The Kay Guitar Company

Since 1890, Kay has been making instruments of the highest quality for both students and professionals

1,005 thoughts on “The Kay Guitar Company”

  1. help what kind or model is this kay
    wendy

    i know absolutely nothing about guitars and nothing at all about this one except bought at sale for my daughter all is has on it is at top of guitar says kays vintage series and other then that no model number i see dont even know where to look it is red and white has three knobs that adjust and little slider bar next to that can anyone help thanks

  2. help vintage kay
    Sammy

    i have a vintage kay guitar, it is red with a kay shape, and there is no cerial number, and it was bought in a garage sale, and i cannot find anything like it on the internet. can anyone help me?

    1. 12 string acoustic # kd-28-12
      mingo parra

      I have this 12 string guitar acoustic maple wood
      I got it about 35 years ago but can not find any info,
      on year or whats it’s worth it is in excellant to mint cond
      can any body help me? thank’s mingo,

    2. 12 string acoustic # kd-28-12
      mingo parra

      I have this 12 string guitar acoustic maple wood
      I got it about 35 years ago but can not find any info,
      on year or whats it’s worth it is in excellant to mint cond
      can any body help me? thank’s mingo,

  3. Kustom Guitar K 200 serial 2017
    Clyde Sanders

    I have a Kustom Guitar K200 no A or B Just K 200. by Ross
    Im trying to date it. and find out what its worth Im told by the origenl music store owner that sold it to my dad in about 1970 that it is a one of a kind.
    It does not have the Kustom at the top of the neck serail # 2017
    But it is the origenal neck? But it is the origenal neck?
    If you have any answers please write to [email protected] Please put Kustom in the subject line so I read it .Thanks

  4. Kay or Orpheus Stratotone Style electric?
    Michael

    Some may not recognize the K125 number, but I have even seen it painted and branded as an Orpheus, with an h44 style pickguard. 52 through 55, a real sleeper with killer tone. Mine has the single thin twin style pickup, which I suspect is better with the tone chambered neckthru design than later pickups found on later K125s and Stratotones. Any info anyone?

    1. kay kc265 3/4 size classical guitar.
      David hughes

      I have recently bought one for £13, at a cash for gold shop. It has a zero fret and needs new strings. The tone is really good but the top is definitely laminate . I believe it is early 1970’s and is well constructed.
      I wouldn’t sell it as the tone is unique and at the end of the day monetary value is around £40-50, but you won’t find a modern classical with a zero fret.

    1. Re: Kay LP copy with effects
      Steve Himsworth

      : I’m looking for this guitar to replace one I had in my youth, if you have a one for sale or trade, please contact me. [email protected] email

      Hi Matthew i have one of these guitars hanging on my wall, I dont use it much these days and i suppose i could be persuaded to sell it, where are you located, i am in York, England. 07966 201106mobile. [email protected]

      1. Re: Kay LP copy with effects
        Matthew Smith

        : : I’m looking for this guitar to replace one I had in my youth, if you have a one for sale or trade, please contact me. [email protected] email

        : Hi Matthew i have one of these guitars hanging on my wall, I dont use it much these days and i suppose i could be persuaded to sell it, where are you located, i am in York, England. 07966 201106mobile. [email protected]

        I’m interested in a complete, original, working condition example. I don’t check here much so please contact me via email [email protected] or my cell 602-717-1859. I’m in Phx so I’d like to find one here in the USA. I have a complete body with working effects and am interested also to obtain a detailed pic of the wiring plate as I have a few loose leads and am curious where they should be.

        1. Re: Kay LP copy with effects
          bking

          : : : I’m looking for this guitar to replace one I had in my youth, if you have a one for sale or trade, please contact me. [email protected] email

          : : Hi Matthew i have one of these guitars hanging on my wall, I dont use it much these days and i suppose i could be persuaded to sell it, where are you located, i am in York, England. 07966 201106mobile. [email protected]

          : I’m interested in a complete, original, working condition example. I don’t check here much so please contact me via email [email protected] or my cell 602-717-1859. I’m in Phx so I’d like to find one here in the USA. I have a complete body with working effects and am interested also to obtain a detailed pic of the wiring plate as I have a few loose leads and am curious where they should be.

          i have one of these in great condition,live in denton,tx email [email protected]

    1. Re: Kay, model K-2T
      Uncle Ghee

      i have one, but mine is much different than the others i see and hear mentioned online. mine is a double cutaway, 6 in line tuners, 2 pickups, one volume, one tone, zero fret, two sliding on / off switches, very nice sculpted headstock with very nice gold and black badge (K in an oval). the tuners are 6 in line on a metal strip that connects them all with nice white plastic keys. the wham is just like the one in this picture http://www.mercatinomusicale.com/allegati/1432760.jpg and this is the K-2T that i usually see mentioned online…the SG type. mine is roughly Stratlike, but not really. i only use the term Stratlike as a point of reference.

