The Electra Forums

http://cgi.ebay.com/1960s-Kay-Archtop-Electric-Orange-Flamed-Body-RARE_W0QQitemZ330172625007QQihZ014QQcategoryZ38085QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'd never take a gamble on a guitar I haven't heard of, and I don't have the money anyway. Just curious

Kay has been around for years. I have a 1920's Kay mandolin. I don't know of any association with Electra or SLM though I easly could be wrong. I think the price is way out of line.

I actuallly have a 1937 Kay. And a close friend of mine has a slightly older one. But I have never seen a 335 style one. I'm sure it has little to do with Electra, just another brand I follow. And as far as the price the guy has an insane volume that appears to move fairly quicky. He might be off, really couldn't say. Doesn't seem like he'd sell much if it was all overpriced though. Just wondered if anyone else had any info or memories on them. And in case your still reading this is an exhausted ramble so have a good night

Kay is being collected a bit more aggressively these days. Some of the older more rare models do bring prices in that range, and even much higher. I have seen a few Rare Kays in great condition sell in the thousands of dollars range. Like was mentioned before, they are worth what someone is willing to pay for them.

I have a couple of old Kays- like Electra, the brand name was put on guitars from various makers at verious times. In the late 60's there were typical strat/Hagstrom/teisco Kays, and there were a whole slew of hollowbody electrics. Some had elaborate trim and were called 'Kelvinator' Kays because of their resemblance to period appliance styles. A very few really early ones from the 30's were made by Gibson, or so I've heard.

I've got a couple of Kay 'Old Kraftsman' hollowbodies- from what I can see that was a budget line. Many are the worst kind of guitar we can all remember learning on- action that's way too high and questionable intonation, and they're built like a brick jailhouse- so thick you could stand on one.

As a result these became favorites as slide guitars- they're funky and full of soul. And that's not to say you can't work them over and get them set up nicely.

Here's one that I refinished, hadn't wired it yet:





Here's another one, earlier, with pickups and controls mounted in the pickguard:

- I hadn't heard that, but now that you mention it..... I'll definitely look into it.

As far as the amplified acoustic, I decided awhile back NOT to refinish my Kay, and I'll stand by that. However, any tips/ideas how I could get that amplified airline/silvertone sound without invasive modifications?

Good on not restoring it- too many times people assume brands they don't recognize are worthless. They deserve the chance to be original.

In this case I got it in pieces, it had already been stripped. I believe I have another one where the finish has almost completely failed, so it does depend on the case.

I would consider using lipstick pickups like Danelectros, or actual vintage pickups.