Maude Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 (edited) This is a thread I started a few months ago as a NBD, but as usual it's turned into something more suited to the Build Diaries section. So here it is 😁. I bought an Epiphone acoustic guitar today for a workmates daughter, and while I was chatting to the seller he said he had an old 80s bass that needed some sorting. We'd spoke about fixing up cheap old gear and he thought it would be right up my street, and I was welcome to it if I wanted it, as it was just in the way. We met at his workplace (a really cool place that makes vintage pressed number plates, full of really old machinery BTW 😎) so he didn't have it with him but he said he send some pictures. Well he just has and it's an old Kay version of the 80s Aria SB/Westone Thunder type of bass. Natural wood, neck through PJ, active electrics by the look of the switching. I've been after a bass in this style for a while and am over the moon with his offer. I'll pick it up in the week hopefully, and give him something for it anyway. Bored yet? Yes? OK, pictures then. Any info about these basses gratefully received. Plywood wings and presumably heavy as hell. I'll update when I've got it. 🙂👍 Edited January 2, 2022 by Maude 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 Plywood? Looks like pine. I'd say it's passive, 2 vols, 2 tones and a switch like a Les Paul. It reminds me of some Ekos from that era. Nice catch. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 (edited) Think @Reggaebass had something similar a while back... thru neck... and those fret markers jog my memmory - brass? Found It... Edited August 22, 2021 by PaulThePlug 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 They aren’t ply, and yours still has the truss rod cover which is normally missing , solid brass nut and brass dot markers ,not sure if the knobs are original, nice 👍 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 They sound seriously good Maude 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted August 22, 2021 Author Share Posted August 22, 2021 Yeah looking at it more it's not ply. I looked at all the lines on the front and thought ply, but the grain on the back is obvious it's not. D'oh! 🙄 Bridge looks a bit new and generic, and I agree the knobs are replacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted August 22, 2021 Author Share Posted August 22, 2021 5 minutes ago, Reggaebass said: They sound seriously good Maude The J pickup looks very close to the bridge, there should be plenty of nasal bark. How playable are they? Reasonable, or the standard Kay terribleness? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 2 minutes ago, Maude said: The J pickup looks very close to the bridge, there should be plenty of nasal bark. How playable are they? Reasonable, or the standard Kay terribleness? They are very well made basses, and play surprisingly good, the pickups are quite powerful and they balance well 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted August 22, 2021 Author Share Posted August 22, 2021 I'm looking at the pictures and wondering what sort cavalier, off the wall, eccentric decided the darker strip of wood shouldn't go in the middle 🤔🤣. Maybe it's aged that way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
such Posted August 22, 2021 Share Posted August 22, 2021 Love it! Looks quality despite certain corners cut. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 @MaudeDidnt you have a Cruiser By Crafter P on the go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 It's a rebranded Cort, passive, loud, punchy pickups (called 'PowerSound') and no plywood anywhere. These were great quality Korean-made budget instruments from about 1980, easily up to the standard of many similar Japanese basses of the era. 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 I've said it too many times before, but my first bass was a Kay - it was one of their Rick copies, and it was absolutely awful. But when I first saw one of these, back in around 1980 / 81? - I could tell immediately that these basses were way way better quality than my old Kay. In fact, there were quite a few around for sale back then, and I often pondered getting one, but never did. Since my return to playing, I have occasionally thought about getting one of these. I always liked the look of them - the shape, the colours of the different wood types, the through neck construction, and brass hardware. It all looks rather lovely. Looks like you have a real bargain there - nice 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 I know you like a restoration Maude and I think you will thoroughly enjoy doing this one, they are definitely gigable and the P pickup sounds really nice, my one is to my knowledge all original, if you need any pics of anything just shout 🙂 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 Ooh, I like the look of that. Cool score. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 I've seen these with several different names on the headstock. They all seem to be well built. If it's a freebie the most it will cost you is petrol money. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted August 23, 2021 Author Share Posted August 23, 2021 9 hours ago, PaulThePlug said: @MaudeDidnt you have a Cruiser By Crafter P on the go? What haven't I got on the go!? 😆 I do have far too many nearly finished projects, and a couple barely started. I bought the Cruiser because it was on my route to work and £20. I don't really know what I'm going to do with it, but something will happen in the future. I like the look of the Warman quad rail pickups and may put one or two of them in it for a laugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted August 23, 2021 Author Share Posted August 23, 2021 7 hours ago, TheGreek said: If it's a freebie the most it will cost you is petrol money. I'll give him something for it as it's only right. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 9 hours ago, TheGreek said: I've seen these with several different names on the headstock. They all seem to be well built. Cort made literally dozens of variations on the same through-neck, triple brass dot inlay template. There's even a twin-neck guitar! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted August 23, 2021 Author Share Posted August 23, 2021 57 minutes ago, Bassassin said: Cort made literally dozens of variations on the same through-neck, triple brass dot inlay template. There's even a twin-neck guitar! Hmm that looks lightweight 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted August 24, 2021 Share Posted August 24, 2021 Another one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/194302301723?hash=item2d3d51d61b:g:~v8AAOSwEsthIOV7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted August 24, 2021 Author Share Posted August 24, 2021 5 minutes ago, TheGreek said: Another one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/194302301723?hash=item2d3d51d61b:g:~v8AAOSwEsthIOV7 Has someone been digging up a beach with that one? 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted August 24, 2021 Share Posted August 24, 2021 3 hours ago, TheGreek said: Another one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/194302301723?hash=item2d3d51d61b:g:~v8AAOSwEsthIOV7 Good god that's squalid. You'd think they'd at least hose it down before taking pics. 🤢 On 22/08/2021 at 21:10, PaulThePlug said: Think @Reggaebass had something similar a while back... thru neck... and those fret markers jog my memmory - brass? Found It... No idea how I missed @Reggaebass' thread, this sort of thing being of interest to me - and it's a pity I did, because I think I've got a brass Kay trc at the bottom of a spares draw somewhere! 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted August 25, 2021 Share Posted August 25, 2021 9 hours ago, Bassassin said: I think I've got a brass Kay trc at the bottom of a spares draw somewhere That would be fantastic if you have Bassassin, it was the only thing missing on my one, no problem if you haven’t, thank you 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted August 25, 2021 Share Posted August 25, 2021 6 hours ago, Reggaebass said: That would be fantastic if you have Bassassin, it was the only thing missing on my one, no problem if you haven’t, thank you 🙂 Just had a quick look and it's not where I thought it would be. I think a few things got misplaced in a house move a few years back but it should be around somewhere. I'll have a proper root around & let you know if I manage to flush it out! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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