      mine has rosewood fretboard and light coloured amber neck…not sure if it’s maple. it is very well made and although the stock pickups are the usual single coils that you see on Teiscos and Kays (Teisco shown here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHH8drS4T6A&feature=player_embedded ) that sit on top of the pickguard without height adjustment, my body was actually routed for humbuckers, as i found out when i put DiMarzios in in 1978. i also put on Schaller tuners and a Gibson Harmonica bridge, but i recently put the guitar back together and i re-installed the original bridge. the original radius of the stock bridge works better with the neck. it plays like a dream, but it is a bit neck heavy. oh yea and the neck in the video looks just like mine…(what we can see of it)…except mine is in much better shape. : ) like the one in the vid, it has 22 frets but is one dot shy of what we would usually expect. the body is very thin and the finish is sunburst. very nice finish. truss rod is just like the one in the vid. mine was purchased in 1971 by a friend when we were going to start a band…and he was the only one who actually bought his instrument. it came from a dept. store and when i started to play guitar in 1974 i bought this one from him as he’d never learned to play it.

  5. Kay electric bass
    Bob Blumrick

    I was given a Kay bass (which I assume is vintage) and have no idea where the serial# is hidden. It needs some restoration work. How would I post a photo so you could see what model it is or where I might find the serial#?

    1. Re: Kay electric bass
      Liam

      : I was given a Kay bass (which I assume is vintage) and have no idea where the serial# is hidden. It needs some restoration work. How would I post a photo so you could see what model it is or where I might find the serial#?

      I’ve got an old Kay bass which is a copy of a Rickenbacker 4001. If its the same as yours its amodel K20B. The serial number is on a foil sticker on the back just where the neck bolts on to the body.

  6. Lark Jr acoustic 6 string
    Travis Burrus

    Does anyone know anything about Lark guitars? Specifically Lark Jr. SOmeone told me that Kay made them between 1919-1926. Mine has the #238 stamped on it.

  7. L7922
    dillon crozier

    L7922-339 is my Kay Mandolin’s serial number. I received it Christmas morning and am having trouble finding a serial number database for it. Can you give me some info on it like the year make and worth or lead me to a database for further personal research?

  8. airline hollow body, what modle?
    paul pettett

    i have an airline holoow body, cut away,20 fret, 3 position switch, 4 knobs (2 volume-2 tone),f holes,2 (diamonds) pickups,trapese tailpiece, white binding,pearl dot on rosewood,not steel reinforced neck. dose anybody have any info? maybe a kay or a harmony but don’t modle or year.please help!
    PDP

  9. How old is my Kay acoustic guitar
    Don Maddox

    I have a Kay guitar model number KDG-70 and i was wondering how old it is,I’ve had her since 1985,she still sounds good and is in good condition,,thanks for any help

  10. older Kay guitars
    Darlene L. Holland

    What can you tell me about a Kay guitar my deceased father had? It is printed inside with the numbers L 8658 the letter USM and style no. 7020 (?kind of hard to read). He also had one from Kay that says Silvertone and on the side of the string is an acrylic plaque with the faded imprint of musical notes on it. Any info would be appreciated as we do not know if these are generic run of the mill cheaper guitars or more collectible. Thank you in advance for any info.

    1. Silvertone
      Tom

      Slivertone was a name of guitar that was sold by Sears & Roebuck Co. I would imagine that many different guitar makers made guitars for Sears! Most Kay guitars are not collectible as they were mostly pretty cheaply made! However, I have a vintage Kay Jazz Guitar, which I am going to restore, just because it will make a wonderful wall hanger, and they look so cool!

    1. Re: Kay K125 Solid body
      Bill

      :I own what I think is a very early K125. It’s marked "SS Stewart". It is a gold or copper color. It has a single"Jimmy Reed" pickup. The pickup cover and switch cover are cream colored. This thing is a rare and wonderful bird. What a fun guitar. I would love to know of other variations.I would love to also learn more about the obvious connection between this model and the developement of the Harmony Stratotone. Hi Everyone, Having nursed a Jones for a Stratotone everytime I played those belonging to friends, I recently acquired a good condition K125. I believe from the looks of the tortoise shell pu and control surrounds, that it is of the earliest, 1952 vintage. I think the guard material predates the flame striped guards on those and Thin Twins in later years. it has one of the same great Thin Twin pickups. I have found little on this great sounding neckthru guitar. Info anyone?

        1. 1952 Kay K125
          Anonymous

          I have a Kay-125 I will be selling with original case! It has to be one of the best original examples in the world. What kind of price do you have in mind?

