1961 Kay K5965 Pro Howlin' Wolf Vintage Hollowbody Bass Guitar Sunburst, 100% Original w/ Case, K162
$2,899.99
$2,899.99
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Up for sale, a 1961 Kay “Howlin’ Wolf” K5965 Pro bass in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original chipboard case. At the time of introduction of Leo Fender’s Precision Bass in 1951, Kay was the preeminent manufacturer of commercial-grade upright basses; as such, they (correctly) viewed the new electric market as both competition and opportunity, quickly becoming the second commercially successful electric bass manufacturer, with their own electric design hitting the market less than a year later. This K5965 is the direct descendant of that original Kay Electric Bass, featuring hollowbody construction, a single blade pickup, 30 1/2“ scale length, and a golden gloss Sunburst finish highlighting the curly maple figuring on the top and back.
Featuring a 15" wide fully hollow flame maple body paired with a maple neck and thick slab Brazilian rosewood fretboard, this traditional tonewood complement offers excellent note attack and fullness. The blade neck pickup delivers pillowy warmth and woody upper midrange, and the tone stays crisp with good definition when the Tone knob is rolled back. Playing near the bridge yields a tic-tac top end, and there’s a surprising amount of cut and brightness to the sound, far more so than typically afforded a fully hollow, neck pickup-equipped instrument. This K5965 Pro weighs 7lb 2oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 45-100 flatwound strings, easy-playing action, and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Maple
-Shape: Deep soft V, measuring 1.110” 1st fret, 1.225” 9th fret
-Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood slab, 10” radius
-Frets: Medium, no wear
-Scale Length: 30 1/2”
-Nut: 1 1/2”, bone
-Tuners: Kluson waffleback
-Headstock: Tortoise veneer, metal Kay badge
Body Specs:
-Wood: Flame maple
-Pickups: Blade single coil
-Controls: Volume, Tone
-Harness: Untouched solder, CTS and Stackpole pots date to 1960 and 1961
-Hardware: Brazilian rosewood bridge, trapeze tailpiece
-Plastics: “Cupcake” knobs
The gloss golden shaded Sunburst finish highlights the tight curly ripples of figuring in the maple, with one small area of vertical checking on the bass side on top. Cosmetic wear is limited to some faint buckle scuffing across the back, minor pick wear on top, and a few dings on the rest of the body. The gloss on the neck profile is smooth and clean.
The original two-tone chipboard case is included and equally as clean as the bass with functional latches and the original handle.
Featuring a 15" wide fully hollow flame maple body paired with a maple neck and thick slab Brazilian rosewood fretboard, this traditional tonewood complement offers excellent note attack and fullness. The blade neck pickup delivers pillowy warmth and woody upper midrange, and the tone stays crisp with good definition when the Tone knob is rolled back. Playing near the bridge yields a tic-tac top end, and there’s a surprising amount of cut and brightness to the sound, far more so than typically afforded a fully hollow, neck pickup-equipped instrument. This K5965 Pro weighs 7lb 2oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 45-100 flatwound strings, easy-playing action, and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Maple
-Shape: Deep soft V, measuring 1.110” 1st fret, 1.225” 9th fret
-Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood slab, 10” radius
-Frets: Medium, no wear
-Scale Length: 30 1/2”
-Nut: 1 1/2”, bone
-Tuners: Kluson waffleback
-Headstock: Tortoise veneer, metal Kay badge
Body Specs:
-Wood: Flame maple
-Pickups: Blade single coil
-Controls: Volume, Tone
-Harness: Untouched solder, CTS and Stackpole pots date to 1960 and 1961
-Hardware: Brazilian rosewood bridge, trapeze tailpiece
-Plastics: “Cupcake” knobs
The gloss golden shaded Sunburst finish highlights the tight curly ripples of figuring in the maple, with one small area of vertical checking on the bass side on top. Cosmetic wear is limited to some faint buckle scuffing across the back, minor pick wear on top, and a few dings on the rest of the body. The gloss on the neck profile is smooth and clean.
The original two-tone chipboard case is included and equally as clean as the bass with functional latches and the original handle.
