Description
This 1943 Kay M-1 (serial number 9989) has been a touring and performance instrument for most of it 80 year life. The instrument is in good functional shape, having had a few repairs over the years. The Kluson tuning machines are in very good working order. The neck has suffered no breaks, but has a factory stacked joint near the lower end of the heel. The original nut is in good condition. The original Brazilian rosewood fingerboard has nice tight grain structure and the brick red color that I prefer. Side dots have been added to the fingerboard. The neck was glued in a little off center during an old repair. so the bridge was given a special carving to keep the feet centered on the top. The adjustable endpin Is a very old replacement that allows the original tailpiece wire to be used. The tailpiece has lost its wartime decal, due to wear. The laminations in the top, ribs, and back are all solid and healthy, with no rattles. The is a large assortment of scathces and dings in the finish. The edge wear is minimal for a bass that was used this much. Dimensions are: Top length 43 1/4″, Upper bout width 20″, Middle bout width 15″, Lower bout width 26 1/2″, Rib depth at tail 7 1/2″, Rib depth at upper bout corner 7″, Rib depth at neck joint is 6 1/4″, String length is 41 1/2″. The current stringing is Innovation Silver Slap with an old Artone gut G string, a great traditional 1940s-50s sound. Nothing heavier than light gauge strings should be used on prewar or wartime Kay basses. Spirocore orchestra gauge should never be used on these basses! With cover.
