Kay KB-20 shorty Ric-type thing

[Paul S]

A turd that can be polished or best flushed away?  

 

Just wondering if it might be worth investing in a change of bridge and pickups, purely to get a playable, lightweight, short scale faker.   

[Bassassin]

57 minutes ago, Paul S said:

A turd that can be polished or best flushed away?  

 

Just wondering if it might be worth investing in a change of bridge and pickups, purely to get a playable, lightweight, short scale faker.   

 

Never had one of these but I've had 2x Kay KB24 P copies & a K32 Strat - and they're not particularly well-made or nice to play. The necks, made from mahogany ply, were fat, heavy and badly fretted with thin, sharp-ended wire. Like a lot of ultra-budget stuff from this era I expect it's pot luck whether you'd get a playable/fixable one or a firewood dog - and it's not like there's much choice with these, they're mercifully rare!

 

It's not quite cheap & cheerful (£495) but Retrovibe have this appealing little (30.5") shorty, seems reasonably light at 7.4lbs too:

 

https://retrovibe.co.uk/product/retrovibe-rc30-lil-richard-short-scale-bass-30-6-scale-with-stinger-preamp/

 

[Paul S]

Thank you, Jon.  Talked me out of it.  

However, those L'il Richards look interesting!  I had no idea they existed.  Off the peg the slab body would be a deal breaker but if one came up secondhand it could be worth butchering!

[Pea Turgh]

How does it play now though?  If it plays nicely, and something is holding it back, change the thing and have a nice unique thing.

 

I had a dog of a Kay P.  Nothing would have improved that beyond the cleansing power of fire.  Yours may be different though!

Edited January 29, 2024 by Pea Turgh

[Paul S]

I don't have one, was only thinking out loud after seeing a couple on eBay recently. Probably give it a miss... 

[Pea Turgh]

@Maudedid an awesome job on an old Kay.  Damned if I can find the thread now!

[Maude]

Welcome to my world of polished turds. 😂

 

I think I may have got too absorbed into this bass but it really is a fun little thing. 

 

If Carlsberg made Kay basses...

[Norris]

My first bass was a Kay. The action was so high I could have probably limbo-danced under the strings

[Paul S]

11 hours ago, Pea Turgh said:

@Maudedid an awesome job on an old Kay.  Damned if I can find the thread now!

 

Indeed, a fine job.  Maude has a whole raft of skills that , when being handed out, missed me completely.