This is an original Kay Jazz Special Bass K5970J (includes original Leatherette Bag) made in Chicago in the summer of 1960. And is one of only a few hundred.
To hear the K5970J Jazz Special Bass being played by Sir Paul McCartney go to Video “Ebony and Ivory” with Stevie Wonder. This bass was also on the cover of Paul McCartney’s 45rpm single “Jet”, featured in the Top of the Pops video for "Junior's Farm" and was used in the 60’s surf hit “Wipeout”. It is rumored that the Jazz Bass was exclusively used to record Wings album "Red Rose Speedway".
Original Kay Electric Bass Guitars made before 1962 are very collectible and have a history of being highly regarded by studio and recording artists. The Jazz Special Bass was made for only 2 years and is the rarest and most sought after of the Kay electric bass guitars made in the 1950’s and 1960’s. The K5970J electric bass had very limited production and was only manufactured from 1960 through 1962.
This K5970J Jazz Special Bass Guitar has Legendary Blade designed Kay pickup, the pickguard is unique luncheonette counter top white with gold stranded flecks, separate volume and tone controls, trapeze tailpiece and rosewood bridge.
Features: 3-D raised Semi or ‘Half Kel-von-a-tor’ Chevron logo on the crown and is designed in the classic "art deco” style of the 50’s. The headstock is “extra large” “boat paddle” design. Includes the original leatherette “gig bag”. This instrument was purchased as a prototype to create the reissue version, has not been played and remained in the case for the past few years. This is a collectable instrument that needs to be played and appreciated by a serious professional electric bass guitar player.
This original collector’s bass was purchased on eBay 6 years ago as a design prototype template to reproduce the Kay Reissue K5970V Jazz Special Electric Bass Guitar (kayvintagereissue.com). This limited edition Jazz Special Electric Bass was used for the reproduction specifications, creation of parts, assembly and original design. Production of the K5970V reissue is now in commercial production. This original K5970J Jazz Special Bass Guitar has been stored in it's case in the Kay Guitar R & D department, and was only brought out for display at NAMM shows.
A little history:
The original Jazz Special Electric Bass headstock was enormous (124mm wide by 228 long : 3-D Raised Emblem; 77mm wide by 130mm high) and was known as the “boat paddle headstock”.
Kay’s Chicago production team’s reason for making the extra large headstock was to accommodate large open geared cloverleaf bass machine heads and needed room to mount the “art deco" Kel-von-a-tor Chevron. This was a challenge in making the Kay Reissues and needed to address, and a design change was made. While Kay’s production team wanted to do a reissue that was true to the original form, some elements where not worth repeating like no adjustable neck rod, which required a clubbier neck to prevent warping, some of the bridges were not the best designs and needed to be modified, the finishes needed to be more user environmentally friendly and practical. So the changes were minor and all the “good” stuff was reproduced and upgraded with today’s technology. The shape, style, internal construction, woods, pickups, tailpiece, knobs, pick guards, inlays, switches, bridges and Kel-von-a-tor chevron had to be like the original but improved for today’s player.
An interesting collector’s note:
When preparing the long range Kay Vintage Reissue production, the chief project luthier Roger Fritz and the production engineers decided the plastic Kay emblem needed to be reduced by at least 15% in order to prevent headstock problems. The newly designed chevron is 64mm wide by 111mm high, which meant they could not be used on the originals, which helps identify the reissues from the 1950’s-60’s models.
The Kay K5970J original Jazz Special Bass had very limited production of less than 500 made worldwide and came in 2 finishes.
This bass has the original bag and comes packed in a modern hard shell wood case.
This Jazz Special Bass has all the original parts and is in great shape for an instrument that over 55 years old. This can be added to a collection or played out of the box with minor personal adjustments.
Sale Notes: Some small numbers scribed on back of headstock into paint only - not into the wood - can be easily touched up by a professional. Also note; 2 small filled holes where, what might have been, a string mute (?).
Also a small nick/ding on front-just into the paint. Once again, very easy fix. All binding intact shows signs of minor wear on cut-a-ways. Back of bass is in great shape. Sounds AWESOME!!!.
Frets are also in great shape. Only one available, we no longer need this bass for production and are selling it for our initial investment expense.
$99.00 S&H Includes: Shipping, Handling, Packaging, Insurance and International CITES Permit.
