Kays and the like..

[Ken Smith]

Most people know that I'm a big fan of the older carved Basses but a few weeks ago a Kay was brought in as a partial Trade for one of my Basses. Even though it needed some major repairs the charm was just irresistible. I have seen a few Kays over the years and even sold one or two but have rarely played them. Now out of the blue I have this 1942 Kay in great condition awaiting its restoration. See here; http://www.kensmithbasses.com/double...kay/index.html

[Dwight McCartney]

Now how cool is that? A scrawny-necked rattlesnake bass!

[Ken Smith]

[Steve Killingsworth]

Ken Smith with a Kay bass! A sure sign of the apocalypse.

[Ron Lacey]

It's pretty common to see a rattlesnake rattle put inside instruments used in bluegrass and old-time music. I believe that Bill Monroe had one in his famous Loar mandolin and you see them in a lot of old fiddles. I've never seen nor heard of one in a bass and that's a pretty good sized rattle (and corresponding snake), appropriate to the size of the instrument. There are various theories as to why, one being that the snake essence will keep mice and other vermin from nesting inside your fiddle or it helps capture some mojo associate with poisonous reptiles. My personal belief is that they're put in there because we've always put them in there. BG and old-time musicians are nothing if not traditional. As long as the rest of the snake is not included I'm OK with it.

[Dwight McCartney]

Yep, I think the fiddler in Cold Mountain had one.

[Charles Arms]

Originally Posted by Ron Lacey

. . . As long as the rest of the snake is not included I'm OK with it.

Having grown up in East Tennessee and had a few encounters with the Eastern Timber variety, I would have to whole-heartedly agree.

Cool bass though, I am eager to see it after having gotten the KS red carpet makeover.