~1960 Kay Old Kraftsman Jumbo Natural
Description
Kay Old Kraftsman Jumbo c 1960 | $925 | (v1722) the Kay company, based in Chicago, had its guitar manufacturing roots beginning in the late 19th century, then through the 1920s as Stromberg-Voisinet. In 1928 it became the Kay Musical Instrument Company and manufactured a full line of stringed instruments, including those branded for other sellers such as Montgomery Wards, which marketed the Old Kraftsman line. Kay, like its competitor Harmony, focused on the middle and lower ends of the market. The guitars are generally well made with quality materials. It's difficult to accurately date many Kay guitars, especially the off-brand models. Based on some of the catalog features and the Kluson 'single line' tuners we estimate this example to be from about 1960 give or take a few years.
The top is solid spruce, ladder braced and bound in b/w purfling and white celluloid with a similar motif echoed at the sound hole. The back and sides are laminated mahogany. The neck is mahogany, bound in white celluloid and features a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with large parallelogram inlays. The head stock features a profile found in the Kay catalogs through the early '60s, is bound in white celluloid with the Old Kraftsman logo stenciled in white paint. The bridge is Brazilian rosewood with the original ornamental bolts and wrap-around string attachment. The tuners are the original Kluson DeLuxe 'single line' versions.
The body measures a whopping 17 3/16" across the lower bout. Scale length is 25 7/8". The neck measures 1 5/8" at the nut with string spacing 2 1/8" at the saddle. Action is set at about 5/64".
The guitar is in original, near-mint condition with no evident prior repairs. We recently: reset the neck; reglued the bridge; leveled and dressed the frets. There are no cracks with scant evidence of age or play wear.
The guitar plays well, and is especially suited for players who prefer a narrower neck and a big sound. The tone is surprisingly full and deep with crisp, pure tones across the spectrum .. especially so when played with a plectrum.
Comes with its original soft case also in excellent condition but for a few applied decals.
Check out the sound clip!
The top is solid spruce, ladder braced and bound in b/w purfling and white celluloid with a similar motif echoed at the sound hole. The back and sides are laminated mahogany. The neck is mahogany, bound in white celluloid and features a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with large parallelogram inlays. The head stock features a profile found in the Kay catalogs through the early '60s, is bound in white celluloid with the Old Kraftsman logo stenciled in white paint. The bridge is Brazilian rosewood with the original ornamental bolts and wrap-around string attachment. The tuners are the original Kluson DeLuxe 'single line' versions.
The body measures a whopping 17 3/16" across the lower bout. Scale length is 25 7/8". The neck measures 1 5/8" at the nut with string spacing 2 1/8" at the saddle. Action is set at about 5/64".
The guitar is in original, near-mint condition with no evident prior repairs. We recently: reset the neck; reglued the bridge; leveled and dressed the frets. There are no cracks with scant evidence of age or play wear.
The guitar plays well, and is especially suited for players who prefer a narrower neck and a big sound. The tone is surprisingly full and deep with crisp, pure tones across the spectrum .. especially so when played with a plectrum.
Comes with its original soft case also in excellent condition but for a few applied decals.
Check out the sound clip!