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Kay K162

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This product is Vintage or Discontinued

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Page last updated Aug 10, 2025

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Description

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Kay model K162 Hollowbody bass.

The K162 was introduced in 1952, closely following Leo Fender’s groundbreaking 1951 Precision Bass, but with a completely different – fully hollow – design. The K162 was the world’s second electric bass, and the first electric hollowbody bass. The K162 became the K5695 in 1959. The primary difference between the two seems to be the colour of the pickup support, control plate, and headplate. The earlier K162 models used a ‘firestripe’ faux tortoise material, while the K5695 seem to use a less dramatic faux-tortoise headplate and creme plastic pickup support and control plate. These basses were discontinued in 1966.

The K162 and K5695 are popularly known as “The Howlin Wolf Bass”, because Andrew “Blueblood” McMahon used one in the incredibly popular Howlin’ Wolf band

Videos

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MelodyMusic - Don A

Kay bass K162 from 1950's

MelodyMusic - Don A

Kay K-162

Bernunzio Uptown Music

Comparison of 6 vintage basses: Kay K162 & EB-100, Burns, Harley Benton, Krunk 75, Mambo Defil

mk is watoo

Kay K-162 bass (1954)

snakehips81

Kay Vintage Reissue K162 Electric Pro Bass

Gregor Fris

Reviews

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Kay K162.

Build quality

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The nut is resin instead of the expected bone, and the pickup surround is creamy off-white instead of tortoise-shell on the honey sunburst model.
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Some soldered connections appear messy, with a ground wire slightly loose at the volume pot, indicating potential need for re-soldering.
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Features and functionality

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The two-way selector switch may not function as intended; it bypasses the tone pot but sounds similar to the tone pot turned up.
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Setup and maintenance

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Action is described as nimble with a low string height and no rough fret edges, although the D string's intonation is slightly off at the 12th-14th frets.
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Use cases and applications

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The semi-hollow body makes the Kay K162 quite loud acoustically, suitable for unplugged practice sessions.
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Critic Reviews

Kay K162 Pro Bass Review - Premier Guitar

premierguitar.com

The Kay K162 Pro Bass is a charming throwback that beautifully marries vintage aesthetics with modern playability. Its semi-hollow design offers a rich, resonant tone that excels both unplugged and through an amp, making it a versatile addition to any collection. The setup is impressive right out of the box, and features like a truss rod and adjustable bridge enhance its usability for contemporary players. However, it does have quirks, such as some internal noise and a tendency for strings to pop out under heavy playing. If you're after a vintage vibe with reliable performance, this bass delivers, but those seeking a strictly modern sound might want to look elsewhere.

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Elvis Costello

Singer, Guitarist

Elvis Costello & The Imposters

Verified via Otago Daily Times Online News

Elvis Costello is pictured with his vintage Kay K162 bass in an article by Otago Daily Times. The Kay K162, introduced in 1952, is notable for being the world’s first electric hollowbody bass and only the second electric bass ever made, following the Fender Precision Bass. This model was initially known as the K162 before being rebranded as the K5695 in 1959, with minor design changes. Often referred to as "The Howlin’ Wolf Bass," it gained popularity through Andrew “Blueblood” McMahon of the Howlin’ Wolf band.

Payam Doostzadeh

Bassist

Young the Giant

Verified via reverb.com

Listed for sale on Reverb.com.

From YTG: Payam used this bass to record the song “Firelight” on the album Mind Over Matter. Also wrote and recorded songs from the second record on this bass. Mid to late 1950’s Kay 162 Howlin Wolf Bass. All original!

Andrew "Blueblood" McMahon

Bassist

Verified via reverb.com

Mentioned on this Reverb.com listing.

This model became known as the “Howlin’ Wolf” bass because it was used by the Wolf’s bassist, Andrew “Blueblood” McMahon. You can hear it on early recordings and see it on some of the surviving footage of Howlin’ Wolf shows. While there is regrettably not a lot of footage of Howlin’ Wolf performances, it’s well worth looking for. On later footage, McMahon uses a solidbody Gibson EB bass. More recently, the K162 has been used by Sheryl Crow’s bassist.