      1. Re: Kay K125 Solid body
        A.J.

        I own what I believe to be a K-125. It has a Red sunburst that fades to black. With "Binding" that’s painted on. AMAZING tone. Cream plastic around the lipstick pickup. A buddy found it under a staircase in a house he was spraying pesticide in and the old lady that owned the house told him to throw it away!!! GREAT SCORE!!! E-Mail me if you have any pics of yours: [email protected]

    2. Re: This popular thread has been given its own page :... Michael
      Michael

      Hi Everyone, Having nursed a Jones for a Stratotone everytime I played those belonging to friends, I recently acquired a good condition K125. I believe from the looks of the tortoise shell pu and control surrounds, that it is of the earliest, 1952 vintage. I think the guard material predates the flame striped guards on those and Thin Twins in later years. it has one of the same great Thin Twin pickups. I have found little on this great sounding neckthru guitar. Info anyone?

  11. information
    rodge

    I have been given a kay aqoustic guitar and im wondering about the history i.e where it was made and where it was sold from and how old it is the model number is k475 any information would be grateful

  12. i need help on a certain kay modle
    shane barnett

    hey if any one can help me please contact me my grandma gave me her old guitar and shes had it for ever i think since she was like in her 20’s and she died at 84 years old about 7 years ago its modle L5162 kay

  13. Kamico Archtop
    Howard Neal

    Could you help me with the numbers inside this old archtop? 1st number is A1027, 2nd number is 5856. What’s the model, what’s the date? Really appreciate your help in dating it, if you can.

  14. k40 f hole archtop guitar pickguard
    clyde watkins

    hi, i am a lutier in sydney australia,a customer want me to cut a pickguard [it is missing] for his k40.do you have any photos or where would i look? regards clyde.

  15. does ne 1 have onfo on model: kdg88 accoustic guitar
    Tanya

    Someone gave me an old accoustic guitar. The only identifying mark on it is a sticker on the inside of the body saying made by Kay, model KDG88. I have searched several databases and cannot find any info on it. I want to know when it was made and where I can get replacement peices for it. If ne 1 has any info it would be greatly appreciated

  16. Value Leader knob and logo
    Maark Kashmar

    I’m looking for a knob from an early 60s Value Leader and also a logo – it’s the oval one with the K inside. Can anyone help? Thanks.

    1. Re: Value Leader knob and logo
      Bob Fletcher

      Volume or Tone?? Got Both, I need a Bridge Pickup

      : I’m looking for a knob from an early 60s Value Leader and also a logo – it’s the oval one with the K inside. Can anyone help? Thanks.

  17. kay guitars
    Herschel Haynie

    I have been looking for info on a Kay guitar model # k570
    If you know anything about this guitar, please contact me. Thanks,Herschel

  18. Info on my Blonde, Striped Kay
    Lindsey

    Hello!
    I was looking for some info on a guitar that has been in my family for a while. It is a completely blonde guitar with horizontal stripes all along the instrument. I am pretty clueless and my internet searching has proved fruitless!
    Thanks!

    1. Re: Info on my Blonde, Striped Kay
      bruno

      Look for a site called Subway Guitars in berkeley ca
      Fat Dog has a ton of them and you may see a pic that will tell you what you have.

  19. Kay # L2685 6110
    Donna B

    My Dad passed away recently and he left me his first guitar. I was trying to find out the year it was made. He was a teenager when he bought it and was born in 1945. It has a white pick guard, orange/brown sunburst pattern. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

    1. Re: Kay # L2685 6110
      Sam

      : My Dad passed away recently and he left me his first guitar. I was trying to find out the year it was made. He was a teenager when he bought it and was born in 1945. It has a white pick guard, orange/brown sunburst pattern. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

      I have a Kay guitar # L3616 8127 , which I bought in 1960 …judging from the serial #, I would guess your guitar is a little older. Sam

      1. Re: Kay # L2685 6110
        Donna B

        : : My Dad passed away recently and he left me his first guitar. I was trying to find out the year it was made. He was a teenager when he bought it and was born in 1945. It has a white pick guard, orange/brown sunburst pattern. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

        : I have a Kay guitar # L3616 8127 , which I bought in 1960 …judging from the serial #, I would guess your guitar is a little older. Sam

        Thank you Sam. I have pictures of Dad as a teenager with his guitar. I will treasure the Kay always.

  20. kay guitar vintage 50s 90s series
    terry

    i found a kay vintage 50s 90s series guitar model k-593 at a yard sale but searched everywhere but cant find anything about it.can anyone help?

  21. kay guitar vintage 50s 90s series
    terry

    I bought a kay "vintage 50s 90s series model k-593 guitar at a yard sale but cant find a thing about it can anyone help?

