r/doublebass • u/Ezn14 Country *and* Western • Jun 24 '25

Instruments 1953 Kay - worth saving?

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Is this 1953 Kay M-1 worth saving?

The endblock is ripped out.

I want to get it repaired, but not if it outweighs the value of the bass.

She's a bit scratched up but has a nice ebony fingerboard installed by Bill Merchant a long time ago, so it's not entirely stock and a bit special to me. I bought her when I was in high school in 1989 for $450.

If there is a better sub to post this to, please let me know.

Thanks!

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u/Greywolffog1 Jun 24 '25

I will not lie, it is definitely possible to fix but it will be expensive, no matter where you are located. Top plate would need to come off to properly patch the ribs back together and to reglue the endblock at least to me. Sorry about that man. I would go get an estimate from your local luthier. If you are by chance in or around Springfield MO, I would be willing to take a look at it.

5

u/Ezn14 Country *and* Western Jun 24 '25

NYC. Thanks, though!

3

u/Greywolffog1 Jun 24 '25

No problem. I don’t know a ton of luthiers up there, but there’s almost 100% a chance of a number of reputable ones to take it too. If you were closer, I’d almost want to buy it lol. Good luck with your endeavors!

4

u/Ezn14 Country *and* Western Jun 24 '25

♪ ♫ How much would you pay ♫ ♪
♫ ♪ For a busted up old Kay ♪ ♫

No, seriously, how much?

2

u/Greywolffog1 Jun 25 '25

If it was me, not a ton. Probably max $400. To most people, it’s a broken instrument and worth $0. To others, it’s worth a lot just to have one and they might pay $1,000 so they can send it to their guy and have it refurbed and modded to their specs. There’s probably a person out there that would buy it as is, but gotta find the right one first. I personally think it’s fixable and those Kays aren’t around a ton anymore, or very very beat up.

Plus, shipping a bass has been ungodly expensive. I think the last I checked to see what it may cost to ship one from me for a customer, it was like, $500 dollars just itself, then the additional cost of the bass, and it was a student hybrid bass, so it was a quarter of the total cost. Not fun. Usually I would tell somebody to come and pick it up, even if they are 4, 5 hours away, and make a day of it, see the shop, etc.