other news - just noticed the Kay has a zero fret! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 My first 'real' bass was a Kay from Woolworths, with a truly dreadful 15W 'Audition' amp and cab, too. The action was OK if you could afford a taxi from the strings to the fretboard... which I couldn't at the time. Still, it's nice to have these instruments, if only to make you realise just how far we've come with budget basses! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 (edited) My first bass was also a Kay. A really terrible almost-Rick-copy-type-thing It was utterly, utterly terrible, and I've seen a few for sale on a well known auction site, at really inflated prices - I mean £200 - £300 If I found one for about £2 or £3 I might pick it up, just for a trip down memory lane, and to ad fuel to my garden bonfire Discreet is quite right, budget instruments these days are streets ahead of the Kay type stuff that was around years ago EDIT: Of course your Kay bass may be much better than the one I had. I'm not suggesting you burn it - who knows what was in the paint back then? Edited October 18, 2018 by Marc S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted October 18, 2018 Author Share Posted October 18, 2018 I think it fits in just fine 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pea Turgh Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Well it definitely looks nice, so if it plays and feels nice, sorted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 (edited) 5 minutes ago, Marc S said: I'm not suggesting you burn it - who knows what was in the paint back then? Quite, Health and Safety. Or do I mean Health & Efficiency..? Anyway, the safest way to dispose of a Kay bass is to bury it (not in your own garden, obvs) or leave it in the boot of your car until you can drive to the coast and hurl it into the sea. If you're pressed for time and really can't stand the damn thing, wait until it's dark and throw it into next door's garden, preferably at that bloody plastic flamingo you don't like. Done! Edited October 18, 2018 by discreet 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted October 18, 2018 Author Share Posted October 18, 2018 Har thanks all! Don't get me wrong - it's not my new gigging bass but given the (extremely) low expectations I had it's not that bad. I paid wall art money for it so that's where it will probably stay, unless I specifically need a proper vintage tone for a recording or somesuch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 4 minutes ago, BreadBin said: ...it's not that bad. I paid wall art money for it so that's where it will probably stay, unless I specifically need a proper vintage tone for a recording or somesuch. And don't forget, Bonfire Night is coming up soon... just sayin'... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyguts Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 I bought one for £5 off a mate from school in about 1984. Looked like a sort of SG shape with an ashtray over the rather appaling bridge. I replaced it with a Thunder 1a. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfox Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Ditto! 33 minutes ago, discreet said: My first 'real' bass was a Kay from Woolworths, with a truly dreadful 15W 'Audition' amp and cab, too. The action was OK if you could afford a taxi from the strings to the fretboard... which I couldn't at the time. Still, it's nice to have these instruments, if only to make you realise just how far we've come with budget basses! Ditto! A few years back now 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted October 18, 2018 Author Share Posted October 18, 2018 That looks just like this one @Highfox! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfox Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 1 minute ago, BreadBin said: That looks just like this one @Highfox! Yes it does. Had no ashtray on mine or finger rest, but guess they are of the sameish vintage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 6 minutes ago, Highfox said: Ditto! Ditto! A few years back now Is that a public image t shirt 😀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Kays are getting harder and harder to find these days, as anyone with any sense who had one would have spent an enjoyable afternoon pouring petrol on it and watching it burn! 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highfox Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 4 minutes ago, Reggaebass said: Is that a public image t shirt 😀 Yes it is. That was 79 and Wobble was King for me. That was our first gig at the local youth club, only started playing bass a few weeks before. Remember it like yesterday! We only knew 3 songs Public Image , pretty Vacant and a dodgy version of White riot. We played each song about 3 times until nearly everyone had left. Our drummer was good tho 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 Judging from this thread, you might have a K1-B, possibly from the late '60s. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 4 minutes ago, Highfox said: Yes it is. That was 79 and Wobble was King for me. That was our first gig at the local youth club, only started playing bass a few weeks before. Remember it like yesterday! We only knew 3 songs Public Image , pretty Vacant and a dodgy version of White riot. We played each song about 3 times until nearly everyone had left. Our drummer was good tho That’s great Only asked because I was 14 and just bought my first bass and i remember playing public image and exodus, Bob Marley 👍 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassfan Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 (edited) What’s the Jackson pollock in the background of the first pic BB? Edited October 18, 2018 by bassfan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted October 18, 2018 Share Posted October 18, 2018 I had a Kay EB100 (tulip bass). It did go on the bonfire 😃 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted October 18, 2018 Author Share Posted October 18, 2018 16 minutes ago, bassfan said: What’s the Jackson pollock in the background of the first pic BB? It's a Peavey with a 'custom' paintjob - plays fantastic, worth bugger all! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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