by Michael Ambrose » Sun Sep 28, 2008 3:43 pm
There's only one part you're wrong on, Steve, and thats the value... hahaha...
These are going for RIDICULOUS amounts on Ebay right now... I'm watching them go for upwards of 12-1500 (which is killing me, because I'm DYING to get my hands on one). Kay is also currently re-issuing them (as well as other period Kay jazzboxes) via Fritz Bros guitars.
This is what is known as the "Howlin Wolf Bass," as one of the Wolf's bassist was known for playing one of these. PHENOMINAL bass... marketed alongside their "Jimmy Reed" Twin Thin.
Interesting to note, this is the first of these models I've seen without the "Kelvinator" headstock (which was a large, ornate plastic overlay vaguely resembling a 1950's refrigerator). I have, however, seen Twin Thins with similar unadorned headstock, branded with either the Old Kraftsman or True Tone emblems...
VERY interesting!