1960s Kay K5113 000-Size Rubber Bridge Electric Bass Conversion

Overview: A customer left this old K5113 for sale sometime back and, when looking at it and its narrower nut, my immediate thought was, "let's rubber-bridge bass it!" So, that's done, now -- and it's great!

The bigger 000-size body with its solid spruce top has a nice, warm sound that would immediately be just as useful mic'd for recording "acoustic bass" parts and, of course, sounds excellent (like most of these rubber-saddle basses) plugged-in. That plugged-in sound is a lot like a Hofner but with a more marimba-like, upright-like bounce in the mids and highs and shorter sustain. The rubber saddle configuration keeps intonation good up and down the neck and it's harder to put a "pocket bass" instrument like this out of tune just by fretting with it.

Repairs included: Molly leveled and dressed the frets and I did the rest -- modded the headstock and nut to 4-tuner configuration, fit the pickup, tailpiece, and wiring harness, and fit the rubber saddle to the top of the old bridge.

• Weight: 4 lbs 3 oz
• Scale length: 25 3/4"
• Nut width: 1 5/8"
• Neck shape: medium soft V
• Board radius: 10"
• Depth at first fret: 0.97"
• Depth at seventh fret: 0.99"
• Body width: 15"
• Body depth: 4"
• Body wood: solid spruce top, ply mahogany back/sides
• Bridge: rubber saddle over rosewood
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: poplar
• Pickups: 1x lipstick single coil
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32" bass 1/16" treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 95w-35w extra light
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium-low

Condition notes: It has its share of mild wear and tear to the finish here and there. Obviously, we've modified it, too. Still, the finish looks nice and it's converted-over elegantly.

It comes with: Sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: JKEN