Parts, Repair & Upgrades:  Bridges

Parts, Repair & Upgrades:  Endpins

Parts, Repair & Upgrades:  Manufacturer Logo Badges

Parts, Repair & Upgrades:  Necks and Fingerboards

Parts, Repair & Upgrades:  Nuts and Saddles

Parts, Repair & Upgrades:  Tailpieces and Tailpiece Cable

Parts, Repair & Upgrades:  Tuning Machines

Upright Bass Bridges:  Adjustable Bridges

Upright Bass Bridges:  Fixed (Solid) Bridges

Parts: Things to repair/rehab/rebuild a Kay Bass

Manufactured by: Gollihur Buyer's Guide

Parts for Repair or Restoration of a Kay Bass
A Special "Buyer's Guide" from Bob and Mark

If you're piecing together an old Kay bass, you're probably going to need a few things. Here is a collection of parts from Engelhardt (the company who continued building the same basses after Kay closed up shop) and others - this list puts everything we have in one place, and should make your repair or restoration a little easier!

The Choices:

• Replacement Nut: Nice, pre-shaped ebony Nut to replace your worn or miscut nut.
  
• Replacement Nut: Ebony saddke to replace your damaged or missing saddle.
  
• Tailgut Selection: Several options, including adjustable nylon, stranded steel and Kevlar.
  
• Kay Tailpiece Badge: Some Kay basses came with a name badge on the front of the tailpiece - this nicely-made reproduction item adds that nice touch to your bass!
  
• Replacement Volutes (Scrolls): Kays generally have the scrolls carved seperately carved and added to the pegbox; this set of replacements will help you out if you're missing one (or both). May need some slight modification, depending on the year of your bass.
  
• Kay Stock Endpin: The original, 1/2" steel endpin; we carry both the complete assembly (with the collar), as well as the replacement endpin shaft alone. Includes the rubber cap to cover the point.
  
• Fixed Bass Bridge: These standard "fixed" bridges are made of a high grade of densely-grained maple. A worthy upgrade to (often inferior) stock bridges. ¾ size fits most standard Kay models.
  
• Jatoba Tailpiece: For the models which came with rosewood bridges and fingerboards, these Jatoba (aka Brazilian Cherry) tailpieces are the modern equivalent (rosewood is now considered endangered)...
  
• Adjustable Bass Bridge: Adjustable bridges let you adjust the action for different styles of play, and fine-tune the string height to meet your personal needs! A free set of Gollihur Music instructions for installing your new bridge is included. ¾ size fits most standard Kay models.
  
• Jatoba and Ebony Fingerboards: These Jatoba (aka Brazilian Cherry) and Ebony fingerboards are made by Engelhardt for their 3/4 size basses. They will fit Kay and Engelhardt basses, or may be modified for other instruments or projects...
  
• Tuning Machines: Standard Tuning Machines made in Germany! Available in sets of four single machines, or two to a side on plates. Plated machines fit our necks, below - may require some "filling and re-drilling" on some Kay necks, depending on the year.
  
• Tuning Machines: These 3/4 size hard maple necks are made by Engelhardt for their basses, and can be used for your Kay/Engelhardt restoration. Dovetails changed over the years, so some shimming may be neccessary - but they fit most Kay models with little modification.
  

String Set: Pirastro Passione Upright Bass Strings

Pirastro's new Passione strings are ideal for orchestral players, featuring outstanding bowability and full, warm tone...

Charles Mingus - More Than a Play-Along (Book + CD)

This 64-page book, with 2 CDs, is more than a play-along - includes anectdotes, performance notes, rare photos, commentary and more...

New Orleans Classics - Book with Play-Along CD

Perfect renditions of a typical New Orleans "set list" - with and without bass, so you can play along! Includes solo charts along with two accompaniment CDs...

LR Baggs Gigpro Single-Channel Belt-pack Preamp

The Gigpro is a compact, yet feature-rich belt-pack preamplifier for all acoustic instruments from Upright Bass to guitar to violin...

LR Baggs Venue DI - Preamp Pedal with Built-in Tuner

The new Venue DI puts a ton of useful upright bass features at your feet... a full-featured preamp and DI with EQ, Notch Filter, Phase Control, Effects Loop, Boost Control and Electronic Tuner into a small, road-worthy pedal unit...

LR Baggs Para DI Acoustic Preamp/DI with EQ and Notch Filter

The classic and high quality Para DI Preamp/Direct Box offers a powerful combination of frequency tunable EQ controls, Notch filter, Phase Inversion, Effects Loop and more...

Folding Stand for Double Bass: Hercules SD590B

This portable, sturdy bass stand is a great choice onstage or in your home! Pro quality, elegant design...

David Gage Realist SoundClip Upright Bass Pickup

The NEW David Gage Realist SoundClip can help bring your sound to each and every bass you play. The unique transportability and high quality, variable sound is a breath of fresh air in the bass world...

Bluegrass Bass with Mark Schatz - Two DVD Set (Beginner and Intermediate)

A wonderful instructional DVD set for learning and developing skills on Upright Bass in the Bluegrass style...

U-Bass Electric-Acoustic Bass Ukelele from Kala (UBass)

Kala hit one out of the park with its U-Bass, a ukelele-like bass instrument with a quick short scale and booming response that will make anyone do a triple take when hearing it...

Upright Bass Padded Bag 1/2 and 1/4 size

We often get asked for bags with 1/2 and 1/4 sized options; we've found a good one, with lots of great features and at a good price, too!

NXT 4 and 5 String Electric Upright Basses by NS Design

The NXT Series instruments are the same design as the popular WAV4 Bass, but are made in NS Design's top notch Czech factory. Nothing even comes close in this price range...

The Acoustic Bass, Musicianship & Improvisational Techniques (DVD) w/ Gary Peacock

One of the great jazz bassists of our time shares the technical and improvisational ideas he has developed during the course of his brilliant 45-year career...

Acoustic Image Ten2 (2x10) Combo Amplifier

The BRAND NEW Ten2 Combo is an amazingly compact 2x10 with 800 watts and a classic AI preamp...
• 800w • 17Hx15W (round) • less than 28 lbs.

Plastic Hard Case for NS Design Bass Instruments

We searched high and low for a more affordable hard case for the NS Design Bass lineup (NS Design makes a wonderful ATA-Rated case, but it's pretty pricey). Here's our answer...

Acoustic Image Coda+ Combo Amplifier

The NEW Acoustic Image Coda+ now packs 800 watts and features the new Cabrio Docking System...
• 800w • 11.5Hx15W (round) • less than 20 lbs.

Adjustable Folding Performance Chair / Stool for Upright Bass

We've been looking for some time for a portable rehearsal/performance seat that is adjustable for bassists - but not too heavy, bulky, or complicated. Here it is...

Acoustic Image Ten2 EX Speaker Cabinet

The BRAND NEW Ten2 EX Speaker Cabinet is an amazingly compact dual 10" cabinet that is suitable for all instruments...
• 14Hx15W (round) • less than 23 lbs.

Meisel COM-90 Clip On Electronic Musical Instrument Tuner COM90

Our newest tuner features a flexible gooseneck for the display, and includes a color-changing display to indicate that you're in tune and a built-in mic for tuning non-vibrational instruments...

TB100 Dyna-Bass Combo Amplifier (formerly DB100)

We've long searched for a lower-priced amplifier that works well for upright, electric, and electric acoustic basses. Here it is! Eminence driver, real plywood (no MDF!), good sound for URB and "slab" bass...