  22. I.D. Guitar
    Tracy

    I have an old acoustic, stamped on the inside, K 18 6614. Can ya help an ol boy identify, or date this particular guitar?
    Thanks friends,
    Tracy

  23. My Kay Guitar# L2679 6100
    Nathan Morales

    I was wondering if anyone out there knows about this particular Kay model # L2679 6100. It is a nice acoustic with warm tones still. I know it is fairly old, but want to know more about it. If anyone knows please let me know. Thanks!

    1. Re: My Kay Guitar# L2679 6100
      Sam

      : I was wondering if anyone out there knows about this particular Kay model # L2679 6100. It is a nice acoustic with warm tones still. I know it is fairly old, but want to know more about it. If anyone knows please let me know. Thanks!

      I bought(new) a #L3616 8127 in 1960…judging from the serial# of your guitar, I would guess yours is a little older. I was told at the time of purchase, my guitar was designed to bring out the bass notes. It is a flat top (spruce) with a steel re-enforced neck and inlays. Sam

      1. Re: Kay Acoustic Archtop L1753 6437 ???????
        kay guy

        : : Looking for any and all information on Kay Acoustic Archtop L1753 6437. Thanks for your help, Mike
        hey Mike they’re solid mahogany archtops mine made in 1963.
        Model name is K6437

      2. Re: Kay Acoustic Archtop L1753 6437 ???????
        kay guy

        : : Looking for any and all information on Kay Acoustic Archtop L1753 6437. Thanks for your help, Mike

        they’re solid mahogany made in the 1960’s mine a 1963..nice guitars!!

    1. Re: Old Kraftsman/Harlin Bros Archtop?
      Lauren Ann

      : I have recently purchased an Old Kraftsman Archtop with a replaced neck. There seems to be no serial number to identify the model.
      : However on the headstock there is a patent number and under it says "Harlin Bros Indianapolis, IND"
      : The patent is for a the type of guitar neck that the Harlin Brothers designed. Yet I am unable to find any information on the Harlin Bros other than that they made pedal steel guitars and Hawaiian sheet music.
      : Does anybody know whats going on with this guitar?

      Followup: I have an old picture from my Mom’s album that show a Harlin Bros band and their old music school. Lauren
      Ann

    2. Re: This popular thread has been given its own page :... Derek
      Derek

      I have recently purchased an Old Kraftsman Archtop with a replaced neck. There seems to be no serial number to identify the model.
      However on the headstock there is a patent number and under it says "Harlin Bros Indianapolis, IND"
      The patent is for a the type of guitar neck that the Harlin Brothers designed. Yet I am unable to find any information on the Harlin Bros other than that they made pedal steel guitars and Hawaiian sheet music.
      Does anybody know whats going on with this guitar?

      1. Old Kraftsman and Harlin Bros.
        Antoine Arsenault

        The info I’ve found is that Kay made most of the Old Kraftsman guitars, though some may have been made by Harmony (as I remember it, the Harmony Jazz Model Jumbos were joined to the body at the 12th fret). As I recall, the Harlin Bros. pedal system was a major improvement but after the Great Depression hit, they were struggling.

        I’m going to write to:
        [email protected]
        There was an article they archived that had a Harlin Bros. archtop like mine.
        Though worth far less than a 1930’s Gibson, I like the sound just as well (after a good luthier patched it together).

      2. I have an Old Kraftsman single f hole I had know Idea, it's a
        Mark Genis

        It is a Gibson. You have got to be kidding Me, made by them, it has 3 single coil Hum-buckers in it. I think that they are single coil. but the only number I have is off of one of the pick-ups and they all have the same # is, #631608, Wow It is a real custom made guitar by Gibson.

  24. age and value?
    Ron

    a friend of mine has an old kay guitar the only markings are printed on the inside of the guitar under the sound hole – L2815 5133
    the guitar has a label for the name on the head stock and dosen’t appear to have a truss rod. he was wondering what it would be worth.
    I told him I didn’t think very much does anyone have any idea? Ron

  25. info
    eugene Crawford

    looking for info have an old Kay guitar with no marker inside the sound hole the head peace has a golf club setting on a tee with Kay on it would like to know age and any other info. you may have about it

  26. just woundering about my kay guitar
    lisa gainous

    my guitar is a Kay established in 1890 and its a starter its number is M:505. if you could help me on some info about the guitar i’d really appreciate it. thanks

      1. Re: 50's classis fender strat wiring diagram!!
        alfredo

        : : can some one help me. i need a 50’s wiring diagram for my guitar.i need clear picture and explanation so please.

  27. Kay Guitar L2244
    Carrie

    Hello! I am looking to find a year and perhaps a value for this Kay Guitar that has been in our family for at least 40 years. I am not having any luck searching the WWW for information, and was told @ a local music store that it’s not worth repairing. (I beg to differ)

    Thank you for your time,
    Carrie

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