08/08/2026
NEW ARRIVAL! A 1940 Selmer Kay O-127 double bass that features laminate construction with premium spruce top veneer, maple back/side veneer, and maple neck/scroll. This bass is excellent condition and it carries the original varnish, original rosewood fittings, the original white binding around the f-holes, the original rosewood tailpiece with silver plated SK badge, and the original Selmer Kay engraved Kluson tuning machines also plated in silver. This rare model was only made during the 1940 production year, and fewer than 100 units are estimated to have been produced. You will likely never find a cleaner version of this model!
The business relationship between H&A Selmer and Kay only lasted for a few years between 1937 to around 1941, and output of Selmer-branded instruments is very low. The partnership between the two instrument companies was driven by a classic business alignment: Selmer needed a domestic manufacturer to supply high-demand instruments they could not produce themselves, while Kay possessed the industrial capacity to build high-end custom orders for major distributors. During the 1930s swing era, the double bass skyrocketed in popularity as big bands and jazz ensembles replaced traditional tubas with string basses. H. & A. Selmer (primarily known as a woodwind and brass company) wanted to capitalize on this boom by adding upright basses and cellos to their catalog. Rather than building an expensive string-instrument factory from scratch, they chose to outsource production via an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) agreement.
https://www.bassviolinshop.com/product-page/selmer-kay-o-127-1940
