Kay... again?

[Rocket]

Was everyone, (except me,) aware that Kay is producing guitars again? Instant flashback!

 

[markb]

Want the Jazz II with Bigsby :drool:


http://www.kayvintagereissue.com/page4v.jpg

(Big pic so just a linky)

 

[oldguy]

I had no idea..............they seem retro as ever, right down to the headstock.

 

[just strum]

To be honest, I never heard of these guitars. So, what is the attraction? Are they good? Were they good?

They look like guitars you could buy at Sears.

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

They look like guitars you could buy at Sears.

You could, under their Silvertone label.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kay_guitar_company

They probably saw what Eastwood was doing & decided to jump back into the pool.

Those Barney Kessels look cool (Eastwoods take on the Barney Kessel Pro is called the Tuxedo)



Here's David Lindley looking equally cool:

 

[markb]

Kay, Harmony and Danelectro all made guitars sold by Sears under the Silvertone label. My memory of the Kay brand is of inferior Japanese copies from the 70s including the amazing "synth Les Paul"

Tot, that Eastwood copy of the BK Pro really needs the right tailpiece. The cheap long trapeze they've fitted to it is totally out of proportion.

History link

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Tot, that Eastwood copy of the BK Pro really needs the right tailpiece. The cheap long trapeze they've fitted to it is totally out of proportion.

I never noticed, but yes you are right.

 

[street music]

I remember Kay from way back in my teen years. They were just a cheaper model then but produced some very decent sounding instruments.

 

[thekiwidisciple]

Eric Clapton's first guitar was a Kay...

 

[Rocket]

I learned on my mom's puke green 1960 Kay Silvertone.

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

I learned on my mom's puke green 1960 Kay Silvertone.

What color was it before you started learning on it?

 

[Steve206]

Now,,,that,, is funny,,,

steve

 

[gregsguitars]

I just picked up a killer vintage little Kay archtop with single pup, wicked...

 

[Gregzy]

I just picked up a killer vintage little Kay archtop with single pup, wicked...

Once upon a time Kays were made in Chicago and they were second only to Harmony (the largest guitar maker) in terms of numbers. The focus was always on low and mid line instruments but they held their own with some pretty cool guitars until the onset of cheap Japanese imports in the mid 60s. In 1966 Kay was sold to Seeburg and then in 1967 to Valco/National and the focus went to CHEAP. By the end of the 60s Kay was owned by the importer of Teisco Del Ray and production went Asian and the brand went down the tubes. Over the years the brand has resurfaced on cheap Asian guitars and there is no similarity or connection between what was once "Kay" and what is being sold using that brand.

The double cut away black bass with the "Kelvinator" headstock logo at the current Kay link(The Jazz Special) was played by Paul McCartney (his was an original from the 50s of course) in the "Goodnight Tonight" (1979) video and Barney Kessel endorsed his Kay personal model before jumping ship to Gibson in the early 60s.

Greg

 

[gregsguitars]

Like this....o.k ,I managed an attachment, uploaded and it's not viewable? aha they are to big....I will try to resize and edit