Kay... again?

[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