Being an archtop, my luthier friend who did the restoration says that it could handle even heavier gauge strings but I haven't tried going that route with it yet.
A few people have inquired about the scale length, it's 23 inches.
I don't have any direct knowledge of how the Kay guitars were made, but the top looks like it has the double curve, meaning that the top is arched up under the bridge, and then the edges have the 'lip', where it is concave, before curving back up by the binding.
To me, that suggests hand carving, or most likely, a combination of carving and forming.
I don't know the particular model, but can't imagine that tyhe top would be anything other than pressed plywood. Kay guitars are the ones they sold in Woolworths/Walmart in the 60s.
Have you just come back from a folk festival, or have you just got up and are still in your pajama trousers ?
There's a folk club I go to where they take photographs of the performers and post them on the venue site. Therefore it's one of those places where you have to check what you're wearing before you go out to it. There's definitely one photo showing me with some of my dinner down my t-shirt. ( I'm a sloppy eater. ) The same sort of rules apply when you're making a video.
PS I'm not a fan of the tone you're getting from the guitar, but that's a personal opinion.
Was I too bitchy there ? Can't really tell.
Yes, those are my Stewie pajamas and Microsoft tee shirt. What can I say, I'm a geek.
Well, if you're not a fan of the tone, then don't buy it! The folks around here who have heard it live seem to like it well enough. I bought it because I'd just never seen anything like it before, a huge archtop tenor guitar that actually had enough volume to be used in a session. I had to have it!
but recently, I've been having some rather scary tendonitis issues in my right arm that are severely worsened when I play zouk, tenor banjo, etc. so I'm rethinking my priorities in terms of instruments. I don't believe in collecting instruments I can't or won't play so off they go to loving homes.
Thinning out my stringed instrument herd
Thinning out my stringed instrument herd
Offering for sale my fully restored 1960 vintage Kay jumbo-body, GDAE tuned archtop tenor guitar with new hard case for $700.00 + shipping.
Video of the instrument:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNsY-H04GHw
# Posted on September 12th 2011 by Michael Eskin
Re: Thinning out my stringed instrument herd
I think it would sound better with heavier strings. Would it take them?
# Posted on September 12th 2011 by ...
Re: Thinning out my stringed instrument herd
Being an archtop, my luthier friend who did the restoration says that it could handle even heavier gauge strings but I haven't tried going that route with it yet.
A few people have inquired about the scale length, it's 23 inches.
# Posted on September 13th 2011 by Michael Eskin
Re: Thinning out my stringed instrument herd
I'm assuming the arch is pressed, not carved?
# Posted on September 13th 2011 by ...
Re: Thinning out my stringed instrument herd
I honestly have no idea.
Perhaps someone more familiar with the history of Kay instruments from 1960 can comment about the construction methods of the time.
# Posted on September 13th 2011 by Michael Eskin
Re: Thinning out my stringed instrument herd
I don't have any direct knowledge of how the Kay guitars were made, but the top looks like it has the double curve, meaning that the top is arched up under the bridge, and then the edges have the 'lip', where it is concave, before curving back up by the binding.
To me, that suggests hand carving, or most likely, a combination of carving and forming.
# Posted on September 13th 2011 by Reverend
Re: Thinning out my stringed instrument herd
Just out of interest, what's the tune on your video clip?
Sounds good on your guitar.
# Posted on September 13th 2011 by riverrunner
Re: Thinning out my stringed instrument herd
Tuttle's:
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/528
# Posted on September 13th 2011 by Michael Eskin
Re: Thinning out my stringed instrument herd
I don't know the particular model, but can't imagine that tyhe top would be anything other than pressed plywood. Kay guitars are the ones they sold in Woolworths/Walmart in the 60s.
# Posted on September 13th 2011 by skreech
Re: Thinning out my stringed instrument herd
Thanks Michael,
Good luck with the sale
# Posted on September 14th 2011 by riverrunner
Re: Thinning out my stringed instrument herd
Have you just come back from a folk festival, or have you just got up and are still in your pajama trousers ?
There's a folk club I go to where they take photographs of the performers and post them on the venue site. Therefore it's one of those places where you have to check what you're wearing before you go out to it. There's definitely one photo showing me with some of my dinner down my t-shirt. ( I'm a sloppy eater. ) The same sort of rules apply when you're making a video.
PS I'm not a fan of the tone you're getting from the guitar, but that's a personal opinion.
Was I too bitchy there ? Can't really tell.
# Posted on September 15th 2011 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Thinning out my stringed instrument herd
Yes, those are my Stewie pajamas and Microsoft tee shirt. What can I say, I'm a geek.
The folks around here who have heard it live seem to like it well enough. I bought it because I'd just never seen anything like it before, a huge archtop tenor guitar that actually had enough volume to be used in a session. I had to have it!
Well, if you're not a fan of the tone, then don't buy it!
# Posted on September 15th 2011 by Michael Eskin
Re: Thinning out my stringed instrument herd
but recently, I've been having some rather scary tendonitis issues in my right arm that are severely worsened when I play zouk, tenor banjo, etc. so I'm rethinking my priorities in terms of instruments. I don't believe in collecting instruments I can't or won't play so off they go to loving homes.
# Posted on September 15th 2011 by Michael Eskin
Re: Thinning out my stringed instrument herd
Well, good luck. Better a tenor guitar than a tenor banjo, I say.
# Posted on September 21st 2011 by Guernsey Pete