The Short-Scale Bass is a versatile and wonderful instrument. It packs enough punch to be used as a part of a bassist’s gigging set-up. Its shorter scale (anywhere from the super duper short 25 7/8″ of the Valco/National/Supro/Airline pocket basses, to the 30″ of the classic Fender Mustangs and Musicmasters) makes it comfortable to play for beginners, small-handed adults and guitar players more familiar with guitar scale. Plus, a lot of very cool ones have been made over the years.
1960's Kent Short Scale Bass Guitar
Enter exhibit A: A late 60’s KENT short scale variation on the very popular (then and now) “Beatle” violin shaped bass. As you can see from the photos, this isn’t your average violin bass. While many, from the classic Hofner that Paul McCartney turned a few kids on to, to the Teisco and Black Jack Japanese models, didn’t stray far from the violin shape, this Kent takes a few attractive and stylish liberties with the standard template.
While clearly inspired by the violin basses, notice the cool horn flares and the distinct cut aways. Also of note on this model is a stunning triple (TRIPLE!) bound side and a highly figured and eye-catching sunburst on the back (!?) side.
1960's Kent Short Scale Bass Guitar
This, like many (most?) Kents has a history that’s a little difficult to trace. This one is from 1967 or 1968 and was probably made at the Kawai factory. Some sources also credit the earlier slab bodied models to Guyatone and/or Teisco. A tangled web they weaved, these Kents.
Also of note about Kents is that both the amps and guitars vary wildly from model to model – perhaps more so than any other brand from the era. They made some truly crappy guitars (the slab body models mentioned above among them. Most I’ve seen, actually, are low-grade crude one pickup models with very little to recommend them as players or collectables). Yet, they made beauties like this and many other higher-end semi-hollowbodies. And while most of the Kent amps I’ve ever seen are the basic three and four tube crapboxes without Power Transformers (i.e., ones you don’t want to play barefoot on a cement floor with a moisture problem), there are a couple of models that are very sweet. These include a 2 EL84 output model with tremolo and a single 12″ speaker in a primitive basket-weave faux-tweed (or, paper, if you want to be exact-ha), and a REALLY cool piggyback model (with single 12″ cab). They may not be collectable, but their cool factor is very high and no one wants them, so they can be had on the cheap (which, for the frugal tone gourmet, only increases the cool factor).
1960's Kent Short Scale Bass Guitar
Back to the bass at hand, though. This model has a zero fret and plays really well up the neck. With a good setup, these are truly sweet playing basses. If you were going to use it as your main bass, you’d probably want to get some higher-grade machine heads and also probably replace the pickups (which are pretty aenemic and flat sounding). However, the pickup covers are so radically cool, you’d probably want to find something that fit so you could put this beauty back to stock. No permanent mods on something this nice looking. For just looking and the odd recording bass and quieter(er) jams, leave it as-is.
1960's Kent Short Scale Bass Guitar
One thing to look out for (especially if buying via on line auction and/or through the mail): I’ve seen a few of these over the years and nearly half had a warped neck. The truss rods are not the most reliable, so ask questions and don’t pay too much if you have any hunch there might be something hinky about it.
Other nifty features: Dig the 60’s Japanese top-hat Tone and Volume knobs (with the stylish “T” and “V”), the funky script on the headstock and chunky block mother of toilet seat inlays on the neck.
1960's Kent Short Scale Bass Guitar
What does one of these cost? These are pretty rare and, as a result, they don”t show up on eBay or in music stores a whole lot. As a result, there seems to be more variation on the price- I’ve seen them go as low as $150 (not including shipping…which of course we never do include when discussing what we paid for a neat vintage guitar, right?) and as high as $450. There is a corresponding guitar model, so be the hep cat on your block and, like they used to say about Hot Wheels, “collect ’em all.” Happy hunting, yee vintage freaks.
That’s a beauty. I wrote you before, about guitars with no truss rod in neck. Its still in tune. mrj
I have a Kent bass exactly like that except mine does not have stars on it.
I have one of those as well, sans stars. No neck warpage here. It’s a beauty.
I have one just like this, except it is missing the bridge cover. Can anyone send me detailed pics or dimensions for this? I’m looking to make one.
The sunburst on the back is likely an indicator that someone stripped the front. The stars and the floral under the bridge also lead me to believe this. Mine does not have the floral. It does have mailbox stickers spelling “JAKE” Elvis style on the lower bout. I wonder who he was
Ge.: Strangely enough, I’ve had two more of these basses AND the matching guitar and they all had the same front and sunburst back (minus the stars and floral that are stickers…and only on this one…somebody put them on). All these Kents had the natural-looking front and the heavy sunburst back…so the front isn’t stripped. Odd, but true. Thanks for reading!
I have this same bass,but mine is sunburst on the front as well.Not sure of the value,but I saw the guitar version on ebay for $1500.00. Mine is almost mint except for stress cracks in the finish behind the bridge. Plays great and I love it!
most of the natural or blonde versions have sunburst backs
Nice to see pics of the model that was my first bass! Right color, too. Purchased brand new off the wall of Pequannock Music in May ’69 for the princely sum of $90. Came with a chipboard case. All you need is a coiled cord and you’re in business… 😉
I just purchased the guitar model of this tonight… what an awesome guitar! I’m just blown away… I can’t wait to fix it up as a player… It came with 20 year old strings which were half in tune, with a slight tuning before I set it down tonight, the thing didn’t sound half bad acoustic.
I’m stoked!
the Kent 800 Series are very good playing guitars, unfortunately their prices have shot up from $50.00 to nearly $300.00 (they used to sell new for $110.00 with case from 1967 thru 1970). I have three of the 820 Series, (the thin-hollow body Gibson ES-330-style but with cutaways like the Gibson EMS-1235 style of 1959). The mother-of-pearl inlays and binding work in these guitars is very impressive.
I have this Kent model 833 Bass, Kent model 834 6 string, Kent model 835 12 string, and the Kent model 836 mandolin. All of them are sunburst front & back, All of them are totally complete. The 6 & 12 string both have palm mutes. The 6 string has a Bigsby type vibrato bar. All of them have the “violin” shaped body. 7 ply binding around the top. 3 ply around the headstock. Mother of Pearl inlays in the headstock, and in the word “Kent” in the upper bout, and all with Mother of Pearl block inlays in the neck. Love lookin’ at them! Only the 12 string shows any checking. I’m planning on selling them as a collection. I think that this a deal where “THE WHOLE IS GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS”.
I played on of these all the way thru high school and would love to have another.
I cannot believe these made it this long. I bought mine in 65 at Dayton Band. Weak Pick ups but at the time I was not into politics in music so I followed McCartney. Guess Ill never get to England but that bass was on a couple demos. Older kids playing games got me to do one for a Chicago Band in 67 and supposedly one for a local dude with his new lyric old release by Sonny Flaherty. Miss not having the forethought of refitting this and my Goya Greco with that rosewood body with unusable parts. Fake email go ahead and ditch the post. Bye Lowe’s, Bruggeman and Blackburn. No harm intended but wish I could go back. Even a player from Ivan and the Sabres that dropped out before Green Tamberine ended up with a similar fate as my own. Keep on playing for those that know how.
I have a bass guitar very similar to this. The neck, pickups and bridge cover are identical to mine.however, mine is a true violin-bass shape with a yellow sunburst on both the front and back. I don’t know if it is a Kent, or silver tone or guyotone as it doesn’t have a name anywhere on it. Would really love to know its age and what it’s worth.