Vintage Guitar and Bass forum

Help with identification (please)

Help with identification (please)
« on: February 19, 2011, 06:43:47 PM »
Hi all,
New to the forum but I wonder is anyone can help with an identification issue I have?

Back when I was knee high to a grass hopper (late 60's early 70's) my dear late dad bought me a Bass guitar, "probably at great expense to him in those days" and though having fun bashing out a few notes and playing along with early Status Quo LP's I never really learned to play. Anyway, through the 70's and into the 80's I bought a KAY strat copy and at some point a Yamaha 12 string. for some time they adorned the wall of my bedroom as icons of my youth, then at some point I made the mistake of storing them in the shed when I was short of space only to find a year or two ago that they had not slept as well as we all have come to know that "Sleeping Beauty" did, so instead of waking from the shed as a perfectly groomed pair of instruments they look very sad. Since then they has hung daily on the wall of my office if only to shame me every time I look at them.

So now onto the question .......

Sorry about the mix of BASS and Lead but rather than post twice ..

I want to make peace with my instruments and attempt a restore and despite going up and down the Internet I'm unable to match either the Bass or the KAY to any specific Make (in respect of the Bass) or model (re: the KAY).

The Bass has a model No. on the head but I can find nothing to match on the Internet.

As for the KAY, I have found only a single look-alike here Similar KAY but otherwise nothing found.

I expect the value is not great but for sentimental reasons I don't mind investing on a few new parts (or should I go for a re chrome option, not sure if that's viable?)...          

If I can find the make/models then maybe I can find a good source of parts to rebuild the two of them (though probably for memory sake more than to play ..but who knows!) ...

About a year ago I bought a Epiphone Les Paul Studio, a Bismark Electro Acoustic and just last week a PRS SE Custom 24 and thanks to the Internet and some great beginner lessons I'm making progress at playing a bit even now after all this time.

So if anyone can help with comments on source of info on my girls, it would be appreciated.

The link to some pictures .. yes I agree "how could I have done it to them?

Laurie.

eb2

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Help with identification (please)
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2011, 05:49:43 PM »
The bass is a late 60s to early 70s Japanese made copy (to be kind) of a Jazz bass. It is in line with the Teisco stuff.  They came with different names, depending on who imported them.  They were sold in the US as Teisco, Silvertone, and through different dept stores.  The Kay is a late 70s to early 80s Japanese made Strat copy.  There is no real source for replacement parts - some low end parts will fit but are actually better quality than what they had.  If they have gotten wet - the neck on the bass looks really bad - they need a lot of work.  Since they were wall hangers for a long time, clean them up and re-hang them.  They can be fixed up, but the bass at least will be a dog no matter what you do.  I would suggest wire-brushing and Naval Jelly for the hardware (kid gloves with the pickup cover).  You could check a jewelry shop or an auto-body(panel beater) place for plating options.  A car polish buffing compound will clean up the finish (that is what guitar factories use).  It will be a labor of love of course, as they are not worth anything. I understand the effort for sentiment though.  You could find parts on ebay, or even whole new to you guitars and basses for short money.  Good luck!
boom

Help with identification (please)
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2011, 11:04:37 AM »
@eb2 ......

Thanks so much for your assistance the names should help with further identification. I agree that the value is sentimental only but I'm one of those that just needs to hold on to things "forever" (probably why I have 10 motorbikes, 4 other motor vehicles and I forget how many hedge-cutters) and now 6 guitars and 3 amps :-D

The one thing that threw me for the strat was the pick guard with 12 screw holes and most I can find have a maximum of 11 so I guess my option would as you say buy a cheap supermarket strat and swap the bright-work/hardware to the Kay for display purpose.

No matter what I will enjoy the memories that I often relate to them.

My thanks again.

Laurie.

 

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