1960s Kay Electric Rubber Bridge Bass Conversion

Overview: This started-off as an inexpensive, '60s Kay student parlor guitar, but as it has a narrower 1 5/8" nut width and was setup for a tailpiece string load to begin-with, Jose and I thought it would make a great rubber-bridge bass conversion candidate -- and it does! The tone of these guitar-scale, rubber-bridge bass instruments is roughly similar to a Hofner Beatle Bass, though it's even a little rounder and has faster decay and more attack. These are similar qualities to the way an upright sounds in a mix and it sits beautifully with other instruments. The rubber we use for our bridges also intonates on a straight line and, because the string vibrations and wobble are damped, the low tension of the short scale means that it doesn't go out of tune when fretting/string bending as much like on a normal super-short-scale bass.

Interesting features: It's, of course, converted! That means a new bone nut, plugged headstock holes and new tuners, an Alnico-magnet lipstick pickup and simple wiring harness added (volume control), different tailpiece added, and a rubber bridge fit. Our new versions of the rubber bridge setup rise up and down like archtop bridges and have a steel base with rubber on top, so action is height-adjustable. This makes them way easier to keep functional as the rubber compresses over time and/or the bass changes with climate zone shifts..

Repairs included: It, of course, got the whole conversion process (all done by Jose except for a bridge made by me and some wiring work), a neck reset, a level/dress of the frets, and a proper setup. It has older roundound strings on it (we like rounds on these as they both are less likely to unwind from improper install at the tuners and because the sound is a little punchier and bouncier) and is playing spot-on and ready to go.

• Weight: 4 lbs 0 oz
• Scale length: 24 1/4"
• Nut width: 1 5/8"
• Neck shape: medium D
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 55/64"
• Depth at seventh fret: 15/16"
• Body width: 13 3/8"
• Body depth: 4"
• Body wood: ply birch
• Bridge: adjustable rubber-saddle
• Fretboard: maple
• Neck wood: poplar
• Pickups: 1x Alnico lipstick single coil
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32" bass to 1/16" treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 100w-45w or similar
• Truss rod: non-adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium/low

Condition notes: It has modifications, of course! Other than the stuff mentioned above, there's mild-medium wear and tear to the finish in small scratches, nicks, dings, and scuffs. There's a tiny chipout of the top veneer near the jack and finish that has simply been rubbed-off along some of the back edges.

It comes with: Sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: MULK