First of all, I'm not excited about selling this instrument, primarily because I have a collection of basses, and this one of the rarest and most valuable of all.
At some point, I'll probably regret selling it.
BTW, there is one other very rare member of my "bass family" I am selling, which is an Ernie Ball Earthwood Acoustic Bass Guitar.
It is also on Craigslist.
The Kay B-5 Bass Violin (AKA "Baby Bass" or "Jazz Cello"), is researched to have been produced by Kay from 1965-1967, and is undoubtedly one of the very rarest basses in the world.
First of all, there were only about 50-60 produced by Kay (no account of the exact number), and were the "brainchild" of World Renown Upright Jazz Bassist Ray Brown.
They were made using the 4/4 cello body, and with a slightly wider slab on a special neck with geared tuners resembling a down-sized bass fiddle headstock, as opposed to the conventional cello "peg-tuner"-style headstock.
There was even a vinyl LP by Ray Brown showing him with the white one Kay made for him, released on the Verve Label (V6-8390), and a pristine copy of the LP goes with this sale.
Incidentally, these units can still be strung as, and played as, a cello, if desired.
This B-5 Baby Bass I am selling is Serial Number 52115, and is one of only a veryu few known-of and registered on the Kaybass.
com website.
According to the research I have done, many of the B-5s have not survived, as the earlier production did not receive beefed-up bracing that was needed to withstand the extra strain of the bass strings, and thus the bodies warped at, and around, the bridge area.
Some were reported to have actually "caved in".
This one I am selling obviously had the proper bracing, as it is in immaculate physical, as well as cosmetic, condition.
I dare say you wouldn't find a better one (and most likely, anywhere as fine) for sale, especially considering how few were made, and, as mentioned, that many didn't survive.
Also, this B-5 Baby Bass has spent most of it's life in a top-line heavy duty SKB case, which goes with this bass.
I will accept cash only for personal pickup.
If shipping is desired, I will accept a check or MO, as long as you understand that I will not ship the bass until my bank assures me that the check or MO has cleared.
I DO have a PayPal account, so that is another option.
You can reach me through the Craigslist "Reply" button (at the top of this page) either by email or by telephone.
To phone, call Tom @ eight28-six93-nine867.
Please note: I DO NOT TEXT.
Thanks for looking !
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