Kay C - 1 Model Double Bass Viol 1951

Description

Offered for sale:
Vintage 1951 Kay C-1 Model Double Bass Viol serial number 23074.
This classic gamba pattern upright bass is in very good condition and a strong player.
Cosmetically there are marks and nicks along with finish wear about the instrument. It shows a long history of playing time and patina but no cracks or any abuse.
Kay basses were mass produced plywood basses that were very durable and also affordable, there are still a lot of them being played today. Traditional fully carved European basses, sought after by professional orchestra players, are more fragile and do not hold up well to the rigors of touring, in addition they could easily cost many times the price of these Kay C-1’s.
All of the early rockabilly, blues, country and bluegrass recordings, not to mention jazz, have an upright bass as the electric bass was yet to be invented, and many of those recordings have someone playing a Kay bass. The fact that these Kay basses have survived all these decades speaks to the rugged strength of these instruments.
Along with Kay there were other manufacturers, like Epiphone and American Standard, but Kay was the most widely available and remains popular to this day.
“We carefully inspect every instrument when we buy it and bring it up to our standards before we offer it for sale. We also do a full set up before we ship.”
Gig bag included.
Local pickup only.
*Please note: we do our best giving descriptions of used pieces. We have found it impossible to describe every mark on an instrument or amp that is not in the "mint" category. Also, what's important to you may not be important to someone else. For example, you may say, "I don't care what it looks like as long as it plays or sounds well." Another person may say, "Body cosmetics are very important to me so tell me about every scratch, nick and blemish." So, please ask the questions that are most important to you. If you ask they will be answered. They are free and there's no limit. Additional photos can also be made available.
This is a specific item that is also being offered for sale in our brick & mortar location. It is possible that it has just been sold. Please ask if it is still available before purchasing.
*It is our policy to require a signature on delivery of all musical instruments. Please let us know if you prefer no signature required when ordering or we will automatically require a signature.
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